JP2011120005A - Image processing apparatus and data on information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problem: data are stored on a large capacity HDD, and a large quantity of address books, job logs, preference data and the like can be held, but in the case of HDD failure or when the HDD is unexpectedly detached, data cannot be protected. <P>SOLUTION: In an image processing apparatus in which two or more storage devices can be mounted, in order to prevent a data loss when an HDD goes down, access information to data can be stored on a Flash and restored as the occasion demands, thereby protecting effective data. The access information to the data on the HDD is stored on the Flash in accordance with a degree of importance as the occasion demands. When the HDD goes down, data are restored from the access information, so that the operation of the image processing apparatus can be continued while protecting the effective data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having one or more functions and a method for controlling the image processing apparatus.

  In recent years, data stored in a digital multi-function peripheral generally has both a small-capacity data storage such as a flash that cannot be detached and a large-capacity data storage such as a removable HDD. In recent years, an operation mode in which a user can attach / detach the storage such as the removable HDD is sometimes used. At this time, the data existing on the HDD cannot be referred to from the device by the user's removal operation.

  In the case of the operation mode as described above, when an HDD is connected in a state where operation is performed with a small-capacity data storage such as Flash, the data operated in Flash is transferred to the HDD. Specifically, data (preference data) left by the user such as address book, job log, favorites and shortcuts that leave frequently used settings are included in the data transferred to the HDD. As a result, it is possible to operate after relaxing the upper limit of data that can be stored.

  However, HDDs generally have a higher failure rate than data storage such as Flash, and there has been a problem that data used in the HDDs will be erased if a failure occurs.

  Therefore, a method has been proposed, such as JP-A-2001-53913, in which a removable storage medium is attached to a device and data is temporarily saved in the device to enable backup.

  In these methods, there is a problem that the latest data cannot be protected in the event of a sudden failure of the HDD or an unexpected removal.

JP 2001-53913 A

  By storing data on the HDD in this way, it is possible to retain a large amount of address books, job logs, preference data, etc., but the problem is that data cannot be protected in the event of an HDD failure or sudden removal. Exists.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention
An image processing apparatus in which two or more different storage devices can be mounted,
The detachable large-capacity first data storage means (317), the built-in small-capacity second data storage means (304), and the history of processing performed in the device are recorded in the first or second The data writing means (219) for writing to the data storage means and the data writing means can simultaneously write the data access information to the second data storage means when writing the data to the first data storage means. Is possible,
The data writing means determines the importance and priority of data from the additional information included in the access information, and updates valid data,
When the first data storage means (317) fails or is removed, the communication means (308) notifies the information processing device to remove the first data storage means (317),
By providing data restoration means for restoring data from the access information saved in the second data saving means when the removal notification is made, it is possible to protect and restore effective data.

  The access information includes additional information such as access time, access type, and number of accesses in addition to the data itself stored in the HDD, and the data storage means determines the importance and priority of the data as necessary. be able to.

According to the present invention, in a device configuration in which a large-capacity storage device can be used as an option,
It is possible to prevent the user data such as the address book, log history, and mode memory from being referred to in the event of a failure or withdrawal of the storage device, and to perform a degeneration operation after restoring more effective information.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the image processing apparatus 100 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the image processing apparatus 100 in FIG. 1. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus 100, two storage devices Flash 304, and an HDD 317. FIG. 2 shows an example of access information stored in Flash when the HDD 317 is connected to the image processing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 shows an image of the state of holding data in the flash 304 and the HDD 317 when the HDD 317 is connected to the image processing apparatus 100 of FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing performed by a CPU 301 for a flash 304 when the HDD 317 is connected to the image processing apparatus 100 in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart of processing performed by a CPU 301 when an HDD failure occurs in the image processing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1.

(Example)
Embodiments to which the present invention can be applied will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the location which has the same function in each drawing, and duplication of description is abbreviate | omitted.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a system including an image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image processing apparatus 100 is a multi function peripheral (MFP) that performs image input / output, transmission / reception, and various types of image processing. A scanner 103 as an image input device, a printer 104 as an image output device, a control unit 101, and an operation unit 102 as a user interface are provided. The scanner 103, the printer 104, and the operation unit 102 are connected to the control unit 101 and controlled by commands from the control unit 101. Furthermore, the control unit 101 is connected to a LAN.

  Next, the software configuration of the image processing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the image processing apparatus 100 of FIG.

  In the image processing apparatus 100, a user interface (hereinafter referred to as UI) module 201 is mounted. The UI module 201 is a module that mediates between a device and a user operation when an operator performs various operations and settings on the image processing apparatus 100. The UI module 201 transfers input information to various modules, which will be described later, and requests processing or sets data in accordance with operator operations.

  In addition, an address book module 202 is installed, and this module 202 is a database module that manages data transmission destinations, communication destinations, and the like. With respect to data managed by the address book module 202, data can be added, deleted, and acquired by operations from the UI module 201. Further, the address book module 202 gives data sending / communication destination information to each module described later by an operator's operation.

  In addition, a web server module (Web-Server module) 203 is installed. This module 203 notifies management information of the image processing apparatus 100 to the web client in response to a request from the web client. The management information is acquired via an integrated transmitter module 204 described later, a remote copy scan module 209 described later, a remote copy print module 210 described later, and a control API module 218 described later. The notification is sent to the web client via an HTTP module 212, a TCP / IP communication module 216, and a network driver (Network-Driver) 217, which will be described later.

  Also, a web browser module 211 is installed, and this module reads and displays information on various websites on the Internet or an intranet. The detailed configuration of the web browser module 211 will be described later.

  An integrated transmission unit (Universal-Send) module 204 is a module that manages data distribution. This module 204 communicates data instructed in the same manner by the operator through the UI module 201. Distribute first. In addition, the integrated transmission unit (Universal-Send) module 204 operates the device via the control API module 218 when the operator instructs the generation of distribution data using the scanner function of the device. Generate.

  The integrated transmitter module 204 includes: A module (P550) 205 that is executed when a printer is designated as the output destination. A module (E-mail) 206 that is executed when an E-mail address is designated as a communication destination. A module 207 that is executed when a database is designated as the output destination. A (DP) module 208 is executed when an image processing apparatus similar to the present device is designated as the output destination.

  A remote-copy-scan module 209 reads image information using the scanner function of the image processing apparatus 100, and outputs the read image information to another image processing apparatus connected via a network or the like. This makes it possible to perform a copy function realized by a single image processing apparatus using another image processing apparatus.

  A remote-copy-print module 210 outputs image information obtained by another image processing apparatus connected via a network or the like using the printer function of the image processing apparatus 100. As a result, the copy function realized by the image processing apparatus alone can be performed using another image processing apparatus.

  The HTTP module 212 is used when the image processing apparatus 100 performs communication using HTTP, and provides a communication function to the web server module 203 and the web browser module 211 using a TCP / IP communication module 216 described later. The module 212 corresponds to various protocols used on the web such as HTTP, and provides a communication function using a protocol corresponding to security in particular.

  Also, an lpr module 213 is installed, and this module provides a communication function to the module 205 in the integrated transmission module 204 using a TCP / IP communication module 216 described later.

  In addition, an SMTP module 214 is installed, and this module provides a communication function to the E-mail module 206 in the integrated transmission module 204 using a TCP / IP communication module 216 described later.

  In addition, an SLM (Salutation-Manager) module 215 is mounted. This module provides a communication function to each of the following using a TCP / IP communication module 216 described later. A module 217 and a module 218 in the integrated transmission module 204, a remote copy scan module 209, and a remote copy print module 210;

  The TCP / IP communication module 216 uses the network driver 217 to provide a network communication function to the various modules described above. The network driver 217 controls a part physically connected to the network.

  The control API 218 provides an upstream module such as the integrated transmission module 204 with an interface to a downstream module such as a job manager module (Job-Manager) 219 described later. As a result, the dependency relationship between the upstream and downstream modules is reduced, and the applicability of each can be improved.

  The job manager module (Job-Manager) 219 interprets various processes instructed via the control API 218 from the various modules described above, and gives instructions to the modules 220, 224, and 226 described later. Further, the job manager module 219 is for centrally managing hardware processing executed in the image processing apparatus 100.

  The module 220 is a codec manager (CODEC-Manager) module, and this module manages and controls various compression / decompression of data in the process instructed by the job manager module 219.

  Further, a JPEG codec module (JPEG-CODEC) 222 is installed. This module performs JPEG compression of read data and JPEG expansion processing of print data. Reading is performed in a scan process executed by the job manager module 219 or the scan manager module 224 or a print process executed by the print manager (Print-Manager) module 226.

  In addition, an MMR codec (MMR-CODEC) module 223 is mounted. This module performs MMR compression of read data and MMR expansion processing of print data. Reading is performed by a scan process executed by the job manager module 219 or the scan manager module 224 or a print process executed by the print manager module 226.

  A scan manager (Scan-Manager) module 224 manages and controls scan processing instructed by the job manager module 219. Communication between the scan manager module 224 and the scanner 113 internally connected to the image processing apparatus 110 is performed via the SCSI driver 225.

  A print manager module 226 manages and controls print processing instructed by the job manager module 219. An interface between the print manager module 226 and the printer 114 is provided by an engine interface (Engine-I / F) module 227.

  A parallel port driver 228 is mounted, and provides an I / F for outputting data to an output device (not shown) via the parallel port.

  Next, the configuration of the image processing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the image processing apparatus 100 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image processing apparatus 100 includes a control unit 101 that controls the entire apparatus. The control unit 101 connects a scanner 103 as an image input device and a printer 104 as an image output device and controls them, and is connected to a LAN or a public line, and inputs / outputs image information and device information via these. Is to do.

  The control unit 101 has a CPU 301. The CPU 301 is connected to the RAM 302, ROM 303, Flash 304, image bus I / F 305, operation unit I / F 306, network I / F 308, and modem 309 via the system bus 307.

  A RAM 302 is a memory for providing a work area for the CPU 301, and is also used as an image memory for temporarily storing image data. A ROM 303 is a boot ROM, and the ROM 303 stores a system boot program. The flash 304 stores system software, setting value data, and the like.

  The operation unit I / F 306 is an interface for performing input / output with the operation unit 102, outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 102 to the operation unit 102, and a user via the operation unit 102 It plays a role of transmitting input information to the CPU 301.

  The network I / F 308 is connected to the LAN and inputs / outputs information to / from the LAN. The modem 309 is connected to a public line and inputs / outputs information to / from the public line.

  The image bus I / F 305 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 307 and the image bus 310 that transfers image data at high speed and converts the data structure.

  An RIP (raster image processor) 311, a device I / F 312, a scanner image processing unit 313, a printer image processing unit 314, an image rotation unit 315, and an image compression unit 316 are connected to the image bus 310.

  The RIP 311 expands the PDL code received from the LAN into a bitmap image. A device I / F 312 connects the scanner 113 and printer 114 to the control unit 111 and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. A scanner image processing unit 313 performs correction, processing, editing, and the like on input image data. A printer image processing unit 314 performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. The image rotation unit 315 rotates image data. The image compression unit 316 performs JPEG compression / decompression processing for multi-valued image data, and performs compression / decompression processing such as JBIG, MMR, and MH for binary image data.

  The HDD 317 is a detachable unit by the user, and holds image data, address book data and job log, and data (preference data) left by the user such as favorites and shortcuts that leave frequently used settings. .

  When the HDD 317 is not connected, the various data are held in the flash 304.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus 100, the two storage devices Flash 304, and the HDD 317. In this embodiment, the flash 304 is built in the image processing apparatus 100, and the HDD 317 is detachable.

  Since the HDD 317 is detachable, the image processing apparatus 100 can be operated only by the flash 304 when the HDD 317 is not connected. However, since the flash 304 generally has a much smaller capacity than the HDD 317, data (address book, job log, preference data) that can be stored is reduced. On the other hand, when the HDD is connected, the increase / decrease in the storage amount of the data is alleviated.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of access information stored in the flash when the HDD 317 is connected. Reference numeral 501 denotes actual data, which is equivalent to data held in the HDD 317 and actually used.

  In addition to the actual data 501, the following additional information is added to the access information. Reference numeral 502 denotes the number of accesses, which indicates the number of accesses with the same access type 503 for the corresponding actual data 501. Reference numeral 503 denotes an access type, which includes information about what kind of access is made to the actual data 501 (reference, update, use during job execution, etc.). Reference numeral 504 denotes an access time, which indicates the latest access time to the actual data 501. A data type 505 indicates what kind of data the actual data 501 is (address book, job log, preference data).

  In this embodiment, additional information as shown in FIG. 5 is set, but it is possible to set additional information according to the embodiment.

  FIG. 6 shows an image of data holding state in the flash 304 and the HDD 317 when the HDD 317 is connected. Reference numerals 601, 602, and 603 indicate an address book, job log, and preference data, respectively, and hold and operate actual data on the HDD side to realize the operation of the image processing apparatus 100.

  On the other hand, in the flash 304, the held access information 604 is updated every time the HDD data is accessed. One record of the access information 604 is in the format described in FIG. 5, and the importance of data is determined according to the additional information 502 to 505 included in the access information 604 when updating. The data storage sequence will be described later.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processing performed by the CPU 301 for the flash 304 when the HDD is connected.

  First, in response to a user operation, access is made to the data stored in the HDD in S701. Here, access includes not only data change but also data reference, data use, job submission, and the like. At that time, in S702, access information is created by adding additional information to the actual data. In step S703, it is determined whether the access information stored in the flash has reached the upper limit of data. If the data has not reached the upper limit, the process proceeds to S708. If the data has reached the upper limit, the process proceeds to S704, and the access information stored in the flash is searched. At this time, the importance of each data is determined from the additional information of the plurality of access information in the Flash. There are various cases as the method of determining the importance, but the conditions that are considered to be high in the present embodiment are as follows. An address book with a higher access count 502, data used for job execution or the like for access type 503 and data updated by user operation, new access time 504, and address book considered to be highly necessary for data type 505. These are assumed to be highly important and relatively judged. It is determined in S705 whether or not the importance of the access information created in S702 is higher than the importance of the access information searched in S704. If the importance of the access information created in S702 is low, the access information is not updated and the flow ends. Conversely, in S705, if the importance of the access information created in S702 is high, the process proceeds to S706, and the data determined to have the lowest importance is deleted from the access information stored in the flash. Thereafter, the access information is updated to Flash in S707. In the case of access to the same data as the case of newly adding access information, the access information can be updated by updating only the access count 702, but the CPU 301 determines this from the additional information.

  By performing the processing according to the flow as described above, access information having a high degree of importance is always stored in the flash, and valid data information is stored in the flash when the HDD 317 fails or is suddenly removed. It becomes possible to protect with.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of processing performed by the CPU 301 when the HDD fails.

  First, in S801, an HDD failure or HDD removal is detected. Thereafter, in S802, the operation unit 102 is displayed as to whether or not to restore data, and the process proceeds to the next process according to the user operation. When restoring the data, the process proceeds to S803, where the actual data is restored from the access information stored in the flash. Here, since the actual data itself is included in the access information, the data can be restored even if reference to the data in the HDD is impossible. If the data is not restored in S802, it is determined in S804 whether the HDD has been repaired. Here, it is also determined whether the removed HDD is connected again. If restoration of the HDD is confirmed in S804, the process proceeds to S807, and the operation of the image processing apparatus 100 is continued with the HDD connected, as before detection in S801. If restoration of the HDD cannot be confirmed in S804, data restoration is not performed. In S805, the Flash is returned to the factory default state, and the process proceeds to S806. After the processing of S803 or S805 is performed, the operation is switched to only the flash operation in S806, and the operation of the image processing apparatus 100 is continued.

  In the above embodiment, the image processing apparatus and the control method thereof have been described. However, an embodiment to which the present invention can also be applied to a control program for realizing these control methods and an image processing system including the above-described image processing apparatus. Needless to say, this is a category.

Claims (4)

An image processing apparatus in which two or more different storage devices can be mounted,
The image processing apparatus includes a detachable large-capacity first data storage unit (317), a built-in small-capacity second data storage unit (304), and a history of processing performed in the device. Data writing means for writing into one or the second data storage means,
The data writing means can update the data access information to the second data storage means at the same time according to the importance when writing data to the first data storage means,
The data writing means determines the importance and priority of data from the additional information included in the access information, and updates valid data,
Detection means for detecting when the first data storage means (317) is broken or removed;
When the removal detection is performed, the access information stored in the second data storage unit includes a data recovery unit that restores data, and uses the data restored by the restoration unit. An image processing apparatus characterized in that the operation can be continued using only the data storage means.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first data storage means is an HDD.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second data storage unit is a flash.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the access information includes additional information of any one of an access time, an access type, and an access count in addition to the data itself.