JP2011197990A - Information processor and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain a software used in a process of a series of processing from being affected by updating thereof, when carrying out the series of processing executed using the plurality of softwares.SOLUTION: An OS (B) 4 transmits updating situation information indicating an execution situation of updating processing for the software by an updating processing part 13, to other OS, by a notification transmission part 14, and an OS (A) 3 for receiving it by a notification reception part 15 stores the updating situation information into a notification storage part 16. The OS (A) 3 confirms the execution situation of the updating of the software in the OS (B) 4, referring to the notification storage part 16, under control by a processing control part 18, before transmitting a processing execution request to the OS (B) 4, holds transmission of the execution request when the updating of the software is under execution, to be stored into an execution request holding part 19, and reads out the execution request from the execution request holding part 19, after finishing the updating of the software, to be transmitted by an execution request transmitting part 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a program.

  In the past, multiple operating systems (hereinafter abbreviated as “OS”) for realizing the processing execution environment are prepared in a multi-function machine that has multiple functions such as copy, print, and facsimile (hereinafter abbreviated as “FAX”). In addition, by adopting a configuration in which a plurality of OSs operate as a virtual environment on a hypervisor, processing related to each function is executed using an OS suitable for the function.

Several prior art documents related to the present invention will be exemplified.
For example, Patent Document 1 describes the virtualization of an application operating environment and download of an application in a multifunction peripheral.
For example, Patent Document 2 describes a configuration in which starting of a new logical section is prohibited until updating of the system firmware is completed.
For example, Patent Literature 3 describes a configuration change notification process.

JP 2003-330732 A JP 2002-268900 A JP 05-334270 A

  An object of the present invention is to propose a technique capable of suppressing an influence caused by updating software used in a process when a series of processes executed using a plurality of software is performed.

  The present invention described in claim 1 has a plurality of execution environments, and each execution environment notifies an update status notification means for notifying other execution environments of the execution status of software that operates in its own execution environment, Storage means for storing the execution status of software updates notified from other execution environments, and an execution environment in which software corresponding to subsequent processes operates in the course of a series of processes executed using a plurality of software An execution environment in which the software operates if an update of the software corresponding to the subsequent process is being executed based on the content stored in the storage unit, and a transmission unit that transmits an execution request for the subsequent process. Suspends execution request transmission by the transmission means, and transmits the suspended execution request after the software update is completed. And a control means for controlling so as to further transmission, it is an information processing apparatus according to claim.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the control unit is pending transmission of an execution request to an execution environment in which software corresponding to the subsequent process operates If there is another process that can be executed without depending on the subsequent process, control is performed so that an execution request for the other process is transmitted by the transmission means to the execution environment in which the corresponding software operates. It is characterized by that.

  The present invention described in claim 3 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each execution environment has update content notification means for notifying the update content of software to other execution environments, The control means, based on the update contents of the software notified from the execution environment that is the transmission destination of the held execution request, when the processing related to the execution request is not executable in the updated software Is controlled so as not to transmit the execution request.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, each execution environment includes an update content notifying unit that notifies the update content of software to another execution environment, and the suspension Presenting means for presenting the user with the updated contents of the software notified from the execution environment to which the execution request has been sent, and reception for accepting instructions from the user regarding the processing related to the held execution request And the control means reflects the instruction received from the user by the receiving means in the transmission of the execution request by the transmitting means.

  The present invention according to claim 5 is an update status notification for notifying other execution environments of the update status of software operating in its own execution environment as each execution environment in a configuration having a plurality of execution environments. The software corresponding to the subsequent process operates in the course of the process, the storage process for storing the execution status of the software update notified from another execution environment, and the series of processes executed using a plurality of software. Based on the transmission process for transmitting the execution request for the subsequent process to the execution environment and the storage content of the storage process, the software operates if the software corresponding to the subsequent process is being updated. The execution request by the transmission process to the execution environment to be suspended is suspended, and the suspension is performed after the software update is completed Which had been an execution request and a control process for controlling so as to transmit from the transmission processing, a program for realizing the execution environment is executed.

  According to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, the software used in the process can be updated even during the execution of a series of processes, and the software can be updated even during the software update. A series of processes including processes can be started.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the processing can be executed as it is for other processing that does not depend on processing by software being updated.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a process related to an execution request that has been put on hold cannot be executed by the updated software, the process can be stopped.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the user can change the processing contents in accordance with the update contents of the software corresponding to the processing related to the pending execution request.

It is a figure which illustrates the basic composition of the information processor concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which illustrates the functional block of each OS in the information processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the job performed by the information processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the main hardware in the information processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the following, a case where the information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a multifunction peripheral having a combination of functions such as scan, print, and fax will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. is not.

FIG. 1 illustrates a basic configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The information processing apparatus of this example operates an OS (A) 3 that is an execution environment of software that operates a hypervisor 2 on hardware 1 that is a physical component of a computer and executes processing related to each function, OS (B) Each OS such as 4,... Is configured to operate as a virtual environment on the hypervisor 2, and processing related to each function is executed on the OS suitable for the function. . Each OS such as OS (A) 3, OS (B) 4,... Can communicate with each other via the hypervisor 2.

  In this example, the OS (A) 3 is provided with a scanner control function, a print engine control function, and a FAX board control function, and a user interface for presenting information regarding these functions and receiving operations. (UI) control function is implemented, and only a function on OS (A) 3, for example, a copy service that forms a paper image read from a paper medium by a scanner on another paper medium by a print engine and outputs it In addition, it is possible to provide a FAX service for transmitting a paper image read from a paper medium by a scanner to another FAX terminal using a FAX board.

The OS (B) 4 is mounted with a communication interface (communication I / F) for performing wired or wireless communication with an external device or system via a network, and the OS (A) 3 For example, a print service based on electronic data received together with a print instruction from an external terminal is formed on a paper medium by a print engine and output, or a paper image read from a paper medium by a scanner is output. A scan transfer service for transferring electronic data to a specified address can be provided.
A box function, which is a function for storing electronic data such as images, is implemented in each of OS (A) 3 and OS (B) 4, and the electronic data stored by each box function is stored in OS (A) 3 , OS (B) 4 can be accessed from each.

Here, in this example, considering that the OS (A) 3 side is provided with a function such as a scanner control function that requires immediate responsiveness for processing execution, the OS (A) 3 is real-time. An OS is used, and a general-purpose OS is used for OS (B) 4. In this specification, a real-time OS refers to an OS configured with an emphasis on ensuring that the response time for processing requests such as external interrupts is within a certain range (ensuring immediate response), A general-purpose OS refers to an OS that is configured to be used for various purposes in a variety of situations, while ensuring less immediate response than a real-time OS.
Such a configuration is merely an example, and the type of each OS and the functions implemented in each OS are arbitrary.

FIG. 2 illustrates functional blocks of each OS such as OS (A) 3, OS (B) 4,.
The OS of this example includes a communication processing unit 11 that communicates with another OS via the hypervisor 2, and a software unit 12 that executes software corresponding to the requested processing and provides a service to the user. An update processing unit 13 that performs software update processing (update), a notification transmission unit 14 that notifies the execution status of software update by the update processing unit 13 to other OSs, and a notification reception that receives notifications from other OSs Unit 15, a notification storage unit 16 for storing the received notification content, an execution request receiving unit 17 for receiving a process execution request, a process control unit 18 for controlling a process execution request, and an execution request for a process in a pending state An execution request holding unit 19 for storing, an execution request transmitting unit 20 for transmitting a process execution request to another OS, and the like are provided.

First, the operation related to the notification of the execution status of the software update will be described with reference to FIG.
Each OS (for example, OS (B) 4) transmits update status information indicating the execution status of the software update to another OS by the notification transmission unit 14 in accordance with the software update processing by the update processing unit 13. The other OS is notified of the execution status of the software update in its own OS. When the update status information is received by the notification receiving unit 15, another OS (for example, OS (A) 3) stores the received update status information in the notification storage unit 16 and stores it.
In this example, as the update status information, information indicating whether or not the software update process is being executed is attached to the software identification information and transmitted. For example, the software update process is started. It may be possible to determine whether or not the software update process is being executed based on this information using information indicating that the software has been completed or ended. Further, for example, information of another format such as information indicating the progress of software update processing (how far the update processing has progressed) may be used.

Next, a series of processing (hereinafter referred to as “job”) executed using a plurality of software provided in each OS (OS (A) 3, OS (B) 4,...) Will be described.
As the job, for example, a process a for reading (scanning) an image of a paper medium, a process b for converting electronic data (image data) of a paper image obtained by the process a into a PDF (Portable Document Format) format, and a process b Continuously executing process c for sending electronic data (PDF data) after conversion to a specified address by mail, and process d for forming and outputting a paper image obtained by process a on a paper medium Etc.
In this example, processing a (scan) and processing d (print) are executed by the software unit 12 of the OS (A) 3, and processing b (format conversion) and processing c (mail) are executed by the software unit 12 of the OS (B) 4. Transmission) is executed.

In such a job, the relationship between process a (scan), process b (format conversion), process c (mail transmission), and process d (print) is as shown in FIG.
That is, the process b is executed after the process a is executed, the process c is executed after the process b is executed, and the process d is executed after the process a is executed (in parallel with the process b and the process c). In this case, it can be said that the process d can be executed without depending on the processes b and c, and similarly, the process b and the process c can be executed without depending on the process d.

Next, an operation based on such a job execution request will be described with reference to FIG.
In the following description, an execution request specified in the order of process a (scan), process b (format conversion), process c (mail transmission), and process d (print) is accepted from the user as a job execution request. Shall be.

When the OS (A) 3 receives an execution request for a job (processing a to d) from a user, the OS (A) 3 performs processing according to the following procedure under the control of the processing control unit 18.
First, the process a (scan) is executed by the software unit 12.
Next, the OS (B) that is the transmission destination of the execution request for the process b (format conversion) and the process c (mail transmission) based on the electronic data (image data) of the paper image obtained by the process a (scan). 4 confirms the execution status of the software update with reference to the storage content of the notification storage unit 16.

As a result of confirming the execution status of the software update in the OS (B) 4, if it is determined that the software update is being executed, the execution request of the processing b (format conversion) and the processing c (mail transmission) is transmitted. The execution request is held and the execution request is stored in the execution request holding unit 19. On the other hand, if it is determined that the software update is not being executed, execution requests for the processing b (format conversion) and the processing c (mail transmission) are transmitted to the OS (B) 4 by the execution request transmitting unit 20.
Thereafter, regardless of whether transmission of execution requests for processing b (format conversion) and processing c (mail transmission) is withheld or without suspension, processing b (format conversion) and processing c (mail transmission) are performed. The software section 12 executes a process d (print) that can be executed without depending on the software.

In addition, when transmission of execution requests for processing b (format conversion) and processing c (mail transmission) is suspended, the update status of software in the OS (B) 4 is periodically referred to the notification storage unit 16. The execution request of the process b (format conversion) and the process c (mail transmission) stored in the execution request holding unit 19 is read on the condition that the completion of the software update has been confirmed. The execution request transmission unit 20 transmits it to the OS (B) 4.
When the execution request receiving unit 17 receives the execution request for the processing b (format conversion) and the processing c (mail transmission) transmitted from the OS (A) 3, the OS (B) 4 is under the control of the processing control unit 18. , Processing b (format conversion) and processing c (mail transmission) are executed by the software unit 12 in this order.

  Here, the information processing apparatus of the present example is configured so that the next job can be received from the user even when the execution request is on hold, and similar jobs (processing a to d) in the case where the execution request is on hold. Is received, the executable process a (scan) and process d (print) are executed, and the process b (format conversion) and process c (e-mail) are executed in the same manner as the preceding job in which a part is put on hold. The transmission request is put on hold.

Next, the case where the function provided by the software is changed with the software update will be described.
The OS (B) 4 side updates the software related to the process b (format conversion), and the OS (A) 3 side issues an execution request for the process b (format conversion) and the process c (mail transmission). Assume that transmission is pending. Further, in this example, the update content information indicating the software update content by the update processing unit 13 is transmitted to the other OS by the notification transmission unit 14, thereby notifying the other OS of the software update content in its own OS. It is like that. The software update content can be detected by, for example, comparing the program attribute information describing a list of functions of the software with respect to the content before and after the software update.

  The OS (A) 3 holding the transmission of the execution request to the OS (B) 4 does not immediately transmit the execution request in the hold state after the completion of the software update in the OS (B) 4, but the process control Under the control of the unit 18, based on the update content information notified from the OS (B) 4, it is determined whether or not the process related to the execution request in the hold state can be executed by the updated software, and executed When it is determined that it is possible, the execution request is transmitted to the OS (B) 4 by the execution request transmitting unit 20, while when it is determined that it is not executable, the execution request is transmitted to the OS (B) 4. Discard without. In other words, when execution of a process related to an execution request in a pending state becomes impossible with the updated software, the execution request transmission unit 20 does not transmit the execution request.

  Explaining with specific examples, for example, the software corresponding to the processing b (format conversion) related to the execution request in the pending state is transferred to the PDF version V1.4, V1.5, V1.6 before the update. In the case where conversion is supported, but after the update, conversion to PDF of V1.6 and V1.7 versions is supported, the instruction content of processing b (format conversion) is V1.4. In the case of conversion to a version of PDF, since the process cannot be executed with the updated software, an execution request for the process b (format conversion) and the subsequent process c (mail transmission) is sent to the OS (B) 4. Discard without sending.

As described above, when processing related to an execution request in the pending state becomes impossible to execute in the updated software, the execution request is not discarded uniformly but related to the execution request in the pending state. You may make it show to a user that the process became impossible with the software after an update.
That is, the OS (A) 3 that has suspended transmission of the execution request to the OS (B) 4 is suspended based on the update content information notified from the OS (B) 4 under the control of the processing control unit 18. It is determined whether or not the process related to the execution request in the state can be executed by the updated software. If it is determined that the process can be executed, the execution request transmitting unit 20 sends the execution request to the OS (B) 4. On the other hand, if it is determined that it is not executable, the updated contents of the software are displayed together with information indicating that and presented to the user. Then, an instruction for a process related to an execution request that cannot be executed by the updated software is received from the user, and the contents of the instruction are reflected in the transmission of the execution request by the execution request transmission unit 20.

  Explaining with specific examples, for example, the software corresponding to the processing b (format conversion) related to the execution request in the pending state is transferred to the PDF version V1.4, V1.5, V1.6 before the update. In the case where conversion is supported, but after the update, conversion to PDF of V1.6 and V1.7 versions is supported, the instruction content of processing b (format conversion) is V1.4. If the version is converted to PDF, information indicating the change contents of the corresponding version of the software is added to the execution request information of the process b (format conversion) stored in the execution request holding unit 19; Continue to hold execution requests.

  In the job list screen that displays the execution status of each process that constitutes the job in a list format that is displayed in accordance with an instruction from the user, the process that cannot be restarted (cannot be executed with the updated software) Display that can recognize the processing related to the execution request (for example, change an icon image representing the execution state of the processing). In addition, when a user selects an item that cannot be restarted, a display indicating the reason (for example, a display indicating the change contents of the corresponding version of the software) is performed, and a process stop instruction or a process content change instruction is displayed. Is accepted from the user. As an example of the display indicating the reason why the process cannot be resumed, a message such as “Cannot convert to PDF V1.4. Please select an alternative process or cancel” is displayed. At the same time, options such as “convert to PDF V1.6” and “convert to PDF V1.7” are presented as changeable processes.

  If an instruction to stop the process is received, an execution request for the process b (format conversion) and the subsequent process c (mail transmission) is discarded without being sent to the OS (B) 4, and an instruction to change the process contents is issued. Is received, the execution request transmitting unit 20 transmits an execution request for the process b (format conversion) whose contents are changed based on the change instruction and the subsequent process c (mail transmission).

  In the above example, the process related to the execution request in the hold state cannot be executed by the updated software. However, the updated software changes are related to the process related to the execution request in the hold state. In such a case, a configuration may be adopted in which an instruction to change the processing content is received. That is, for example, when the instruction content of the processing b (format conversion) is conversion to a PDF version of V1.6, and the corresponding version of the updated software is V1.6 or V1.7, a new A display indicating that the version can be specified is displayed and an instruction to change the processing contents is accepted from the user, and the instruction contents are reflected in the transmission of the execution request (if there is a change instruction, the contents of the execution request are If there is no change instruction, the execution request is transmitted as it is).

  In the above description, execution request transmission control associated with software update is executed by the OS (this example) that transmits the execution request to the OS (OS (B) 4 in this example) on which the software update process is executed. The OS (A) 3) is a form that is performed, but may be performed in other forms, for example, a job that comprehensively controls the execution of a job that is executed using each software that a plurality of OSs have. A control OS is provided, and the job control OS performs execution request transmission control associated with software update.

Further, instead of controlling the transmission of the execution request as described above, the OS on the side receiving the execution request may perform execution control of processing related to the received execution request. In other words, the OS (OS (A) 3 in this example) that transmits the execution request transmits the execution request regardless of the software update status in the destination OS, and the OS that received the execution request The OS (OS (B) 4 in this example) holds the execution request received during the software update without executing it, and executes the process related to the execution request in the hold state after the software update is completed. Of course, as described above, the processing related to the execution request may be stopped, the reason why the processing cannot be resumed, the processing stop instruction or the processing content change instruction may be received.
As described above, if the execution request of the process using the software being updated is suspended without being executed, and the process related to the execution request in the hold state is executed after completion of the software update, the process is simply performed. The present invention can also be applied to an information processing apparatus with one OS configuration.

FIG. 4 illustrates the main hardware of a computer that operates as the information processing apparatus of this example.
In this example, a CPU 31 that performs various arithmetic processes, a RAM 32 that is a work area of the CPU 31, a main storage device such as a ROM 33 that records basic control programs, an auxiliary that stores programs and various data according to an embodiment of the present invention. Storage device (for example, magnetic disk such as HDD, rewritable nonvolatile memory such as flash memory, etc.) 34, display device for displaying and outputting various information, operation buttons used for input operations by an operator, touch panel, etc. The computer includes hardware resources such as an input / output I / F 35 that is an interface with the input device and a communication I / F 36 that is an interface for performing wired and wireless communication with other devices.
Then, the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is realized on the computer by reading the program according to the embodiment of the present invention from the auxiliary storage device 34 and the like, developing the program in the RAM 32, and causing the CPU 31 to execute the program. is doing.

Note that the program according to the embodiment of the present invention is based on, for example, a computer according to this example depending on a format read from an external storage medium such as a CD-ROM storing the program, a format received via a communication line, or the like. Set to
Further, the present invention is not limited to a mode in which the information processing apparatus is realized by the software configuration as in this example, and may be realized by using a dedicated hardware module.

1: hardware, 2: hypervisor, 3: OS (A), 4: OS (B),
11: Communication processing unit, 12: Software unit, 13: Update processing unit, 14: Notification transmission unit, 15: Notification reception unit, 16: Notification storage unit, 17: Execution request reception unit, 19: Execution request holding unit, 20 : Execution request transmitter

Claims (5)

Has multiple execution environments,
Each execution environment
Update status notification means for notifying other execution environments of the update status of software running in its own execution environment;
Storage means for storing the execution status of software updates notified from other execution environments;
Transmitting means for transmitting an execution request for the subsequent process to an execution environment in which software corresponding to the subsequent process operates in a series of processes executed using a plurality of software;
Based on the contents stored in the storage means, if the software update corresponding to the subsequent processing is being executed, the transmission of the execution request by the transmission means to the execution environment in which the software operates is suspended, and the software update Control means for controlling the transmission means to transmit the pending execution request after the completion of
An information processing apparatus characterized by that. The control means is in a state in which transmission of an execution request to an execution environment in which software corresponding to the subsequent process operates is suspended, and there is another process that can be executed without depending on the subsequent process. Controlling the execution request for the other processing to be transmitted by the transmission unit to the execution environment in which the corresponding software operates.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. Each execution environment has update content notification means for notifying other execution environments of software update content,
The control means, based on the update contents of the software notified from the execution environment that is the transmission destination of the held execution request, when the processing related to the execution request is not executable in the updated software To prevent the execution request from being sent,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. Each execution environment includes an update content notification means for notifying other execution environments of software update content, and the software update content notified from the execution environment that is the transmission destination of the held execution request to the user. Presenting means for presenting, and accepting means for accepting an instruction for processing related to the suspended execution request from a user,
The control unit reflects the instruction received from the user by the receiving unit in the transmission of the execution request by the transmitting unit;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. On the computer,
As each execution environment in a configuration having multiple execution environments,
Update status notification processing for notifying other execution environments of the update status of software running in its own execution environment;
A storage process for storing the execution status of software updates notified from other execution environments;
In the course of a series of processes executed using a plurality of software, a transmission process for transmitting an execution request for the subsequent process to an execution environment in which software corresponding to the subsequent process operates,
Based on the storage contents of the storage process, if the software update corresponding to the subsequent process is being executed, the transmission of the execution request by the transmission process to the execution environment in which the software operates is suspended, and the software update A control process for controlling the execution request that has been suspended after completion of the transmission to be transmitted by the transmission process;
A program for realizing the execution environment in which is executed.

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