JP2012056152A - Information processor, control method of information processor, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable time measurement alone even in the absence of network connection while a conventional power-saving performance is maintained most even when power supply to an RTC under a power-saving state is insufficient.SOLUTION: A main CPU 201 in which the power supply is shut off in the power-saving state manages a system time on the basis of a reference point time acquired from the RTC 210 at the time of starting. The main CPU 201 stores the present system time T1 in a memory 203 when shifting to the power-saving state (S416). In the power-saving state, a NIC CPU 301 in a LAN I/F 300 supplied with the power even in the power-saving state counts an elapsed time T2 in the power-saving state (S418-S421). Thereafter, when returning from the power-saving state, the main CPU 201 adjusts the present system time using the time value T1 stored in the memory 203 and the count value T2 of the NIC CPU 301 (T1+T2) (S423-S425).

Description

  The present invention relates to time management in an information processing apparatus.

  Strictly measuring and managing the time information of the system is an indispensable process for operating the system normally. By doing this, time-dependent processing such as automatic job execution at a specified time can be accurately executed.

  In a general information processing apparatus, a CPU and an RTC (Real Time Clock) are used as time measurement means. In general, the RTC is in charge of time measurement in a situation where the power supply to the system is limited. In order to drive even under such a situation, the RTC has a configuration with an auxiliary power source such as a primary battery. ing.

  In Patent Document 1, a copying machine is connected to a network, and time information of the copying machine is adjusted by acquiring time information from another server or the like on the network.

JP 2003-156579 A

  However, conventionally, when the network connection is not possible and only the RTC can manage the time of the system, if the power supply to the RTC is not sufficiently performed, the time cannot be measured. Therefore, there has been a problem that time management becomes insufficient, such as an error in the time information of the system for the time during which time measurement is impossible. Such a situation occurs, for example, when the battery associated with the RTC runs out of power during the power saving state.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. The object of the present invention is to measure the time and the time of itself without a network connection, while maintaining the conventional power saving performance, even when power is not supplied to the RTC in the power saving state. It is to provide a mechanism capable of managing information.

  The present invention is an information processing apparatus, a time measuring unit that measures time, a storage unit that stores time information acquired from the time measuring unit at a specific timing as base time information, and the base time information The first processing means that counts the elapsed time from the time indicated by and calculates the system time of the information processing apparatus from the count value and the base time information, and the progress when the information processing apparatus shifts to the power saving state Power is supplied to the second processing means for counting time, the time measuring means, the first processing means, the second processing means, and the storage means, and the time measurement is performed in the power saving state. And power supply means for cutting off power supply to the first processing means, and the first processing means calculates the first processing means when shifting to the power saving state. The system time is stored in the storage unit as power saving state transition time information, and the power saving state transition time information stored in the storage unit and the count value of the second processing unit when returning from the power saving state And adjusting processing for adjusting the system time of the information processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, even when power is not supplied to a time measuring means such as an RTC in a power saving state, the conventional power saving performance is substantially maintained, and even if there is no network connection, the device itself There are effects such as time measurement and time information management.

1 is a block diagram of a system including an image forming apparatus as an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a controller 3. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a LAN I / F 300 and a controller 3 in FIG. 2. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the system time management operation | movement of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

An image forming apparatus as an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system including an image forming apparatus as an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a scanner device 2, a printer device 4, an operation unit 5, an auxiliary storage device 6, a FAX device 7, and a controller 3.
The scanner device 2 optically reads an image from a document and converts it into a digital image. The printer device 4 outputs a digital image to a print target such as a print sheet. The operation unit 5 is for operating the image forming apparatus 1. The auxiliary storage device 6 is for storing a digital image, a control program, and the like. The FAX apparatus 7 is for transmitting a digital image to a telephone line or the like. A controller (control device) 3 is connected to each of the modules 2, 4 to 7, and controls the execution of jobs on the image forming apparatus 1 by giving instructions to the modules.

The image forming apparatus 1 can execute digital image input / output, job issuance, device instruction, and the like from the computer 9 via the LAN 8.
The scanner device 2 includes a document feeding unit (DF unit) 21 that can automatically and sequentially replace a bundle of documents, and a scanner unit 22 that can optically scan a document and convert it into digital image data. The image data digitally converted by the scanner unit 22 is transmitted to the controller 3.

The printer device 4 includes a marking unit S41 for printing image data (received from the controller 3) on the fed paper, a paper feeding unit 42 that can sequentially feed one sheet at a time, and ejects the printed paper. A paper discharge unit 43 is provided.
The image forming apparatus 1 has various functions such as a copy function, an image transmission function, an image storage function, and an image printing function, and can execute jobs corresponding to these functions. Each function will be described below.

The copying function is a function for recording an image read from the scanner device 2 in the auxiliary storage device 6 and simultaneously performing printing using the printer device 4.
The image transmission function is a function for transmitting an image read from the scanner device 2 to the computer 9 via the LAN 8.
The image storage function records the image read from the scanner device 2 in the auxiliary storage device 6. This function performs image transmission and image printing as necessary.
The image printing function is a function that analyzes, for example, a page description language transmitted from the computer 9 and prints it by the printer device 4.

Hereinafter, the controller 3 which is a module to which the present invention is specifically applied will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the controller 3.
As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 3 includes a main board 200 and a sub board 220.
The main board 200 is a so-called general-purpose CPU system.
The main board 200 includes a CPU 201, a boot ROM 202, a memory 203, a bus controller 204, a nonvolatile memory 205, a disk controller 206, a flash disk 207, a USB controller 208, an RTC 210, and the like.

  A CPU 201 (hereinafter, main CPU 201) controls the entire main board. A boot ROM (Boot Rom) 202 stores a boot program. A memory 203 is a memory used by the CPU 201 as a work memory. A bus controller 204 has a bridge function with an external bus. A non-volatile memory (Non Volatile Memory) 205 is a storage device that can keep data even when the power is turned off.

  A disk controller 206 controls a storage device (for example, auxiliary storage device 6). A flash disk 207 is a relatively small-capacity storage device configured by a semiconductor device such as an SSD. The USB controller 208 is for controlling a USB device (for example, the USB memory 209). The RTC 210 is a time measuring device that performs time measurement (time measurement) and management of the system.

  Externally connected to the main board 200 are a USB memory 209, an operation unit 5, a LAN I / F 300, an auxiliary storage device 6, and the like. A LAN I / F (LAN interface) 300 controls the connection with the LAN 8 and enables communication with the computer 9 via the LAN 8.

  The sub board 220 has a relatively small general-purpose CPU system and image processing hardware. The general-purpose CPU system includes a CPU 221, a memory 223, a bus controller 224, and a nonvolatile memory 225. The image processing hardware includes an image processor 227 that performs real-time digital image processing such as rotation processing, scaling processing, and color space conversion processing on the scanned image, and a device controller 226 (226a, 226b). It is.

  The CPU 221 (hereinafter referred to as sub CPU 221) controls the entire sub board. A memory 223 is a memory used by the CPU 221 as a work memory. A bus controller 224 has a bridge function with an external bus. A non-volatile memory (Non Volatile Memory) 225 is a storage device that can continue to hold data even when the power is turned off.

  An image processor 227 performs real-time digital image processing such as rotation processing, scaling processing, and color space conversion processing on the image data scanned by the scanner device 2. The image processor 227 receives digital image data from the scanner device 2 via a device controller 226a. The image processor 227 transmits digital image data to the printer device 4 via a device controller 226b. The FAX apparatus 7 is directly controlled by the CPU 221.

A power source 230 is connected to the controller 3. The power supply 230 supplies necessary power to each element constituting the controller 3.
This figure is a simplified block diagram. For example, the CPU 201, the CPU 221 and the like include a large number of CPU peripheral hardware such as a chip set, a bus bridge, and a clock generator, but are simply illustrated in this figure, and this block configuration does not limit the present invention. Absent.

Hereinafter, the operation of the controller 3 will be described taking image copying as an example.
When the user instructs image copying from the operation unit 5, the CPU 201 sends an image reading command to the scanner device 2 via the CPU 221. The scanner device 2 optically scans a paper document to convert it into digital image data, and inputs the digital image data to the image processor 227 via the device controller 226a. The image processor 227 performs DMA transfer to the memory 223 via the CPU 221 and temporarily stores the digital image data.

  When the CPU 201 can confirm that a certain amount or all of the digital image data has entered the memory 223, it issues an image output instruction to the printer device 4 via the CPU 221. The CPU 221 tells the image processor 227 the position of the image data in the memory 223. The image data on the memory 223 is transmitted to the printer device 4 via the image processor and the device controller 226b in accordance with the synchronization signal from the printer device 4. The printer device 4 prints the image data received via the device controller 226b on a print target (print medium). When performing multiple copies, the CPU 201 stores the image data in the memory 223 in the auxiliary storage device 6, and the second and subsequent copies transfer image data from the auxiliary storage device 6 without transferring image data from the scanner device 2. The image data can be sent to the printer device 4.

  The RTC 210 is a circuit that measures the elapsed time from the reference time, and an auxiliary power supply such as a primary battery (primary battery in this embodiment) as an auxiliary power supply unit for ensuring operation in the case where power supply from the power supply 230 is insufficient. A battery 400 (hereinafter referred to as a battery 400) is attached. That is, the power is supplied from the battery 400 to the RTC 210 when the power supply from the power source 230 is insufficient or cut off.

  The controller 3 has two states, a “normal state” and a “power saving state”, and a circuit group to which power is supplied is different in each state. In the normal state, the power source 230 supplies power to all the elements constituting the controller 3. On the other hand, in the power saving state, power is supplied to only some of the circuits that are the power supply target in the normal state. Specifically, power is supplied only to the locations (memory 203 and LAN I / F 300) that are double frames in FIG. Thus, in the power saving state, the power consumption is reduced by reducing the number of power supply target circuits. That is, in the power saving state, power is supplied from the battery 400 to the RTC 210.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the LAN I / F 300 and the controller 3 in FIG. As in FIG. 2, in this figure, the circuit to which power is supplied even in the power saving state is indicated by a double frame. Moreover, this figure is also a simplified block diagram, and this block configuration does not limit the present invention.

  The controller 3 includes a main CPU 201, a memory 203, an RTC 210, and a LAN I / F 300. The LAN I / F 300 includes a NIC CPU 301, a NIC memory (NIC RAM) 302, and a network I / F 303. NIC is an abbreviation for Network Interface Card.

In a normal state, a packet received by the network I / F 303 is transmitted to the main CPU 201 and analyzed by the main CPU 201.
On the other hand, in the power saving state, to save power, the main CPU 201 is not supplied with power, and the NIC CPU 301 performs packet processing. When a packet that cannot be processed by the NIC CPU 301 is received by the network I / F 303, the NIC CPU 301 stores the received packet in the NIC memory 302 and then performs a transition process to a normal state. The main CPU 201 that has returned to the normal state analyzes the packet stored in the NIC memory 302.

Next, a method for managing time information (hereinafter referred to as system time) in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
The main CPU 201 as the first processing unit acquires time information from the RTC 210 at a specific timing such as at the time of activation, and uses this as the base point of the system time. When the time information cannot be acquired from the RTC 210, the main CPU 201 uses the value input from the operation unit 5 as the base point of the system time. After the base time is determined, the main CPU 201 stores the base time (base time information) in the memory 203. Thereafter, the main CPU 201 calculates the system time from the counter value of the timer in the main CPU 201 (a count value obtained by counting the elapsed time from the time indicated by the base time information) and the base time information, and updates the system time as appropriate. Let the system time elapse. That is, after reading the time information from the RTC 210 at a specific timing such as when starting up, the main CPU 201 basically does not read the time information from the RTC 210 and updates the time using the timer in the main CPU 201. , Manage system time. This is because the timer in the CPU is generally more accurate than the RTC, and more accurate time management is possible. In addition, access to the timer in the CPU can be performed faster than access to the RTC, so that the time information read time can be shortened.

  In the power saving state, the main CPU 201 is not supplied with power, so the NIC CPU 301 as the second processing unit uses the timer in the NIC CPU 301 to measure and store the elapsed time during the power saving state. When the NIC CPU 301 updates the time, the NIC memory 302 is used. When the NIC CPU 301 changes to the normal state, the main CPU 201 calibrates the system time of the memory 203 using the value of the NIC memory 302.

The system time management operation of the present invention will be described below using the flowchart of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the system time management operation of the present invention. 4, S411 to S417 and S423 to S425 indicate processing executed by the main CPU 201 based on programs recorded in the boot ROM 202, USB memory 209, or auxiliary storage device 6, and S418 to S422 are booted by the NIC CPU 301. A process executed based on a program recorded in the ROM 202, the USB memory 209, or the auxiliary storage device 6 is shown.

In the normal power state, the main CPU 201 performs normal processing such as task processing and time measurement (S411) until a power saving state transition request is received (during No in S412).
The operation unit 5 that has received the power saving request from the user notifies the main CPU 201 of a power saving transition request signal by hardware interruption. As means for generating a power saving transition request signal, there is no operation from the operation unit 5 for a certain period of time, there is no reception of a specific packet at the LAN interface 8 for a certain period of time, or there is no facsimile reception at the FAX apparatus 7 In other cases, other means such as a means for generating a timer interrupt may be used. The specific packet is a packet indicating an instruction that cannot be executed unless the image forming apparatus 1 is returned from the power saving state to the normal power state. For example, the specific packet is stored in the auxiliary storage device 6 or a print request. A packet or the like for instructing an acquisition request for image data. It is a design matter that what kind of packet is received to return to the normal power state, and the present invention is not limited to the example of the packet.

  When the main CPU 201 receives the power saving transition request signal (Yes in S412), the main CPU 201 determines whether or not the battery 400 attached to the RTC 210 is insufficient (power supply from the auxiliary power supply is insufficient). (S413).

  If it is determined that the battery 400 attached to the RTC 210 is insufficient (the power supply from the auxiliary power supply is insufficient) (Yes in S414), the main CPU 201 advances the process to S415. In S415, the main CPU 201 sets a battery exhaustion flag in the memory 203 (sets the battery exhaustion flag held in the memory 203 to the On state), and proceeds to S416. In S416, the main CPU 201 stores the current system time (calculated from the base time information held in the memory 203 and the timer value in the main CPU 201) in the memory 203 as the power saving state transition time information T1, The process proceeds to S417.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the battery 400 attached to the RTC 210 is not short (the battery power is sufficient (the power supply from the auxiliary power supply is sufficient)) (No in S414), the main CPU 201 proceeds to S417 as it is. Proceed with the process.

  In S417, the main CPU 201 performs a power saving state transition process. In the power saving state transition process, the main CPU 201 notifies the NIC CPU 301 of a power saving state transition request. Further, the main CPU 201 sets the NIC CPU 301 so as to accept a request for shifting to the normal power state from the outside, or sets the processing when returning to the normal power state to the main CPU 201 itself. Then, the main CPU 201 gives an instruction to cut off the power supply from the power source 230 to the main CPU 201 and the like. The power supply setting for such a power saving state is performed. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to a power saving state, and power supply from the power source 230 to the main CPU 201 and the like is cut off (power cut off).

Hereinafter, the processing of the NIC CPU 301 will be described using S418 to S422.
The NIC CPU 301 that has received the power saving state transition request signal from the main CPU 201 starts time measurement (S418). Thereafter, the NIC CPU 301 continues the processing in the power saving state such as time measurement (S419) until the normal state transition request signal is received (during No in S420). That is, the NIC CPU 301 counts the time from the time when the power saving state transition request is received to the time when the normal state transition request is received (that is, the time when the power saving state is established) by the timer in the NIC CPU 301. At this time, the NIC CPU 301 uses the NIC RAM 302 as necessary.
Note that, when the LAN I / F 300 receives a specific packet, the network I / F 303 transmits a normal state transition request signal to the NIC CPU 301.
If the NIC CPU 301 determines that the normal state transition request signal has been received from the network I / F 303 (Yes in S420), the processing proceeds to S421.

  In S421, the NIC CPU 301 determines the time from when it received the power saving state transition request to when it received the normal state transition request (time counted by the timer in the NIC CPU 301 by the above time measurement (time value T2). ) In the NIC memory 302. Further, the NIC CPU 301 issues an instruction to resume power supply from the power source 230 to the main CPU 201 and the like. As a result, power supply from the power source 230 to the main CPU 201 and the like is resumed, the main CPU 201 is activated, and the image forming apparatus 1 shifts (returns) from the power saving state to the normal power state.

  Next, the NIC CPU 301 performs a normal state transition process such as notifying the main CPU 201 of a normal state transition request signal and setting the NIC CPU 301 to accept a request for transition to the power saving state from the outside. Note that the execution order of S421 and S422 may be reversed.

Hereinafter, the processing of the main CPU 201 after returning will be described using S423 to S426.
The main CPU 201 that has received the normal power state transition request signal from the NIC CPU 301 performs setting (power supply setting for normal state) such as transition to the power saving state by the power saving transition request signal from the operation unit 5 or the like.

  In step S423, the main CPU 201 determines whether or not the battery running flag is set (the battery running flag held in the memory 203 is in the On state). If it is determined that the battery exhaustion flag is set (the battery exhaustion flag stored in the memory 203 is in the On state) (Yes in S423), the main CPU 201 advances the process to S424.

  In S424, the main CPU 201 obtains the time value T1 measured by the main CPU 201 from the memory 203 and stored in S416, and the time value T2 measured by the NIC CPU 301 and stored in S421 from the NIC memory 302, respectively. Then, the main CPU 201 derives the sum (T1 + T2) of the obtained time values and sets it as the current system time T3. That is, the main CPU 201 stores T1 + T2 = T3 in the memory 203 as a new system time base point (base time information) (time adjustment process). In step S425, the main CPU 201 resumes normal processing such as time measurement and task processing. That is, the process returns to the state of S411 described above. Note that the method of deriving the current system time T3 in S424 is not limited to T3 = T1 + T2, and other methods such as adding correction processing may be used. When the time is adjusted in S424, the main CPU 201 may also adjust the time of the RTC 210.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the battery exhaustion flag is not raised (the battery exhaustion flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 205 is not in the On state (Off state)) (No in S423), the main CPU 201 proceeds to S426. To proceed.

  In S425, the main CPU 201 reads time information from the RTC 210, and sets the read time information to the current system time. That is, the main CPU 201 stores the time information read from the RTC 210 in the memory 203 as a new system time base point. In step S425, the main CPU 201 resumes normal processing such as time measurement and task processing. That is, the process returns to the state of S411 described above.

  In the present embodiment, the NIC CPU 301 is configured to use the NIC memory 302. However, in a configuration in which the NIC CPU 301 can access the memory 203 even in the power saving state, the NIC CPU 301 uses the memory 203. Also good. For example, the time value T2 may be stored in the memory 203 in S421 of FIG.

  As described above, even when power is not sufficiently supplied to the RTC 210 under the power saving state, the image forming apparatus itself can be used alone without network connection while maintaining the conventional power saving performance. Time measurement and time information management can be performed.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus has been described as an embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention. However, any information processing apparatus having an RTC and capable of shifting to a power saving state is used. However, the present invention is applicable.

It should be noted that the configuration and contents of the various data described above are not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the various data and configurations are configured according to the application and purpose.
Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or storage medium. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.
Moreover, all the structures which combined said each Example are also contained in this invention.

(Other examples)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or a processor such as a CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus executes the program. It is a process to read and execute.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not. That is, the present invention includes all the combinations of the above-described embodiments and modifications thereof.

1 Image forming device 3 Controller (control device)
200 Main board 201 CPU (Main CPU)
203 Memory 300 LAN I / F
301 NIC CPU
302 NIC memory 230 Power supply

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus,
Time measuring means for measuring time; and
Storage means for storing time information acquired from the time measuring means at a specific timing as base time information;
First processing means for counting an elapsed time from the time indicated by the base time information, and calculating a system time of the information processing device from the count value and the base time information;
A second processing means for counting an elapsed time when the information processing apparatus shifts to a power saving state;
Power is supplied to the time measuring means, the first processing means, the second processing means, and the storage means. In the power saving state, power is supplied to the time measuring means and the first processing means. Power supply means for cutting off,
When the first processing unit stores the system time calculated by the first processing unit in the storage unit as power saving state transition time information when shifting to the power saving state, and when returning from the power saving state And performing an adjustment process for adjusting the system time of the information processing apparatus using the power saving state transition time information stored in the storage means and the count value of the second processing means. apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first processing unit also adjusts time information of the time measuring unit based on the system time adjusted by the adjustment processing. Auxiliary power supply means for supplying power to the time measuring means in the power saving state,
When the first processing unit determines that the power supply from the auxiliary power supply unit is insufficient when shifting to the power saving state, the power supply from the auxiliary power supply unit is insufficient. Information is stored in the storage means, and information indicating that the power supply from the auxiliary power supply means is insufficient is stored in the storage means when the power saving state is restored. And adjusting the system time of the information processing apparatus using the power saving state transition time information stored in the storage unit and the count value of the second processing unit. The information processing apparatus according to 1 or 2. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus,
The first processing means stores the time information acquired from the time measuring means at a specific timing in the storage means as base time information;
A first measuring unit that counts an elapsed time from the time indicated by the base time information, and calculates a system time of the information processing device from the count value and the base time information;
A second processing means that counts an elapsed time when the information processing apparatus shifts to a power saving state;
A power supply step in which power supply means supplies power to the time measurement means, the first processing means, the second processing means, and the storage means;
When the first processing unit shifts to the power saving state, the storage step stores the system time calculated by the first processing unit in the storage unit as power saving state transition time information;
A power shutoff step for shutting off power supply to the time measuring means and the first processing means in the power saving state;
When the first processing means returns from the power saving state, the information processing is performed using the power saving state transition time information saved in the storage means in the saving step and the count value in the counting step. An adjustment step for adjusting the system time of the device;
A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising:   The program for functioning a computer as a means of the information processing apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3.

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