JP2013016005A - Information processing device, control method therefor, and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To always keep a data transfer rate constant when using first and second storage devices in combination.SOLUTION: A CPU 301 detects a data transfer rate in an HDD 351 as a detected transfer rate, and determines whether to transfer data to an SSD 352 according to the detected transfer rate. Then, when determining to transfer data to the SSD, the CPU determines a proportion of transferring data to the HDD and the SSD as a transfer proportion so that the data transfer rate becomes higher than the detected transfer rate. A disk controller 350 transfers data to the HDD and the SSD according to the transfer proportion.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a control program, and more particularly to control of a storage device according to a difference in data transfer speed in an information processing apparatus including a plurality of storage devices.

  In recent years, a hard disk (HDD), which is one of storage devices, has been increased in capacity and size, and HDDs are used in various information processing apparatuses. On the other hand, a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory (SSD), which is one of storage devices, is also used in various information processing apparatuses along with an increase in speed and price.

  Incidentally, the data transfer speed in the HDD is slower than that of a semiconductor memory such as a DRAM. For this reason, particularly when transferring a large amount of data such as image data, the data transfer speed may be slower than the image processing speed, resulting in a delay in image processing and a bottleneck in image processing capability.

  Further, in the HDD, the transfer speed is different between the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side of the disk (platter). In addition, in the random transfer accompanied by the movement of the magnetic head, the transfer speed becomes slower than the sequential transfer. Under such circumstances, when data is transferred to the HDD, the processing in the information processing apparatus is further delayed.

  On the other hand, unlike the HDD, the SSD has no mechanical drive parts, so that the SSD is less deteriorated even when used for a long time. And since there is no mechanical drive part, the movement time of the magnetic head caused by the rotation of the platter like HDD does not occur in the first place. For this reason, the overhead time required for data retrieval can be shortened, and response performance can be improved as compared with the HDD. Considering this point, SSD is used as a storage device in addition to HDD.

  However, SSDs have a limited number of block erases, and if data writing is concentrated on SSDs, the number of SSD erases increases, resulting in a shortened SDD rewrite life.

  An image forming apparatus such as a digital multifunction peripheral, which is one of information processing apparatuses, is equipped with storage devices such as HDDs and SSDs. Programs are stored in these storage devices and image data to be processed is temporarily stored. Stored. In addition, a partial storage area of the storage device is opened to the user, and data can be stored as a user use area.

  As a management method of a storage device, for example, there is one in which the storage ratio with respect to the SSD is increased as the storage position in the HDD goes to the inner peripheral side of the platter (see Patent Document 1). Here, by adjusting the storage ratio between the HDD and the SDD, the data transfer speed is made constant over the entire surface of the HDD platter, and the data transfer speed when the HDD and SSD are used together as a storage device is improved. ing.

JP 2009-237902 A

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, although the data transfer rate is changed by changing the storage ratio with respect to the SDD in accordance with the storage position of the platter in the HDD, the random transfer that causes the magnetic head to move in the HDD. If this is done, the data transfer rate cannot be made constant.

  When random transfer is performed, the magnetic head moves, so that the transfer speed is inevitably reduced compared to sequential transfer. Therefore, as described in Patent Document 1, when the storage ratio with respect to the SDD is determined according to the storage position of the HDD platter, the data transfer speed decreases with the movement time of the magnetic head.

  That is, when using together the 1st storage device provided with a mechanical drive component, and the 2nd storage device without a mechanical drive component, it is difficult to always make data transfer speed constant.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide information that allows the data transfer rate to be always constant when using both a first storage device having a mechanical drive component and a second storage device having no mechanical drive component. A processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a control program are provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first storage device and a second storage device, transfers data to at least the first storage device, and processes the data. An information processing apparatus that performs transfer of the data to the first storage device, a transfer rate detecting unit that detects a data transfer rate in the first storage device as a detected transfer rate, and a detected transfer rate. In response, if the determination unit determines whether to transfer the data to the second storage device and the determination unit determines to transfer the data to the second storage device, The first storage device and the second storage device so that the data transfer speed is increased. A determination unit that determines a rate of transferring the data to a chair as a transfer rate, and a transfer control unit that transfers the data to the first storage device and the second storage device according to the transfer rate. It is characterized by.

  The control method according to the present invention is a control method for an information processing apparatus that includes a first storage device and a second storage device, transfers data to at least the first storage device, and processes the data. Then, when transferring the data to the first storage device, a transfer rate detecting step of detecting a data transfer rate in the first storage device as a detected transfer rate, and the second according to the detected transfer rate A determination step for determining whether or not to transfer the data to a storage device, and a data transfer rate higher than the detected transfer rate when it is determined in the determination step that the data is transferred to the second storage device. So that the first storage device and the second storage device And a transfer control step of transferring the data to the first storage device and the second storage device in accordance with the transfer rate. To do.

  A control program according to the present invention includes a first storage device and a second storage device, and is used in an information processing apparatus that transfers data to at least the first storage device and processes the data. A transfer rate detecting step of detecting a data transfer rate in the first storage device as a detected transfer rate when transferring the data to the first storage device to a computer included in the information processing apparatus; A determination step of determining whether or not to transfer the data to the second storage device according to the detected transfer rate, and a determination that the determination step transfers the data to the second storage device; The first transfer rate is faster than the detected transfer rate. A determination step of determining, as a transfer rate, a rate of transferring the data to the storage device and the second storage device; and transferring the data to the first storage device and the second storage device according to the transfer rate The transfer control step is executed.

  According to the present invention, even when the first storage device and the second storage device are used in combination, the data transfer rate can always be kept constant.

1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus that is an example of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the controller part demonstrated in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data transfer rate in the HDD 351 shown in FIG. 2. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a selection operation when image data is written in a storage device in the controller unit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining transfer of image data to a transfer destination storage device by the disk controller shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on an operation unit when the SSD write count illustrated in FIG. 2 reaches an upper limit count. It is an operation | movement flowchart of a disk controller.

  Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus which is an example of an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a multifunction peripheral (MFP) as an image forming apparatus that is one of information processing apparatuses. The illustrated MFP 1 includes a scanner unit 101 that is an image input device and a printer unit 102 that is an image output device.

  Now, when a print instruction is input to a controller unit (not shown) by a user operation, the controller unit gives an image reading instruction to the scanner unit 101. In response to the image reading instruction, the scanner unit 101 performs an image reading operation. That is, the scanner unit 101 exposes and scans an image on a document, and inputs the reflected light to a photoelectric conversion unit (not shown) such as a CCD. The photoelectric conversion unit photoelectrically converts the reflected light to convert it into RGB (red / green / blue) electrical signals (image signals), and outputs the electrical signals to a controller unit (not shown).

  The controller unit performs predetermined processing on the image signal to obtain image data. This image data is given from the controller unit to the printer unit 102. Under the control of the controller unit, the printer unit 102 forms an image on a sheet according to the image data, for example, by an electrophotographic process.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the controller unit described in FIG.

  The controller unit 103 is electrically connected to the scanner unit 101 and the printer unit 102. The controller unit 103 can communicate with a PC and an external device via the LAN 8.

  The controller unit 103 includes a CPU CPU 301, and the CPU 301 comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to the controller unit 103 based on a control program stored in the ROM 303. Further, the CPU 301 comprehensively controls various processes executed by the controller unit 103.

  A RAM 302 is a system work memory used by the CPU 301. The RAM 302 is also used as a memory for temporarily storing image data. Note that the RAM 302 includes SRAM and DRAM, and the SRAM retains stored data even after the power is turned off. On the other hand, in the DRAM, the stored data is erased after the power is turned off. The ROM 303 also stores a boot program related to the MFP.

  The disk controller 350 is connected to a hard disk (HDD) 351 (first storage device) and a flash memory (SSD) 352 (second storage device) which is a semiconductor memory. These HDD 351 and SSD 352 store system software, image data, and the like.

  The operation unit I / F 305 is an interface unit for connecting the system bus 310 and the operation unit 120. The operation unit I / F 305 receives image data to be displayed on the operation unit 120 from the system bus 310 and outputs the image data to the operation unit 120. Further, the operation unit 1 / F 305 outputs information input from the operation unit 120 to the system bus 310.

  A network I / F 306 is connected to the LAN 8 and the system bus 310 to input / output information to / from the LAN 8. The image bus 330 is a transmission path for transmitting and receiving image data. In the illustrated example, the image bus 330 is constituted by a PCI bus.

  The scanner image processing unit 312 performs image processing such as correction, processing, and editing on image data received from the scanner unit 101 via the scanner I / F 311. The scanner image processing unit 312 determines whether the received image data is color image data or monochrome image data, and determines whether the image data is character data or photographic document data. Also do. Then, the scanner image processing unit 312 adds the determination result obtained by the determination to the image data as additional information (accompanying information). Image data to which such accompanying information is added is called image area data. The scanner image processing unit 312 sends the image data to the compression unit 313, and the compression unit 313 compresses the image data.

  Here, the copy operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, the image data obtained as a result of reading by the scanner unit 101 is sent to the scanner image processing unit 312 via the scanner I / F 311 and subjected to image processing. The compression unit 313 generates so-called tile data by dividing the image data into blocks of 32 pixels × 32 pixels, for example, and compresses these tile data. The compressed image data is sent from the compression unit 313 to the RAM 302 and stored in the RAM 302.

  Note that the compressed image data is sent from the compression unit 313 to the image conversion unit 317 as necessary. In this case, the image conversion unit 317 performs image processing on the image data and then stores the image data in the RAM 302.

  The image data read from the RAM 302 under the control of the CPU 301 is written to the HDD 351 or the SSD 352 by the disk controller 350. Note that which of the HDD 351 and the SSD 352 is selected when the image data is written to the HDD 351 or the SSD 352 will be described later.

  On the other hand, the disk controller 350 sends the image data read from the HDD 351 or the SSD 352 to the system bus 310. This image data is sent to the decompression unit 316 via the system bus 310. The decompression unit 316 decompresses image data. Further, the decompression unit 316 raster-expands image data composed of a plurality of tile data after decompression processing.

  The rasterized image data is sent to the printer image processing unit 315. The printer image processing unit 315 performs image processing on the rasterized image data, and then sends the image data to the printer unit 102 via the printer I / F 314. As described above, the printer unit 102 forms an image.

  Note that image data obtained as a result of reading by the scanner unit 101 is temporarily stored in the HDD 351 or the SSD 352 because a work area for performing a page replacement process or the like is required.

  Next, printing of PDL (page description language) data sent via the LAN 8 shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

  When receiving the PDL data from the PC 6 via the LAN 8, the CPU 301 stores the PDL data in the RAM 302 via the network I / F 306. The CPU 301 analyzes the PDL data and generates intermediate data according to the analysis result. The intermediate data is sent from the CPU 301 to a RIP (raster image processor) 328.

  The RIP 328 renders the intermediate data to generate raster format image data. The raster format image data is sent from the RIP 328 to the compression unit 329. The compression unit 329 performs compression processing after dividing the image data into blocks. The compressed image data is temporarily written in the RAM 302.

  The image data read from the RAM 302 under the control of the CPU 301 is written to the HDD 351 or the SSD 352 by the disk controller 350. Note that which of the HDD 351 and the SSD 352 is selected when the image data is written to the HDD 351 or the SSD 352 will be described later.

  The image data read from the HDD 351 or the SSD 352 by the disk controller 350 is sent to the bus 310. As described above, the image data is expanded by the expansion unit 316 and then subjected to predetermined image processing by the printer image processing unit 315. Thereafter, the image data is sent to the printer unit 102 via the printer I / F 314.

  By the way, when the image data stored in the RAM 302 is stored in the HDD 351 or the SSD 352 as described above, the CPU 301 attaches a file name corresponding to the user setting to the image data. Then, the CPU 301 writes image data to a predetermined directory on the HDD 351 or the SSD 352 by the disk controller 350. This writing operation is called a box storing operation.

  When reading the image data stored in the HDD 351 or the SSD 352, the disk controller 350 reads the image data under the control of the CPU 301. At this time, the CPU 301 performs processing such as displaying the image data as an image on the operation unit 120 or sending the image data to a predetermined mail address, in addition to the print processing, in accordance with a user setting.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data transfer rate in the HDD 351 shown in FIG.

  As described above, the HDD 351 as the first storage device has mechanical drive components, and the data transfer speed differs between the inner periphery side and the outer periphery side of the disk (platter). Specifically, the data transfer rate is faster toward the outer periphery side of the platter, and the data transfer rate is decreased as the inner periphery side of the platter is approached. For example, in the case of a 3.5-inch HDD 351, the data transfer rate is 80 MB / sec to 40 MB / sec. On the other hand, the SSD 352 has no mechanical drive components, and its data transfer rate is 100 MB / sec.

  In FIG. 3, a transfer rate threshold 500 indicates a minimum image data transfer rate required for various operations. When the storage position in the HDD 351 is on the inner circumference side of the platter, the data transfer rate is lowered as shown by the curve 501 and falls below the transfer rate threshold value 500.

  As will be described later, the disk controller 350 compares the data transfer rate in the HDD 351 with the transfer rate threshold value 500. Hereinafter, the data transfer rate in the HDD 351 is referred to as the HDD transfer rate. When the HDD transfer rate falls below the transfer rate threshold 500, the disk controller 350 increases the rate of transferring image data to the SSD 352 that is the second storage device.

  In this way, if the transfer ratio of image data to the SSD 352 is increased, the data transfer speed of the SSD 352 is faster than that of the HDD 351, so that the overall transfer speed can be improved. The transfer speed threshold 500 is set according to the image size in various operations such as a copy operation and a PDL print operation.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a selection operation when the controller unit 103 shown in FIG. 2 writes image data to the storage device.

  2 and 4, here, HDD 351 and SSD 352 shown in FIG. 2 are storage devices, respectively. Now, as described above, the image data obtained as a result of reading by the scanner unit 311 is stored in the storage device.

  When receiving the print job (step S101), the CPU 301 detects the data transfer rate of the HDD 351 (first storage device) as the detected transfer rate (step S102). When detecting the data transfer speed, for example, the CPU 301 controls the disk controller 350 to transfer predetermined image data to the HDD 351 and measures the time until the data transfer is completed (data transfer time). To do. Then, the CPU 301 obtains a data transfer rate (HDD transfer rate) by dividing the data amount of the predetermined image data by the measurement time (transfer time).

  Subsequently, the CPU 301 compares the HDD transfer rate with the transfer rate threshold value 500 (step S103). Then, the CPU 301 determines a storage device for storing image data according to the comparison result (step S104). If the HDD transfer speed is equal to or higher than the transfer speed threshold value 500, the CPU 301 sets the disk controller 350 to transfer all of the image data to the HDD 351.

  On the other hand, when the HDD transfer rate is lower than the transfer rate threshold value 500 (when it is less than the transfer rate threshold value), in step S104, the CPU 301 determines the HDD 351 and the HDD 351 according to the difference between the transfer rate threshold value 500 and HDD transfer rate. A ratio (transfer ratio) for transferring image data to the SSD 352 is set in the disk controller 350.

  When setting the transfer rate, the CPU 301 determines the transfer rate based on the following equation (1), for example.

(Transfer speed threshold) ≦ (HDD transfer speed) × α + (SSD transfer speed) × (1−α) Equation (1)
Here, the transfer rate α (α ≦ 1) represents the rate at which image data is transferred to the HDD 351. Then, the CPU 301 obtains the transfer rate α satisfying the expression (1) so as to satisfy the transfer rate necessary for transferring the image data.

  After the image data transfer destination storage device is specified as described above (step S105), the scanner image processing unit 312 and the compression unit 313 are read by the scanner unit 101 under the control of the CPU 301 as described above. The obtained image data is divided into blocks of 32 pixels × 32 pixels to generate tile data, and the tile data is compressed. The compressed image data is stored in the RAM 302.

  By the way, as described above, when the image data transfer destination storage device is determined, the CPU 301 associates the device identifier indicating the transfer destination storage device with the file name of the image data in a management table (not shown) stored in the RAM 302. Remember. At this time, the transfer rate is also stored in the management table in association with the device identifier.

  Subsequently, the CPU 301 reads the image data from the RAM 302 and sends it to the disk controller 350. The disk controller 350 transfers the image data to the designated transfer destination storage device.

  Assuming that the transfer ratio is HDD: SSD = 3: 7, the disk controller 350 transfers 3/10 of the image data to the HDD 351 that is the transfer destination storage device (step S106). Then, the disk controller 350 transfers 7/10 of the image data to the SSD 352 that is the transfer destination storage device.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining transfer of image data to the transfer destination storage device by the disk controller 350 shown in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the transfer ratio is HDD: SSD = 3: 7.

  Assume that a plurality of image data 701 are stored in the RAM 302. When transferring image data, the CPU 301 sends three pieces of image data 701 to the disk controller 350 in the order stored in the RAM 302, that is, in order from the oldest image data 701. Then, the disk controller 350 transfers these three image data to the designated HDD 351. At this time, the CPU 301 records in the management table that the three image data 701 are transferred to the HDD 351.

  Subsequently, the CPU 301 sends the next seven image data 701 to the disk controller 350. Then, the disk controller 350 transfers these seven image data to the designated SSD 352. At this time, the CPU 301 records in the management table that the seven image data 701 are transferred to the SSD 351.

  In this way, the CPU 301 sequentially sends the image data to the disk controller 350, and the disk controller 350 transfers the image data to the HDD 351 or the SSD 352. As a result, the HDD 351 and the SDD 352 store image data at a ratio of 3: 7.

  Subsequently, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the data transfer has been completed for all image data (step S108). When transfer of all the image data is completed (YES in step S108), CPU 301 ends the transfer process.

  On the other hand, if the transfer has not been completed for all the image data (NO in step S108), the CPU 301 returns to the process in step S105 and continues the transfer process.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit 120 when the number of times of writing to the SSD 352 illustrated in FIG.

  Here, since the SSD 352 has an upper limit on the number of writes, the CPU 301 monitors whether or not the number of writes to the SSD 352 has reached a predetermined upper limit. Then, when the number of times of writing to the SSD 352 reaches the upper limit number of times, the CPU 301 temporarily stops the transfer of image data to the SSD 352. Subsequently, as indicated by reference numeral 121, the CPU 301 displays “Please replace the storage device (SSD)” on the screen of the operation unit 120 and prompts the user to replace it.

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, it is determined whether to transfer image data to the SSD according to the data transfer speed of the HDD, and the data transfer speed is set to a predetermined transfer speed threshold value or less. Set the transfer rate so that Therefore, even when HDDs and SSDs are used as storage devices, it is possible to prevent a decrease in data transfer rate and always maintain a constant data transfer rate.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an example of an MFP that is one of information processing apparatuses according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the configuration of the MFP according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the MFP shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the selection operation when the controller unit 103 shown in FIG. 2 writes image data to the storage device when a print job conflicts.

  In FIG. 7, the same steps as those in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  2 and 7, as described with reference to FIG. 4, when the print job (first job) is received in step S101, the CPU 301 executes the processes in steps S102 to S104 to set the transfer rate to the disk. Set in controller 350.

  Subsequently, the CPU 301 detects whether or not there is a new print job (second job) (step S205). If there is no new print job (NO in step S205), the CPU 301 performs steps S105 to S108.

  On the other hand, if a new print job is detected (YES in step S205), since the transfer ratio to the HDD 351 has already been specified in the first print job, data transfer related to the new print job is random transfer. As a result, the data transfer speed of the HDD 351 decreases.

  For this reason, the CPU 301 returns to the process of step S101, receives the new print job, performs the processes of steps S102 to S104 again, and recalculates the transfer rate.

  As described above, after receiving a new print job and performing the processes of steps S102 to S104, the CPU 301 detects whether another new print job is received again in step S205. If another new print job is not received, the CPU 301 proceeds to the process of step S105 and transfers the image data to the HDD 351 and the SSD 352 in accordance with the transfer rate. When another new print job is received, the CPU 301 calculates the transfer rate again.

  Even during the same print job, the data transfer speed may decrease due to division of image data. For this reason, when a page unit or a certain amount of data is transferred to the storage device, the data transfer speed of the HDD 351 may be detected again.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, when a new print job is detected after the transfer rate is determined, the transfer rate is determined again in consideration of the new print job. Even when a print job is input, a constant data transfer speed can always be maintained without reducing the data transfer speed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus which is one of the information processing apparatuses has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to an information processing apparatus other than the image forming apparatus.

  As is apparent from the above description, in FIG. 2, the CPU 301 and the disk controller 350 function as a transfer speed detection unit, a determination unit, a determination unit, and a transfer control unit.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on embodiment, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, Various forms of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are also contained in this invention. .

  For example, the function of the above embodiment may be used as a control method, and this control method may be executed by the information processing apparatus. In addition, a program having the functions of the above-described embodiments may be used as a control program, and the control program may be executed by a computer included in the information processing apparatus. The control program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for example.

  At this time, each of the control method and the control program has at least a transfer speed detection step, a determination step, a determination step, and a transfer control step.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various recording media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

1 Image forming device (MFP)
8 LAN
101 Scanner unit 102 Printer unit 103 Controller unit 301 CPU
120 Operation unit 350 Disk controller 351 Hard disk (HDD)
352 Flash memory (SSD)

Claims (9)

An information processing apparatus having a first storage device and a second storage device, transferring data to at least the first storage device, and processing the data,
A transfer rate detecting means for detecting a data transfer rate in the first storage device as a detected transfer rate when transferring the data to the first storage device;
Determining means for determining whether to transfer the data to the second storage device according to the detected transfer speed;
When it is determined by the determination means that the data is transferred to the second storage device, the first storage device and the second storage device are configured so that the data transfer rate is faster than the detected transfer rate. A determination means for determining a rate of transferring data as a transfer rate;
An information processing apparatus comprising transfer control means for transferring the data to the first storage device and the second storage device in accordance with the transfer rate.   2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the transfer rate detection unit detects a data transfer time of the first storage device in accordance with a predetermined data amount and a transfer time of the data. Processing equipment.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the data is transferred to the second storage device when the detected transfer rate is less than a predetermined transfer rate threshold. .   The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines the transfer rate according to a difference between the detected transfer rate and the transfer rate threshold.   After the transfer rate is determined according to the first job, when a second job different from the first job is input, the determining means responds to the first job and the second job. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer rate is obtained.   The first storage device is a storage device in which the data transfer speed is faster as the data storage position is closer to the outer periphery of the platter, and the data transfer speed is lower as the storage position is closer to the inner periphery of the platter. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is characterized.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second storage device is a semiconductor memory. A control method for an information processing apparatus that has a first storage device and a second storage device, transfers data to at least the first storage device, and processes the data,
A transfer rate detecting step of detecting a data transfer rate in the first storage device as a detected transfer rate when transferring the data to the first storage device;
A determination step of determining whether to transfer the data to the second storage device according to the detected transfer speed;
If it is determined in the determination step that the data is transferred to the second storage device, the first storage device and the second storage device are configured so that the data transfer rate is faster than the detected transfer rate. A decision step for determining a data transfer rate as a transfer rate;
And a transfer control step of transferring the data to the first storage device and the second storage device in accordance with the transfer rate. A control program used in an information processing apparatus that has a first storage device and a second storage device, transfers data to at least the first storage device, and processes the data,
In the computer provided in the information processing apparatus,
A transfer rate detecting step of detecting a data transfer rate in the first storage device as a detected transfer rate when transferring the data to the first storage device;
A determination step of determining whether to transfer the data to the second storage device according to the detected transfer speed;
When it is determined in the determination step that the data is transferred to the second storage device, the first storage device and the second storage device are configured so that the data transfer rate is faster than the detected transfer rate. A decision step for determining a data transfer rate as a transfer rate;
A control program for executing a transfer control step of transferring the data to the first storage device and the second storage device according to the transfer rate.

Images