JP2013117833A - Information processor, control method therefor and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide notification of a failure of a nonvolatile memory in which start programs including firmware are recorded when the nonvolatile memory has failed, without requiring a redundant configuration of the nonvolatile memory.SOLUTION: When a first system storage area 10010 fails to be mounted during the start of controller software 10019, a CPU 33 executes update software 10014 to obtain a program file related to the controller software. According to the program file, the CPU expands an abnormality notification system 10018 including an abnormality notification function in a data area 10005, and executes the abnormality notification system to notify the outside of the abnormality of the first system storage area.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus activated by a program, a control method thereof, and a control program.

  In general, an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral is known as one of information processing apparatuses. In this type of image forming apparatus, a plurality of functions are provided in addition to the print function. For this reason, in an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine, there are a wide variety of variations when a failure occurs, and the service cost for performing maintenance tends to increase.

  In order to prevent an increase in service cost, for example, an image forming apparatus and a management server are connected via a network. When an abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus, the content of the abnormality is specified in the image forming apparatus, and the abnormality content is notified from the image forming apparatus to the management server. As a result, maintenance staff such as a maintenance company grasps the contents of the abnormality collectively by the management server, and efficiently arranges repairs and the like.

  When specifying the abnormal content in the image forming apparatus, for example, the controller software operating on the CPU specifies the abnormal content using an abnormal signal output from each device during the operation of the image forming apparatus as a trigger. Then, the controller software notifies the management server of the abnormality content via the network.

  Further, a so-called remote user interface function is used to access a web server provided by controller software from a web browser and refer to various information in the image forming apparatus. Here, the contents of the abnormality are confirmed by various information.

  Although the above-described abnormality notification method using the management server can provide a high function, since the abnormality is detected by the image forming apparatus and the content of the abnormality is specified, the functions of the image forming apparatus are complicated and diverse. Moreover, when an abnormality occurs in the abnormality notification function, the abnormality notification cannot be sent to the management server.

  By the way, with the enhancement of functions of image forming apparatuses, a system configuration using a general-purpose operating system (OS) such as Linux (registered trademark) is adopted from the viewpoint of maintainability and diversion of software resources.

  When a general-purpose OS is adopted, system software including the general-purpose OS is arranged in a file system generated on a nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk or a flash memory, and the image forming apparatus is activated using the nonvolatile memory as a startup disk.

  In general, a nonvolatile memory may be physically destroyed in units of sectors due to deterioration over time due to use. If the nonvolatile memory is destroyed, a program such as firmware cannot be read from the nonvolatile memory, and the controller software cannot be activated.

  When the nonvolatile memory is destroyed, it is necessary to replace the nonvolatile memory, and the maintenance person prepares a replacement nonvolatile memory and goes to the installation site of the image forming apparatus. At this time, it is only necessary to know in advance that the nonvolatile memory has been destroyed. However, if you do not know what the abnormality is, you will need to perform various inspections after arriving at the installation location to destroy the nonvolatile memory. It may be understood that. In such a case, a non-volatile memory for replacement may not be prepared in advance, and it takes time for maintenance and repair.

  In other words, even if the nonvolatile memory is destroyed, the efficiency of maintenance and repair will be improved if the details of the abnormality are known in advance, but the controller software will not operate when the nonvolatile memory is destroyed. The efficiency of maintenance and repair is inevitably reduced without functioning.

  On the other hand, in order to deal with an abnormality in the program storage area, there is one in which the program storage area has a redundant configuration (see Patent Document 1). In addition, in a network server or the like, a plurality of hard disks are configured as RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) as a countermeasure against a failure.

JP 2002-229742 A

  However, when the above redundant configuration is adopted, for example, a plurality of nonvolatile memories are provided. Normally, only one nonvolatile memory is used, and a redundant nonvolatile memory is used when the one nonvolatile memory is destroyed.

  When the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of nonvolatile memories, that is, when a redundant configuration is adopted, there is a problem that the cost is inevitably increased.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of notifying a failure when a failure occurs in a storage unit such as a nonvolatile memory in which a startup program such as firmware is recorded without taking a redundant configuration, The control method and the control program are provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first system storage area in which controller software for performing information processing and notification of abnormality related to the information processing is stored, and updating the controller software. First storage means in which a second system storage area storing update software to be performed is defined, execution means for executing the information processing, and used in the information processing at the time of execution of the information processing The second storage means in which a data area for storing the data to be stored is defined, and when the information processing fails to mount the first system storage area, the update software is executed to execute the controller software. An acquisition means for acquiring a program file according to the above, and for performing the abnormality notification according to the program file A development means for developing the normal notification system in the data area, and having a notifying means for notifying an abnormality of the abnormality notification by running the system the first system memory area to the outside.

  According to the present invention, when a failure occurs in a storage unit such as a nonvolatile memory in which a startup program such as firmware is recorded without taking a redundant configuration, the failure can be notified.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus that is an example of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a leader unit and a printer unit illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a control device provided in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an HDD and a flash memory illustrated in FIG. 3. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation from a first activation to an abnormality detection in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3. 4 is a flowchart for explaining operations from a second activation to an arrangement of an abnormality notification system in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3. 4 is a flowchart for explaining operations from a third activation to an abnormality notification in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

  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 block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus that is an example of an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, an image forming apparatus will be described as an example of an information processing apparatus, but the present invention is also applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a computer including a startup disk regardless of the image forming apparatus. Can do.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a multifunction peripheral (MFP), and the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to a network such as a LAN 400. Further, in the illustrated example, personal computers (PCs) 3 and 4 are connected to the LAN 400. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 can be connected to the PCs 3 and 4 via the network. Although not shown in FIG. 1, another PC may be connected to the LAN 400, and another MFP and printer may be connected. In addition, an image forming apparatus such as a printer may be directly connected to the PCs 3 and 4.

  The illustrated image forming apparatus 1 has a plurality of functions such as a copy function and a printer function. As the image forming apparatus, an SFP (Single Function Peripheral) having only a copy function or a printer function may be used.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control device (controller unit) 110. The control device 110 is connected to a reader device (leader unit) 2 and a printer device (printer unit) 6. The control device 110 receives various data from the reader unit 2 and the printer unit 6. In addition, the control device 110 transmits various commands to the reader unit 2 and the printer unit 6. Further, the control device 110 is connected to the PC 3 or 4 via the LAN 400 and receives image data and control commands from the PC 3 or 4. The LAN 400 is constructed by, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark). Each of the PCs 3 and 4 also monitors the device configuration and current status of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The reader unit 2 optically reads an image on a document to obtain image data. The reader unit 2 includes a scanner unit 11 and a document feeding unit (DF unit) 10. The DF unit 10 conveys the document to a position where it can be read by the scanner unit 11. Then, the image on the original is read by the scanner unit 11. The control device 110 controls the scanner unit 11 and the DF unit 10.

  The printer unit 6 includes a paper feed unit 12, a marking unit 13, and a paper discharge unit 14. The control device 100 controls the paper feed unit 12, the marking unit 13, and the paper discharge unit 14.

  Paper is stored in the paper supply unit 12, and the paper is conveyed from the paper supply unit 12 to the marking unit 13. The marking unit 13 forms an image corresponding to image data on a sheet by, for example, an electrophotographic process. Then, after image formation (printing) is performed, the paper is discharged by the paper discharge unit 14. The paper discharge unit 14 can perform processing such as sorting and stapling on the printed paper.

  The paper feed unit 12 is provided with a plurality of paper feed units. The paper supply unit can store a plurality of types of paper such as plain paper and glossy paper, for example. Further, the paper printed by the printer unit 6 can be stored again in the paper feeding unit. Examples of the sheet feeding unit include a sheet feeding cassette, a sheet feeding deck, or a manual sheet lay.

  The operation unit 7 includes, for example, a hard key, a liquid crystal display unit, and a touch panel unit affixed on the surface of the liquid crystal display unit, and a user instruction is received by the operation unit 7. Further, a soft key is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation unit 7 and the function and state of the image forming apparatus 1 are displayed.

  A command corresponding to a user instruction received by the operation unit 7 is sent to the control device 110. In the illustrated example, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 8, and the HDD 8 stores (also referred to as storage) a control program, various settings, image data, and the like related to the image forming apparatus 100. Is done.

  In FIG. 1, an HDD 9 and a flash memory (Flash memory) 99 shown in FIG. 3 to be described later are omitted.

  The illustrated image forming apparatus 1 has a plurality of functions such as a copy function, an image data transmission function, and a printer function. When using the copy function, as described above, the control device 110 controls the reader unit 2 to read the image data on the document, and controls the printer unit 6 to perform printing according to the image data.

  When using the image data transmission function, the control device 110 converts the image data obtained as a result of reading by the reader unit 2 into code data, and transmits the code data to the PC 3 or 4 via the LAN 400.

  When using the printer function, the control device 110 converts code data (print data) received from the PC 3 or 4 via the LAN 400 into image data and transmits the image data to the printer unit 6. Then, the printer unit 6 prints on the paper according to the received image data. The configuration of the control device 110 will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the reader unit 2 and the printer unit 6 shown in FIG.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the reader unit 2 is disposed on the printer unit 6. In the reader unit 2, a document or a document bundle is arranged in the DF unit 10. Then, the original or the original bundle is sequentially fed onto the platen glass 215 one by one.

  The scanner unit 11 has a lamp 216, and when the document is conveyed to the platen glass 215, the lamp 216 provided in the optical unit 217 is turned on. Subsequently, the optical unit 217 moves from the left to the right in the figure, and scans the document with light.

  Reflected light from the original paper is guided to an image sensor (for example, CCD) 222 via a plurality of mirrors 218 to 220 and a lens 221. The CCD converts the optical image into an electrical signal (image signal). The image signal is A / D converted by the control device 110 and then subjected to predetermined processing, and is transferred to the control device 110 as image data.

  When the document is read as described above, the document is discharged from the platen glass 215 to the document feeding unit 210. If a document is placed on the platen glass 215 without using the DF unit 10 and the start button is depressed, the document is read as described above.

  In the printer unit 6, the laser emission unit 224 outputs laser light corresponding to the image data under the control of the control device 110. The laser beam scans the photosensitive drum 225 provided in the marking unit 13, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the photosensitive drum 225.

  The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 225 is developed by the developing device 226 to become a toner image. On the other hand, recording paper is fed from the paper feed unit 12 (paper feed cassette 212 a or 212 b) in synchronization with the start of laser light irradiation, and conveyed to the transfer unit 227. The transfer unit 227 transfers the toner image from the photosensitive drum 225 to the recording paper. Thereafter, the recording sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 228, where the recording sheet is heated and pressurized to fix the toner image for the recording sheet.

  In the case of single-sided printing, the recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 228 is discharged to the paper discharge unit 14 by the discharge roller 229. For example, the paper discharge unit 14 bundles the recording sheets and sorts the recording sheets. In addition, the paper discharge unit 14 may perform a stapling process on the sorted recording paper.

  In the case of duplex printing, after the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 229, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 229 is reversed. Then, the recording paper is guided to the refeed conveyance path 231 by the flapper 230. The recording sheet is conveyed again to the transfer unit 227 through the refeed conveyance path 231. Then, after printing is performed on the back surface of the recording paper, the recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge unit 14.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device 110 provided in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the control device 110 has a main controller 32. The main controller 32 includes a CPU 33 and a bus controller 34, and various I / F (interface) controller circuits (not shown). The CPU 33 and the bus controller 34 comprehensively control the operation of the entire control device 110.

  For example, the CPU 33 interprets code data (for example, PDL (page description language)) received from the PC 3 or PC 4 shown in FIG. 1 based on a program. The bus controller 34 performs control related to data transfer via each I / F, for example, bus arbitration and DMA data transfer control.

  The DRAM 38 is connected to the main controller 32 via the DRAM I / F 37, and is used as a work area for the CPU 33 to operate and an area for storing image data.

  The codec 40 is connected to the main controller 32 via the I / F 39 and compresses raster image data stored in the DRAM 38 by a method such as MH / MR / MMR / JBIG / JPEG. The Codec 40 performs a process of expanding the code data stored in a compressed state into raster image data. The SRAM (storage means) 43 is used as a temporary work area of the Codec 40.

  Data transfer between the SRAM 43 and the DRAM 38 is controlled by the bus controller 34, and data transfer is performed by DMA transfer.

  A network controller (Network Controller) 42 is connected to the main controller 32 by an I / F 41, and is connected to an external network (for example, a LAN 400) via a connector 44.

  An extension connector 50 for connecting an extension board and an I / O control unit 51 are connected to the general-purpose high-speed bus 49. The general-purpose high-speed bus 49 is, for example, a PCI bus. The I / O control unit 51 includes two channels of asynchronous serial communication unit controllers 52 for transmitting and receiving control commands between the reader unit 2 and the printer unit 6.

  The I / O control unit 51 is connected to the scanner I / F 46 and the printer I / F 48 via the I / O bus 53. The panel I / F 62 is an I / F for transmitting / receiving data to / from the operation unit 7. The panel I / F 62 transfers the image data transferred from the LCD controller 60 to the operation unit 7. Further, the panel I / F 62 transfers a key input signal input via a hard key or a touch panel included in the operation unit 7 to the I / O control unit 51 via the key input I / F 61.

  The real-time clock module 64 is supplied with power by the backup battery 65 and updates / stores the date and time managed by the image forming apparatus 1. The E-IDE connector 63 is an I / F that connects HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) 8 and 9. In the illustrated example, an HDD 9 is shown in addition to the HDD 8 shown in FIG. 1, and a flash memory (startup disk: non-volatile memory) 99 is connected to the E-IDE connector 63.

  In the flash memory 99, for example, an address indicating a storage area in which a control program for controlling the main controller 32 and various data are stored is stored.

  The CPU 33 selectively stores image data in the HDDs 8 and 9 via the I / O control unit 51 and the E-IDE connector 63, and further reads the image data from the HDDs 8 or 9.

  The reader unit 2 and the printer unit 6 are connected to the connectors 56 and 59, respectively. The connectors 56 and 59 are connected to the scanner I / F 46 and the printer I / F 48 via the synchronized step-synchronous serial I / Fs 54 and 57 and the video I / Fs 55 and 58.

  The scanner I / F 46 is connected to the reader unit 2 via the connector 56 and is connected to the main controller 32 via the scanner bus 45. The scanner I / F 46 performs predetermined processing on the image data received from the reader unit 2. Further, the scanner I / F 56 outputs a control signal generated based on the video control signal received from the reader unit 2 to the scanner bus 45. Data transfer from the scanner bus 45 to the DRAM 38 (volatile memory) is controlled by the bus controller 34.

  The printer I / F 48 is connected to the printer unit 6 via the connector 59 and is connected to the main controller 32 via the printer bus 47. The printer I / F 48 performs predetermined processing on the image data output from the main controller 32 and outputs the processed image data to the printer unit 6. When the raster image data developed on the DRAM 38 is transferred to the printer unit 6, control by the bus controller 34 is performed. The raster image data is DMA-transferred to the printer unit 6 via the printer bus 47, printer I / F 48, and video I / F 58.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of HDD 8 and flash memory 99 shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, the CPU 33 and the SRAM 43 are shown, and further, a firmware archive distribution server (program file server) 10015 and an abnormality information collection server (external server) 10017 are shown. The abnormality information collection server 10017 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via a network (not shown).

  In FIG. 4, a temporary image development area (data area) 10005 and an application data storage area 10006 are defined in the HDD (second storage means) 8. In the temporary image development area 10005, an abnormality detection system that is a program is stored. A firmware archive storage area 10016 is set in the application data storage area 10006.

  The flash memory (non-volatile memory) 99 includes programs such as BOIS (Basic Input / Output System) 10002, boot loader (BOOT LOADER) 10007, STD (Suspended To Disk) kernel (KERNEL) 10008, STD IINTRD (Initial RD1). , Safe kernel (SAFE KERNEL) 10011 and SAFE INITRD 10012 are stored.

  Further, the flash memory 99 defines an STD system storage area (first system storage area) 10010. The STD system storage area 10010 stores controller software (hereinafter simply referred to as controller software) 10019 for executing various functions (hereinafter referred to as MFP functions) in the image forming apparatus 1. When an abnormality is detected in the image forming apparatus 1 after the controller software 10019 is activated, the controller software 10019 notifies the abnormality detection.

  As described above, the controller software 10019 has an information processing function and an abnormality notification function for notifying abnormality.

  Therefore, if a failure occurs in the STD system storage area 10010, the controller software 10019 cannot send an abnormality notification.

  The SAFE system storage area (second system storage area) 10013 defined in the flash memory 99 stores an update system (update software) 10014 that is a program. The update system 10014 is a system that implements an update function (update function) for updating the contents of the STD system storage area 10010. In the illustrated example, the update system 10014 is responsible for the deployment process of the abnormality notification system 10018, but a deployment system (program) may be provided separately from the update system.

  The SAFE system storage area 10013 has a minimum capacity required for obtaining and deploying a firmware archive necessary for updating due to the size restriction of the flash memory 99.

  The image temporary development area 10005 described above is an area for temporarily developing image data necessary for the printing process, and is not used for updating. The size (capacity) of the temporary image development area 10005 is sufficiently larger than the size of the firmware for performing image processing. Although the abnormality notification system 10018 does not exist in a normal state, when an abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus 1, the update system 10014 places the abnormality notification system 10018 in the temporary image development area 10005.

  Since the abnormality notification system 10018 provides a connection with the abnormality information collection server 10017 and a remote user interface, the scale (size) of the controller software 10019 is required. For example, the abnormality notification system 10018 is arranged in the image temporary development area 10005 as the same system as the controller software 10019, and its operation is switched by a flag so that only abnormality notification is performed.

  The firmware archive storage area 10016 stores the firmware archive acquired from the firmware archive distribution server 10015. Since the firmware archive is compressed, the firmware archive cannot be directly executed from the firmware archive area 10016. Since the firmware archive is subjected to compression processing, its size is smaller than that of the firmware archive after expansion, and the capacity of the firmware archive area 10016 can be reduced.

  Incidentally, the flash memory 99 is a recording medium for holding firmware. The HDD 8 is a recording medium for holding a data file and is independent of the flash memory 99. The application data storage area 10006 is a storage area for holding data related to various applications.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation from the first activation to the abnormality detection in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the program stored in the flash memory 99 shown in FIG. 4 and the abnormality notification system 10018 operate on the CPU 33.

  When the first activation process is started by turning on the power, the BIOS 10002 operating on the CPU 33 loads the BOOT LOADER 10007 from the flash memory 99 to the CPU 33. The CPU 33 executes BOOT LOADER 10007, loads STD KERNEL 10008 and STD INITRD 10009, and executes STD KERNEL 10008.

  Subsequently, the STD KERNEL 10008 operating on the CPU 33 performs the mounting process of the STD system storage area 10010. The STD KERNEL 10008 determines whether or not the mounting process of the STD system storage area 10010 has succeeded (step S20002).

  If it is determined that the mount process has failed (NO in step S20002), the STD KERNEL 10008 writes mount error information (also simply referred to as error information) indicating that the mount process of the STD system storage area 10010 has failed in the SRAM 43 (step S2002). S20003). Here, for example, a specific address of the SRAM 43 is assigned as a mount failure flag, and the mount error flag is turned on to obtain mount error information.

  Subsequently, the STD KERNEL 10008 switches the start mode to the safe mode, and restarts with the CPU 33 reset (step S2004). Then, the first activation process ends. If it is determined that the mounting process is successful, the STD KERNEL 10008 executes the MFP function provided in the image forming apparatus (step S20005) and ends the first activation process.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining operations from the second activation to the arrangement of the abnormality notification system in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  When the second activation process is started, the BIOS 10002 operating on the CPU 33 loads the BOOT LOADER 10007 from the flash memory 99 to the CPU 33. Then, the CPU 33 executes BOOT LOADER 10007, loads SAFE KERNEL 10011 and SAFE INITRD 10012, and executes SAFE KERNEL 10011.

  The SAFE KERNEL 10011 operating on the CPU 33 mounts the SAFE system storage area 10013 and activates the update system 10014 stored in the SAFE system storage area 10013 (step S21002). Subsequently, the update system 10014 operating on the CPU 33 refers to the SRAM 10001 to check whether or not a mount abnormality has occurred (step S21003).

  When it is confirmed that a mount abnormality has occurred by turning on the mount failure flag (YES in step S21003), the update system 10014 acquires a firmware file archive (firmware archive, that is, a program file) from the firmware archive distribution server 10015 via the network. Obtain (step S21004). Then, the update system 10014 places the firmware archive in the firmware archive storage area 10016.

  Subsequently, the update system 10014 expands the firmware archive from the firmware archive storage area 10003 and arranges it as the abnormality detection system 10018 in the image temporary expansion area 10005 (step S21005). At this time, if the previous activation process has ended abnormally and the file remains in the temporary image development area 10005, the update system 10014 performs a deletion process on the file as an unnecessary file.

  Next, the update system 10014 switches the activation mode to the STD mode, resets the CPU 33 and restarts (step S21006), and ends the activation process.

  If the mount failure flag is turned off and it is confirmed that no mount abnormality has occurred (NO in step S21003), the update system 10014 executes the update function provided in the image forming apparatus (step S21007) and ends the activation process.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation from the third activation to the abnormality notification in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  When the third activation process is started, the BIOS 10002 operating on the CPU 33 loads the BOOT LOADER 10007 from the flash memory 99 to the CPU 33. Then, the CPU 33 executes BOOT LOADER 10007, loads STD KERNEL 10008 and STD INITRD 10009, and executes STD KERNEL 10008.

  The STD KERNEL 10008 operating on the CPU 33 mounts the image temporary development area 10005 and activates the abnormality notification system 10018 arranged in the image temporary development area 10005 (step S22002). Subsequently, the abnormality notification system 10018 refers to the SRAM 10001, confirms the error content, and notifies the abnormality information collection server 10017 of the error content as an abnormality notification via the network (step S22003). Then, the third activation process ends.

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, if the mounting of the STD system storage area 10010 in which the controller software 10019 is arranged fails in the starting process, the STD system storage area 10010 is restarted, and the image defined in the HDD 8 at this time In the temporary development area (data area) 10005, an abnormality notification system 10018 for notifying abnormality of the image forming apparatus is arranged.

  Therefore, even if a problem occurs in the flash memory 99 in which the STD system storage area 10010 is defined, the abnormality information collection server 10017 can be notified of an abnormality by the abnormality notification system 10018 arranged in the data area 10005.

  That is, when a failure occurs in a storage device (first storage means) such as a nonvolatile memory in which a startup program such as firmware is recorded, the failure can be reliably notified to the outside.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an example of an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the configuration of the control device of the image forming apparatus in the second embodiment is the same as the example shown in FIG. 3, and the configuration of the HDD 8 and the flash memory 99 is also the same as the example shown in FIG.

  In the first embodiment described above, the case where the update module 10014 acquires a firmware archive from the firmware archive distribution server 10015 when there is a mounting abnormality of the STD system storage area 10010 has been described. In the second embodiment, an example in which the update module 10014 does not access the firmware archive distribution server 10015 when there is a mounting abnormality in the STD system storage area 10010 will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, the update system 10014 does not have a network connection function. That is, the image forming apparatus in the second embodiment is a smaller apparatus than the image forming apparatus described in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, after the update process by the update function is performed, the update system 10014 stores the firmware archive used in the update process in the firmware archive storage area 10016 and does not delete it until the next update process. When the abnormality notification process is performed, the process of step S21004 shown in FIG. 6 is not performed, and the firmware archive stored in the firmware archive storage area 10016 is stored in the abnormality notification system 10018 as described in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG.

  If a power failure occurs during the update process by the update function and the destruction of the STD system area 10010 is detected after the restart, no firmware archive exists in the firmware archive storage area 10016. For this reason, the abnormality notification system 10018 cannot be expanded in the temporary image development area 10005, so the abnormality notification fails. However, since the abnormality detection system 10018 is arranged in the HDD 8, the size of the SAFE system storage area 10013 can be reduced. it can.

  As described above, even in the second embodiment of the present invention, when a failure occurs in a storage device (first storage means: a startup disk) such as a nonvolatile memory in which a startup program such as firmware is recorded, the failure occurs. Can be reliably notified to the outside.

  As is clear from the above description, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 33 functions as an execution unit, an acquisition unit, a deployment unit, and a notification unit. Further, the CPU 33 and the SRAM 43 function as storage means.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus has been described as an example of the information processing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus, and other information processing apparatuses, for example, computer systems that perform information processing, By applying the invention, even when a failure occurs in a startup disk such as a nonvolatile memory, the failure can be reliably notified to the outside.

  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 an acquisition step, a development step, and a notification 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.

8,9 HDD
33 CPU
43 SRAM
99 Flash memory (nonvolatile memory)
10005 Temporary image development area 10010 STD system storage area 10013 SAFE system storage area 10014 Update system 10018 Abnormality notification system 10019 Controller software

Claims (7)

A first system storage area in which controller software for performing information processing and an abnormality notification related to the information processing is stored; a second system storage area in which update software for updating the controller software is stored; A first storage means defined by;
Execution means for executing the information processing;
Second storage means in which a data area in which data used in the information processing is stored when the information processing is executed is defined;
If the mounting of the first system storage area fails when executing the information processing, an acquisition unit that executes the update software and acquires a program file related to the controller software;
Expanding means for expanding an abnormality notification system for performing the abnormality notification according to the program file in the data area;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a notification unit configured to execute the abnormality notification system and notify the abnormality of the first system storage area to the outside.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit that stores error information indicating an error if mounting of the first system storage area fails when executing the information processing.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the program file when the update software is executed and the error information is stored in the storage unit.   The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the program file from a server apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus via a network.   5. The information according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies an abnormality of the first system storage area to an external apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus via a network. Processing equipment. A first system storage area in which controller software for performing information processing and an abnormality notification related to the information processing is stored; and a second system storage area in which update software for updating the controller software is stored A control method for an information processing apparatus comprising: a prescribed first storage means; and a second storage means in which a data area in which data used in the information processing is stored when the information processing is executed is prescribed. There,
If the mounting of the first system storage area fails when executing the information processing, an acquisition step of executing the update software and acquiring a program file related to the controller software;
An expansion step of expanding an abnormality notification system for performing the abnormality notification according to the program file in the data area;
A control method for an information processing apparatus, comprising: a notification step of executing the abnormality notification system and notifying the outside of an abnormality of the first system storage area.   A control program for causing a computer to execute the control method of the information processing apparatus according to claim 6.

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