JP2013130970A - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network multifunction machine including an information processing device capable of performing a normal operation even when a snapshot is being created.SOLUTION: An information processing device comprises: a first main storage area that is volatile; a second main storage area that is volatile and that is an area different from the first main storage area; a program storage unit for storing a program; a program processing unit for executing the program and causing the first main storage area and the second main storage area to store an execution result of the program respectively by performing mirroring; and a snapshot creating unit for creating a snapshot related to at least state information on the basis of information stored in the second main storage area.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for storing an image of information developed in a volatile memory as a snapshot in an auxiliary storage device and reducing the startup time by developing the snapshot again in the volatile memory at the time of startup. It is about.

  As one of high-speed startup methods for network multifunction peripherals, for example, there is a technique as disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this method, an image of information developed in a volatile memory is stored as a snapshot in an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a nonvolatile memory. In this method, the network multifunction peripheral expands the snapshot in the volatile memory again, and makes the information in the volatile memory the same information as when the snapshot was created, thereby shortening the startup time. Yes.

JP 2009-187134 A

  However, in the technique such as Patent Document 1, all the programs related to the normal operation other than for creating the snapshot are stopped while the snapshot is created, and the user may perform an operation related to the normal operation. become unable.

  Further, since it is necessary to create a snapshot by stopping all programs as described above, for example, a snapshot is created at a limited timing such as when starting for the first time or when updating firmware. For this reason, the period from when a snapshot is created to when the next snapshot is created often becomes long. As a result, even if various settings of the network multifunction peripheral are changed after a lapse of time since the snapshot was created, the latest changed various settings may not be saved as a snapshot. In such a case, if the network multifunction device is turned off, even if the network multifunction device is activated next time, it will be activated by the snapshot in the old setting (that is, various settings before change), Processing to restore to the latest state occurs. For this reason, it takes a lot of time for the startup process until the network multifunction peripheral becomes usable.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and creates a snapshot that can perform normal operation and realize high-speed startup even during creation of a snapshot. An object is to provide an information processing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a volatile first main storage area and a volatile second main memory that is an area different from the first main storage area. An area, a program storage unit storing the program, and executing the program and storing the result of executing the program by mirroring each of the first main storage area and the second main storage area And a program creation unit for creating a snapshot related to at least state information based on information stored in the second main storage area.

  According to this, not only the result of executing the program is stored in the first main storage area, but also the same information as that stored in the first main storage area is stored in the second main storage area. I remember it at the same time. That is, mirroring in which the same information is written in the first main storage area and the second main storage area is performed. Thereby, when creating a snapshot, the snapshot creating unit creates a snapshot based on information stored in the second main storage area. Therefore, even if the snapshot creation unit accesses the second main storage area for creating a snapshot, the program processing unit can store the result of executing the program as usual in the first main storage area. it can. As described above, since the process related to the creation of the snapshot and the process related to the normal operation (that is, the process performed by the program processing unit) can be performed simultaneously, it is not necessary to consider the timing of the snapshot. Periodic snapshots can be created. Therefore, the latest setting information can always be stored in the auxiliary storage unit as a snapshot.

  In addition, preferably, further, a nonvolatile auxiliary storage unit that stores a snapshot created by the snapshot creation unit, and at startup, the snapshot stored in the auxiliary storage unit is read and the state information is read And a setting restoration unit for restoring.

  According to this, it is possible to always restore a snapshot obtained by imaging the latest setting information. For this reason, for example, the IP address set in the DHCP server can be held as a snapshot, and the IP address setting already acquired can be restored only by restoring the latest snapshot. As a result, the process of accessing the DHCP server again and assigning the IP address can be omitted. Therefore, the time required for activation can be reduced.

  Preferably, the first main storage area exists in a first volatile memory, and the second main storage area exists in a second volatile memory different from the first volatile memory.

  According to this, the first main storage area and the second main storage area physically exist in different memories. For this reason, when performing a process (hereinafter referred to as a snapshot process) until a snapshot is created and held in the auxiliary storage unit, the memory access traffic for the snapshot process is exclusively used for the second volatile memory. be able to. As a result, the same information can always be written into the first main storage area and the second main storage area at the same time, and a snapshot can always be created based on the latest information when the snapshot is created.

  Preferably, the program processing unit stores a result of executing the program in the first main storage area when the snapshot creating unit creates the snapshot.

  Accordingly, when the snapshot creation unit creates a snapshot, the snapshot creation unit creates a snapshot based on the information stored in the second main storage area. Therefore, even if the snapshot creation unit accesses the second main storage area for creating a snapshot, the program processing unit can store the result of executing the program as usual in the first main storage area. it can.

  Preferably, the snapshot further includes an input receiving unit that receives an input from a user, and a default setting unit that sets a setting related to the program as a default setting based on the input received by the input receiving unit. The creation unit creates the snapshot at least when the state information is updated by the default setting unit.

  According to this, since the snapshot creation unit creates a snapshot when the default setting is updated by the default setting unit, it can always hold the changed setting as a snapshot.

  Preferably, the snapshot creation unit periodically creates the snapshot.

  According to this, since the snapshot creation unit periodically creates a snapshot, it can cope with a case where the setting is automatically changed, for example, an IP address set by a DHCP server. In such a case, for example, the latest setting information can be imaged as a snapshot by determining the frequency for creating a snapshot based on the frequency at which the setting is automatically changed. For this reason, the latest setting information can always be held as a snapshot.

  In addition, the present invention can be realized not only as such an information processing apparatus, but also as a method using each operation of a characteristic processing unit included in the information processing apparatus as a step. It can also be realized as an integrated circuit that performs processing of the processing unit. Furthermore, the present invention can also be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute the above steps. Such a program can also be distributed via a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a transmission medium such as the Internet. Further, the present invention can also be realized as a network complex machine incorporating such an information processing apparatus.

  According to the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, since the process related to the creation of the snapshot and the process related to the normal operation can be performed at the same time, the user does not need to consider the timing of the snapshot, There is no need to create a snapshot in consideration of user usage.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the workflow system containing the information processing apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure which concerns on the snapshot creation process of the information processing apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure related to a snapshot creation process of the network multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure related to a snapshot restoration process of the network multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a workflow system including an information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, this workflow system includes network multifunction peripherals 1 and 2, information terminals 3 and 4, PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Networks) 5, and LAN (Local Area Network) 6. Is done.

  The information terminals 3 and 4 are computers that function as information processing apparatuses in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the information terminals 3 and 4 are personal computers used by users who use the network multifunction peripherals 1 and 2.

  The network multifunction device 1 transmits, for example, a document read by the scanner by facsimile to the network multifunction device 2 via the PSTN 5, transmits it to the information terminals 3 and 4 via the LAN 6, and prints out by a built-in printer. You can do it.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the network multifunction peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the network MFP 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11, a first RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, a second RAM 13, a flash memory 14, a modem 15, an NCU ( Network Control Unit) 16, operation panel 17, display 18, scanner 19, printer 20, and LAN I / F (LAN Interface) 21.

  The CPU 10 controls the entire network multifunction peripheral 1 by executing the program 50 stored in the ROM 11.

  The ROM 11 is a read-only memory that holds a program 50 executed by the CPU 10.

  The first RAM 12 is a readable / writable volatile memory that holds work data used when the CPU 10 executes the program 50, image data obtained from the scanner 19, and the like.

  The second RAM 13 is a readable / writable volatile memory that holds work data used when the CPU 10 executes the program 50 and image data obtained from the scanner 19. The second RAM 13 is composed of a memory module different from the first RAM 12.

  The flash memory 14 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory that stores the work data, image data, snapshots, programs, and the like.

  The modem 15 modulates the image data or the like held in the first RAM 12 or the second RAM into a facsimile signal and transmits it, and demodulates the facsimile signal received from the outside into line data. The modem 15 is a fax modem compliant with the G3 standard, for example.

  The NCU 16 is a network control device that controls the connection between the modem 15 and the PSTN 5.

  The operation panel 17 is a touch panel that receives an operation from a user.

  The display 18 is a display device that displays an operation guide to the user or an operation state of the network multifunction device 1, and is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  The scanner 19 is an image reading device, and generates image data by optically reading a document using a CCD under the control of the CPU 10.

  The printer 20 is a printing device, and prints out an image image represented by, for example, image data held in the first RAM 12 or the second RAM 13 under the control of the CPU 10.

  The LAN I / F 21 is a communication adapter that connects the network multifunction device 1 and the LAN 6, and transmits, for example, image data held in the first RAM 12 or the second RAM 13 to the information terminal 3 or the like under the control of the CPU 10.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to the snapshot creation processing of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. That is, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of functions mainly related to the snapshot creation processing of the present embodiment, among the functions of the network multifunction peripheral 1 that is exhibited by the hardware configuration shown in FIG.

  Functionally, the information processing apparatus 100 functionally includes a program processing unit 31, a snapshot creation unit 32, a setting restoration unit 33, a default setting unit 34, a program storage unit 35, and a main storage unit 36 (first main unit 36). A storage area 41 and a second main storage area 42), an auxiliary storage section 37, an input receiving section 38, a display control section 39, and a display section 40.

  The program processing unit 31 is a processing unit realized by the CPU 10 in FIG. The program processing unit 31 executes a program stored in the program storage unit 35, and stores the result of executing the program by mirroring each of the first main storage area 41 and the second main storage area 42. .

  The snapshot creation unit 32 is a processing unit realized by the CPU 10 in FIG. Based on the information stored in the second main storage area 42, the snapshot creation unit 32 creates a snapshot related to at least state information. The “snapshot” is image data of information stored in the second main storage area 42 at a certain time. That is, an image obtained by imaging all the information developed in the second main storage area 42 is called a snapshot. In this example, the snapshot is defined as an image of all the information expanded in the second main storage area 42. However, the snapshot is not limited to all of the information expanded in the second main storage area 42. Information relating to the setting status of the network multifunction peripheral 1 (hereinafter referred to as status information) may be used, and if all the status information is included, it is a part of the information developed in the second main storage area 42. Also good.

  The snapshot creation unit 32 also includes a measurement unit 43. The measurement unit 43 determines whether or not a preset time (for example, 1 hour) has elapsed since the network MFP 1 was started. To do. If the measurement unit 43 determines that a preset time has elapsed, the snapshot creation unit 32 creates a snapshot.

  The setting restoration unit 33 is a processing unit realized by the CPU, the program, and the like in FIG. The setting restoration unit 33 reads the snapshot stored in the auxiliary storage unit 37 when the network multifunction peripheral 1 is started up, restores the setting information, and develops it in the main storage unit 36. Note that the deployment destination main storage unit 36 may be both the first main storage area 41 and the second main storage area 42, or may be either one.

  The default setting unit 34 is a processing unit realized by a CPU, a program, and the like in FIG. The default setting unit 34 sets a program setting as a default setting based on the input received by the input receiving unit 38. For example, the default setting unit 34 sets DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) ON / OFF, mail POP server settings, IP address or MAC address filtering settings, port number settings, and scanner resolution settings. When the setting of sender information such as FAX is set by the user via the input receiving unit 38, the default setting is used.

  The program storage unit 35 is realized by the ROM 11 or the flash memory 14 in FIG. The program storage unit 35 stores a program for starting the network multifunction peripheral 1, a program for creating a snapshot, and the like as a program 50 or the like.

  The main storage unit 36 is classified into a first main storage area 41 and a second main storage area 42.

  The first main storage area 41 is realized by the first RAM 12 in FIG. In the first main storage area 41, programs or data relating to normal operations such as work data used when executing the program 50 and the like stored in the program storage unit 35 and image data obtained from the scanner 19 are stored. Memorize temporarily.

  The second main storage area 42 is realized by the second RAM 13 in FIG. The second main storage area 42 is an area different from the first main storage area 41, and is obtained from the work data used when executing the program 50 stored in the program storage unit 35 and the scanner 19. Temporarily store a program or data related to a normal operation such as received image data.

  The auxiliary storage unit 37 is realized by the flash memory 14 in FIG. The auxiliary storage unit 37 stores the snapshot stored in the second main storage area 42. Here, the auxiliary storage unit 37 is not limited to the flash memory 14 and may be any non-volatile and writable storage device such as an HDD.

  The input receiving unit 38 is realized by the operation panel 17 in FIG. As described above, the input receiving unit 38 transmits an input signal to the default setting unit 34 by being operated by the user, changes various settings in various programs of the network multifunction peripheral 1, and changes the settings. Can be the default setting.

  The display control unit 39 is a processing unit realized by the CPU 10, a program, and the like in FIG. The display control unit 39 causes the display unit 40 to display, as a result of input by the input receiving unit 38, the results of various settings after the change set by the default setting unit 34.

  The display unit 40 is realized by the display 18 in FIG. The display unit 40 displays, as a result of input by the input receiving unit 38 via the display control unit 39, results of various settings after the change set by the default setting unit 34, and the like.

  Next, a processing procedure of snapshot creation processing in the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure related to the snapshot creation processing of the network multifunction peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the snapshot creation unit 32 determines whether or not a preset time (for example, 1 hour) has elapsed since the measurement unit 43 was activated (S11).

  Then, the snapshot creation unit 32 accesses the second main storage area 42, reads all the programs, data, and the like developed in the second main storage area 42, and creates a snapshot (S12).

  The snapshot created by the snapshot creation unit 32 is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 37, and the snapshot creation process ends (S13).

  On the other hand, when the snapshot creation unit 32 determines that the preset time has not elapsed since startup, the default setting unit 34 determines whether the default setting for the program has been changed. (S14). Here, when the setting relating to the program is set to the default setting by the default setting unit 34, the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S14, when the default setting unit 34 determines that the setting related to the program is not the default setting, the process returns to step S11. Note that memory access related to normal operation processing is performed by mirroring both the first main storage area 41 and the second main storage area 42.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure related to the snapshot restoration processing of the network multifunction peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the network MFP 1 is activated, the setting restoration unit 33 determines whether a snapshot is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 37 (S21).

  When the setting restoration unit 33 determines that the snapshot is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 37, the restoration process is performed based on the snapshot stored in the auxiliary storage unit 37 (S22).

  The setting restoration unit 33 expands the result of the restoration process in the main storage unit 36, and ends the snapshot restoration process (S23). As a result, the information stored in the first main storage area 41 when the snapshot creation process is performed can be restored as it is.

  On the other hand, when the setting restoration unit 33 determines that the snapshot is not stored in the auxiliary storage unit 37, the program processing unit 31 is activated by the activation program, and the snapshot restoration processing is ended (S24).

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, not only the result of executing the program is stored in the first main storage area 41 but also the first main storage area 42 is stored in the first main storage area 42. The same information as that stored in the storage area 41 is stored at the same time. That is, mirroring in which the same information is written in the first main storage area 41 and the second main storage area 42 is performed. Thereby, the snapshot creation unit 32 creates a snapshot based on the information stored in the second main storage area 42 when creating the snapshot. Therefore, even if the snapshot creation unit 32 performs memory access to the second main storage area 42 for creating a snapshot, the program processing unit 31 displays the result of executing the program in the first main storage area 41 as usual. It can be memorized. As described above, since the process related to the creation of the snapshot and the process related to the normal operation (that is, the process performed by the program processing unit 31) can be performed simultaneously, it is necessary to consider the timing of creating the snapshot. You can make regular snapshots. For this reason, the latest setting information can always be stored in the auxiliary storage unit 37 as a snapshot.

  Further, according to the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to restore a snapshot in which the latest setting information is always imaged. For this reason, for example, the IP address set in the DHCP server can be held as a snapshot, and the IP address setting already acquired can be restored only by restoring the latest snapshot. As a result, the process of accessing the DHCP server again and assigning the IP address can be omitted. Therefore, the time required for activation can be reduced.

  Further, according to the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the first main storage area 41 and the second main storage area 42 physically exist in different memories. That is, the first RAM 12 that implements the first main storage area 41 and the second RAM 13 that implements the second main storage area 42 are different memory modules. For this reason, when performing a snapshot process until a snapshot is created and held in the auxiliary storage unit 37, the memory access traffic related to the snapshot process is exclusively used for the second main storage area 42 (second RAM 13). Can be made. Thereby, the same information can always be written into the first main storage area 41 and the second main storage area 42 at the same time, and a snapshot can always be created based on the latest information when creating a snapshot.

  Further, according to the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the snapshot creation unit 32 creates a snapshot based on the information stored in the second main storage area 42 when creating the snapshot. create. Therefore, even if the snapshot creation unit 32 performs memory access to the second main storage area 42 for creating a snapshot, the program processing unit 31 displays the result of executing the program in the first main storage area 41 as usual. It can be memorized.

  Further, according to the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the snapshot creation unit 32 creates a snapshot when the default setting is updated by the default setting unit 34. For this reason, the changed setting can always be retained as a snapshot.

  In addition, according to the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the snapshot creation unit 32 periodically creates a snapshot, so that the setting is automatically changed, for example, like an IP address set by a DHCP server. It is possible to cope with such cases. In such a case, for example, the latest setting information can be imaged as a snapshot by determining the frequency for creating a snapshot based on the frequency at which the setting is automatically changed. For this reason, the latest setting information can always be held as a snapshot.

  In addition, the present invention can be realized not only as such an information processing apparatus, but also as a method using each operation of a characteristic processing unit included in the information processing apparatus as a step. It can also be realized as an integrated circuit that performs processing of the processing unit. Furthermore, the present invention can also be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute the above steps. Such a program can also be distributed via a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a transmission medium such as the Internet. Further, the present invention can also be realized as a network complex machine incorporating such an information processing apparatus.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  That is, the embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  For example, in the information processing apparatus 100 of the above embodiment, the first main storage area 41 is realized in the first RAM 12, and the second main storage area 42 is realized in the second RAM 13. The main memory area 42 is implemented in a separate memory module, but is not limited thereto. For example, a first main storage area 41 and a second main storage area 42 may be provided on a RAM that is the same memory module, and snapshots may be stored in the second main storage area 42 with priority. . In this case, the RAM may be multi-accessed, or the snapshot data and other data may be separately accessed by time division processing. In this way, the object of the present invention can be achieved by causing the data access related to the snapshot and the access related to other programs to be performed simultaneously or virtually simultaneously.

  The present invention provides a network including an information processing apparatus that eliminates the need for creating a snapshot in consideration of the use status of a user and the processing related to the creation of a snapshot and the timing of the snapshot by the user It can be used as a multifunction machine.

1, 2 Network MFP 3, 4 Information terminal 5 PSTN
6 LAN
10 CPU
11 ROM
12 First RAM
13 Second RAM
14 Flash memory 15 Modem 16 NCU
17 Operation Panel 18 Display 19 Scanner 20 Printer 21 LAN I / F
31 program processing unit 32 snapshot creation unit 33 setting restoration unit 34 default setting unit 35 program storage unit 36 main storage unit 37 auxiliary storage unit 38 input reception unit 39 display control unit 40 display unit 41 first main storage area 42 second main Storage area 43 Measuring unit 50 Program 100 Information processing device

Claims (8)

A volatile first main storage area;
A volatile second main storage area that is a separate area from the first main storage area;
A program storage unit storing the program;
A program processing unit that executes the program and stores a result of executing the program by performing mirroring in each of the first main storage area and the second main storage area;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a snapshot creation unit that creates a snapshot related to at least state information based on information stored in the second main storage area. further,
A nonvolatile auxiliary storage unit that stores the snapshot created by the snapshot creation unit;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a setting restoration unit that reads the snapshot stored in the auxiliary storage unit and restores the state information at startup. The first main storage area exists in a first volatile memory;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second main storage area exists in a second volatile memory different from the first volatile memory. 4. The program processing unit according to claim 1, wherein when the snapshot creation unit creates the snapshot, the program processing unit stores the result of executing the program in the first main storage area. 5. Information processing device. further,
An input receiving unit that receives input from the user;
Based on the input received by the input receiving unit, a default setting unit that sets the setting related to the program as a default setting, and
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the snapshot creation unit creates the snapshot at least when the state information is updated by the default setting unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the snapshot creation unit periodically creates the snapshot. A network multifunction peripheral having a volatile first main storage area, a volatile second main storage area that is different from the first main storage area, and a program storage unit storing a program An information processing method,
A program processing step of executing the program and storing the result of executing the program by mirroring each of the first main storage area and the second main storage area;
A snapshot creation step of creating a snapshot related to at least state information based on information stored in the second main storage area.   A program for causing a computer to execute the steps included in the information processing method according to claim 7.

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