JP2015228177A - Image forming apparatus, and log transfer system provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of transferring even a log which is too large in size to be started to be transferred within a prescribed time limit from the existence of a log transfer request of a server, without reducing the size of the log.SOLUTION: If a log 16 being a record of activity information to be stored in a storage device 15 of an engine 11 by a log transfer function constructed by software of a controller 10 and the engine 11 is a log 16 of a large size whose transfer is not in time within a prescribed time limit which exceeds the largest size 17 when receiving a log acquisition request from an external log collection server via a telephone line 3, this image forming apparatus 2 performs processing which only transfers the log 16 to the controller 10 through a transfer path 12 to store the log in a storage device 14 in the apparatus, also uses a communication device 13 to notify the server that the transfer is not in time without performing transfer to the server through the line 13, and transfers the log 16 of a large size stored in the storage device 14 when receiving a log acquisition request from the server again the next time.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a log transfer function for transferring a log in response to a log acquisition request from a server connected via a communication line, and a log transfer system including the image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, this type of image forming apparatus is connected to a server having a log collecting function installed at a remote location via a communication line, and accumulates a log recording activity information for failure analysis in its own storage device. In addition, a device having a log transfer function for transferring a log in response to a log acquisition request from a server when a failure occurs and for use in failure analysis is known.

  As a well-known technique related to an image forming apparatus having such a log transfer function, it is possible to reduce log information to be transferred, reduce the possibility of log information transfer failure, and have been erased or lost before transfer. “Image forming apparatus, log transfer method, and log transfer system” (see Patent Document 1) that can transfer the number of log information.

  In the technology according to Patent Document 1 described above, for the purpose of reducing the amount of log transfer, a technology is disclosed in which the type of log is limited and transferred by setting, and within a predetermined time limit after a log acquisition request is made. Even if it is a log that cannot be transferred, it has a function that can transfer the log, but by providing such a transfer function, the amount of log information to be acquired decreases, and the user's There arises a problem that convenience decreases.

  In addition, in the image forming apparatus, although there is a restriction that a server having a log collection function must start log transfer within a predetermined time limit after a log acquisition request is made to the image forming apparatus, the hardware is not limited. Such restrictions may not be observed due to the limit of the data processing function of each part in the hardware configuration.

  Specifically, the image forming apparatus is divided into a subsystem called a controller and an engine in terms of configuration, and a communication function via a communication line such as a telephone line is mounted only on the controller and used for log transfer. In order to transfer the log indicating the engine activity information to the server of the log collection function when the transfer path between the engine and the controller is thin, the engine log is transferred to the controller and then transferred from the controller to the server. For such a large log that does not comply with the restriction that the log transfer must start within a predetermined time limit due to the longer log transfer from the engine to the controller. There is a problem that the data cannot be transferred to the server unless the size is reduced.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its technical problem is that even if a log having a large size that cannot be transferred within a predetermined time limit after a log acquisition request of the server is requested, the size of the log is not limited. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can transfer without reducing the amount of data, and a log transfer system including the image forming apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above technical problem, the present invention is an image forming apparatus connected to a server having a log collection function via a communication line and having a log transfer function for transferring a log in response to a log acquisition request from the server. , A communication device having a communication function via a communication line, a controller having a storage device for storing logs for transfer, and log transfer can be started within a predetermined time limit when a log acquisition request is received A maximum size set as a reference value for determining whether or not, and an engine having a storage device that stores a log as a record of its own activity information, connected by a transfer path, If the log transfer function built in software compares the maximum size of the log to be transferred in response to a log acquisition request, it will be below this maximum size. After transferring the log stored in the engine storage device to the storage device of the controller via the transfer path and storing it, using the communication device of the controller to transfer to the server via the communication line, If the maximum size is exceeded, information is sent to the storage device of the controller only to be stored, and information indicating that the transfer to the server is not in time using the communication device via the communication line And when the log acquisition request is received again from the server after the storage processing by the transfer is completed, the log stored in the storage device of the controller is transmitted via the communication line using the communication device. It transfers to the said server, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the present invention, when the log transfer function having the above configuration is used, if the log has a large size that cannot be transferred within a predetermined time limit when a log acquisition request is received from a server having a log collection function, Performs only the process of storing, notifies the server that the transfer is not in time without transferring, and transfers the large size log stored when the log acquisition request is received again from the server next time Therefore, even if the log is a large size that cannot be transferred within a specified time limit after a server log acquisition request, it can be transferred without reducing the size. The problem that the amount of log information to be acquired as in the case of 1 is reduced and the convenience for the user is reduced is avoided.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a log transfer system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an image forming apparatus in the log transfer system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration on software of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a log stored and stored in a storage device of an engine provided in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 in relation to the engine software described in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the contents (data) of a log described in FIG. 4. It is the figure which illustrated about the content (data) of the log acquisition request from the log collection server in the log transfer system shown in FIG. 1, (a) is a diagram of the content (data) regarding the request type, and (b) is the content regarding the date and time condition. It is a figure of (data). FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a maximum size set and stored in a storage device of an engine provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2 in relation to the engine software described in FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an operation process when transfer related to a log transfer function of an image forming apparatus in response to a log acquisition request from a log collection server in the log transfer system illustrated in FIG. 1 is in time. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an operation process when transfer related to a log transfer function of an image forming apparatus in response to a log acquisition request from a log collection server in the log transfer system shown in FIG. 1 is not in time. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure of operation processing when transfer related to a log transfer function of an image forming apparatus in response to a log acquisition request from a log collection server in the log transfer system illustrated in FIG. 1 is in time. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure of operation processing when transfer related to a log transfer function of an image forming apparatus in response to a log acquisition request from a log collection server in the log transfer system illustrated in FIG. 1 is not in time. 3 is a flowchart showing a log acquisition operation process related to engine software in an engine provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2. 3 is a flowchart showing a new log acquisition operation process related to controller software in a controller provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2. 14 is a flowchart showing details of an operation process related to log acquisition in a process of returning a log acquisition response when the preparation of a log included in the operation process in FIG. 13 is not in time.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus of the present invention and a log transfer system including the same will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of a log transfer system including an image forming apparatus 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, this log transfer system includes a server (hereinafter referred to as a log collection server) 1 having a log collection function installed in a remote place, and a log acquisition request from the log collection server 1. An image forming apparatus 2 having a log transfer function for transferring logs is connected via a telephone line 3 as a communication line.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the image forming apparatus 2 in the log transfer system described above.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 2 here includes a communication device 13 having a communication function via a telephone line 3 and a storage device 14 for accumulating and storing logs for transfer. , A maximum size 17 set as a reference value for determining whether or not log transfer can be started within a predetermined time limit when receiving a log acquisition request from the log collection server 1, and itself An engine 11 having a storage device 15 storing a log 16 as a record of activity information is connected by a transfer path 12.

  In the image forming apparatus 2, the controller 10 and the engine 11 can transfer data using the transfer path 12, and the controller 10 and the subsystem divided into the engine 11 control the mechanisms later. It is possible to operate independently for each subsystem. In addition, the controller 10 includes the communication device 13 and the storage device 14, thereby enabling communication between the engine 11 and the log collection server 1. The log 16 here records activity information of the engine 11 as a file, and there are a plurality of logs in the embodiment.

  Further, in the controller 10 and the engine 11 in the image forming apparatus 2 according to the embodiment, a log acquisition request from the log collection server 1 via the telephone line 3 is performed by a log transfer function constructed by each software in cooperation. Accordingly, if the log 16 to be transferred is compared with the maximum size 17 and the maximum size 17 or less, the log 16 stored in the storage device 15 of the engine 11 is transferred to the storage device 14 of the controller 10 via the transfer path 12. Then, the data is transferred to the log collection server 1 via the telephone line 3 using the communication device 13 of the controller 10. If the log 16 to be transferred exceeds the maximum size 17, the log collection server performs processing only by transferring it to the storage device 14 of the controller 10 and storing it, and using the communication device 13 via the telephone line 3. 1 is notified that the transfer is not in time, and the log collection server 1 stores the log 16 stored in the storage device 14 of the controller 10 when there is a log acquisition request again from the log collection server 1 after the storage processing by the transfer is completed. Is transferred to the log collection server 1 via the telephone line 3.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration on the software of the image forming apparatus 2 according to the above-described embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 2 here is configured such that on the software, the controller 10 has the controller software 20 and the communication module 22, and the engine 11 has the engine software 21.

  Among these, the communication module 22 of the controller 10 has a function of controlling the communication device 13 shown in FIG. 2, and the controller software 20 has a function of controlling the entire controller 10. The controller software 20 here stores data in the storage device 14 shown in FIG. 2, communicates with the log collection server 1 using the communication module 22, and communicates with the engine software 21 of the engine 11. The engine software 21 has a function of controlling the entire engine 11. The engine software 21 here sets and stores the maximum size 17 in the storage device 15 shown in FIG. 2, accumulates and stores the log 16, and communicates with the controller software 20 of the controller 10. Incidentally, the above-described log transfer function is constructed by the processing functions of the controller software 20 and the engine software 21 to the respective units of the controller 10 and the engine 11 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the log 16 accumulated and stored in the storage device 15 of the engine 11 provided in the image forming apparatus 2 in relation to the engine software 21 described in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 4, in the engine 11, activity information of the engine 11 is created as files 30 and 31 by a process 200 for recording information by the engine software 21, and is recorded (stored) in a predetermined area of the storage device 15 as a log 16. ) That is, the files 30 and 31 themselves are regarded as the log 16. The files 30 and 31 are created separately for each day using names obtained by connecting the year, month, and day with “-” symbols. Specifically, the file 30 “2013-02-11” indicates that the activity information of February 11, 2013 is recorded, and the file 31 “2013-02-10” indicates February 2013. Indicates that 10-day activity information is recorded.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the contents (data) of the log 16 described above. Referring to FIG. 5, the log 16 has information 41 with respect to time 40 as recorded contents. The time 40 indicates a time series value in which the activity information of the engine 11 is recorded in the files 30 and 40. Specifically, the time 40 is described by a character string in which hours, minutes, and seconds are connected by a “:” symbol. The information 41 indicates data in which activity information of the engine 11 is written in a character string. One line is one recording unit, and a new record is added at the end of the line. More specifically, in the example of FIG. 5, when the time 40 is 05:30:40, the information 41 is function X exit, error = 1110, open file (A) from the rear end toward the head. Shows the case.

  6 is a diagram illustrating the contents (data) of a log acquisition request from the log collection server 1 in the log transfer system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a diagram of contents (data) related to the date / time condition 60.

  With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the log acquisition request includes a request type 50 and a date / time condition 60. Among these, the request type 50 shown in FIG. 6A can select a new 51 or an existing 52. New 51 is designated when a new log acquisition request is made. In this case, it is necessary to set a valid value for the date condition 60. When the existing 52 makes a log acquisition request and receives a response from the image forming apparatus 2 that the log 16 is not ready, the existing 52 acquires the prepared log 16, and therefore when the log acquisition request is made again. specify. In this case, it is not necessary to set a value for the date / time condition 60. If the log 16 is not prepared at the time of request, a response indicating preparation is returned.

  The date / time condition 60 shown in FIG. 6B includes a start date / time 61 and an end date / time 62. Among these, the start date and time 61 is the start date and time of the log 16 to be acquired. The date 63 is specified by describing the year, month, and day at the date 63 and the hour, minute, and second at the time 64 by a character string connected by “:” symbols. Here, the date 63 of the start date 61 is 2013: 02: 10, and the time 64 is 05:30:40. The end date and time 62 is the end date and time of the log 16 to be acquired. The date 63 is specified by describing the year, month, and day at the date 63 and the hour, minute, and second at the time 64 in the same manner as a character string connected by “:” symbols. Here, the date 63 of the end date 62 is 2013: 02: 11, and the time 64 is 05:30:40.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the maximum size 17 set and stored in the storage device 15 of the engine 11 provided in the image forming apparatus 2 according to the embodiment in relation to the engine software 21 described in FIG. .

  Referring to FIG. 7, in the engine 11, the maximum size 17 data (hereinafter simply referred to as the maximum size 17) is stored in the engine software 21 during the initial setting of the image forming apparatus 2 by the process 201 in which the setter sets a value. , The engine software 21 sets the maximum size 17 received from the setter in the process 202 for setting a value in the storage device 15 and stores it. The maximum size 17 here is a reference value for determining whether the log collection server 1 can start the transfer of the log 16 within a predetermined time limit after the log collection server 1 makes a log acquisition request to the image forming apparatus 2 as described above. However, the actual value is determined based on the maximum allowable time until the start of transfer by obtaining the correlation between the time required for preparation for transferring the log 16 and the size based on the previous measurement result. When transferring a log 16 larger than the maximum size 17, it is considered that the transfer of the log 16 cannot be started within a predetermined time limit.

  FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing an operation process when the transfer related to the log transfer function of the image forming apparatus 2 in response to the log acquisition request from the log collection server 1 in the log transfer system described above is in time.

  Referring to FIG. 8, in the operation process when the transfer of the log transfer system is in time, the log collection server 1 first makes a log acquisition request 310 to the image forming apparatus 2, and the communication of the controller 10 of the image forming apparatus 2. Module 22 receives the request. At this time, the new 51 of the request type 50 described with reference to FIG. 6A and the start date 61 and end date 62 of the date condition 60 described with reference to FIG. 6B are passed as request information.

  Next, the communication module 22 of the controller 10 makes a log acquisition request 311 to the controller software 20. At this time, the new 51 of the request type 50 described with reference to FIG. 6A and the start date 61 and end date 62 of the date condition 60 described with reference to FIG. 6B are passed as request information.

  Further, the controller software 20 initializes 312 an area for storing the log 16 in the storage device 14 in order to temporarily store the log 16 sent from the engine software 21 of the engine 11. The reason for initializing 312 is to prevent mixing with the log 16 transmitted this time because the previously transmitted log 16 may be stored. Therefore, the controller software 20 makes a log acquisition request 313 to the engine software 21. At this time, the start date / time 61 and the end date / time 62 of the date / time condition 60 described with reference to FIG.

  Subsequently, the engine software 21 of the engine 11 described in the log 16 stored in the storage device 15 in the period specified by the start date 61 and end date 62 of the date condition 60 with reference to FIG. A log acquisition 314 is performed to acquire a file that falls within the date 63 specified by the time 64 of the date / time condition 60. Further, the engine software 21 performs a size comparison 315 for comparing the total size of the acquired log 16 and the maximum size 17, and determines whether or not the transfer is in time within a predetermined time limit. The log acquisition response 316 is returned in response to the controller software 20 of the controller 10. At this time, information indicating that the transfer is in time within a predetermined time limit is also transmitted.

  Further, the controller software 20 of the controller 10 makes a log transfer request 317 to the engine software 21 of the engine 11. Therefore, the engine software 21 of the engine 11 performs a log transfer response 318 for transferring the log 16 to the controller software 20 one file at a time. When transferring the log 16, the controller software 20 is also notified of the file name of the log 16 and whether it is the log 16 to be transferred last.

  Next, the controller software 20 of the controller 10 performs log storage 319 for storing the log 16 received from the engine software 21 in the storage device 14, thereby accumulating and storing the log 16 in the storage device 14. As the file name of the log 16 when stored in the storage device 14, the file name of the log 16 received by the log transfer response 318 is used.

  By the way, there may be a plurality of logs 16, and the log transfer request 317, the log transfer response 318, and the log storage 319 are repeated until all the logs 16 are transmitted. When the engine software 21 finishes transmitting all the logs 16, the log transfer response 318 notifies the information indicating that the log 16 is transferred last. However, the log 16 to be transferred may include time information that does not fit in the period specified by the start date and time 61 and the end date and time 62 of the date and time condition 60. In such a case, the engine software 21 transmits the file information at the time of transmission. Look at the contents and send only items that fit within the specified time.

  Further, the controller software 20 of the controller 10 compresses the log 16 stored in the storage device 14 to create a file of the compressed log 18 that is combined into one file, and then passes the compressed log 18 to the communication module 22. An acquisition response 321 is performed. Finally, the communication module 22 performs a log acquisition response 322 for transmitting the compressed log 18 to the log collection server 1.

  FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing an operation process when transfer related to the log transfer function of the image forming apparatus 2 in response to a log acquisition request from the log collection server 1 in the log transfer system described above is not in time.

  Referring to FIG. 9, in the operation processing when the transfer of the log transfer system is not in time, the log collection server 1 first makes a log acquisition request 330 to the image forming apparatus 2, and the controller 10 of the image forming apparatus 2 The communication module 22 receives the request. At this time, the new 51 of the request type 50 described with reference to FIG. 6A and the start date 61 and end date 62 of the date condition 60 described with reference to FIG. 6B are passed as request information.

  Next, the communication module 22 of the controller 10 makes a log acquisition request 331 to the controller software 20. At this time, the new 51 of the request type 50 described with reference to FIG. 6A and the start date 61 and end date 62 of the date condition 60 described with reference to FIG. 6B are passed as request information.

  Further, the controller software 20 initializes 332 an area for storing the log 16 in the storage device 14 in order to temporarily store the log 16 sent from the engine software 21 of the engine 11. Here, the initialization 332 is performed so that the previously transmitted log 16 may be stored, as in the case described with reference to FIG. Therefore, the controller software 20 makes a log acquisition request 333 to the engine software 21. At this time, the start date / time 61 and the end date / time 62 of the date / time condition 60 described with reference to FIG.

  Subsequently, the engine software 21 of the engine 11 described in the log 16 stored in the storage device 15 in the period specified by the start date 61 and end date 62 of the date condition 60 with reference to FIG. A log acquisition 334 for acquiring a file that falls within the date 63 specified by the time 64 of the date / time condition 60 is performed. Further, the engine software 21 performs a size comparison 335 for comparing the total size of the acquired log 16 and the maximum size 17, and determines whether or not the transfer is in time within a predetermined time limit. The log acquisition response 336 is returned in response to the controller software 20 of the controller 10. At this time, information indicating that the transfer is not in time within a predetermined time limit is also transmitted.

  Furthermore, the controller software 20 of the controller 10 sends a log acquisition response 337 to the communication module 22 indicating that the transfer is not in time. Therefore, the communication module 22 sends a log acquisition response 338 to the log collection server 1 indicating that the transfer is not in time.

  Next, the controller software 20 of the controller 10 makes a log transfer request 339 to the engine software 21 of the engine 11. Therefore, the engine software 21 of the engine 11 performs a log transfer response 340 for transferring the log 16 to the controller software 20 one file at a time. When transferring the log 16, the controller software 20 is also notified of the file name of the log 16 and whether it is the log 16 to be transferred last.

  Subsequently, the controller software 20 of the controller 10 performs a log storage 341 for storing the log 16 received from the engine software 21 in the storage device 14, thereby accumulating and storing the log 16 in the storage device 14. The file name of the log 16 received by the log transfer response 340 is used as the file name of the log 16 when stored in the storage device 14.

  By the way, a plurality of logs 16 may exist, and the log transfer request 339, the log transfer response 340, and the log storage 341 are repeated until all the logs 16 are transmitted. When the engine software 21 finishes transmitting all the logs 16, the log transfer response 340 notifies the information indicating that the log 16 is transferred last. However, the log 16 to be transferred may include time information that does not fit in the period specified by the start date and time 61 and the end date and time 62 of the date and time condition 60. In such a case, the engine software 21 transmits the file information at the time of transmission. Look at the contents and send only items that fit within the specified time.

  Further, the controller software 20 of the controller 10 compresses the log 16 stored in the storage device 14 and creates a compressed log 18 file that is combined into one file. Thereafter, when a log acquisition request 343 is issued by the log collection server 1 to request log acquisition from the image forming apparatus 2 again, the communication module 22 of the controller 10 receives the request. At this time, the existing 52 of the request type 50 described with reference to FIG. Therefore, the controller software 20 of the controller 10 performs a log acquisition response 345 for passing the compression log 18 to the communication module 22. Finally, the communication module 22 performs a log acquisition response 346 for transmitting the compression log 18 to the log collection server 1.

  FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the procedure of the operation process when the transfer related to the log transfer function of the image forming apparatus 2 in response to the log acquisition request from the log collection server 1 in the log transfer system described above is in time. Incidentally, FIG. 10 shows a sequence obtained by simplifying the operation process described with reference to FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 10, in the sequence when the transfer of the log transfer system is in time, first, when the log collection server 1 makes a log acquisition request (new) 400 that requests the image forming apparatus 2 to acquire a new log. Then, the controller software 20 receives the request, and performs a log storage area initialization 401 for initializing an area for storing the log 16 in the storage device 14 in order to temporarily store the log 16 transmitted from the engine software 21.

  Next, when the controller software 20 makes a log acquisition request 402 for requesting the engine software 21 to acquire a log, the engine software 21 acquires the log 16 that matches the condition from the log 16 stored in the storage device 15. Information indicating that the log 16 can be transferred to the controller software 20 by determining whether or not the transfer is in time within a predetermined time limit (corresponding to the case where the transfer is in time). A log acquisition response 403 is sent. Therefore, the controller software 20 makes a data transfer request 404 for requesting the engine software 21 to transfer the log 16, and the engine software 21 makes a data transfer response 405 for transferring the log 16 to the controller software 20 one file at a time. . In the data transfer response 405, the file name of the log 16 and information on whether or not the log 16 is transferred last are also notified.

  Further, the controller software 20 performs a log storage 406 for storing the log 16 received from the engine software 21 in the storage device 14. The file name of the log 16 received by the data transfer response 405 is used as the file name of the log 16 when stored in the storage device 14.

  Until all the logs 16 are transmitted, the above-described data transfer request 404, data transfer response 405, and log storage 406 are repeated. When all the logs 16 have been transmitted, the data transfer response 405 notifies the information indicating that the log 16 is transferred last.

  Subsequently, after the transfer of the log 16 is completed, the controller software 20 compresses the log 16 and performs log compression 407 that creates a file of the compressed log 18, and then transfers the compressed log 18 to the log collection server 1. Then, a log acquisition response (completion) 408 is performed.

  FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure of operation processing when transfer related to the log transfer function of the image forming apparatus 2 in response to a log acquisition request from the log collection server 1 in the log transfer system described above is not in time. Incidentally, FIG. 11 shows a sequence obtained by simplifying the operation process described with reference to FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 11, in the sequence when the transfer of the log transfer system is not in time, first, the log collection server 1 makes a log acquisition request (new) 410 for requesting the image forming apparatus 2 to acquire a new log. Then, the controller software 20 receives the request and performs a log storage area initialization 411 that initializes an area for storing the log 16 in the storage device 14 in order to temporarily store the log 16 transmitted from the engine software 21. .

  Next, when the controller software 20 makes a log acquisition request 412 for requesting the engine software 21 to acquire a log, the engine software 21 acquires the log 16 that matches the condition from the log 16 stored in the storage device 15. And determines whether or not the transfer is in time within a predetermined time limit (in this case, the case where the transfer is not in time), and the log 16 cannot be transferred to the controller software 20 A log acquisition response 413 for notifying the information is performed. Therefore, the controller software 20 performs a log acquisition response (not in time) 414 that notifies the log collection server 1 that the transfer of the data of the log 16 is not in time.

  Further, the controller software 20 makes a data transfer request 415 for requesting the engine software 21 to transfer the log 16, and the engine software 21 makes a data transfer response 416 for transferring the log 16 to the controller software 20 one file at a time. . In the data transfer response 416, the file name of the log 16 and information on whether or not it is the log 16 to be transferred last are also notified.

  Further, the controller software 20 performs log storage 417 for storing the log 16 received from the engine software 21 in the storage device 14. The file name of the log 16 received by the data transfer response 416 is used as the file name of the log 16 when stored in the storage device 14.

  The above-described data transfer request 415, data transfer response 416, and log storage 417 are repeated until all the logs 16 are transmitted. When all the logs 16 have been transmitted, the data transfer response 416 notifies the information indicating that it is the log 16 to be transferred last.

  Subsequently, when the transfer of the log 16 is completed, the controller software 20 performs log compression 418 that compresses the log 16 and creates a file of the compressed log 18. Thereafter, when the controller software 20 receives a log acquisition request (existing) 419 requesting the existing log acquisition from the log collection server 1 again, the controller software 20 transfers the compressed log 18 to the log collection server 1 and sends a log acquisition response ( Completion) 420 is performed.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a log acquisition operation process related to the engine software 21 in the engine 11 provided in the image forming apparatus 2 according to the embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 12, the log acquisition operation process related to the engine software 21 has been described with reference to FIG. 6B by first receiving a log acquisition request from the controller software 20 (step S1). After obtaining the start date and time 61 and the end date and time 62 of the date and time condition 60, the total size is initialized to 0 (step S2).

  Next, as described with reference to FIG. 7, after performing the process of acquiring the maximum size 17 (step S3), the first log acquisition request is received (step S1). From the date and time 61 and the end date and time 62, the start date and the end date are acquired by extracting the date part (step S4).

  Furthermore, the start date and the end date are acquired (step S4). The log 16 that falls within the period between the start date and the end date acquired in the process is searched from the storage device 15, and the log 16 matching the condition is acquired. Then, a log list of file names is created, and the size of the acquired log 16 is added to the maximum size 17 (step S5).

  Subsequently, the total size and the maximum size 17 are compared, and it is determined whether or not the total size> the maximum size 17 (step S6). If it is determined that the total size is not greater than the maximum size 17 (if the total size is not greater than the maximum size 17), the controller software 20 of the controller 10 is notified that the transfer of the log 16 is in time (step S7). If the total size> the maximum size 17 (if the total size exceeds the maximum size 17), the controller software 20 of the controller 10 is notified that the transfer of the log 16 is not in time (step S8). In any case, after that, a data transfer request reception process (step S9) for receiving a log acquisition request from the controller software 20 of the controller 10 is performed, and the request type 50 described with reference to FIG. get.

  Further, it is determined whether or not there is a file to be transferred (step S10) by checking whether or not the list is empty with reference to the log list created in the previous step S5. Here, referring to the created log list, the log 16 of one file is selected. If there is no file to be transferred as a result of this determination, the controller software 20 of the controller 10 is notified that the transfer has been completed (step S11), and the operation process is terminated after performing the process. If it exists, it is determined whether or not it is the log 16 to be transferred last (step S12). If the result of this determination is that the log 16 is to be transferred last, the log 16 is transferred to the controller software 20 of the controller 10 (step S13), and at the same time information indicating that it is the last log 16 is also sent. If the log 16 is not the last transferred log, the log 16 is similarly transferred to the controller software 20 of the controller 10 (step S14), and information indicating that the log 16 is not the last log 16 is also notified. After that, by deleting the item of the transferred log 16 from the created log list, the process returns to the state before receiving the data transfer request (step S9) after performing the process of deleting from the untransferred log list (step S15). Repeat the process after that.

  In the processing flow described above, since the transferred log 16 is deleted from the log list, the log list eventually becomes empty. Further, since only the untransferred log 16 is described in the log list, it can be determined that it is the log 16 to be transferred last when the number of description items becomes one.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a new log acquisition operation process related to the controller software 20 in the controller 10 provided in the image forming apparatus 2 according to the embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 13, in the new log acquisition operation process related to the controller software 20, after first performing a process of receiving a log acquisition request from the log collection server 1 (step S <b> 1), the internal state of the controller software 20 is changed. A process of changing during transfer (step S2) is performed.

  Next, the controller software 20 performs a process for initializing the storage area in order to initialize the area for storing the log 16 in the storage device 14 (step S3), and then sends a log acquisition request to the engine software 21 of the engine 11. (Step S4) is performed. As a result, the controller software 20 performs a process of receiving a log acquisition response from the engine software 21 of the engine 11 (step S5), and then determines whether or not the preparation of the log 16 for transferring the log 16 according to the received content is in time. Determination (step S6) is performed. If the result of this determination is that the preparation of the log 16 is not in time, the controller software 20 returns a log acquisition response notifying the log collection server 1 that the data transfer is not in time (step S7). Thereafter, similarly to the case where the preparation of the log 16 is in time, the engine software 21 of the engine 11 is requested to obtain a log (step S8).

  As a result, the controller software 20 performs a process of receiving a log acquisition response from the engine software 21 of the engine 11 (step S9), and then stores the log 16 in order to store the received log 16 in the storage device 14 (step S9). S10) Processing is performed.

  Subsequently, the controller software 20 determines whether or not the received log 16 is the last log 16 based on the content received in the process of receiving a log acquisition response (step S9) (step S11). If the result of this determination is not the last log 16, the log acquisition request is made to the engine software 21 of the engine 11 (step S 8), and the subsequent processing is repeated. Then, the log 16 stored in the storage device 14 in the process of storing the log 16 (step S10) is compressed (step S12), the process is combined into one file, and the transfer of the internal state of the controller software 20 of the controller 10 is completed. (Step S13) is performed.

  Further, the controller software 20 returns a log acquisition response notifying the information that the previous data transfer is not in time (step S7), and notifies the log collection server 1 of the information that the data transfer is not in time. Whether or not it has been done is determined by determining whether or not a log acquisition response is returned (step S14). If the log acquisition response is returned as a result of this determination, the operation process is terminated. If the log acquisition response is not returned, the log acquisition response is returned (step S15), and then the operation process is terminated. In the process of returning the log acquisition response (step S15), the compressed log 18 file stored in the storage device 14 is transferred to the log collection server 1.

  By the way, in the process of returning the log acquisition response for notifying the information that the data transfer is not in time in FIG. 13 (step S7), when the log collection server 1 is notified of the information that the data transfer is not in time, After a certain time has elapsed, the image forming apparatus 2 is requested to acquire a log again.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of the operation process related to log acquisition in the process of returning a log acquisition response when the preparation of the log 16 included in the operation process in FIG. 13 is not in time (step S7).

  Referring to FIG. 14, in the log acquisition related to the controller software 20 in the controller 10 here, after first performing a process of receiving a log acquisition request for the existing 52 logs 16 from the log collection server 1 (step S <b> 1), The internal state of the controller 10 is referred to determine whether or not the state is transfer completion (step S2). If the result of this determination is that the transfer is complete, a log acquisition response for transferring the compressed log 18 file (obtained in step S12 in FIG. 13) stored in the storage device 14 to the log collection server 1 is returned. (Step S3) The processing is terminated after the processing is performed, but if the status is not transfer completion, a log acquisition response for notifying the log collection server 1 that the transfer of the log 16 is not completed is returned ( Step S4) After performing the process, the operation process is terminated.

  In the image processing apparatus 2 according to the embodiment described above, the activity information stored in the storage device 15 of the engine 11 is recorded by the log transfer function constructed by the engine software 21 of the engine 11 and the controller software 20 of the controller 10. The log 16 that is a record may be a log 16 of a large size that cannot be transferred within a predetermined time limit exceeding the maximum size 17 when a log acquisition request is received from the external log collection server 1 via the telephone line 3. For example, the processing is simply performed by transferring the data to the controller 10 via the transfer path 12 and storing the data in the storage device 14 in the device, and using the communication device 13 to the log collection server 1 via the telephone line 3. When notifying the information that the transfer is not in time without performing the transfer, and when receiving the log acquisition request again from the log collection server 1 next time In order to prepare to transfer the large-sized log 16 stored in the storage device 14 of the controller 10, the large-sized log 16 that cannot be transferred within a predetermined time limit after a log acquisition request from the log collection server 1 is received. Even so, it can be transferred without reducing the size. As a result, the amount of information in the acquired log 16 that has been regarded as a problem is reduced, and the problem that the convenience for the user is reduced is avoided.

  In the basic configuration of the image forming apparatus 2 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, only the configuration requirements related to the log transfer function are disclosed as the detailed configuration of the controller 10 and the engine 11, but the other components are well known. Since the technology can be applied and the detailed functions can be variously changed, the image forming apparatus of the present invention and the log transfer system including the same are not limited to the forms disclosed in the embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Log collection server 2 Image forming apparatus 3 Telephone line 10 Controller 11 Engine 12 Transfer path 13 Communication device 14, 15 Storage device 16 Log 17 Maximum size 20 Controller software 21 Engine software 22 Communication module 30, 31 File

JP 2006-107217 A

Claims (2)

In an image forming apparatus connected to a server having a log collection function via a communication line and having a log transfer function for transferring a log in response to a log acquisition request from the server,
A controller having a communication device having a communication function via the communication line and a storage device for storing the log for transfer, and transferring the log within a predetermined time limit when receiving the log acquisition request A maximum size set as a reference value for determining whether or not it can be started, and an engine having a storage device for storing the log as a record of its own activity information, connected by a transfer path,
In the controller and the engine, as a result of comparing the log transferred according to the log acquisition request with the maximum size by the log transfer function constructed by software, if the maximum size is less than the maximum size, the storage of the engine The log stored in the device is transferred to the storage device of the controller via the transfer path and stored, and then transferred to the server via the communication line using the communication device of the controller. If the maximum size is exceeded, the controller simply performs processing to be transferred to the storage device and stored, and the transfer to the server is not in time using the communication device via the communication line. Information, and when the log acquisition request is received again from the server after completion of the storage process by the transfer, The log stored in La of the storage device by using the communication device via the communication line the image forming apparatus characterized by transferring to the server.   2. A log transfer system comprising the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 and the server having the log collection function connected via the communication line.