JP2016139206A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record a log, and to output the log to the outside after restart without securing an area for recording the log at all times in a built-in non-volatile memory in electronic equipment.SOLUTION: A log writing part 42 includes: a step (a) of generating a log when a predetermined error occurs; a step (b) of writing a log in a program area; and a step (c) of changing a start mode from a normal mode to a log collection mode to restart electronic equipment. A start processing part 41 includes a step of allowing a log collection processing part 43 to operate when the start mode is the log collection mode in the start of the electronic equipment. The log collection processing part 43 includes: a step (a) of reading the log from a program area, and a step (b) of outputting the read log to an external device by using an interface 2 when the start mode is the log collection mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device.

  When an error is detected, an image forming apparatus records a log as an operation history in a built-in nonvolatile memory (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-118229 A

  According to the above-described technique, the image forming apparatus can record a log even when the log cannot be output to an external apparatus when an error is detected.

  However, in the above-described technique, since it is necessary to provide a free area for always securing an area for recording a log in the built-in nonvolatile memory, the cost of the apparatus increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even if an area for recording the log is not always secured in the built-in nonvolatile memory, the log is recorded and output to the outside after restarting. An object is to obtain an electronic device that can be used.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes an interface that performs data communication with an external device, a non-volatile memory having a program area in which a program is stored, and an arithmetic processing unit that executes the program. The arithmetic processing unit operates as an activation processing unit, a log writing unit, and a log collection processing unit. The log writing unit generates (a) a log when a predetermined error occurs, (b) writes the log in the program area, and (c) changes the startup mode from the normal mode to the log collection mode. Then, the electronic device is restarted. The activation processing unit operates the log collection processing unit when the activation mode is the log collection mode when the electronic device is activated. When the activation mode is the log collection mode, the log collection processing unit (a) reads the log from the program area, and (b) uses the interface to read the read log to the external device. Output.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an electronic apparatus capable of recording a log and outputting it to the outside after restarting without always securing an area for recording the log in a built-in nonvolatile memory.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image forming apparatus is a kind of electronic apparatus having an embedded system. The image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is a printer, a multifunction peripheral, or the like, and includes a controller 1, an interface 2, a printing apparatus 3, an image reading apparatus 4, a facsimile apparatus 5, and an operation panel 6.

  The controller 1 is connected to the interface 2, the printing device 3, the image reading device 4, the facsimile device 5, the operation panel 6, and the like, and executes a job (printing, image reading, facsimile transmission, etc.) based on the request. The controller 1 includes a computer, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and the like.

  The interface 2 includes (a) a network interface that performs data communication with an external device (server, host device, etc.) not shown on the network, and (b) an external device (USB (Universal) that is directly connected wirelessly or by wire. Serial Bus) including peripheral interface for data communication with memory).

  The printing apparatus 3 is supplied with printing image data from the controller 1, performs various processes (such as halftoning) on the printing image data, and executes printing based on the processed data. The image reading device 4 optically reads a document image from a document and outputs image data of the document image. The facsimile apparatus 5 generates a facsimile signal from the image data of the original image, transmits the generated facsimile signal by a modem, etc., receives the facsimile signal by the modem, etc., and generates image data of the original image from the received facsimile signal. To do.

  The operation panel 6 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display that displays an operation screen for the user, and an input device such as a touch panel that detects a user operation on the operation screen.

  The controller 1 includes an arithmetic processing unit 11, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, and a nonvolatile memory 13.

  The arithmetic processing unit 11 is a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC, and the like, and operates as a processing unit that executes various processes. For example, the arithmetic processing unit 11 loads the operating system program group 21, the application program 22, and the like stored in the nonvolatile memory 13 into the RAM 12 and executes them. The RAM 12 is a volatile storage device that temporarily stores various data related to processing by the arithmetic processing device 11.

  The non-volatile memory 13 has a program area in which a program executed by the CPU of the arithmetic processing unit 11 is stored and a data area in which various data (system setting data, user data, etc.) are stored. As the non-volatile memory 13, for example, a memory is used.

  Further, in this embodiment, the program area includes a system area in which system programs (here, operating system program group 21) are stored.

  An operating system 31 is realized by executing the operating system program group 21 in the arithmetic processing unit 11. The operating system 31 has a kernel (not shown) and various drivers.

  In addition, the application 32 is executed by executing the application program 22 in the arithmetic processing unit 11. A plurality of application programs 22 are stored in the nonvolatile memory 13, and each application 32 executes a specific job requested by using the printing device 3, the image processing device 4, the facsimile device 5, and the like. .

  The arithmetic processing unit 11 operates as a start processing unit 41, a log writing unit 42, and a log collection processing unit 43 as a part of the operating system 31.

  When a predetermined error occurs in the image forming apparatus, the log writing unit 42 generates (a) a log including the internal state information of the image forming apparatus at the time of the error, and (b) in the program area. (C) After writing the log, the startup mode is changed from the normal mode to the log collection mode, and the image forming apparatus is restarted. That is, the log writing unit 42 does not write the log in the data area.

  In this embodiment, the log writing unit 42 selects one or more of the plurality of application program areas in which the plurality of application programs 22 are stored (for example, according to the size of the log), Write a log to the selected application program area.

  In this embodiment, when the program in the program area where the log is to be written is being executed, the log writing unit 42 stops the program being executed (that is, the process of the program being executed is stopped). After the program is stopped, the log is written, the start mode is changed from the normal mode to the log collection mode, and the image forming apparatus is restarted.

  The activation processing unit 41 executes initialization processing such as activation of the operating system 31 when the image forming apparatus is activated, and further determines whether the activation mode is the log collection mode when the image forming apparatus is activated. In the log collection mode, the log collection processing unit 43 is operated after starting only a part of the operating system 31 necessary for the log collection process described later. When the activation mode is the normal mode, the activation processing unit 41 activates the operating system 31 without restriction and does not activate the log collection processing unit 43.

  In this embodiment, the activation processing unit 41, when the activation mode is the log collection mode when the image forming apparatus is activated, the application program in the selected application program area (that is, the program with the log overwritten). The log collection processing unit 43 is operated while prohibiting the call of).

  The log collection processing unit 43 operates when the activation mode is the log collection mode, (a) reads a log from the program area, and (b) reads the read log using an interface 2 to an external device (USB memory, Output to a server).

  In this embodiment, the log collection processing unit 43 reads a log from the selected application program area.

  Further, in this embodiment, the log collection processing unit 43 (c) outputs the read log to the external device using the interface 2, and then uses the external device or another external device using the interface 2. Obtain firmware from the device, (d) repair the program in the program area where the log was written (that is, the program overwritten with the log) with the obtained firmware, and (e) start mode after repairing the program Is changed from the log collection mode to the normal mode, and the image forming apparatus is restarted.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  When an error is detected in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 (step S1), the log writing unit 42 selects and specifies an application program area used for writing the log (step S2). For example, an error relating to a job being executed by the application 32 is detected by the application 32 and notified to the log writing unit 42 or the like.

  Next, the log writing unit 42 obtains a list of running processes managed by the operating system 31, and stops the program when it is determined that the program in the specified application program area is being executed. (Step S3).

  Then, the log writing unit 42 writes a log to the specified application program area (step S4).

  After writing the log, the log writing unit 42 changes the startup mode from the normal mode to the log collection mode (step S5), and turns the image forming apparatus off and on to restart it (step S6). Note that the information on the start mode is stored as setting data in the system area.

  When the image forming apparatus is restarted, the activation processing unit 41 determines that the activation mode is the log collection mode, and prohibits the calling of the program in the application program area in which the log is written, while the log collection processing unit 43 is started.

  Then, the log collection processing unit 43 reads the log from the application program area in which the log is written, and outputs the log to the external device using the interface 2 (step S7).

  When the log output to the external device is completed, the log collection processing unit 43 acquires the firmware including the program in the application program area from the external device and the like, expands the acquired firmware, and executes the program in the application program area. Repair (step S8).

  After the restoration of the program, the log collection processing unit 43 returns the startup mode from the log collection mode to the normal mode, and restarts the image forming apparatus as necessary (step S9).

  As described above, according to the above embodiment, the log writing unit 42 generates (a) a log when a predetermined error occurs, (b) writes the log in the program area, and (c) The startup mode is changed from the normal mode to the log collection mode, and the image forming apparatus is restarted. The activation processing unit 41 operates the log collection processing unit 43 when the activation mode is the log collection mode when the image forming apparatus is activated. When the activation mode is the log collection mode, the log collection processing unit 43 (a) reads the log from the program area, and (b) outputs the read log to the external device using the interface 2.

  As a result, even if the area for recording the log is not always secured in the built-in nonvolatile memory 13 in consideration of the possibility that the log cannot be output to the outside at the time of error detection, the log is recorded and externally restored after the restart. Can be output.

  The above-described embodiments are preferred examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. is there.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the log is written in the application program area, but instead, the log writing unit 42 is an area in the system area in which system programs unnecessary for the log collection mode are stored (for example, The boot processing unit 41 operates the log collection processing unit 43 while prohibiting the calling of the program in the region in which the log is written. When the activation mode is the log collection mode, the log collection processing unit 43 may read the log from the area where the log is written.

  In the above embodiment, the log writing unit 42 determines whether or not a log can be output to the external device when an error is detected, and cannot output a log to the external device when an error is detected. Only when it is determined that the activation processing unit 41, the log writing unit 42, and the log collection processing unit 43 may operate as described above.

  In the above embodiment, when an operating system and hardware for log collection are provided, the log is written in the system area. In the log collection mode, the operating system and hardware for log collection are used. The log collection process described above may be performed.

  In the above embodiment, log writing and log collection may be started after the user inputs a predetermined hidden command (key operation in a predetermined order, simultaneous operation of predetermined multiple keys, etc.). Good.

  In the above embodiment, completion of log writing and completion of log collection may be notified to the user by an indicator in the operation panel 6 or the like.

  The present invention is applicable to an electronic apparatus having an embedded system such as an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral.

2 Interface 11 Arithmetic processing device 13 Non-volatile memory 41 Start processing unit 42 Log writing unit 43 Log collection processing unit

Claims (5)

In electronic equipment,
An interface for data communication with an external device;
A non-volatile memory having a program area in which a program is stored;
An arithmetic processing unit that executes the program,
The arithmetic processing unit operates as a startup processing unit, a log writing unit, and a log collection processing unit,
The log writing unit generates (a) a log when a predetermined error occurs, (b) writes the log in the program area, and (c) changes the startup mode from the normal mode to the log collection mode. Restart the electronic device,
The activation processing unit operates the log collection processing unit when the activation mode is the log collection mode when the electronic device is activated.
When the activation mode is the log collection mode, the log collection processing unit (a) reads the log from the program area, and (b) uses the interface to read the read log to the external device. Output,
Electronic equipment characterized by The program area includes a system area in which a system program is stored and an application program area in which an application program is stored,
The arithmetic processing unit executes an operating system by executing the system program, and operates as the startup processing unit, the log writing unit, and the log collection processing unit as a part of the operating system,
The log writing unit writes the log in the application program area,
The activation processing unit operates the log collection processing unit while prohibiting calling of the application program in the application program area when the activation mode is the log collection mode when the electronic device is activated.
The log collection processing unit reads the log from the application program area when the activation mode is the log collection mode;
The electronic device according to claim 1. The program area includes a system area in which a system program is stored,
The arithmetic processing unit executes an operating system by executing the system program, and operates as the startup processing unit, the log writing unit, and the log collection processing unit as a part of the operating system,
The log writing unit writes the log to an area where a system program unnecessary for the log collection mode is stored in the system area.
When the activation mode is the log collection mode when the electronic device is activated, the activation processing unit operates the log collection processing unit while prohibiting calling a program in the area in which the log is written,
The log collection processing unit reads the log from the area where the log is written when the activation mode is the log collection mode;
The electronic device according to claim 1.   The log collection processing unit (c) outputs the read log to the external device using the interface, acquires firmware, and (d) acquires the program in the program area with the acquired firmware. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein after the program is repaired, the startup mode is changed from the log collection mode to a normal mode. 5. machine.   The log writing unit, when a program in the program area is being executed, stops the program being executed and writes the log after the program is stopped. Item 5. The electronic device according to any one of Items 4 to 4.

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