JP2016139252A - Image forming device and control program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device and a control program therefor, capable of preventing performance degradation.SOLUTION: An image forming device has a first HDD (Hard Disk Drive) having box areas, or storage areas assigned to each of a plurality of users, and a second HDD having a larger capacity than the first HDD. When the second HDD fails, the image forming device selects data to be moved from among data stored in the first HDD, and moves the selected data from the first HDD to a flash memory. The image forming device temporarily stores data in a storage area, of the first HDD, that became free after moving the data to be moved. The image forming device includes data stored in the box areas of the first HDD in the data to be moved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control program for the image forming apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including first and second HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) and a control program for the image forming apparatus.

  An MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) as one of image forming apparatuses has a scanner function, a copying function, a function as a printer, a facsimile function, a data communication function, and a server function.

  A recent MFP includes a nonvolatile memory (flash SSD (Solid State Drive)) and an HDD as storage devices. Generally, firmware data is stored in a nonvolatile memory, and large-capacity data such as image data is stored in an HDD. In recent years, MFPs are provided with two HDDs in order to prevent important data from being lost due to a failure of the HDD. In each of the two HDDs, the same data is stored (backed up) by mirroring.

  There are 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch HDD standards (sizes). The 2.5-inch HDD has a feature that the unit price per unit capacity is high while having high reliability. The 3.5-inch HDD has a feature that the unit price per unit capacity is low while the reliability is slightly low. The MFP may be equipped with a 2.5-inch HDD as a standard configuration and a 3.5-inch HDD as an optional configuration. In this case, the capacities of the two HDDs are different from each other.

  When the backup storage is configured with two HDDs having different capacities, the size of the area (backup area, backup storage) used for backup is determined according to the HDD having a small capacity. An area other than the backup area in the HDD having a large capacity is used as a temporary storage area for storing temporarily stored data (data that does not need to be backed up). The temporarily stored data is, for example, a read image at the time of a copy job or compressed data thereof.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below disclose techniques related to data backup. In Patent Document 1 below, in order to prevent a decrease in the life of a NAND flash memory, a technique for managing the number of accesses to the flash memory and transferring data to another storage when the number of accesses becomes excessive Is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 below discloses a technique for storing backup source information together with backup data in a backup destination when the backup data is moved or copied to another storage. As a result, data can be linked between the backup source and the backup destination.

JP 2011-128895 A JP 2013-80380 A

  13 and 14 are diagrams for explaining the problems of the conventional image forming apparatus.

  Referring to FIG. 13, the conventional image forming apparatus includes a first HDD and a second HDD having different capacities, and a flash memory. When the second HDD having a large capacity fails, the temporary storage area cannot be used. For this reason, data cannot be temporarily stored, and the performance of the image forming apparatus deteriorates.

  As a method for suppressing a decrease in performance of the image forming apparatus, a method of moving data DA, which is a part of data stored in the first HDD having a small capacity, to the flash memory can be considered. According to this method, an area in the first HDD that is freed by the movement of the data DA can be newly used as a temporary storage area. However, this method requires frequent rewriting of data stored in the flash memory. Since the flash memory has a limited number of rewrites, the flash memory reaches the end of its life, and the flash memory needs to be replaced. This reduces the performance of the image forming apparatus. In addition, in this method, when the data DA includes large data such as audio data and panel image data, the size of the data DA is divided into small files and the data DA is divided into the first HDD and the flash memory. Need to be saved. As a result, the control processing of the image forming apparatus is increased, the audio data is delayed in reproduction, the drawing response of the operation panel is lowered, and the performance of the image forming apparatus is lowered.

  Referring to FIG. 14, as a method for suppressing a decrease in performance of the image forming apparatus, a method in which a part of an unused area in the box area of the first HDD is used as a temporary storage area can be considered. That is, each backup area of the first and second HDDs includes a box area that is a storage area assigned to each of a plurality of users. Each of the first and second HDDs is normally assigned a large capacity box area of about 130 GB. The box area includes an area where the user stores image data and an unused area. Therefore, a method of using a part (about 0.5 GB) of an unused area in the box area of the first HDD as a temporary storage area is also conceivable. However, in this method, since the capacity of the box area is reduced, the area in which the user can store image data and the like is reduced, and the performance of the image forming apparatus is degraded.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus and a control program for the image forming apparatus that can suppress a decrease in performance.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first HDD having a box area which is a storage area allocated to each of a plurality of users, and a second HDD having a capacity larger than the capacity of the first HDD. In the case where the HDD, the non-volatile memory, and the second HDD fail, a movement determining means for determining the movement target data from the data stored in the first HDD, and the movement target data from the first HDD Moving means for moving to a memory; and temporary storage means for temporarily storing data in a storage area of the first HDD that is free as a result of moving data to be moved; The data stored in the box area of the first HDD is included in the movement target data.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the movement determination unit is shared by address data that has been successfully transmitted, service mode drawing data, job history data, and a plurality of users from among data stored in the first HDD. At least one of the data stored in the shared box area that is a storage area is further determined as movement target data.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the movement determining unit further determines address data that has been successfully transmitted as movement target data from the data stored in the first HDD.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the movement determination unit further determines service mode drawing data as movement target data from data stored in the first HDD.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the movement determination unit further determines job history data as movement target data from data stored in the first HDD.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the movement determining unit further determines data stored in the shared box area as data to be moved from data stored in the first HDD.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the movement determination unit further determines data read by at least one user among the data stored in the shared box area as movement target data.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the movement determining unit excludes the read image, the counter data, the drawing data other than the service mode, and the audio data from the movement target data among the data stored in the first HDD.

  In the image forming apparatus, preferably, the size of the movement target data determined by the movement determination unit is compared with the free capacity of the nonvolatile memory, and the size of the movement target data is larger than the free capacity of the nonvolatile memory. In this case, it further includes an excluding unit that excludes a part of the movement target data from the movement target data so that the size of the movement target data is equal to or less than the free capacity of the nonvolatile memory.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the exclusion unit does not exclude a part of the movement target data from the movement target data when the size of the movement target data is smaller than the free capacity of the nonvolatile memory.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the return determination unit that determines at least a part of the movement target data as the return target data and the result of moving the movement target data after temporarily storing the data by the temporary storage unit The storage area further includes return means for returning the return target data from the nonvolatile memory.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the restoration determination unit stores the data stored in the shared box area, which is a storage area shared by a plurality of users, in the shared box area when the data to be moved is included in the movement target data. When the shared data has been read by all users sharing, the data stored in the shared box area is determined as the data to be restored.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the return determination unit determines all the movement target data as the return target data when a job including a process of temporarily storing the image data is completed.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the return determination unit determines all the movement target data as the return target data when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the return determination unit determines the service mode drawing data as the return target data when the service menu is displayed when the movement target data includes the service mode drawing data. To do.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the moving unit moves the data to be moved from the first HDD to the nonvolatile memory when there is no HDD that temporarily stores the image data regarding the executed job.

  An image forming apparatus control program according to still another aspect of the present invention has a first HDD having a box area which is a storage area allocated to each of a plurality of users, and a capacity larger than the first HDD capacity. A control program for an image forming apparatus including a second HDD and a non-volatile memory. When the second HDD fails, data to be moved is determined from data stored in the first HDD. The move determination step, the move step of moving the move target data from the first HDD to the non-volatile memory, and the storage area of the first HDD, the data being temporarily stored in the free storage area as a result of the move of the move target data And temporarily storing in the first HDD box area in the movement determining step. It has been included in data to the mobile object data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can improve convenience and a control program for the image forming apparatus.

1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the backup control part 120 and the memory | storage part 130 in one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a first diagram illustrating an operation of image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a second diagram illustrating the operation of image forming apparatus 100 in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a third diagram illustrating the operation of image forming apparatus 100 in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a fourth diagram illustrating the operation of image forming apparatus 100 in one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows typically the kind of data which can be moved to the flash memory in one embodiment of this invention, and the kind of data which cannot be moved to a flash memory. FIG. 10 is a fifth diagram illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a subroutine of the movement object data determination process of FIG. 11 is a subroutine for the restoration determination process of FIG. FIG. 10 is a first diagram illustrating a problem of a conventional image forming apparatus. It is a 2nd figure explaining the problem of the conventional image forming apparatus.

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

  In the present embodiment, a case where the image forming apparatus is an MFP will be described. In addition to the MFP, the image forming apparatus may be a facsimile machine, a printer, or a copier.

  [Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]

  First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is an MFP, and includes a scanner function, a copying function, a function as a printer, a facsimile function, a data communication function, and a server function. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an HDD 131 (an example of a first HDD) and an HDD 132 (an example of a second HDD).

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a main CPU 110, a backup control unit 120, a storage unit 130, a system memory 140, a nonvolatile memory 145, an RTC (Real-Time Clock) 150, and a network I. / F155, an operation unit 160, a display unit 165, a reading unit 170, and an image forming unit (output unit) 175. The main CPU 110, the backup control unit 120, the system memory 140, the nonvolatile memory 145, the RTC 150, the network I / F 155, the operation unit 160, the display unit 165, the reading unit 170, and the image forming unit 175 are connected to each other. ing. The backup control unit 120 is mutually connected to the storage unit 130.

  The main CPU 110 controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus. The backup control unit 120 writes data to the storage unit 130 and reads data from the storage unit 130. The storage unit 130 is an auxiliary storage device and stores various data. The system memory 140 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) and is a working memory for the main CPU 110. The nonvolatile memory 145 stores a control program executed by the main CPU 110 and various tables. The network I / F 155 transmits and receives various types of information to and from external devices (not shown) on the network through the network. The operation unit 160 receives various operations through the operation panel. The display unit 165 displays various types of information on an operation panel (not shown). The reading unit 170 reads an image of a document.

  The image forming unit 175 is roughly composed of a toner image forming unit, a fixing device, a paper transport unit, and the like. The image forming unit 175 forms an image on a sheet by, for example, electrophotography. The toner image forming unit combines four color images by a so-called tandem method, and forms a color image on a sheet (recording medium). The toner image forming unit includes a photoconductor provided for each color of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), and an intermediate in which a toner image is transferred (primary transfer) from the photoconductor. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt and a transfer unit that transfers an image from the intermediate transfer belt to a sheet (secondary transfer). The fixing device has a heating roller and a pressure roller. The fixing device conveys the sheet on which the toner image is formed between the heating roller and the pressure roller, and heats and presses the sheet. As a result, the fixing device melts the toner adhering to the paper and fixes it on the paper to form an image on the paper. The paper transport unit includes a paper feed roller, a transport roller, and a motor that drives them. The paper transport unit feeds paper from the paper feed cassette and transports the paper inside the housing of the image forming apparatus 100. Further, the paper transport unit discharges the paper on which the image is formed from the housing of the image forming apparatus 100 to a paper discharge tray or the like.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing detailed configurations of the backup control unit 120 and the storage unit 130 according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3 and the subsequent drawings, the HDD 131 may be referred to as a first HDD and the HDD 132 may be referred to as a second HDD.

  Referring to FIG. 3, storage unit 130 includes an HDD 131, HDD 132, and flash memory 133 (an example of a nonvolatile memory). The HDD 132 has a capacity larger than that of the HDD 131. The flash memory 133 is composed of, for example, a NAND flash memory.

  The backup control unit 120 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The backup control unit 120 includes a data determination unit 121, an access control unit 122, and a backup system controller 123. The data determination unit 121 determines data to be moved from the data stored in the HDD 131 when the HDD 132 fails. In addition, the data determination unit 121 determines a part of the movement target data as return target data at a required timing. The migration target data is data that is migrated from the HDD 131 to the flash memory 133. The restoration target data is data to be restored from the flash memory 133 to the HDD 131. The access control unit 122 writes data to each of the HDDs 131 and 132 and reads data from each of the HDDs 131 and 132. The backup system controller 123 backs up (saves) necessary data to each of the HDDs 131 and 132 by mirroring. The backup system controller 123 manages the storage areas of the HDDs 131 and 132.

  [Operation of Image Forming Apparatus]

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Referring to FIG. 4, when both HDDs 131 and 132 and flash memory 133 are normal, HDDs 131 and 132 constitute a backup storage system. Firmware is stored in the flash memory 133.

  The entire HDD 131 is used as a backup area that is a storage area for backing up data that needs to be stored for a long period of time. The HDD 132 uses a storage area having the same capacity as that of the HDD 131 as a backup area. The same data is stored in the backup areas of the HDDs 131 and 132 by mirroring. The remaining storage area of the HDD 132 is used as a temporary storage area. The temporary storage area is a storage area for storing temporary storage data that is data that does not need to be stored for a long period of time. The temporary storage area is supplementarily used when temporarily storing large-size data that cannot be stored in the system memory 140 at one time, or when the free space of the system memory 140 is small.

  For example, web browsing browser applications, management data, image data, audio data, panel drawing data, and address data are stored in the backup areas of the HDDs 131 and 132, for example. The backup area includes a box area that is a storage area allocated to each of a plurality of users, and an application area that is a storage area in which other data (such as data of various applications) is stored. Box data, which is data saved by the user, is stored in the box area.

  Referring to FIG. 5, when HDD 132 fails, all data stored in HDD 132 is lost. However, since the data stored in the backup area of the HDD 132 is also stored in the backup area of the HDD 131, the image forming apparatus 100 can continue to operate.

  When the HDD 132 fails, when executing a job that needs to temporarily store image data, such as a scan job, a copy job, or a print job, there is no HDD that temporarily stores the image data related to the executed job. . The image forming apparatus 100 cannot temporarily store the image data unless the data temporarily stored in the system memory 140 is output. As a result, the performance of the image forming apparatus 100 is significantly reduced.

  With reference to FIG. 6, in the above-described case, the backup control unit 120 performs the following operation in order to suppress a decrease in performance of the image forming apparatus 100. When the HDD 132 has failed, the backup control unit 120 determines data to be moved from the data stored in the HDD 131 when executing a job that needs to temporarily store image data. At this time, the backup control unit 120 includes box data, which is data stored in the personal box area of the HDD 131, in the movement target data. Then, the backup control unit 120 moves (saves) the movement target data from the HDD 131 to the flash memory 133.

  Referring to FIG. 7, as a result of moving the movement target data, the box area is divided into HDD 131 and flash memory 133. In the storage area of the HDD 131, the backup control unit 120 uses the storage area that is free as a result of moving the movement target data as a temporary storage area, and temporarily stores the data. The backup control unit 120 does not temporarily store data in the flash memory 133.

  The backup control unit 120 compares the free capacity of the flash memory 133 with the size of the movement target data. If the size of the movement target data is larger, the size of the movement target data is equal to or less than the free capacity of the flash memory 133. Thus, a part of the movement target data may be excluded from the movement target data. If the size of the flash memory 133 is larger, the backup control unit 120 may not exclude a part of the movement target data from the movement target data.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the types of data that can be moved to the flash memory and the types of data that cannot be moved to the flash memory according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 8, data that can be moved to the flash memory is data that has a low rewrite frequency and does not require high performance during writing or reading (for example, data of a certain size (500 MB) or more). By determining these data as movement target data, the flash memory can be prevented from reaching the end of its life early, and the performance of the image forming apparatus 100 can be maintained.

  Specifically, the data that can be moved to the flash memory includes the box data stored in the personal box area, the address data that has been successfully transmitted, the panel drawing data in the service mode, the job history stored in the box area, or the shared box For example, shared data stored in the area.

  When the user saves the box data in the personal box area, the operation to be performed on the box data in the future is likely to be only reading such as browsing or printing. Therefore, the frequency of rewriting the box data is low. In addition, the box data has a limited data size to be read by the user, and is often used in the user's individual environment. For this reason, even if the reading speed is low, the performance of the image forming apparatus 100 is not affected.

  The address data is data at a data transmission destination address such as data of an e-mail address or data of a facsimile transmission destination address. It is clear that the address data that has been successfully transmitted even once among the address data is clearly correct, and it is unlikely that correction will be made in the future. Therefore, the address data that has been successfully transmitted is unlikely to be rewritten. On the other hand, address data that has not been successfully transmitted may have an incorrect content and may be corrected in the future. In addition, address data is read only when an address is set when data is transmitted. For this reason, even if the reading speed is low, the performance of the image forming apparatus 100 is not affected.

  The panel drawing data in the service mode is data displayed on the display unit 165 of the image forming apparatus 100 only when the service person installs the image forming apparatus or changes an additional function. For this reason, when the user normally uses the image forming apparatus 100, the panel drawing data in the service mode is not rewritten. In addition, the panel drawing data in the service mode does not affect the performance of the image forming apparatus 100 even if the reading speed is low.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 has a function of storing a job history such as a copy history in the box area, the job history of each user is stored in the user's box area as history data. The job history is never rewritten.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 has a shared box area that is a storage area shared by a plurality of users, the shared data that is data stored in the shared box area is viewed and used by a plurality of users. Therefore, the possibility that the shared data is rewritten is low.

  In particular, when shared data is read by at least one of a plurality of users sharing the shared box area, the shared data is likely to be read sequentially by the remaining users. Therefore, the shared data read by at least one user is particularly unlikely to be rewritten.

  Data that cannot be transferred to the flash memory is data that is frequently rewritten or data that requires a reading speed of a predetermined value or more. Specifically, it is temporary storage data of images read by a scan job or a copy job, counter data, general panel drawing data (panel drawing data other than the service mode), audio data, and the like. These data are highly likely to be rewritten. Therefore, by excluding these data from the movement target data, it is possible to prevent the flash memory from reaching the end of its life early, and to maintain the performance of the image forming apparatus 100.

  Furthermore, it is not preferable to set (move) an area in the box area where data is not stored in the flash memory. This area is because data is newly stored and rewritten by the user.

  The backup control unit 120 may further determine, among the data stored in the box area of the HDD 131, the data that can be moved to the above-described flash memory, together with the box data stored in the personal box area, as movement target data. . Further, the backup control unit 120 may exclude data that cannot be transferred to the flash memory from the data to be moved.

  Referring to FIG. 9, the backup control unit 120 determines at least a part of the movement target data as return target data at a required timing. The backup control unit 120 temporarily saves the temporarily saved data, and then restores the restoration target data from the flash memory 133 to a temporary saving area of the HDD 131 (a storage area that is free as a result of moving the migration target data). As a result, the restoration target data can be rewritten without deteriorating the lifetime of the flash memory 133.

  When the shared data is included in the movement target data, the backup control unit 120 may determine the shared data as the return target data when the shared data is read by all users who share the data. This is because the shared data becomes unnecessary and the possibility of being deleted increases.

  When the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned off, or when a job including processing for temporarily saving image data (for example, a scan job, a copy job, or a print job) is completed, the backup control unit 120 All of the movement target data may be determined as return target data.

  The backup control unit 120 may determine the service mode drawing data as the return target data when the service menu is displayed when the movement target data includes the service mode drawing data. This is because the service mode screen is likely to be rewritten at this time.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 10, the CPU of the backup control unit 120 temporarily stores image data such as a scan job, a copy job, or a print job when one of the two HDDs in the storage unit 130 fails. When an operation instruction for a job that needs to be received is received (S101), it is determined whether a normal (non-failed) HDD has a temporary storage area (S103).

  If it is determined in step S103 that a normal HDD has a temporary storage area (YES in S103), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 executes an operation based on the operation instruction (S105) and ends the process. .

  If it is determined in step S103 that the normal HDD does not have a temporary storage area (NO in S103), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 performs a migration target data determination process (S107), and the size of the migration target data. Is less than or equal to the free space of the flash memory 133 (S109).

  If it is determined in step S109 that the size of the data to be moved is equal to or less than the free capacity of the flash memory 133 (YES in S109), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 proceeds to the process of step S113.

  If it is determined in step S109 that the size of the movement target data is larger than the free capacity of the flash memory 133 (NO in S109), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines that the size of the movement target data is equal to or less than the free capacity of the flash memory 133. Thus, the movement target data is cut out (S111), and the process proceeds to step S113.

  In step S113, the CPU of the backup control unit 120 moves the migration target data from the normal HDD to the flash memory 133 (S113). Next, the CPU of the backup control unit 120 executes an operation based on the operation instruction (S114). Subsequently, the CPU of the backup control unit 120 performs a restoration determination process (S115), and determines whether or not a condition for restoring the movement target data has occurred (S117).

  If it is determined in step S117 that the condition for restoring the migration target data has occurred (YES in S117), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 restores the restoration target data to a normal HDD (S119) and ends the process. .

  If it is determined in step S117 that the condition for restoring the movement target data does not occur (NO in S117), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 ends the process.

  FIG. 11 is a subroutine of the movement target data determination process of FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 11, in the migration target data determination process, the CPU of backup control unit 120 determines whether or not there is stored data in the personal box area of HDD 131 (S <b> 201).

  If it is determined in step S201 that data stored in the personal box area of the HDD 131 exists (YES in S201), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines the stored data in the box area as movement target data (S203). ), The process proceeds to step S205.

  If it is determined in step S201 that there is no stored data in the personal box area of the HDD 131 (NO in S201), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 proceeds to the process of step S205.

  In step S205, the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether the stored address data exists in the HDD 131 (S205).

  If it is determined in step S205 that the stored address data exists in the HDD 131 (YES in S205), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether the stored address data has been successfully transmitted. (S207).

  If it is determined in step S207 that the stored address data has been successfully transmitted (YES in S207), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines the stored address data as movement target data (S209). The process proceeds to step S211.

  When it is determined in step S205 that the stored address data does not exist in the HDD 131 (NO in S205), or when it is determined in step S207 that the stored address data has not been successfully transmitted ( In step S207, NO, the CPU of the backup control unit 120 proceeds to step S211.

  In step S211, the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether or not the image forming apparatus 100 has a function of saving the job history in the box area (S211).

  If it is determined in step S211 that the image forming apparatus 100 has a function of saving the job history in the box area (YES in S211), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 saves the job history in the box area. Is determined by the user of the image forming apparatus 100 (S213).

  If it is determined in step S213 that the user of the image forming apparatus 100 has executed the function of storing the job history in the box area (YES in S213), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 displays the job history stored in the box area. It determines as movement object data (S215), and progresses to the process of step S217.

  If it is determined in step S211 that the image forming apparatus 100 does not have a function for saving the job history in the box area (NO in S211), or the function for saving the job history in the box area is performed in step S213. When it is determined that the user of the apparatus 100 is not executing (NO in S213), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 proceeds to the process of step S217.

  In step S217, the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether the image forming apparatus 100 has a shared box function (S217).

  If it is determined in step S217 that the image forming apparatus 100 has the shared box function (YES in S217), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether there is already stored data in the shared box area of the HDD 131. It is determined whether or not the user has executed the shared box function (S219).

  If it is determined in step S219 that there is already stored data in the shared box area of the HDD 131 (YES in S219), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether or not at least one user has read the data in the shared box. (S221).

  When it is determined in step S221 that at least one user has read the data in the shared box (YES in S221), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines the read data in the shared box as movement target data (S223). ), The process proceeds to step S225.

  If it is determined in step S217 that the image forming apparatus 100 does not have a shared box function (NO in S217), if it is determined in step S219 that there is no stored data in the shared box area of the HDD 131 (S219). NO) or when it is determined in step S221 that one user has not read the data in the shared box (NO in S221), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 proceeds to the process of step S225.

  In step S225, the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether drawing data in the service mode exists in the HDD 131 (S225).

  If it is determined in step S225 that service mode drawing data exists in the HDD 131 (YES in S225), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines the service mode drawing data as movement target data (S227) and returns. .

  If it is determined in step S225 that drawing data in the service mode does not exist in the HDD 131 (NO in S225), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 returns.

  FIG. 12 is a subroutine of the restoration determination process of FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 12, in the restoration determination process, the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether or not the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned off (S401).

  If it is determined in step S401 that the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is not turned off (NO in S401), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether the scan job, the copy job, or the print job is finished (step S401). S403).

  If it is determined in step S401 that the image forming apparatus 100 is powered off (YES in S401), or if it is determined in step S403 that the scan job, copy job, or print job has ended (YES in S403), The CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines all the movement target data moved to the flash memory 133 as restoration target data (determines that a condition for restoring the movement target data has occurred) (S405), and returns.

  If it is determined in step S403 that none of the scan job, the copy job, and the print job is completed (NO in S403), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether the image forming apparatus 100 has the shared box function. Is discriminated (S407).

  If it is determined in step S407 that the image forming apparatus 100 has the shared box function (YES in S407), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether there is already stored data in the shared box area of the HDD 131. It is determined whether or not the user has executed the shared box function (S409).

  In step S409, when it is determined that there is stored data in the shared box area of the HDD 131 (YES in S409), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 displays data stored by all users who can use the shared box area. It is determined whether or not the data has been read (S411).

  If it is determined in step S411 that all users who can use the shared box area have read the stored data (YES in S411), the data stored in the shared box among the movement target data is used as the restoration target data. Determine (determine that the condition for restoring the movement target data has occurred) (S413), and proceed to the process of step S415.

  If it is determined in step S407 that the image forming apparatus 100 does not have a shared box function (NO in S407), if it is determined in step S409 that there is no stored data in the shared box area of the HDD 131 (in S409). NO) or when it is determined in step S411 that all users who can use the shared box area have not read the stored data (NO in S411), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 proceeds to the process of step S415. move on.

  In step S415, the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines whether or not the service mode menu is displayed on the display unit 165 (S415).

  If it is determined in step S415 that the service mode menu is displayed on the display unit 165 (YES in S415), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 determines service mode drawing data among the movement target data as a restoration target. (It is determined that a condition for restoring the movement target data has occurred) (S417), and the process returns.

  If it is determined in step S415 that the service mode menu is not displayed on the display unit 165 (NO in S415), the CPU of the backup control unit 120 returns.

  [Effect of the embodiment]

  According to the above-described embodiment, when a large-capacity HDD out of the two HDDs fails, data that is unlikely to be rewritten from the normal HDD is selected and moved to the flash memory. As a result, the possibility that the data in the flash memory is rewritten can be reduced, and the reduction in the lifetime of the flash memory can be suppressed. In addition, an area freed by data movement can be used for temporary storage. As a result, it is possible to continue using the image forming apparatus 100 while suppressing a decrease in the performance of the image forming apparatus.

  [Others]

  The processing in the above-described embodiment may be performed by software or may be performed using a hardware circuit. It is also possible to provide a program for executing the processing in the above-described embodiment, and record the program on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, or a memory card and provide it to the user. You may decide to do it. The program is executed by a computer such as a CPU. The program may be downloaded to the apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet.

  The above-described embodiment is to 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.

100 Image forming apparatus 110 Main CPU (Central Processing Unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 Backup control part 121 Data judgment part 122 Access control part 123 Backup system controller 130 Memory | storage part 131,132 HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
133 Flash memory 140 System memory 145 Non-volatile memory 150 RTC (Real-Time Clock)
155 Network I / F
160 Operation unit 165 Display unit 170 Reading unit 175 Image forming unit DA data

Claims (17)

A first HDD (Hard Disk Drive) having a box area which is a storage area allocated to each of a plurality of users;
A second HDD having a capacity larger than the capacity of the first HDD;
Non-volatile memory;
Movement determining means for determining movement target data from data stored in the first HDD when the second HDD fails;
Moving means for moving the data to be moved from the first HDD to the nonvolatile memory;
Temporary storage means for temporarily storing data in a storage area of the first HDD that is vacant as a result of moving the data to be moved;
The movement determination unit is an image forming apparatus in which data stored in the box area of the first HDD is included in the movement target data.   The movement deciding means includes address data that has been successfully transmitted, service mode drawing data, job history data, and a shared box that is a storage area shared by a plurality of users among the data stored in the first HDD. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one data among the data stored in the area is further determined as the movement target data.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movement determining unit further determines address data that has been successfully transmitted as the movement target data from data stored in the first HDD.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movement determination unit further determines service mode drawing data as the movement target data from data stored in the first HDD.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movement determination unit further determines job history data as the movement target data from data stored in the first HDD.   The said movement determination means further determines the data preserve | saved in the said shared box area | region as said movement object data from the data preserve | saved at the said 1st HDD. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the movement determining unit further determines data read by at least one user among the data stored in the shared box area as the movement target data.   The movement determination means excludes read image, counter data, drawing data other than service mode, and audio data from the data to be moved among the data stored in the first HDD. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. Comparison means for comparing the size of the data to be moved determined by the movement determination means and the free capacity of the nonvolatile memory;
When the size of the data to be moved is larger than the free capacity of the nonvolatile memory, a part of the data to be moved is moved so that the size of the data to be moved is equal to or less than the free capacity of the nonvolatile memory. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an excluding unit that excludes the target data.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the exclusion unit does not exclude a part of the movement target data from the movement target data when the size of the movement target data is smaller than a free capacity of the nonvolatile memory. Return determination means for determining at least part of the movement target data as return target data;
A storage unit that is vacant as a result of moving the data to be moved after temporarily storing the data in the temporary storage unit, and further includes a return unit for returning the data to be restored from the nonvolatile memory. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   In the case where the data to be moved is included in the movement target data, the restoration determination unit is configured to share the data saved in the shared box area when the data to be moved is included in the movement target data. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when read by all the users, the data stored in the shared box area is determined as the return target data.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the return determination unit determines all of the movement target data as return target data when a job including a process of temporarily storing image data is completed.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the return determination unit determines all of the movement target data as return target data when the image forming apparatus is powered off.   The return determination means determines service mode drawing data as return target data when a service menu is displayed when the movement target data includes service mode drawing data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14.   16. The moving unit according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit moves the data to be moved from the first HDD to the non-volatile memory when there is no HDD that temporarily stores image data related to the executed job. Image forming apparatus. A first HDD (Hard Disk Drive) having a box area which is a storage area allocated to each of a plurality of users, a second HDD having a capacity larger than the first HDD capacity, and a nonvolatile memory A control program for an image forming apparatus provided,
A movement determining step of determining movement target data from data stored in the first HDD when the second HDD fails;
Moving the data to be moved from the first HDD to the nonvolatile memory;
A temporary storage step of temporarily storing data in a storage area of the first HDD, the storage area being empty as a result of moving the data to be moved;
A control program for an image forming apparatus, wherein in the movement determining step, data stored in the box area of the first HDD is included in the movement target data.