JP2016143125A - Electronic device, backup storage receiving program, and backup program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device configured to properly execute data backup, a backup storage receiving program, and a backup program.SOLUTION: An MFP configured to execute an application for executing backup of data in storing the data includes: backup storage receiving means 43 which receives a designated backup storage where the data is backed up; and backup data management means 44 which backs up data, in response to a backup request from the application, on the backup storage received by the backup storage receiving means 43. The backup storage receiving means 43 receives a backup storage designated from among a plurality of storages including an external storage located outside the MFP.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device that also performs data backup when storing data, a backup destination reception program, and a backup program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electronic devices that store backup data in a backup memory are known as electronic devices that also perform data backup when storing data (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-079138 A

  However, in conventional electronic devices, when the backup memory capacity is small, for example, when an application that requires data backup is newly added, the data backup is executed properly due to the lack of backup memory capacity. There is a problem that it is not.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an electronic device, a backup destination reception program, and a backup program that can appropriately perform data backup.

  The electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device capable of executing an application that also performs backup of the data when storing data, and a backup destination receiving unit that receives designation of a backup destination to which the data is backed up, Backup data management means for backing up the data in response to the backup request from the application at the backup destination received by the backup destination reception means, and the backup destination reception means is external to the electronic device. The backup destination designation is accepted from a plurality of storage destinations including the storage destination.

  With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention designates a backup destination from a plurality of storage destinations including a storage destination external to the electronic device, so that a storage destination having a sufficient capacity for data backup is a backup destination. Can be specified as Therefore, the electronic device of the present invention can appropriately perform data backup.

  In the electronic device of the present invention, the backup destination accepting unit may execute user authentication before accepting the designation of the backup destination, and accept the designation of the backup destination only from a specific user.

  With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention allows only a specific user to specify a backup destination, so that the possibility that the backup destination is changed by an unauthorized user can be reduced.

  The electronic device of the present invention may be capable of installing and uninstalling a backup destination reception program that causes the electronic device to function as the backup destination reception unit.

  With this configuration, when the backup destination reception program is managed only by a specific user, the electronic device of the present invention can be unchecked when the specific user does not want to change the backup destination. Since the backup destination cannot be changed by being installed, the possibility that the backup destination is changed by an unauthorized user can be reduced.

  In the electronic device of the present invention, the backup destination accepting unit may accept designation of the backup destination for each application.

  With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention can specify a backup destination for each application. Therefore, when a plurality of applications are appropriately distributed and associated with a plurality of backup destinations, The entire capacity of the backup destination can be used effectively. Therefore, the electronic device of the present invention can more appropriately perform data backup.

  In the electronic device of the present invention, the backup data management means may back up the data in association with the electronic device when the data is backed up to the backup destination.

  With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention can effectively use the capacity of the external storage device of the electronic device because the external storage device of the electronic device can be used as a backup destination by a plurality of electronic devices. Can be done. Therefore, the electronic device of the present invention can more appropriately perform data backup.

  The backup destination reception program of the present invention is a backup destination reception program executed by an electronic device capable of executing an application that also executes backup of the data when storing the data, and the backup destination reception program to which the data is backed up The electronic device functions as a backup destination receiving unit that receives a designation, and the electronic device backs up the data to the backup destination received by the backup destination receiving unit in response to the backup request from the application Backup data management means, wherein the backup destination accepting means accepts designation of the backup destination from a plurality of storage destinations including a storage destination external to the electronic device.

  With this configuration, the electronic device that executes the backup destination reception program of the present invention is designated as a backup destination from a plurality of storage destinations including a storage destination external to the electronic device. A capacity storage destination can be designated as the backup destination. Therefore, the electronic device that executes the backup destination reception program of the present invention can appropriately perform data backup. In addition, the backup destination reception program of the present invention can be backed up by being uninstalled from an electronic device when the specific user does not wish to change the backup destination when managed by only a specific user. Since it is impossible to change the destination, the possibility that the backup destination is changed by an unauthorized user can be reduced.

  The backup program of the present invention is a backup program executed by an electronic device capable of executing an application that also executes backup of the data when storing the data, and accepts designation of a backup destination to which the data is backed up The electronic device functions as backup data management means for backing up the data in response to the backup request from the application to the backup destination received by the backup destination receiving means and the backup destination receiving means, and the backup The destination receiving means receives a designation of the backup destination from a plurality of storage destinations including a storage destination external to the electronic device.

  With this configuration, the electronic device that executes the backup program of the present invention has a sufficient capacity for data backup because the backup destination is designated from a plurality of storage destinations including the storage destination outside the electronic device. A storage destination can be designated as a backup destination. Therefore, the electronic device that executes the backup program of the present invention can appropriately execute data backup.

  The electronic device, the backup destination reception program, and the backup program of the present invention can appropriately perform data backup.

1 is a block diagram of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the backup destination setting shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of functions of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when setting a backup destination. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 during backup.

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

  First, the configuration of an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) as an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of MFP 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 is a display device such as an operation unit 11 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations by a user and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. A display unit 12, a scanner 13 that is a reading device that reads image data from a document, a printer 14 that is a printing device that performs printing on a recording medium such as paper, an external facsimile apparatus and a public telephone line (not shown), and the like A fax communication unit 15 that is a fax device that performs fax communication via a communication line, a network communication unit 16 that is a network communication device that communicates with an external device via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet, SD card A main storage unit 20 that is a nonvolatile storage device such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that stores various data, and a sub storage unit 30 that is a nonvolatile storage device such as an EEPROM. And a control unit 40 that controls the entire MFP 10.

  The main storage unit 20 is mounted on, for example, a substrate on which the control unit 40 is mounted (hereinafter referred to as “main substrate”). The sub storage unit 30 is mounted on, for example, a dedicated board (hereinafter referred to as “sub board”) that controls the printer 14. Since the main board and the sub board are important boards of the MFP 10, the main board and the sub board are robustly manufactured and hardly break down. Therefore, the main storage unit 20 and the sub storage unit 30 are unlikely to fail.

  The main storage unit 20 stores a backup program 21 for data backup. The backup program 21 may be installed in the MFP 10 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 10, may be additionally installed in the MFP 10 from a storage medium such as an SD card or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or the MFP 10 from the network. It may be additionally installed.

  The backup program 21 stores a backup destination reception program 21a for receiving designation of a backup destination where data is backed up. The backup destination reception program 21a can be installed or uninstalled independently of the backup program 21 other than the backup destination reception program 21a.

  The main storage unit 20 can store various types of applications 22 that can be executed by the control unit 40. Each of the applications 22 may be installed in the MFP 10 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 10, may be additionally installed in the MFP 10 from a storage medium such as an SD card or a USB memory, or additionally installed in the MFP 10 from the network. May be.

  As the application 22, for example, a counter application for managing various counters such as a counter indicating the number of sheets scanned by the scanner 13, a counter indicating the number of sheets printed by the printer 14, and a communication function by the network communication unit 16 are managed. There are a network application, a language application for adding a new language to the MFP 10, and the like. Some applications 22 also perform data backup when data is stored in the main storage unit 20. For example, when the counter application stores data as a counter in the main storage unit 20, the counter application also executes a counter backup. Further, for example, when the network application stores a MAC (Media Access Control) address as data in the main storage unit 20, the network application also performs backup of the MAC address. The language application also performs backup of the language data for display on the display unit 12 when the language data for display on the display unit 12 is stored in the main storage unit 20, for example. Hereinafter, “the application 22 that also performs data backup when data is stored in the main storage unit 20” is referred to as a backup-compatible application.

  The main storage unit 20 can store a backup destination setting 23 indicating a backup destination.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the backup destination setting 23.

  The backup destination setting 23 shown in FIG. 2 indicates the backup destination for each backup-compatible application. For example, in FIG. 2, in the counter application, the sub storage unit 30 is set as a backup destination. In the network application, a server connected to the MFP 10 via the network communication unit 16 is set as a backup destination. In the language application, an SD card connected to the MFP 10 via the SD card reader 17 is set as a backup destination.

  The control unit 40 shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs and various data, and a RAM (Random) as a memory used as a work area of the CPU. Access Memory). The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the main storage unit 20.

  The control unit 40 executes a program stored in the ROM or the main storage unit 20 to execute user management means 41 for managing the user of the MFP 10 and application management for managing the application 22 added to the MFP 10. It functions as the means 42. Examples of the types of users managed by the user management unit 41 include general users of the MFP 10, device managers and service persons who manage the MFP 10. Here, the device administrator is a person on the general user side of the MFP 10. The service person is a person on the provider side of the MFP 10.

  The control unit 40 executes a backup program 21 stored in the main storage unit 20 to execute backup destination reception means 43 that receives designation of a backup destination from a plurality of storage destinations including storage destinations outside the MFP 10. Also, it functions as a backup data management unit 44 that backs up data in response to a backup request from a backup-compatible application to a backup destination received by the backup destination receiving unit 43. In particular, the control unit 40 functions as the backup destination receiving unit 43 by executing the backup destination receiving program 21 a of the backup program 21.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 10 will be described.

  First, the operation of the MFP 10 when setting a backup destination will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of functions of the MFP 10. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the MFP 10 when setting a backup destination.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the user logs in to the backup destination accepting unit 43 via the operation unit 11, the backup destination accepting unit 43 requests the user managing unit 41 to authenticate the user (S101). ). For example, the backup destination accepting unit 43 communicates authentication information such as a user name and password input by the user via the operation unit 11 to the user managing unit 41, thereby authenticating the user to the user managing unit 41. Request. The user management unit 41 permits the user to log in when managing the user associated with the authentication information transmitted from the backup destination reception unit 43. When permitting the user to log in, the user management unit 41 notifies the backup destination reception unit 43 of the result (S102).

  When the user is permitted to log in as a specific user, that is, a device administrator or a service person, the backup destination receiving unit 43 sends the information on the application 22 managed by the application management unit 42 to the application management unit 42. A request is made (S103). When the information of the application 22 is requested in S103, the application management unit 42 notifies the backup destination reception unit 43 of only the backup compatible application among the applications 22 managed by the application management unit 42 (S104). The backup destination accepting unit 43 displays the notified backup compatible application on the display unit 12, and uses the backup compatible application that the user desires to specify the backup destination among the backup compatible applications displayed on the display unit 12. The user is designated via the operation unit 11.

  When a backup application is designated via the operation unit 11, the backup destination accepting unit 43 requests backup destination candidate information from the backup data managing unit 44 (S105). Therefore, the backup data management unit 44 confirms the backup destination candidate in the MFP 10 and is connected via the network communication unit 16 to the sub storage unit 30, the SD card 51 connected via the SD card reader 17. The backup server 52 is notified of the backup server 52 as a backup destination candidate (S106). The backup destination accepting unit 43 displays the notified candidates on the display unit 12, thereby allowing the user to specify the backup destination desired by the user through the operation unit 11 among the candidates displayed on the display unit 12. .

  When the backup destination is specified via the operation unit 11, the backup destination accepting unit 43 is specified via the operation unit 11 and the backup compatible application specified via the operation unit 11 immediately before S 105. The backup data management unit 44 is requested to register with the backup destination (S107). Therefore, the backup data management unit 44 registers the combination of the backup compatible application and the backup destination requested for registration in S107 in the backup destination setting 23. Here, when the backup compatible application in the combination requested to be registered in S107 is already included in the backup destination setting 23, the backup data management means 44 is registered in the backup destination setting 23 in association with this backup compatible application. The existing backup destination is overwritten by the backup destination in the combination requested for registration in S107. When the registration to the backup destination setting 23 is completed, the backup data management unit 44 notifies the backup destination reception unit 43 that the registration to the backup destination setting 23 is completed (S108).

  For example, the device administrator or service person can register the backup destination for the backup compatible application by the process shown in FIG. 4 after installing the backup compatible application in the MFP 10 and before activating the installed backup compatible application. .

  Next, the operation of the MFP 10 during backup will be described.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the backup-compatible application also performs data backup when storing data in the main storage unit 20. Here, the backup compatible application requests the backup data management means 44 for data backup.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 10 during backup.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, when the backup data management means 44 receives a request for data backup from a backup compatible application, the backup data management means 44 sends the requested backup compatible application (hereinafter referred to as “target backup compatible application”). It is determined whether the associated backup destination is set in the backup destination setting 23 (S131).

  When determining in S131 that the backup destination is set in the backup destination setting 23, the backup data management unit 44 sets the backup destination set in the backup destination setting 23 as a target storage destination (S132).

  When the backup data management unit 44 determines in S131 that the backup destination is not set in the backup destination setting 23, the backup data management unit 44 determines whether or not there is an instruction for the backup destination from the target backup compatible application (S133).

  If the backup data management unit 44 determines in S133 that there is an instruction for the backup destination from the target backup-compatible application, the backup destination specified by the target backup-compatible application is set as the target storage destination (S134).

  If the backup data management unit 44 determines in S133 that there is no backup destination instruction from the target backup compatible application, the backup data management unit 44 sets the standard backup destination, that is, the sub storage unit 30, as the target storage destination (S135).

  When the processing of S132, S134, or S135 ends, the backup data management unit 44 associates the data requested for backup from the target backup compatible application with the MFP 10 and the target backup compatible application, and stores it in the target storage destination. Store, that is, back up (S136). Therefore, MFPs other than the MFP 10 cannot use data stored in the target storage destination in association with the MFP 10.

  When the process of S136 ends, the backup data management unit 44 ends the operation shown in FIG.

  Note that the backup data management unit 44 sets the main board at a specific timing such as the timing when the MFP 10 is activated or the timing when the backup-compatible application stores the data in the main storage unit 20 for the target data to be backed up. It is determined whether or not there is a data difference between the main storage unit 20 and the backup destination of the target data. Then, the backup data management means 44, when there is a difference in data between the main storage 20 of the main board and the backup destination of the target data for the target data, and the backup of the target data By copying the target data that exists only in one of the destinations from one to the other, there is no data difference between the main storage unit 20 of the main board and the backup destination of the target data for the target data. .

  Therefore, the backup data management means 44, for example, if the main board fails, after the failed main board is replaced with a new main board, the backup data management means 44 stores the target data stored in the backup destination in the main storage unit of the main board. 20 can be reflected. Similarly, when the backup destination storage device fails, the backup data management unit 44 replaces the failed storage device with a new storage device, and then stores the target data stored in the main storage unit 20 of the main board. Can be reflected in a new storage device as a backup destination.

  As described above, the MFP 10 designates a backup destination from a plurality of storage destinations including the storage destination outside the MFP 10 such as the SD card 51 and the server 52 (S107). A storage destination having a sufficient capacity can be designated as the backup destination. Therefore, for example, even when a backup-compatible application is newly added, the MFP 10 can appropriately perform data backup.

  Since the MFP 10 allows only a specific user identified by authentication, for example, a device administrator or a service person to specify a backup destination, the backup destination can be changed by an unauthorized user such as a general user. Can be reduced.

  When the backup destination reception program 21a is managed only by a specific user, the MFP 10 uninstalls the backup destination reception program 21a when the specific user does not want to change the backup destination. Since the backup destination cannot be changed, the possibility that the backup destination is changed by an unauthorized user can be reduced.

  Since the MFP 10 can designate a backup destination for each backup-compatible application, when a plurality of backup-compatible applications are appropriately distributed and associated with a plurality of backup destinations, the entire plurality of backup destinations Capacity can be utilized effectively. Therefore, for example, even when a backup-compatible application is newly added, the MFP 10 can perform data backup more appropriately.

  Since the MFP 10 stores data in association with the MFP 10 as a backup destination, a storage destination outside the MFP 10 can be used as a backup destination by a plurality of MFPs. Therefore, the MFP 10 can effectively utilize the capacity of the storage destination outside the MFP 10. Therefore, for example, even when a backup-compatible application is newly added, the MFP 10 can perform data backup more appropriately.

  The MFP 10 can also register a plurality of backup destinations for each of the target backup compatible applications. When a plurality of backup destinations are registered for each of the target backup compatible applications, the MFP 10 can improve data maintainability by performing mirroring on the registered backup destinations.

  The MFP 10 includes a sub storage unit 30 as an internal backup destination. However, the MFP 10 may include a storage device other than the sub storage unit 30 as an internal backup destination. For example, the MFP 10 may include a built-in HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) as an internal backup destination.

  The MFP 10 includes an SD card 51 that is directly connected to the MFP 10 without going through a network as an external backup destination. However, the MFP 10 may include a storage device other than the SD card as an external backup destination that is directly connected to the MFP 10 without using a network. For example, the MFP 10 includes a USB memory connected to the USB connector of the MFP 10, an external HDD connected to the MFP 10 via a USB cable, and an SSD as an external backup destination that is directly connected to the MFP 10 without using a network. Also good.

  The MFP 10 includes a server 52 connected to the MFP 10 via a network as an external backup destination. However, the MFP 10 may include a storage device other than the server as an external backup destination connected to the MFP 10 via a network. For example, the MFP 10 may include a NAS (Network Attached Storage) as an external backup destination connected to the MFP 10 via a network.

  The backup destination reception program 21a can be installed or uninstalled independently of the backup program 21 other than the backup destination reception program 21a. However, the backup destination reception program 21a may not be installed or uninstalled independently of the backup program 21 other than the backup destination reception program 21a.

  The electronic apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than an MFP such as a printer dedicated machine, a copy dedicated machine, or a FAX dedicated machine, or an image forming apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer). Other electronic devices may be used.

10 MFP (electronic equipment)
21 Backup program 21a Backup destination acceptance program 22 Application 30 Sub storage unit (backup destination)
43 Backup destination acceptance means 44 Backup data management means 51 SD card (backup destination, storage destination outside electronic device)
52 server (backup destination, storage destination outside the electronic device)

Claims (7)

An electronic device capable of executing an application that also performs backup of the data when storing data,
Backup destination accepting means for accepting designation of a backup destination where the data is backed up;
Backup data management means for backing up the data in response to the backup request from the application to the backup destination received by the backup destination reception means;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the backup destination accepting unit accepts designation of the backup destination from a plurality of storage destinations including a storage destination external to the electronic device.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the backup destination accepting unit executes user authentication before accepting the designation of the backup destination, and accepts designation of the backup destination only from a specific user. .   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a backup destination reception program that allows the electronic device to function as the backup destination reception unit can be installed and uninstalled.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the backup destination receiving unit receives the designation of the backup destination for each application.   The backup data management unit backs up the data in association with the electronic device when the data is backed up to the backup destination. Electronics. A backup destination reception program executed by an electronic device capable of executing an application that also executes backup of the data when storing data,
Causing the electronic device to function as a backup destination accepting unit that accepts designation of a backup destination to which the data is backed up;
The electronic device includes backup data management means for backing up the data in response to the backup request from the application to the backup destination received by the backup destination reception means,
The backup destination accepting program accepts designation of the backup destination from a plurality of storage destinations including a storage destination external to the electronic device. A backup program executed by an electronic device capable of executing an application that also executes backup of the data when storing data,
Backup destination accepting means for accepting designation of a backup destination where the data is backed up; and
Causing the electronic device to function as backup data management means for backing up the data in response to the backup request from the application to the backup destination received by the backup destination reception means;
The backup destination accepting unit accepts designation of the backup destination from a plurality of storage destinations including a storage destination external to the electronic device.

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