JP2017083991A - Image processing system, image processing apparatus, control device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable replacement of a storage medium storing image data included in a plurality of storage media, without the need to stop processing using any of the storage media other than the storage medium.SOLUTION: A spool 323 comprises: a system disk 3230; data disks 3231 to 3237 that store raster data; and a spare disk 3238. A central control processor 20, when determining that any of the data disks is to be replaced during energization to the system disk 3230 and the data disks 3231 to 3237, copies the raster data stored in the data disk to a data disk in an energized spool 313. After completion of the copying, an energization control part 328 blocks energization to the data disk determined to be replaced, while energizing the data disks other than the data disk determined to be replaced and the data disk in the spool 313.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system, an image processing device, a control device, and a program.

  For example, in a printing system using a high-speed, high-resolution continuous paper printer, it is necessary to perform processing for generating image data for printing at high speed, and thus a configuration in which a plurality of image processing apparatuses perform processing in parallel is adopted. There is. Each of the plurality of image processing devices sequentially generates image data, stores the image data in a storage device group called “spool”, and sequentially reads out the image data stored in the storage device group and outputs it to the printing device. . The spool is often configured by combining a plurality of hard disk drives (HDD). However, the frequency of data write or read errors increases due to physical (mechanical) degradation of the HDD. As a result, the frequency of executing data write or read retry processing also increases, and the processing of the entire printing system may be delayed.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe techniques for dealing with HDD failures in advance. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses a data disk S.D. in a system including a plurality of data disks constituting a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) and a spare disk. M.M. A. R. T. T. It is described that information is analyzed and data of a data disk having a high possibility of failure is copied to a spare disk. In Patent Document 1, when a data disk fails, recovery data is created from the spare disk if copying to the spare disk is completed, or from the remaining data disk if copying is not performed. It is described to do. Patent Document 2 describes that a RAID device determines whether an HDD is normal based on an increase amount of NON MEDIUM ERROR and an error determination condition obtained from the number of accesses.

JP 2009-6570 A JP 2013-200267 A

  An object of the present invention is to replace a storage medium storing image data contained in a plurality of storage media without stopping processing using at least one of the other storage media. It is to be.

  An image processing system according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a plurality of storage media including a first storage medium that stores a system file, and one or more second storage media that store image data, and the first storage medium. And during the energization of the one or more second storage media, determination means for determining whether or not any of the second storage media should be replaced, and stored in the second storage medium determined to be replaced. The image data being copied to the energized third storage medium, and after the duplication of the image data is completed, the first storage medium and the third storage medium should be exchanged Energization control means for interrupting energization of the second storage medium determined to be.

An image processing system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of storage media including a first storage medium that stores a system file, and one or more second storage media that store image data, and the first storage medium. And during the energization of the one or more second storage media, determination means for determining whether or not any of the second storage media should be replaced, and stored in the second storage medium determined to be replaced. The image data being copied to the first storage medium that has been energized, and after the completion of the replication of the image data, it has been determined that the first storage medium should be replaced after being energized Power supply control means for cutting off the power supply to the second storage medium.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the deterioration information acquiring means acquires deterioration information indicating a deterioration state of each of the one or more second storage media. Writing processing means for lowering the writing priority of the image data compared to the other second storage medium for the second storage medium in which the acquired deterioration information satisfies the determined condition; It is characterized by providing.

  In an image processing system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the first to third aspects, the duplication unit is stored in the second storage medium determined to be replaced. In addition, all the image data is not duplicated.

  An image processing system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the configuration according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the determination means is a vector format image data or a raster from the vector format image data. The condition for determining that the replacement should be performed differs between the second storage medium that stores intermediate data generated in the process of generating data and the second storage medium that stores the raster data. It is characterized by.

  An image processing system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the configuration according to the fifth aspect, the determination unit changes the condition during a period during which the raster data is stored. .

  In an image processing system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the determination unit is executing a process of storing the image data in the one or more second storage media. The period is characterized in that the condition is different between the second storage medium storing the raster data related to the processing and the other second storage medium.

  An image processing system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the image processing system according to the third aspect, wherein the determined condition is intermediate in the process of generating raster data from the vector format image data or the vector format image data. The second storage medium for storing intermediate data generated in a different manner and the second storage medium for storing the raster data are different.

  An image processing system according to a ninth aspect of the present invention stores the order in which the image data stored in the second storage medium is read out and output in the configuration according to any one of the first to eighth aspects. Of the image data stored in the second storage medium, the image data stored in the second storage medium is preferentially read out and the image data is read out by the order storage unit, the image data storage unit storing the image data to be reused Read output means for performing control to be stored in the storage means, and the duplicating means gives priority to image data with a slow read output out of the image data stored in the second storage medium. It is characterized by duplicating.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the second storage medium can be replaced after the duplication is completed. It is characterized by comprising notifying means for notifying.

  An image processing apparatus according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of storage media including a first storage medium that stores a system file, and one or more second storage media that store image data, and the first storage medium. When it is determined that any one of the second storage media should be replaced during energization of the one or more second storage media, the image data stored in the second storage media is energized. Copying means for copying to a third storage medium, and the second storage medium determined to be replaced after the first copy of the image data is completed and the first storage medium and the third storage medium are energized And energization control means for interrupting energization.

  An image processing apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of storage media including a first storage medium that stores a system file, and one or more second storage media that store image data, and the first storage medium. When it is determined that any one of the second storage media should be replaced during energization of the one or more second storage media, the image data stored in the second storage media is energized. A copy means for copying to the first storage medium; and after the copying of the image data is completed, the power to the second storage medium determined to be exchanged is cut off while the first storage medium is energized. Energization control means.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a control device stores any one of the second storage media during energization of a first storage medium that stores a system file and one or more second storage media that store image data. A determination means for determining whether or not to replace, and the image data stored in the second storage medium determined to be replaced is copied to the third storage medium that is energized, and the copy of the image data is completed And a device control means for performing a control to cut off the power to the second storage medium in a state where the first storage medium and the third storage medium are energized.

  A control device according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides any one of the second storage media during energization of a first storage medium that stores a system file and one or more second storage media that store image data. A determination means for determining whether or not to replace; and the image data stored in the second storage medium determined to be replaced is copied to the first storage medium that is energized, and the image data is copied. And a device control means for performing control to cut off the power to the second storage medium in a state where the first storage medium is energized after completion.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program stored in a computer during energization of a first storage medium that stores a system file and one or more second storage media that store image data. A determination means for determining whether or not to replace the medium; and the image data stored in the second storage medium determined to be replaced is copied to the third storage medium that is energized, and the image data is copied Is a program for executing device control means for performing control to cut off the energization of the second storage medium in a state where the first storage medium and the third storage medium are energized.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program stored in a computer during energization of a first storage medium that stores system files and one or more second storage media that store image data. A step of determining whether or not to replace the medium, and copying the image data stored in the second storage medium determined to be replaced to the first storage medium that is energized, so that the copy of the image data is performed. And a step of performing a control to cut off the power to the second storage medium in a state where the first storage medium is energized after completion.

According to the first, second, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth aspects of the present invention, when the storage medium storing the image data included in the plurality of storage media should be replaced, It is possible to exchange without stopping processing using at least one of the storage media.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when copying image data from the second storage medium determined to be replaced, the image processing system has a lower priority than when the image data writing priority is not lowered. The load can be reduced.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load on the resources of the image processing system as compared with the case where all of the image data is copied from the second storage medium determined to be replaced.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the storage medium for storing vector-format image data or intermediate data and the storage medium for storing raster data have the same conditions for determining that they should be replaced. Further, it is possible to reduce the load on the resources of the image processing system due to the duplication of raster data.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, exchange is performed between a storage medium for storing vector-format image data or intermediate data and a storage medium for storing raster data in a period during which the processing for storing raster data is being executed. Compared to the case where the conditions for determining whether to be the same are the same, the load of processing executed in the image processing system can be reduced.
According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the conditions for determining that the storage medium in which the image data relating to the process being executed is stored and the storage medium in which the image data relating to the other process are stored are to be replaced are the same. Compared with the case where it is, it can reduce the load of the process performed by an image processing system.
According to the invention according to claim 8, the conditions of the deterioration information for determining that the storage medium should be replaced are the same between the storage medium storing the vector format image data or intermediate data and the storage medium storing the raster data. As compared with the case of the above, it is possible to reduce the load on the resources of the image processing system due to the duplication of raster data.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, image data with a slow readout output is duplicated with priority, and reused as compared with a case in which image data to be reused is preferentially read out and output. Image data copied to the third storage medium among the image data can be reduced.
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when the storage medium storing the image data included in the plurality of storage media is to be replaced, the replacement timing can be set without stopping the power supply to the other storage media. You can be notified.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an image processing system according to the embodiment. FIG. The block diagram which shows the more detailed structure of the central control processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment, and an image processing apparatus. The flowchart which shows the process which the central control processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment performs. 2 is a diagram showing a virtual storage device at the start of image processing according to the embodiment. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the process which duplicates the raster data based on the embodiment. The figure which shows the virtual memory device after the reconstruction which concerns on the same embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the process which decompress | restores the raster data based on the embodiment. The figure which shows the outline | summary of a structure of the image processing system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the central control processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment, and an image processing apparatus. The flowchart which shows the process which the central control processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment performs. Explanatory drawing of duplication and buffering of raster data according to the embodiment. Explanatory drawing of duplication and buffering of raster data according to the embodiment. The block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the central control processing apparatus which concerns on the modification 1 of this invention, and an image processing apparatus.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 1 includes a client device 10, an image processing system 2, and a printing device 40. The image processing system 2 includes a central control processing device 20 and eight image processing devices 30 (30FY, 30FM, 30FC, 30FK, 30RY, 30RM, 30RC, 30RK). The client device 10 and the central control processing device 20 are connected via a communication line 100. The communication line 100 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) that performs communication according to the Ethernet (registered trademark) standard, but may be a communication line other than this. The communication line 100 may be a wired or wireless communication line. The central control processing device 20 is communicably connected to the eight image processing devices 30 and the printing device 40.

  The client device 10 transmits a print instruction that instructs execution of the print processing to the central control processing device 20. The print instruction includes data (hereinafter referred to as “PDL data”) in which an image drawing process for each page is described using a page description language (PDL). The PDL data is an example of vector format image data of the present invention. The vector format is information that indicates geometric figures such as lines, polygons, circles, and various curves that make up an image, and objects such as bitmap data, and information that indicates the coordinates and layers where these objects are placed. Is used to express the image. Examples of the page description language include LIPS (registered trademark) and PostScript (registered trademark), but are not limited thereto.

The central control processing device 20 is an example of the control device according to the present invention. The central control processing device 20 receives a print instruction from the client device 10 through the communication line 100, and executes eight images in order to execute the print processing according to the received print instruction. The processing device 30 and the printing device 40 are controlled.
The central control processing device 20 is a computer device that includes a control unit, a storage unit, and a communication unit. The control unit includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The CPU implements various functions to be described later by loading a program from the ROM or storage unit onto the RAM and executing it. The storage unit includes an HDD, for example, and stores programs executed by the CPU and various data. The communication unit includes, for example, a data communication card and performs communication with an external device.

  The image processing apparatus 30 is an example of the image processing means of the present invention, generates raster data that is raster format image data based on a print instruction received from the central control processing apparatus 20, and outputs the raster data to the printing apparatus 40. Perform image processing. The printing apparatus 40 is an example of the image forming unit of the present invention, and is a continuous paper printer here. Based on the raster data of the four color components of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), the printing apparatus 40, for example, prints an image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. Form (print). The printing apparatus 40 performs continuous printing that forms an image of each page of a plurality of pages, for example, according to the page order. The printing apparatus 40 has a double-sided printing function of printing an image on both sides of a sheet.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the configuration of the image processing system 2. The eight image processing apparatuses 30 are different from each other in at least one of a page in charge of processing and a color component in charge of output, but the other configurations are substantially the same. The image processing device 30 includes an interpretation processing unit 31 and a back-end processing unit 32. In FIG. 2, the numerical values shown in the blocks of the interpretation processing unit 31 and the back-end processing unit 32 mean the number of the page in charge of processing.

The interpretation processing unit 31 includes a RIP (Raster Image Processor), interprets the PDL data received from the central control processing device 20, and generates intermediate data of a page in charge of processing. The interpretation processing unit 31 outputs the generated intermediate data to the back-end processing unit 32 at the subsequent stage. In the image processing apparatus 30FY, the eighth i-7 page (where i is a natural number), in the image processing apparatus 30FM, the eighth i-5 page, in the image processing apparatus 30FC, the eighth i-3 page, and in the image processing apparatus 30FK, the eighth i-1 page. The intermediate data of page 8i-6 is generated in image processing apparatus 30RY, page 8i-4 in image processing apparatus 30RM, page 8i-2 in image processing apparatus 30RC, and page 8i in image processing apparatus 30RK. . The intermediate data is data generated intermediately in the process of generating raster data from vector format image data. Raster data is an example of drawing data representing an image drawn based on PDL data.
In the case of double-sided printing, odd pages are assigned to the front side of the paper, and even pages are assigned to the back side of the paper.

  The back end processing unit 32 includes a BEP (Back End Processor), interprets the intermediate data acquired from the previous interpretation processing unit 31, and generates raster data of four color components Y, M, C, and K. . The back-end processing unit 32 outputs raster data of one color component in charge of output among Y, M, C, and K to the printing apparatus 40 for all odd pages or all even pages, and the rest The color component raster data is transmitted to the back-end processing unit 32 of another image processing apparatus 30.

Specifically, the odd page Y raster data from the image processing device 30FY, the odd page M raster data from the image processing device 30FM, the odd page C raster data from the image processing device 30FC, and the image processing device. From 30FK, odd-numbered K raster data, from image processing device 30RY, even-numbered page Y raster data, from image processing device 30RM, even-numbered page M raster data, from image processing device 30RC, even-numbered page C Raster data and the raster data of the K color of even pages are supplied from the image processing apparatus 30RK to the printing apparatus 40, respectively.
Note that one image processing apparatus 30 may be provided with a plurality of interpretation processing units 31 or back-end processing units 32 to perform image processing in parallel. As shown in FIG. 2, the back-end processing unit 32 includes a “spare disk”. Details of the spare disk will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a more detailed configuration of the central control processing device 20 and the image processing device 30. First, the configuration of the interpretation processing unit 31 of the image processing apparatus 30 will be described.
The memory 311 stores PDL data included in the print instruction received from the central control processing device 20. The write processing unit 312 writes the intermediate data to the spool 313. Specifically, the write processing unit 312 reads PDL data from the memory 311, interprets the read PDL data, and sequentially generates intermediate data for pages in charge of processing. Then, the writing processing unit 312 writes the generated intermediate data to a plurality of data disks 3131 that constitute the spool 313.

  The spool 313 includes a system disk 3130 and a plurality of data disks 3131 each of which is an HDD. The system disk 3130 functions as a system disk. The system file is a file necessary for the operation of the OS (Operating System), and is a file necessary for executing the processing of the interpretation processing unit 31. The data disk 3131 stores intermediate data.

  The energization control unit 314 functions as an energization control unit that controls energization of the system disk 3130 of the spool 313 and the plurality of data disks 3131. The energization control unit 314 sets each of the system disk 3130 and the plurality of data disks 3131 to a non-energized state or an energized state. The non-energized state refers to a state where power to the disk is cut off and the disk is not activated. The energized state refers to a state where the disk is energized and the disk can be used. The state where the disk can be used means a state where data can be written and data can be read.

Next, the configuration of the back end processing unit 32 of the image processing apparatus 30 will be described.
The virtualization unit 321 combines a plurality of storage media included in the spool 323 and recognizes it as a single virtual storage device. A plurality of storage media constituting one virtual storage device in this way is hereinafter referred to as a “virtual storage device”. The virtual storage device is configured according to, for example, RAID 0, but may be configured according to a method such as RAID 10, RAID 5, and RAID 6. The spool 323 includes a system disk 3230, data disks 3231 to 3237, and a spare disk 3238, each of which is an HDD. The system disk 3230 is an example of the first storage medium of the present invention that stores system files, and functions as a system disk. The system file is a file necessary for the operation of the OS, and is a file necessary for executing the processing of the back-end processing unit 32. Data disks 3231 to 3237 are examples of the second storage medium of the present invention that stores image data. In the present embodiment, the image data stored in the data disks 3231 to 237 is raster data. The spare disk 3238 is a spare storage device that is used in place of any of the data disks 3231 to 2237.

  The write processing unit 322 writes Y, M, C, and K raster data to the spool 323. Specifically, the write processing unit 322 interprets the intermediate data read from the plurality of data disks 3131 of the spool 313, sequentially generates Y, M, C, and K raster data, and generates the generated raster data. Then, the data is written into the data disks 3231 to 3237 constituting the spool 323.

  The relay processing unit 324 performs processing for transmitting / receiving raster data to / from the back-end processing unit 32 of the external image processing apparatus 30. The relay processing unit 324 transmits, among the raster data stored in the spool 323, the color component raster data for which the other back-end processing unit 32 is responsible for output to the back-end processing unit 32. Further, when the relay processing unit 324 receives the raster data in charge of output by the own backend processing unit 32, the relay processing unit 324 transfers the received raster data to the read output unit 325. Further, the relay processing unit 324 transfers the raster data transmitted from the other back end processing unit 32 to the duplicating unit 327.

  The read output unit 325 functions as a read output unit that reads out and outputs raster data, which is handled by the own backend processing unit 32, from the spool 323. Specifically, the read output unit 325 buffers (stores) the page data in the page buffer 326 in the order determined by the central control processor 20 (for example, the page order), and the raster data from the page buffer 326 in this order. Read out and output to the printer 40. The page buffer 326 is a line buffer, for example, and functions as an image data storage unit that stores raster data read by the read output unit 325. The page buffer 326 stores raster data that is reused for printing among the raster data stored in the spool 323.

  The duplication unit 327 functions as a duplication unit that duplicates the raster data stored in the spool 323 to another storage medium for the purpose of saving the raster data. The duplicating unit 327 duplicates the raster data to the preceding interpretation processing unit 31 of the own backend processing unit 32 and the spool 313 of the interpretation processing unit 31 included in the external image processing device 30. That is, the data disk 3131 of the spool 313 functions as the third storage medium of the present invention. Further, the duplicating unit 327 performs processing for restoring the raster data duplicated in the spool 313 to the spool 323. Here, the restoration of raster data means that the raster data stored in the spool 323 before duplication is duplicated again in the spool 323.

  The energization control unit 328 functions as an energization control unit that controls energization of the system disk 3230, the data disks 3231 to 2237, and the spare disk 3238 of the spool 323. The energization control unit 328 puts each of the system disk 3230, the data disks 3231 to 3237, and the spare disk 3238 into a non-energized state or an energized state.

Next, the configuration of the central control processing device 20 will be described.
The deterioration information acquisition unit 21 receives S.D. from each of the plurality of disks constituting the virtual storage device in the spool 323. M.M. A. R. T.A. It functions as deterioration information acquisition means for acquiring information. S. M.M. A. R. T.A. The information is a function installed in the hard disk drive for the purpose of early detection of failure of HDD and prediction of failure, and is used as information indicating the state of deterioration of the disk, which is an example of deterioration information of the present invention. S. M.M. A. R. T.A. The information includes, for example, the value of “Read errors corrected with possible delays”, that is, the value of the number of retry processes caused by a data read error, M.M. A. R. T.A. Information includes the read error rate (Raw Read Error Rate), the number of bad sectors that have been replaced (Reallocated Sectors Count), the seek error rate (Seek Error Rate), the internal temperature, and the number of executions of sector replacement processing. Includes a value such as (Reallocation Event Count). For example, as the deterioration of the HDD progresses, the number of retry processes due to data read errors tends to increase, and it is determined that the HDD has deteriorated when the value of “Read errors corrected with possible delays” increases. Similarly, as the HDD deteriorates, the read error rate, the number of defective sectors that have undergone substitution processing, the seek error rate, and the number of executions of sector substitution processing also increase, and the internal temperature of the HDD increases. It tends to be high, and information on the deterioration is grasped using information highly correlated with the deterioration of the HDD.

The determination unit 22 determines whether any data disk should be replaced while the system disk 3230 of the spool 323 and the data disks 3231 to 3237 are energized. The determination unit 22 is, for example, S.M. M.M. A. R. T.A. A data disk that satisfies the condition for which information is determined is determined as a disk that satisfies the replacement condition, and it is determined that this should be replaced. The replacement condition is a condition indicating that the disk is physically deteriorated and a sign of failure appears. The determination unit 22 is, for example, S.M. M.M. A. R. T.A. The value of each item of information is compared with the threshold value determined for the item, and if there is even one item whose value exceeds the threshold value, it is determined that the replacement condition is satisfied. The exchange conditions are S.I. M.M. A. R. T.A. The information is not limited to satisfying a predetermined condition. The replacement condition may be that the user has made a request for replacement, or may be a condition that a flag indicating that replacement should be performed is set.
Note that the above-described determination method for deterioration of the disk is merely an example, and another method may be employed.

  The device control unit 24 functions as device control means for controlling the operation of the image processing device 30 (interpretation processing unit 31 and back-end processing unit 32). For example, the device control unit 24 controls the duplication unit 327 so as to duplicate the raster data stored in the virtual storage device including the disk that satisfies the replacement condition. In addition, after the raster data replication is completed, the device control unit 24 leaves the system disk 3230, the data disk that does not satisfy the replacement condition, and the data disk that satisfies the replacement condition while keeping the spare disk 3238 energized. The energization control unit 328 is controlled so that the energization is cut off and the non-energized state is established. In addition, the apparatus control unit 24 stores the PDL data included in the print instruction in the memory 311 and causes the interpretation processing unit 31 to start generating intermediate data. The apparatus control unit 24 includes an output order storage unit 241 that stores the order in which raster data stored in the data disk of the spool 323 is read and output. The output order storage unit 241 is an example of the order storage unit of the present invention. The device control unit 24 causes the read output unit 325 to read the raster data stored in each data disk of the spool 323 in accordance with the order stored in the output order storage unit 241.

  The notification unit 23 functions as notification means for notifying that the data disk determined to be replaced can be replaced after the raster data replication is completed. Here, the notification unit 23 notifies that the data disk can be exchanged via a display device (not shown) included in the central control processing device 20 or the client device 10.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the central control processing device 20.
Before starting the printing process, the device control unit 24 controls the virtualization unit 321 to configure a virtual storage device in the spool 323 (step S1). Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the device control unit 24 combines a system disk 3230 and data disks 3231 to 3237 to form a virtual storage device, and puts these in an energized state.

Next, the device control unit 24 controls the image processing device 30 and the printing device 40 to start the printing process (step S2). When the printing process is started, the deterioration information acquisition unit 21 receives S.D. from each of the system disk 3230 and the data disks 3231 to 3237 constituting the virtual storage device. M.M. A. R. T.A. Information is acquired (step S3). Next, the determination unit 22 determines whether there is a data disk that satisfies the replacement condition (step S4).
If “NO” is determined in the step S4, the apparatus control unit 24 determines whether or not to end the printing process (step S16). When the printing process is continued (step S16; NO), the apparatus control unit 24 returns the process to step S3.
If “YES” is determined in the step S4, the apparatus control unit 24 determines whether or not to interrupt the printing process (step S5). The apparatus control unit 24 executes the image processing in the image processing apparatus 30 such as a period until the replacement timing of the continuous paper (roll) of the printing apparatus 40 arrives or a period until the printing process is completed. During this, it is determined that the printing process is continued (step S5; NO). In this case, the device control unit 24 returns the process to step S3.

  If “YES” is determined in step S5, the apparatus control unit 24 controls the image processing apparatus 30 and the printing apparatus 40 to interrupt the printing process (step S6). When the printing process is interrupted, the determination unit 22 controls the duplication unit 327 so that the raster data stored in the data disks 3231 to 2237 of the spool 323 constituting the virtual storage device is converted into eight image processing devices 30. Are distributed and copied to the spool 313 (step S7). The determination unit 22 manages raster data copy destination information. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the data disk 3236 satisfies the replacement condition.

  Next, the determination unit 22 determines whether or not the raster data replication has been completed (step S8). When determining that the duplication has not been completed (step S8; NO), the determination unit 22 causes the duplication unit 327 to continue the process for duplication. If it is determined that the duplication has been completed (step S8; YES), the device control unit 24 controls the virtualization unit 321 to release the virtual storage device of the spool 323 (step S9). Next, the device control unit 24 controls the energization control unit 328 to cut off the energization of only the data disk (in this case, the data disk 3236) that satisfies the replacement condition, so that the deenergization state is set (step S10). That is, the energization control unit 328 keeps the system disk 3230 and the data disks 3231 to 3235 and 3237 energized. Then, the notification unit 23 notifies the user that the data disk satisfying the replacement condition can be replaced in the spool 323 by, for example, displaying a message (step S11). The user who has confirmed this notification immediately replaces the data disk 3236, or instructs the central control processing device 20 to resume the printing process without replacing the data disk 3236 at that time.

  Next, the device control unit 24 energizes the replaced data disk or the spare disk 3238 as a data disk to replace the data disk that satisfies the replacement condition (step S12). Next, the device control unit 24 controls the virtualization unit 321 to reconfigure the virtual storage device using the replaced data disk or spare disk 3238 (step S13). Consider the case where the data disk has not been replaced. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the device control unit 24 reconfigures a virtual storage device in which the system disk 3230 of the spool 323, the data disks 3231 to 2235 and 3237, and the spare disk 3238 are combined.

  When the virtual storage device is reconfigured, the device control unit 24 restores the raster data copied to the spool 323 to the virtual storage device of the spool 323 (step S14). As shown in FIG. 8, the device control unit 24 restores the raster data distributed and copied to the plurality of spools 313 to the spool 323 after the virtual storage device is reconfigured.

When the restoration of the raster data is completed, the apparatus control unit 24 controls the image processing apparatus 30 and the printing apparatus 40 to resume the printing process (step S15). Then, the apparatus control unit 24 proceeds to step S16 and determines whether or not to end the printing process. If it is determined that the printing process has been completed (step S16; YES), the apparatus control unit 24 terminates the process of FIG.
If the data disk 3236 is replaced in response to the notification in step S10, the device control unit 24 replaces the system disk 3230, the data disks 3231 to 3235, 3237, and the replaced data disk in step S11. Reconfigure the combined virtual storage device.

  According to the printing system 1 of the first embodiment described above, the central control processing device 20 includes a data disk in which a sign of failure appears in the virtual storage device configured in the spool 323. Duplication is performed for the purpose of saving raster data from the virtual storage device. Then, the central control processing device 20 cuts off the power supply only to the data disk in which the sign of failure appears. The central control unit 20 then reconfigures the virtual storage device using the alternative data disk instead of the data disk in which the sign of failure appears, and then energizes the alternative data disk and then replicates the raster disk. Restore the data and restart the printing process. As a result, when the data disk storing the raster data included in the plurality of data disks is to be replaced, the replacement using the other data disks can be performed without stopping. Since raster data has a very large amount of data, the load on the system is very large. Therefore, if another process is performed in parallel with the process such as rasterization, the process that should be prioritized is hindered, and the performance is lower than originally expected. In order to avoid this, in the present embodiment, the virtual storage device is reconfigured during a period when the printing process is interrupted (when the system is not performing a process for printing).

  Further, the copy destination of the raster data is a spool 313 used for storing intermediate data. The intermediate data has a relatively small data size compared to the raster data. For this reason, by setting a spool 313 having a relatively large storage capacity as a raster data replication destination, the image processing apparatus 30 sets a storage medium for replicating raster data separately from the storage medium for image processing. You do not have to prepare.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that the image processing apparatus 30 can replace a data disk that satisfies the replacement condition while continuing the printing process. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment described above.
In the present embodiment, elements denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment described above are the same as those in the first embodiment described above. In addition, elements corresponding to elements having the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment described above are represented by adding “A” to the end of the reference numerals.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the configuration of the image processing system 2. The image processing apparatus 30 includes an interpretation processing unit 31 and a back-end processing unit 32 as in the first embodiment described above. The configuration and operation of the interpretation processing unit 31 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above. Further, the page on which the interpretation processing unit 31 generates intermediate data and the color component and page on which the back-end processing unit 32 is in charge of outputting raster data are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.
Also in this embodiment, the back-end processing unit 32 performs image processing using a system disk, seven data disks, and one spare disk. At this time, the interpretation processing unit 31 selects the seven data disks excluding the spare disk in order, and stores the odd page or even page raster data in the page order. In the present embodiment, these seven data disks do not constitute a virtual storage device.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the central control processing device 20 and the image processing device 30.
Unlike the first embodiment described above, the back-end processing unit 32 does not include the virtualization unit 321 but includes the selection unit 329. The selection unit 329 performs processing for selecting a data disk to be used for image processing from the system disk 3230, the data disks 3231 to 3237, and the spare disk 3238 included in the spool 323. When any one of the data disks 3231 to 2237 satisfies the replacement condition, the duplication unit 327A duplicates the raster data from this data disk to the spare disk 3238.

Next, the configuration of the central control processing device 20 will be described.
The deterioration information acquisition unit 21 and the notification unit 23 have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment described above.
The determination unit 22A functions as a determination unit that controls the duplication unit 327A so as to duplicate the raster data stored in the data disk that satisfies the replacement condition to the spare disk 3238.
The device control unit 24A controls the selection unit 329 to perform processing using the spare disk 3238 instead of the data disk that satisfies the replacement condition.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the central control processing device 20.
Before starting the printing process, the apparatus control unit 24A controls the selection unit 329 to select the data disks 3231 to 237 in the spool 323 and perform image processing, and performs the printing process on the image processing apparatus 30 and the printing apparatus 40. Start (step S21). At this time, the system disk 3230 of the spool 323 and the data disks 3231 to 3237 are energized. When the printing process is started, the deterioration information acquisition unit 21 receives S.D. from each of the system disk 3230 of the spool 323 and the data disks 3231 to 3237. M.M. A. R. T.A. Information is acquired (step S22). The determination unit 22A acquires the acquired S.P. M.M. A. R. T.A. Based on the information, it is determined whether there is a data disk that satisfies the replacement condition (step S23). If “NO” is determined in the step S23, the apparatus control unit 24A determines whether or not to end the printing process (step S30). When the printing process is continued (step S30; NO), the device control unit 24A returns the process to step S22.

  If “YES” is determined in step S23, the device control unit 24A switches the use from the data disk satisfying the replacement condition to the spare disk 3238, and further sets the spare disk 3238 in the energized state. And the selection part 329 is controlled (step S24). Here, consider a case where the data disk 3235 satisfies the replacement condition. In this case, the device control unit 24A switches from using the data disk 3235 to using the spare disk 3238. The energization control unit 328A sets the spare disk 3238 in an energized state. As a result, the raster data that should have been stored in the data disk 3235 is stored in the spare disk 3238 thereafter. That is, new raster data is not stored in the data disk 3235.

Following step S24, the following steps S25 and S26 are executed in parallel.
The device control unit 24A controls the read output unit 325 to reuse the raster data stored in the data disk that satisfies the replacement condition in the order stored in the output order storage unit 241, that is, for printing. The raster data to be preferentially buffered in the page buffer 326 (step S25). The device control unit 24A controls the duplication unit 327A so that the raster data stored in the data disk satisfying the exchange condition is in the reverse order of the order stored in the output order storage unit 241 (here, the reverse order of the pages), That is, the raster data with a slow read output is prioritized and copied to the spare disk 3238 (step S26). That is, the spare disk 3238 of this embodiment functions as the third storage medium of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining raster data duplication and buffering executed in steps S25 and S26. FIG. 12 shows the processing of the back end processing unit 32 that processes odd pages, but the same processing is also executed in the back end processing unit 32 that processes even pages.
Assume that the page buffer 326 and the spool 323 are in the state shown in the upper part of FIG. 12 when the data disk 3235 satisfies the replacement condition. Here, raster data is not stored in the page buffer 326 and the spare disk 3238. The data disk 3235 stores raster data of the ninth page, the 23rd page, the 37th page, and the 51st page. In this case, in step S25, the apparatus control unit 24A causes the read output unit to buffer the ninth page raster data stored in the data disk 3235 in the page buffer 326 as shown in the middle part of FIG. 325 is controlled. In step S26, the apparatus control unit 24A controls the duplication unit 327A so as to duplicate the 51st page raster data stored in the data disk 3235 to the spare disk 3238, as shown in the middle part of FIG.
Since the use of the spare disk 3238 is switched in step S24, the 65th page raster data is newly stored in the spare disk 3238 in the middle state of FIG.

  Next, the apparatus control unit 24A determines whether or not buffering or duplication processing has been completed for all raster data stored in the data disk that satisfies the replacement condition (step S27). Here, since there is raster data for which buffering and duplication have not been completed, the apparatus control unit 24A determines “NO” in step S27, and returns the process to steps S25 and S26.

Next, in steps S25 and S26, the processing shown in the lower part of FIG. 12 is executed. In step S25, the apparatus control unit 24A controls the read output unit 325 so that the 23rd page raster data stored in the data disk 3235 is buffered in the page buffer 326. In step S26, the apparatus control unit 24A controls the duplication unit 327A so as to duplicate the 37th page raster data stored in the data disk 3235 to the spare disk 3238. In the lower state of FIG. 12, the 79th page raster data is newly stored in the spare disk 3238.
In this manner, the buffering in step S25 and the duplication in step S26 are performed in parallel, so that raster data output processing is performed while reducing the raster data to be copied to the spare disk 3238.

  Next, the apparatus control unit 24A determines whether or not buffering or duplication processing has been completed for all raster data stored in the data disk that satisfies the replacement condition (step S27). Here, since buffering or duplication has been completed for all pages, the apparatus control unit 24A determines “YES” in step S27, and proceeds to the process of step S28. Then, the device control unit 24A cuts off the power supply to the data disk (in this case, the data disk 3235) that satisfies the replacement condition and puts it in a non-energized state. Then, the notification unit 23 notifies the user that the data disk satisfying the replacement condition can be replaced, for example, by displaying a message (step S29).

  After the determination in step S27 is “YES”, apparatus control unit 24A causes read output unit 325 to execute the process shown in FIG. In other words, the apparatus control unit 24A controls the read output unit 325 so that the 37th page raster data is buffered in the page buffer 326 not from the data disk 3235 but from the spare disk 3238 which is the replication destination. This control is also performed on subsequent pages stored in the spare disk 3238.

  The apparatus control unit 24A determines whether or not to end the printing process after the process of step S29 (step S30). If it is determined that the printing process has been completed (step S30; YES), the apparatus control unit 24A ends the process of FIG.

  According to the printing system 1 of the second embodiment described above, after completion of the processing in steps S25 and S26, the data disk that satisfies the replacement condition even during the execution of image processing in the image processing device 30. Can be exchanged. As a result, according to the image processing device 30, it is possible to replace the data disk in which a sign of failure has occurred without interrupting the image processing of the image processing device 30 and the printing processing of the printing system 1. As a result, the occurrence of downtime in which the printing process cannot be performed is suppressed.

[Modification]
The present invention may be implemented in a form different from the above-described embodiment. Moreover, you may combine each of the modification shown below.
(Modification 1)
The image processing apparatus 30 may perform control regarding raster data duplication and energization control performed in the back-end processing unit 32 in the interpretation processing unit 31. When this modification is applied to the central control processing device 20 and the image processing device 30 of the first embodiment described above, the configuration is as shown in FIG.
In the central control processing device 20, the determination unit 22 determines whether one of the data disks 3131 should be replaced while the system disk 3130 and the plurality of data disks 3131 constituting the spool 313A are energized. Then, the duplicating unit 315 provided in the interpretation processing unit 31 duplicates the intermediate data stored in the data disk 3131 that satisfies the exchange condition to the other spool 313A or the spare disk 3132 in the spool 313A. The energization control unit 314 then completes the replication of the intermediate data from the data disk 3131 that satisfies the replacement condition, and then the data disk that satisfies the replacement condition while the system disk 3130 and the copy destination data disk are energized. The power supply to 3131 is cut off and the power supply is turned off.
That is, the image processing system of the present invention may be considered as a system including a central control processing device and an interpretation processing unit, as well as a system including a central control processing device and a back-end processing unit. Further, this modification can also be applied to the central control processing device 20 and the image processing device 30 of the second embodiment described above.

(Modification 2)
The write processing unit 322 may lower the priority of writing the raster data for the data disk that satisfies the replacement condition compared to the other data disks. Lowering the priority of writing raster data means reducing the frequency of accessing a data disk for writing raster data, for example, by reducing the number of times raster data is written or reducing the capacity. When data is copied to another data disk for replacement of one data disk, a bandwidth is easily applied to the image processing system 2 because the bandwidth for the arithmetic device and data transfer is used. On the other hand, according to the configuration of the present modification, the image processing apparatus 30 is compared with the case where the priority of the raster data writing is not dropped when copying is performed when one data disk satisfies the replacement condition. Load is reduced.

(Modification 3)
In the configuration of the first modification, the write processing units 312 and 322 may change the condition for lowering the write priority between the raster data data disk and the other data disks. Specifically, the write processing unit 322 lowers the threshold value for raster data than for the data disk. As a result, a data disk with a large margin until replacement is preferentially selected, and the data storage priority becomes high, and a data disk with a small margin has a low data storage priority.

(Modification 4)
The duplicating units 327 and 327A may not duplicate all the raster data stored in the data disk determined to be exchanged on the spool 313. In this case, the duplicating units 327 and 327A duplicate only a part of the raster data stored in the data disk. Generally, raster data has a very large file size compared to image data before rasterization processing (for example, data in PDL format or PDF (Portable Document Format), intermediate data). This is because raster data generally has 1-bit data per pixel. For example, when printing on A3 size paper at 1200 dpi (dots per inch), 33.19 MB (14031 × 19483) Pixel × 1 bit) raster data is generated for each color component. In the case of four colors Y, M, C, and K, raster data of slightly more than 130 MB is generated for each A3 size sheet. In this case, if printing is performed in units of 100 sheets or 1000 sheets, a total of 10 GB or more than 100 GB of raster data may be generated, which is nearly 100 times larger than the image data before rasterization processing. For this reason, it is desirable that the raster data is not duplicated as much as possible, and if it is, the raster data to be duplicated is as small as possible. On the other hand, according to the present modification, the load on the resources (for example, computing performance, data transfer bandwidth, storage capacity) of the image processing apparatus 30 compared to the case where all of the data stored in one data disk is duplicated. Is reduced.

(Modification 5)
The determination units 22, 22 </ b> A are obtained from the data disks of the spool 313 and the spool 323 by the deterioration information acquisition unit 21. M.M. A. R. Based on the T information, it may be determined whether the replacement condition is satisfied. At this time, the determination unit 22 may change the exchange conditions for the data disk in the spool 313 and the data disk in the spool 323. Specifically, the determination units 22 and 22A make the data disk in the spool 323 less likely to satisfy the replacement condition than the data disk in the spool 313. For example, the determination units 22 and 22A increase the threshold value used for determining the replacement condition. As a result, the chance of duplication of raster data during image processing is reduced, and the load on the image processing apparatus 30 is reduced. In light of the purpose of reducing the load during image processing, the determination units 22 and 22A may change this condition only during the period during which the raster data is stored in the spool 323.

(Modification 6)
The determination units 22 and 22A may change the exchange conditions between the data disk storing the raster data related to the processing and the other data disks during the execution of the process of storing the raster data in the spool 323. Good. The determination units 22 and 22A are, for example, S.D. used for determining the replacement condition for the data disk storing the raster data being executed. M.M. A. R. Increase the threshold for T information. As a result, the opportunity for duplication of raster data to be processed is reduced, and the load on the image processing apparatus 30 is reduced.

(Modification 7)
The conditions for starting the replication of the image data stored on the data disk may be different from the conditions for starting the use of the alternative data disk. The image processing apparatus 30 may start using the alternative data disk before starting to copy the image data stored in the data disk. For example, when the deterioration level of the data disk is “1”, the image processing apparatus 30 changes the writing of the image data from one data disk to another data disk, but the image data from the one data disk is changed. Continue reading. When the degradation level of the data disk is “2”, the image processing device 30 copies the image data stored in the one data disk to another data disk.

(Modification 8)
In the first embodiment described above, the copy destination of the raster data may be a storage medium other than the storage medium in the spool 313. For example, the copy destination of the image data may be the system disk 3130. In this case, for example, the duplicating unit 327 duplicates the raster data from the data disk that satisfies the exchange condition to the system disk 3130 in the same spool. At this time, the energization control unit 328 may maintain at least energization of the system disk 3130. In the first modification described above, the duplication unit 315 may duplicate intermediate data from a data disk that satisfies the replacement condition in the spool 313 to the system disk 3130 (for example, the system disk 3130 in the same spool). At this time, the energization control unit 314 may maintain at least energization of the system disk 3130.
Further, a dedicated storage medium for copying image data may be provided separately, and any storage medium other than the storage medium that satisfies the replacement condition may be used.

(Modification 9)
Some of the configurations and operations described in the above-described embodiments may be omitted. The central control processing device 20 does not have to perform processing for notifying that the data disk can be replaced. This is because, as described in the above-described embodiment, image processing is continuously performed using an alternative data disk instead of the data disk that satisfies the replacement condition.

The color components handled by the image processing apparatus of the present invention are not limited to the four colors Y, M, C, and K, and other color components may be handled, or two or less or five or more color components. May be treated. The number of image processing devices 30 may be changed according to the number of color components to be handled. Moreover, the printing apparatus 40 may not perform the double-sided printing function, and may perform single-sided printing.
The storage medium of the present invention is not limited to the HDD. The storage medium of the present invention may be a storage medium such as a solid state drive (SSD), and the storage method is not particularly limited.

A single image processing device may realize the functions realized by the plurality of image processing devices 30 in the embodiment described above. The image processing apparatus includes a plurality of image processing units that realize functions common to the plurality of image processing apparatuses 30 described in the above-described embodiments. Each of the plurality of image processing units is an example of the image processing means of the present invention, and is realized by hardware such as an image processing board. In this modification, the spool is assigned to each of the plurality of image processing units, but is not necessarily a component of the image processing unit, and may be an external element of the image processing unit.
Further, the image processing apparatus 30 may realize the functions of the central control processing apparatus 20 described in the above-described embodiment.

  Each function realized by the central control processing device 20 and the image processing device 30 described in the above-described embodiment may be realized by one or a plurality of hardware circuits, or 1 or 2 for causing the computer to realize the same function. It may be realized by executing a plurality of programs, or may be realized by a combination thereof. When the functions of the central control processing device 20 and the image processing device 30 are realized by using a program, the program can be a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk (HDD, FD (Flexible Disk)), etc.), optical recording medium. It may be provided in a state stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as an optical disk (such as an optical disk), a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory, or may be distributed via a communication line such as the Internet.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system, 2 ... Image processing system, 10 ... Client apparatus, 20 ... Central control processing apparatus, 21 ... Degradation information acquisition part, 22, 22A ... Determination part, 23 ... Notification part, 24, 24A ... Apparatus control part, 241 ... Output order storage unit, 30 ... Image processing device, 31 ... Interpretation processing unit, 311 ... Memory, 312 ... Write processing unit, 313 ... Spool, 3130 ... System disk, 3131 ... Data disk, 314 ... Energization control unit, 315: Duplicating unit, 32 ... Back-end processing unit, 321 ... Virtualization unit, 322 ... Write processing unit, 323 ... Spool, 3230 ... System disk, 3231-3237 ... Data disk, 3238 ... Spare disk, 324 ... Relay processing , 325... Read out output unit, 326... Page buffer, 327 and 327 A. , 329 ... selection unit, 40 ... printing apparatus

Claims (16)

A plurality of storage media including a first storage medium storing a system file and one or more second storage media storing image data;
Determining means for determining whether to replace any of the second storage media during energization of the first storage medium and the one or more second storage media;
Copying means for copying the image data stored in the second storage medium determined to be exchanged to the third storage medium that is energized;
An energization control means for interrupting energization of the second storage medium determined to be replaced in a state where the first storage medium and the third storage medium are energized after the copying of the image data is completed; An image processing system provided. A plurality of storage media including a first storage medium storing a system file and one or more second storage media storing image data;
Determining means for determining whether to replace any of the second storage media during energization of the first storage medium and the one or more second storage media;
Copying means for copying the image data stored in the second storage medium determined to be exchanged to the first storage medium that is energized;
An image processing system comprising: an energization control unit that interrupts energization of the second storage medium that is determined to be replaced while the first storage medium is energized after copying of the image data is completed. Deterioration information acquisition means for acquiring deterioration information indicating a deterioration state of each of the one or more second storage media;
Write processing means for lowering the priority of writing the image data compared to the other second storage medium for the second storage medium in which the acquired deterioration information satisfies a predetermined condition. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing system is an image processing system. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the copying unit does not copy all of the image data stored in the second storage medium determined to be replaced. 5. The image processing system described. The determination unit stores the raster data, the second storage medium storing vector data or intermediate data generated in the process of generating raster data from the vector data. 5. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein a condition for determining that the replacement is to be performed is different between the second storage medium and the second storage medium. The image processing system according to claim 5, wherein the determination unit changes the condition during a period during which the process of storing the raster data is being executed. The determination means includes the second storage medium storing raster data related to the process and the second storage other than the second storage medium during execution of the process of storing the image data in the one or more second storage media. The image processing system according to claim 5, wherein the condition is different depending on a medium. The determined condition is vector format image data, or the second storage medium that stores intermediate data generated in the process of generating raster data from the vector format image data, and the raster data The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the image processing system is different from the second storage medium to be stored. Order storage means for storing the order of reading and outputting the image data stored in the second storage medium;
Image data storage means for storing image data to be reused;
Read output means for performing control to preferentially read the image data to be reused among the image data stored in the second storage medium and store the image data in the image data storage means,
The duplicating means includes
9. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein, among the image data stored in the second storage medium, the image data with the slow readout output is preferentially duplicated. . The image processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising notification means for notifying that the second storage medium can be exchanged after the duplication is completed. A plurality of storage media including a first storage medium storing a system file and one or more second storage media storing image data;
When it is determined that one of the second storage media should be replaced during energization of the first storage medium and the one or more second storage media, the image stored in the second storage medium Replicating means for replicating data to the energized third storage medium;
An energization control means for interrupting energization of the second storage medium determined to be replaced in a state where the first storage medium and the third storage medium are energized after the copying of the image data is completed; An image processing apparatus. A plurality of storage media including a first storage medium storing a system file and one or more second storage media storing image data;
When it is determined that one of the second storage media should be replaced during energization of the first storage medium and the one or more second storage media, the image stored in the second storage medium A duplicating means for duplicating data to the energized first storage medium;
An image processing apparatus comprising: an energization control unit that interrupts energization of the second storage medium that is determined to be replaced while the first storage medium is energized after the replication of the image data is completed. A first storage medium that stores a system file; and a determination unit that determines whether to replace any of the second storage media during energization of one or more second storage media that store image data;
The image data stored in the second storage medium determined to be exchanged is copied to the third storage medium that is energized, and after the copy of the image data is completed, the first storage medium and the first storage medium 3. A control device comprising: device control means for performing control to cut off the power to the second storage medium in a state where the storage medium is energized. A first storage medium that stores a system file; and a determination unit that determines whether to replace any of the second storage media during energization of one or more second storage media that store image data;
The image data stored in the second storage medium determined to be exchanged is copied to the energized first storage medium, and after the duplication of the image data is completed, the first storage medium is energized. And a device control means for performing control to cut off the energization of the second storage medium in a state of being performed. On the computer,
Determining whether one of the second storage media should be replaced during energization of a first storage medium storing a system file and one or more second storage media storing image data;
The image data stored in the second storage medium determined to be exchanged is copied to the third storage medium that is energized, and after the copy of the image data is completed, the first storage medium and the third storage medium And a step of performing a control to cut off the energization of the second storage medium while the storage medium is energized. On the computer,
Determining whether one of the second storage media should be replaced during energization of a first storage medium storing a system file and one or more second storage media storing image data;
The image data stored in the second storage medium determined to be replaced is copied to the energized first storage medium, and the copy of the image data is completed, and then the first storage medium is energized. And a step of performing a control to cut off the energization of the second storage medium in a state.

Images