JP2017109332A - Image processing device, image data processing method, and program for image data processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device which can easily be restored even in the case that the exceeding of a frequency limit value occurs by avoiding reliability deterioration due to the exceeding of a data rewritable frequency limit value in the case of replacing an HDD with an SSD for image processing.SOLUTION: When a NAND flash memory 930 and a USB memory 935 store image data inputted to an image formation part, an image processing board 926 in this MFP determines that the memory 935 stores temporary storage contents to execute the storage in the case of being the temporary storage contents that become unnecessary after a CPU 928 finishes processing data of a storage object in the image data, and receives an instruction from the CPU 928 to perform lighting of an LED 937 of an operation panel 914 and display of an LCD 912 as notification means through an operation panel board 917 in the case of determining that the memory 935 has to be replaced in accordance with an operation state of an ECC (error detection/error correction means) provided in the memory 935.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image data processing method, and an image data processing program.

  Conventionally, a multi-function peripheral device (MFP: Multi Function Peripheral), which is a digital multi-function peripheral that combines a plurality of functions such as a printer function, a copier function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function in a single casing, has a large-capacity non-volatile storage. An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is provided as a device. This HDD is also used for storing temporary data for operating various application data of scanner / printer / FAX in addition to various setting data and font data.

  In recent years, as in the case of the personal computer PC, there is an increasing demand for replacing the HDD with an SDD (Solid State Drive) in the MFP. SSD is an auxiliary storage device that uses flash memory. Compared with HDD, SSD has high data processing speed, quiet operation sound, high impact resistance, low power consumption and heat generation, small size and light weight, continuous It has advantages in terms of a significant drop in the bit unit price. By the way, there are two types of flash memory: NOR type of negative logical sum and NAND type of negative logical product. Since NAND type is more structurally integrated, NAND type is used for flash memory of SSD. It is common to be done.

  However, a disadvantage of the NAND flash memory that is an SSD storage medium is that the number of times data can be rewritten is limited. In order to deal with these disadvantages, when SSD is used on a PC or the like, a wear leveling function that performs processing for averaging the writing locations so as not to be stored only in the same location is incorporated, and a device for extending the life is devised. ing. The wear leveling function is to store only in the same location, thereby avoiding the occurrence of a location where the number of data write operations increases. For this reason, it is not superior to the limit number of times when writing to distributed addresses directly from the request source without this wear leveling function. In addition, the increase in the capacity of the chip means miniaturization of the semiconductor process and multi-value storage (representing information of 2 bits or 3 bits distinguished not only by High / Low, but also at a finer level). Realized with technology. All of these methods work to reduce the limit value of the number of times data can be rewritten.

  Incidentally, as a well-known technique for determining that the nonvolatile memory device is nearing the end of life and performing the next response based on the result, a write operation to the nonvolatile memory device is performed when the nonvolatile memory device is nearing the end of its life. There is an “information processing apparatus” (see Patent Document 1) that constructs a system so that there is no further deterioration, prevents further deterioration in reliability of the nonvolatile storage device, and prevents data destruction of the nonvolatile storage device. Further, as a well-known technique related to the wear leveling function, “a semiconductor storage medium control device and a semiconductor storage medium control method for efficiently performing wear leveling processing when a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device is mounted in an image forming apparatus” And image forming apparatus "(see Patent Document 2).

  The technology according to Patent Document 1 described above constructs a system so as not to perform a write operation on a nonvolatile storage device when the nonvolatile storage device is nearing the end of its life. In order to prevent this, the count result of the number of occurrences of communication errors is used to determine that the life is approaching. However, when such a technique is applied to the image processing of the MFP, it is not possible to achieve the purpose of avoiding a decrease in reliability due to exceeding the limit number of times that data can be rewritten and easily recovering even if the limit number of times is exceeded. When a communication error is detected, there is a possibility that data cannot be acquired normally.

  Further, since the technique according to Patent Document 2 described above has a limit on the number of times data can be written to the NAND flash memory, an increase in information writing time due to wear leveling is regarded as a problem. When the data to be written in the memory is temporarily used, the wear leveling is not performed, and the NAND flash memory is written according to a simple rule. However, even if such a method is applied to the MFP that switches processing depending on whether data to be written to the nonvolatile storage device is temporarily used or not, and improves the increase in information writing time by performing wear leveling. However, there is a problem in that the purpose of avoiding a decrease in reliability due to exceeding the limit number of times that data can be rewritten and easily recovering even if the limit number of times of occurrence occurs is not achieved.

  In short, the replacement of the HDD by SSD for image processing of the MFP may exceed the limit of the number of times data can be rewritten depending on how the MFP is used, and if the limit of the number of times is exceeded, the MFP is replaced until the SSD is replaced. This is not applicable to some models due to the disabling of use of the device or the occurrence of significant restrictions on use.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its technical problem is to avoid a decrease in reliability due to exceeding the limit number of times that data can be rewritten when an HDD is replaced with an SSD for image processing. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image data processing method, and an image data processing program that can be easily restored even if the number of times exceeds a limit value.

  In order to achieve the above technical problem, the first means of the present invention includes a first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means and a second large-capacity storage device using a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device that stores at least image data input to the image forming unit. Non-volatile storage means and control means for determining and executing storage in the second large-capacity non-volatile storage means when the data to be stored in the image data has temporary storage contents that become unnecessary after the processing is completed And from the control means when it is determined that the replacement of the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means is necessary according to the operating status of the error detection / error correction means provided in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means An image processing apparatus comprising: notification means for notifying that a memory replacement is required in response to an instruction.

  According to a second means of the present invention, there is provided an image input to at least the image forming unit by the first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means and the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means by the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device provided in the image processing apparatus. An image data storage step for storing data, and an image data storage step when the control means provided in the image processing apparatus has temporary storage contents that become unnecessary after the processing for the data to be stored in the image data. A storage determination execution step for determining and executing storage in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means, and an error detection / detection unit provided in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means. From the control means when it is determined that the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means needs to be replaced in the storage determination execution step according to the operation status of the error correction means Memory replacement notification step of notifying the fact of memory replacement necessity receives instructions, characterized in that it is a method for processing image data having a.

  Furthermore, a third means of the present invention is an image data processing program for causing a computer to execute the image data storage step, the storage determination execution step, and the memory exchange notification step in the image data processing method of the second means. It is characterized by being.

  According to the present invention, the above configuration or processing process avoids a decrease in reliability due to exceeding the limit number of times that data can be rewritten when the HDD is replaced with SSD for image processing, and the limit of the number of occurrences occurs. Can be easily recovered. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of embodiments.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a basic configuration of an MFP including an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a control function system of the entire MFP illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a method of writing data to a NAND flash memory provided in the image processing board shown in FIG. 2. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation process when a print job is generated in the MFP shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control operation in a case where data is stored in a nonvolatile storage medium by another processing task in a CPU provided in the image processing board of the MFP shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying a relationship between bit data arrangement on a DRAM and bit data arrangement on a nonvolatile storage unit provided in the image processing board of the MFP shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

  Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus, an image data processing method, and an image data processing program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, a technical outline of the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be briefly described. In the present invention, if the HDD of the MFP is replaced with an SSD and a similar function is constructed, the rewritable number limit value of the NAND flash memory (hereinafter simply referred to as a NAND flash memory) that is an SSD component exceeds the limit. There is a possibility that. Whether or not the number limit value is actually exceeded depends on how the MFP is used, but the rewritable number limit value of the NAND flash memory tends to decrease more and more in exchange for an increase in the capacity of the chip. For this reason, it is positively accepted that there is a rewritable number limit value of the NAND flash memory, and if the replacement is necessary due to the rewritable number limit value, the necessary data is not lost easily. It is to provide a function that can be restored as replaceable.

  In short, according to the present invention, the first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means using the SSD is provided as the large-capacity nonvolatile storage means by the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device that stores at least the image data input to the image forming unit of the MFP. A second large-capacity non-volatile storage means such as an SD card or a USB memory installed so as to be detachable is provided. As image data, short-term temporary storage data such as a copy image backup or a temporary storage of read original data for a retention copy is stored in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means. On the other hand, data that may need to be stored for a long period, such as various setting data and font data of the MFP, is stored in the first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means. Such a memory division function is a temporary storage content that becomes unnecessary after the processing is completed for the data to be stored in the image data by the CPU (Central Processing Unit) function of the control means provided in the image processing apparatus. Are determined and stored in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means.

  That is, data that needs to be written frequently is stored in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means, and writing to the first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means can be greatly reduced. As a result, the second large-capacity non-volatile storage means may exceed the limit number of times that data can be rewritten. Therefore, in the image processing apparatus included in the MFP according to the present invention, an error detection / error correction unit is provided for the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage unit, and data distributed over a plurality of pages is collected and error detection / correction (Error detect / correction) is performed. and correction). Further, the notification unit provided in the image processing apparatus needs to replace the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage unit in accordance with the operation status of the error detection / error correction unit provided in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage unit. In response to an instruction from the control means in the case of determination, a notification that the memory replacement is required is made. As a result, even if the content of a specific page is completely destroyed, error correction can be performed with high probability, the processing as the MFP being executed is completed normally, and the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means needs to be replaced. Can be warned. Since the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means uses a general-purpose device such as a USB memory or an SD card, the user can easily purchase an alternative device and replace the device that has reached the end of its life. it can. In addition, if the data stored in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means is encrypted, it is safe for security.

  Specifically, the reason why the data to be stored in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means is preferably encrypted is that when the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means is replaced, the removed large-capacity nonvolatile storage means The means may contain highly confidential information, but if it is encrypted, information leakage can be prevented. The first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means and the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means are constituted by NAND flash memory, and one unit of data processed by the control means by the error detection / error correction means. Is preferably distributed over a plurality of pages and stored in a NAND flash memory. In NAND flash memory, there is a high possibility that characteristic degradation will occur in units of pages. Therefore, if error detection / error correction processing is performed using data distributed and stored in a plurality of pages, error detection / error correction is performed. The success rate of error correction can be increased. Alternatively, when the control unit divides the address space of the NAND flash memory from the top in the size unit of one page of the NAND flash memory, a plurality of pages obtained by dividing one unit of data processed by the error detection / error correction unit Alternatively, the data may be stored in the NAND flash memory. In NAND flash memory, there is a high possibility that characteristic degradation will occur on a page-by-page basis. If error detection / error correction processing is performed using data that is distributed and stored in multiple pages, error detection / error The success rate of correction can be increased. Furthermore, a time measurement unit that measures a time for an access request to the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage unit is provided, and the control when the notification unit determines that the measurement result of the time measurement unit has a large variation in response time. It is preferable to notify that the memory needs to be replaced in response to an instruction from the means. Since the NAND flash memory may have a long response time as the device progresses, it is necessary to detect the occurrence of the situation and replace the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means at an early stage. Notification can be made. In addition, the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means is preferably a detachable and easily replaceable device such as a USB memory or an SD memory card. Such a device is highly available and can be physically easily replaced.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a basic configuration of an MFP including an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the MFP in this embodiment performs image formation and printing on a sheet by a scanner unit 801 and a laser recording unit 802, and aligns unloaded sheets by a post-processing unit 803 to process staples and punch holes. I do. The scanner unit 801 includes an automatic double-sided document feeder (RADF) 805 that feeds a document to the upper surface of a transparent glass document table 804, and an image of the document placed on the upper surface of the document table 804. And a scanner unit 806 for reading. Image data read by the scanner unit 801 is output to the laser recording unit 802. An automatic double-sided document feeder 805 is a single-sided document feed path from a schematic document tray to a discharge tray that is also schematically illustrated via a document table 804, and the front and back surfaces of a document that has been read by a scanner unit 806. It has a double-sided document feed path that reverses and guides it back to the document table, and can handle both single-sided and double-sided originals.

  The scanner unit 806 irradiates the original with light generated by the semiconductor laser, and forms an image of the reflected light of the original on the light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion element with a lens or a mirror. The photoelectric conversion element converts the reflected light on the image surface of the document into an electrical signal and outputs it to an image processing board 926 described later. The laser recording unit 802 includes a sheet conveying unit 807 that conveys a sheet, a laser writing unit 808, and an electrophotographic process unit (image forming unit) 809. The paper transport unit 807 includes a sub-transport path that reverses the front and back surfaces of the paper that has passed through the fixing roller and leads it to the electrophotographic process unit 809 in the double-sided copying mode in which images are formed on both sides of the paper. . The laser writing unit 808 includes a semiconductor laser that irradiates a laser beam based on image data supplied from the image processing board 926, and the light emitted from the semiconductor laser passes through a mirror or a lens and is exposed to light from the electrophotographic process unit 809. Light distribution on the surface of the body drum. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the toner image is made visible by supplying toner from the developing device. The toner image is transferred onto the paper guided from the paper transport unit 807, and then heated and pressurized by a fixing roller, so that the toner image is melted and fixed on the surface of the paper. In this manner, after the writing of the image data on the paper is completed, a part of the output paper is aligned in the post-processing unit 803, and the staple and punch holes are processed and discharged to the discharge tray.

  Incidentally, the MFP shown in FIG. 1 has been described as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus specification, but the functional unit as an image processing apparatus included in the MFP stores rendering data generated when executing image forming output in a non-volatile manner. Characteristic processing is executed when storing in a storage medium (the above-mentioned first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means and second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means). The image forming apparatus as the MFP shown in FIG. 1 may be a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or the like, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the control function system of the entire MFP shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of the control function system of the entire MFP is roughly divided into an image processing board 926, a machine control board 907, an operation panel board 917, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) board 922.

  More specifically, the machine control board 907 manages each device including the process unit 903, the reading scanner unit 902, and the duplex unit 901 in the MFP. The CPU 911 included in the machine control board 907 performs an operation according to a control program for controlling a device such as the process unit 903 read out from a RAM (Random Access Memory) 910 that is a work area. Take control. The operation panel board 917 manages an operation panel 914 including an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 912 and operation keys 913 provided on the upper surface of the MFP. The CPU 915 included in the operation panel board 917 performs control according to the control program for the operation panel 914 read from the RAM 916 that is a work area, thereby controlling the operation panel 914 including lighting of the LED 937. The CCD board 922 includes a CCD 921 that is a photoelectric conversion element for configuring the scanner unit 806, a CCD control unit 920 that controls the CCD 921, an analog circuit 918 that processes an analog signal output from the CCD 921, and an analog processed by the analog circuit 918. This is hardware in which an A / D conversion unit 919 that converts a signal into a digital signal and inputs the digital signal to the image processing board 926 is installed.

  The image processing board 926 performs control related to image processing based on a print job input via a network such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or a copy execution instruction input from the operation panel board 917. In the image processing board 926, the CPU 928 controls the whole in accordance with a program read from a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) 927, and an IPU (Image Processing Unit) ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 925 includes a machine control board 907 and a CCD board. It exchanges image information with 922. The machine control board 907 mainly controls the mechanical operation of the device. Accordingly, the CPU 928 of the image processing board 926 and the CPU 911 of the machine control board 907 execute control while exchanging information by communication in order to match the flow of image information by the image processing and the operation of the device. The IPUA ASIC 925 is an ASIC that performs image processing such as color conversion and density conversion of an input signal from the scanner unit 806 and gradation processing of an output signal to a printer. The CPU 928 is connected to the IPU ASIC 925 through a PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) I / F. When copying is used, the scanner input signal from the IPUAASIC 925 is stored in the DRAM 927 and output to the IPUAASIC 925 for printer output. When image rotation processing is necessary, the CPU 928 performs rotation processing on the data stored in the DRAM 927, writes the data in the DRAM 927 again, and outputs the data to the IPUAASIC 925 side after the writing is completed.

  When electronic sorting is performed to obtain a plurality of copies of output from one copy of the original, all image data of one portion of the original is written from the DRAM 927 to the image data USB memory (NAND flash memory) 935, and then the image data is read from the USB memory 935. Are expanded in the DRAM 927 and output to the printer. By repeating this multiple copies, the electronic sorting function can be realized. When using the printer, the CPU 928 receives a print job from a PC connected to the network via a network interface (not shown) provided on the image processing board 926 and temporarily stores it in the DRAM 927. The CPU 928 decodes the print job described in the printer language, draws (renders) it as image data in the DRAM 927, and outputs it to the IPUASIC 925 side after the drawing is completed. The rendering may be executed by hardware included in the IPUAASIC 925 as well as executed by software control by the CPU 928. When electronic sorting is performed by the printer, the CPU 928 writes all image data of one part of the original from the DRAM 927 to the USB memory 935, reads the image data from the USB memory 935, develops the image data to the DRAM 927, and copies the image data to the printer. Output. Electronic sorting is realized by repeating this according to the output of a plurality of copies. Document BOX is a function for registering and accumulating images. Once accumulating, it can be read and output as many times as desired. When the document BOX image is stored, the image data stored in the DRAM 927 is stored in the USB memory 935. This can be applied to both image data from a scanner input and image data in which a printer language is drawn from a network interface.

  Next, processing of image data in the copy mode in this MFP will be described with reference to FIGS. When copying a document, the scanner unit 806 sequentially reads the images of the document fed to the document table 804 by an automatic duplex document feeder (RADF) 904 controlled by the CPU 905. In the scanner unit 806, the CCD 921 on the CCD board 922 is driven by the CCD controller 920. The signal output by the photoelectric change by the CCD 921 is subjected to gain adjustment by the analog circuit 918 and sent from the A / D converter 919 to the image processing board 926 as 8-bit image data. The image data input from the CCD board 922 to the image processing board 926 is subjected to predetermined image processing in the IPU ASIC 925 and then temporarily stored in the DRAM 927 by the CPU 928. Next, the image stored in the DRAM 927 is stored in the USB memory 935. These processes are executed for all documents set in the automatic duplex document feeder (RADF) 904. After completion of image reading, the CPU 928 repeatedly reads out a plurality of pieces of image data stored in the USB memory 935 in the page order for a set number of times. After predetermined image processing in the IPUA ASIC 925, the laser data is transmitted via the laser control unit 923. After being supplied to the laser writing unit 924 and writing of the image on the paper is finished, a post-processing device 908 controlled by the CPU 909 aligns a part of the output paper, and then processes staples and punch holes, and then discharges the paper. It is discharged to the tray. Here, even when a plurality of copies of each original image are formed, it is only necessary to read the original image once.

  Incidentally, when data is stored in the USB memory 935, the target data is encrypted by the encryptor 931, and a redundant bit for performing error detection / error correction is added by the ECC (error detection / error correction means) 932, Data is stored in the USB memory 935 via the USB controller 934. On the other hand, when reading data from the USB memory 935, the data in the USB memory 935 read by the USB controller 934 is converted into redundant bits that are read simultaneously, and an error is detected by the ECC (error detection / error correction means) 932. If the error occurs, error correction is performed and the CPU 928 is notified that an error has been detected. When the CPU 928 receives notification of error detection, the LED 937 of the operation panel 914 is turned on and a message indicating that the USB memory 935 needs to be replaced is displayed on the LCD 912. The USB controller 934 is connected to response time measuring means 933, and measures the time from issuing a request to the USB memory 935 to responding to it. When the response time becomes larger than the preset response time variation, the CPU 928 is notified that a response time variation of a specified value or more has been detected. Also in this case, the CPU 928 turns on the LED 937 of the operation panel 914 and displays on the LCD 912 that the USB memory needs to be replaced. Furthermore, the NAND controller 929 controls the access to the NAND memory flash 930 as the first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means. Hereinafter, an aspect of access to a general NAND flash memory 930 will be described below.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a method of writing data to the NAND flash memory 930 provided in the image processing board 926 shown in FIG. The NAND flash memory 930 performs data writing / reading in units called “pages”, but erasing needs to be performed in units of “blocks” in which a plurality of pages are collected. Here, a case will be described in which data is already written and unnecessary data is erased, and further data is written into a block in use in which necessary data and unnecessary data are mixed. The data erasure described above indicates that the data on the file system has been erased, not the data actually erased from the page. For pages where such unnecessary data is stored, the data cannot be written until the data is erased once.

  Under such circumstances, the CPU 928 that performs an operation in accordance with the NAND control program instructs the NAND controller 929 to copy only necessary data to an empty block as shown in process A in FIG. Thereafter, as shown in process B in FIG. 3, the block data stored in the target block is erased. Further, the CPU 928 that performs an operation in accordance with the NAND control program instructs the NAND controller 929 to further write the data to be written, as shown in process C in FIG. Write to a free page and write the entire block back to the original block. Such a mode of data write processing is called “block copy”. That is, in the NAND flash memory 930, in order to change a small amount of data, there is a waste that more data must be written. In addition, the increase in the number of times of writing causes a problem that the memory cell serving as a storage medium in the NAND flash memory 930 is further deteriorated, and it can be said that there is a high possibility that the same deterioration characteristic is achieved in page units.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation process when a print job is generated in the MFP. However, here, the operation of determining the storage destination of rendering data by the CPU 928 that performs calculations according to the copy application software and the printer application software after rendering is started is shown. In addition, rendering data generated by rendering is initially stored in the DRAM 927.

  Referring to FIG. 4, when the CPU 928 enters the rendering start state (step S801) for the print job, the CPU 928 subsequently determines whether or not the electronic sort is necessary for the print job. The determination is made (step S802). If the result of this determination is that electronic sorting is necessary, the rendering data must be temporarily stored in the nonvolatile storage means. Therefore, the CPU 928 uses the rendering data stored in the DRAM 927 as a temporary information write command request ( After issuing step S804), the operation process is terminated. On the other hand, if the electronic sort is unnecessary, the CPU 928 subsequently determines whether or not a jam backup is necessary by determining whether or not a jam backup is necessary (step S803). By the way, jam backup refers to the paper that was being transported when jamming (paper jam) occurred between the time when image formation was performed on the paper and the transport in the MFP was transported and discharged. In order to re-execute the image formation output for the image after the jam is eliminated, the rendering data is stored in a non-volatile storage medium instead of a volatile storage medium such as the DRAM 927. Judgment of whether or not a jam backup is necessary is based on, for example, the maximum number of sheets that can exist between the paper feed port and the paper discharge port in the paper transport path of the MFP (hereinafter referred to as the simultaneous transport number) and the page of the page memory in the DRAM 927. Judgment is made based on the comparison result with the number. If the number of simultaneously conveyed pages is larger than the number of pages in the page memory, it is determined that a jam backup is necessary because the rendering data of the page for which image formation output has been completed needs to be erased before the page is discharged. The Therefore, if it is determined that the jam backup is necessary, the rendering data should be stored in the nonvolatile storage medium. Therefore, the CPU 928 requests the rendering data stored in the DRAM 927 to write a temporary information write command (S804). ) Is issued and the operation process is terminated. On the other hand, if the jam backup is unnecessary, there is no reason to store the rendering data in the non-volatile storage medium, so the CPU 928 ends the process as it is. In this way, processing by the copy application software and printer application software is executed.

  FIG. 5 shows a case where data is stored in a non-volatile storage medium by another processing task in the CPU 928 provided in the image processing board 926 of the MFP (such as a request to write temporary information of rendering data described with reference to FIG. 4). It is a flowchart which shows this control operation.

  Referring to FIG. 5, when a write command is generated (step S901), the CPU 928 determines whether or not the write command is a temporary information write request command (step S902). As a result of this determination, if it is a temporary information write request command, it is stored in the USB memory 935 where the temporary information is stored, so that the write operation to the USB memory 935 is executed (step S903) and then the control operation is performed. Exit. On the other hand, if the instruction is not a temporary information write request command, the NAND controller 929 is instructed to write to the NAND flash memory 930 in order to store it in the NAND flash memory 930 where non-temporary information is stored (step After performing S904), the control operation is terminated.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the bit data arrangement on the DRAM 927 provided in the image processing board 926 of the MFP and the bit data arrangement on the USB memory 935 and the NAND flash memory 930 as nonvolatile storage means. However, here, the page size of the USB memory 935 and the NAND flash memory 930 is 16 k bits, and one unit of data for performing error detection / error correction processing is implemented with 10 bits including check bits (redundant bits). A case (8 bits of original data + 2 bits of check bits) is illustrated. One unit of data for error detection / correction processing is C [2n], C [2n + 1], D [8n], D [8n + 1], D [8n + 2], D [8n + 3], D [8n + 4. ], D [8n + 5], D [8n + 6], D [8n + 7] (n is a positive integer including zero).

  Referring to FIG. 6, the arrangement on the DRAM 927 indicates the original arrangement, and when the 16 bits of the data are taken from the head, D [0], D [1],..., D [(16 × 1024-1)]. In the USB memory 935 and the NAND flash memory 930, a data string of an array in which a check bit is inserted for each page size = 16 kbit × (original data of one unit of error detection / error correction processing) = 8 In contrast to this, the memory addresses are rearranged one bit at an interval of 16k bits from the beginning of the memory address. When the page size is 16k bits, C [0] and C [1] are D [0], D [1], D [2], D [3], D [4], and D [5]. , D [6], D [7] check bits, C [2], C [3] are D [8], D [9], D [10], D [11], D [12], The check bits for D [13], D [14], and D [15] are shown. By adopting such an arrangement, even if all the data for one arbitrary page is lost, one bit of the unit data for error detection / error correction processing is lost at 16k bits. Since it can only be done, error correction becomes possible.

  As described above, in the MFP according to the embodiment, the NAND flash memory 930 of the first large-capacity nonvolatile storage device and the USB memory 935 of the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means in the image processing board 926 are the electrophotographic process unit. When storing image data to be input to 809, the CPU 928, which is a control unit, stores the data to be stored in the USB memory 935 if the storage target data in the image data is temporary storage content that is unnecessary after the processing is completed. The operation panel receives an instruction when the CPU 928 determines that the USB memory 935 needs to be replaced according to the operation status of the ECC (error detection / error correction means) provided in the USB memory 935. LED 9 of operation panel 914 as a notification means via board 917 7 lighting, as well as display in the LCD912 is performed. As a result, it is possible to avoid a decrease in reliability due to exceeding the limit number of times that data can be rewritten when the HDD is replaced with SSD for image processing, and it is possible to easily recover even if the limit value exceeds. become.

  The processing functions related to the storage control by the control means (CPU 928) for the nonvolatile storage means in the image processing board 926 and the replacement notification of the nonvolatile storage means described above can be restated as the processing process of the image data processing method. That is, the image data processing method in this case is an image input to at least the image forming unit by the first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means and the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means by the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device provided in the image processing apparatus. An image data storage step for storing data, and an image data storage step when the control means provided in the image processing apparatus has temporary storage contents that become unnecessary after the processing for the data to be stored in the image data. A storage determination execution step for determining and executing storage in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means, and an error detection / detection unit provided in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means. Control procedure when it is determined that the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means needs to be replaced in the storage determination execution step in accordance with the operating state of the error correction means A memory replacement notification step of notifying the fact of memory replacement necessity in response to an instruction from comes to have. The processing processes (image data storage step, storage determination execution step, memory exchange notification step) in this image data processing method can be applied to the CPU 928 as an image data processing program to be executed by a computer.

801 Scanner unit 802 Laser recording unit 803 Post-processing unit 804 Document table 805, 904 Automatic double-sided document feeder (RADF)
806 Scanner unit 807 Paper transport unit 808 Laser writing unit 809 Electrophotographic process unit (image forming unit)
901 Duplex unit 902 Reading scanner unit 903 Process unit 905, 909, 911, 915, 928 CPU
906 Paper feeding / conveying unit 907 Machine control board 908 Post-processing device 910, 916 RAM
912 LCD
913 Operation key 914 Operation panel 917 Operation panel board 918 Analog circuit 919 A / D conversion unit 920 CCD control unit 921 CCD
922 CCD board 923 Laser control unit 924 Laser writing unit 925 IPUASIC
926 Image processing board 927 DRAM
929 NAND controller 930 NAND flash memory 931 encryption device 932 ECC (error detection / error correction means)
933 Response time measuring means 934 USB controller 935 USB memory (NAND flash memory)
937 LED

Patent No. 5668163 Japanese Patent No. 5625888

Claims (8)

  Processing is completed for data to be stored in the first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means and the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means by the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device that stores at least image data input to the image forming unit, and the image data to be stored Control means for deciding and executing storage contents in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means in the case of temporary storage contents that are no longer necessary; and an error provided in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means Notification means for notifying that the memory needs to be replaced in response to an instruction from the control means when it is determined that the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means needs to be replaced in accordance with the operating state of the detection / error correction means And an image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The image processing apparatus, wherein the data to be stored in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means is encrypted. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means and the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means are composed of NAND flash memory,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the control unit distributes one unit of data processed by the error detection / error correction unit to a plurality of pages and stores the data in the NAND flash memory. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means and the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means are composed of NAND flash memory,
The control means outputs one unit of data processed by the error detection / error correction means when the address space of the NAND flash memory is divided from the top in the size unit of one page of the NAND flash memory. An image processing apparatus that is distributed over a plurality of divided pages and stored in the NAND flash memory. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A time measuring means for measuring a time for an access request to the second large-capacity nonvolatile memory means;
The notification unit is configured to notify that the memory needs to be replaced in response to an instruction from the control unit when it is determined that the measurement result of the time measurement unit has a large variation in response time. Processing equipment. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means is a detachable and replaceable device. An image data storage step for storing at least image data input to the image forming unit by the first large-capacity nonvolatile storage means and the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage means by the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device provided in the image processing apparatus;
The second large-capacity nonvolatile memory in the image data storage step when the control means provided in the image processing apparatus has temporary storage contents that are not required after the processing is completed for the data to be stored in the image data. A storage determination execution step for determining and executing storage in the storage means;
The notification unit provided in the image processing apparatus is configured to execute the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage in the storage determination execution step according to the operating state of the error detection / error correction unit provided in the second large-capacity nonvolatile storage unit. An image data processing method comprising: a memory replacement notifying step of notifying that a memory replacement is required in response to an instruction from the control means when it is determined that replacement of the means is necessary.   8. An image data processing program for causing a computer to execute the image data storage step, the storage determination execution step, and the memory exchange notification step in the image data processing method according to claim 7.