JP2017162079A - Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve responsiveness when a function is used.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus comprises: an execution part that executes part of processing related to a predetermined function included in the information processing apparatus before the predetermined function is used; and a reading part that reads data used in the part of processing from a first storage part to a second storage part according to the execution of the part of processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program.

  In an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer) or an embedded device, it is possible to improve the responsiveness of the function at the time of use by caching the program related to the function used by the user many times in the memory. . This is because, if a program related to the function is cached, processing such as loading and initialization of the program can be omitted when the use of the function is instructed.

  However, in order to cache a program or the like related to a certain function, it is necessary to use the function. Therefore, after the information processing apparatus is activated, when a certain function is used for the first time, a delay occurs until the function is executed, which may cause the user to feel stress.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to improve responsiveness when using functions.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the information processing apparatus includes an execution unit that executes a part of the process related to the predetermined function before the predetermined function of the information processing apparatus is used, and the part of the process. A reading unit that reads data used in the part of the processing from the first storage unit to the second storage unit in response to the execution of.

  Responsiveness when using the function can be improved.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information processing system in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the information processing terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of the information processing terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence which an information processing terminal performs.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing system according to the first embodiment. In the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 is connected to the information processing terminal 20 so as to be communicable. Communication between the image forming apparatus 10 and the information processing terminal 20 is performed via a network such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), short-range wireless communication, or LAN (whether wired or wireless).

  The image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction machine that realizes two or more functions of printing, scanning, copying, FAX transmission / reception, and the like with a single casing. However, a device having any one function may be used as the image forming apparatus 10. The image forming apparatus 10 in the present embodiment is an example of a device, and a device such as a projector, a video conference system, or a digital camera may be used instead of the image forming device 10.

  The information processing terminal 20 is an electronic device that can execute complete information processing independently, such as a smartphone or a tablet-type terminal. In the present embodiment, the information processing terminal 20 functions as an operation unit of the image forming apparatus 10. More specifically, the information processing terminal 20 is connected to the image forming apparatus 10 instead of an operation panel that has been conventionally installed as a dedicated operation unit of the image forming apparatus 10.

  For example, the information processing terminal 20 is fixedly installed at a predetermined position (for example, a position where the operation panel is disposed) of the image forming apparatus 10. Therefore, the information processing terminal 20 and the image forming apparatus 10 may be grasped as one apparatus. Alternatively, the information processing terminal 20 may be removable (separable) from the image forming apparatus 10. In a state where the information processing terminal 20 is removed, the information processing terminal 20 may be able to function as an operation unit of the image forming apparatus 10 via Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless communication such as infrared rays.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the information processing terminal according to the first embodiment. 2, the information processing terminal 20 includes a CPU 201, a memory 202, an auxiliary storage device 203, a touch panel 204, a wireless communication device 205, and the like.

  The auxiliary storage device 203 is an example of a nonvolatile storage unit, and stores, for example, a program installed in the information processing terminal 20. The memory 202 is an example of a volatile storage unit. For example, when a program activation instruction is issued, the program is read from the auxiliary storage device 203 and stored. The CPU 201 implements functions related to the information processing terminal 20 in accordance with programs stored in the memory 202.

  The touch panel 204 is an electronic component having both an input function and a display function, and displays information, accepts input from a user, and the like. The touch panel 204 includes a display device 211, an input device 212, and the like.

  The display device 211 is a liquid crystal display or the like, and bears the display function of the touch panel 204. The input device 212 is an electronic component that includes a sensor that detects contact of a contact object with the display device 211. The contact detection method of the contact object may be any known method such as an electrostatic method, a resistive film method, or an optical method. The contact object refers to an object that contacts the contact surface (surface) of the touch panel 204. Examples of such an object include a user's finger and a dedicated or general pen.

  The wireless communication device 205 is an electronic component such as an antenna necessary for performing communication in a wireless local area network (LAN) or a mobile communication network.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the information processing terminal according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, the information processing terminal 20 includes a function execution unit 21, a platform unit 22, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing that one or more programs installed in the information processing terminal 20 cause the CPU 201 to execute. The information processing terminal 20 also uses a function information storage unit 23, a log storage unit 24, and the like. Each of these storage units can be realized using, for example, the auxiliary storage device 203 or the like.

  The function execution unit 21 is a set of programs each realizing a specific function. The program may be an application program that is directly used by a user, or may be a lower-level program that is called from the application program. Further, one function execution unit 21 may be realized by a plurality of programs. In FIG. 3, as the function execution unit 21, a function A execution unit 21a, a function B execution unit 22b, and the like are illustrated. The function A execution unit 21a executes the function A. The function B execution unit 22b executes the function B. Function A and function B are expressions in which specific functions are abstracted. For example, the function A may be an encryption function.

  The platform unit 22 is a part that provides a basic function to the function execution unit 21, and may include, for example, a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine or an OS (Operating System). 3, the platform unit 22 includes a resource management unit 221, a system unit 222, a function setting unit 223, a function management unit 224, and the like.

  The resource management unit 221 monitors the load and the like of resources (memory 202, CPU 201, etc.) necessary for executing various functions.

  When executing a certain function, the system unit 222 loads, initializes, caches, and the like data (such as a class) required by the function. For example, the system unit 222 may be realized by an OS or a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine.

  The function setting unit 223 receives a setting for enabling or disabling each function (each function executing unit 21) from the user.

  The function management unit 224 instructs the function execution unit 21 corresponding to the function for which the function setting unit 223 has received the activation setting from the user to execute the preparation process. In the present embodiment, the preparation process of the function execution unit 21 refers to a process executed to improve the responsiveness when the function executed by the function execution unit 21 is used after the first time. For example, in the preparation process, data such as a program or a program group used by the function execution unit 21 is loaded from the auxiliary storage device 203 into the memory 202 (strictly, a cache memory), initialized, cached, and the like. It is a process intended to be

  In view of such a purpose of the preparation process, it is considered that in the preparation process of a certain function execution unit 21, processing such as loading of data such as a class used by the function execution unit 21 is explicitly implemented. It is done. However, it takes time and effort for the developer to grasp the classes used by each function execution unit 21 in advance, and complicated work is required. In particular, when using a virtual machine such as Java (registered trademark), for example, when executing a cryptographic function, which class is loaded and what initialization processing is performed for each class is determined in the virtual machine. It is difficult for developers to accurately grasp this information.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, in a preparation process of a certain function execution unit 21, a simple or dummy process is implemented for a part of the function. By doing so, it is expected that the cache of the class or the like is implicitly executed by the system unit 222 in addition to loading or initialization of a part or all of the necessary class or the like by executing the preparation process. For example, in the case of the function execution unit 21 related to an encryption function using AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), encryption processing using an AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) for a simple character string (for example, “SAMPLE” or the like) is prepared. It may be implemented as a process. Further, in the case of the function execution unit 21 related to the authentication function, sample data signature verification processing by the Signature class may be executed as preparation processing. Further, in the case of the function execution unit 21 related to the cryptographic communication function, SSL (Secure Socket Layer) / TLS (Transport Layer Security) communication processing by local loopback may be executed as preparation processing. In such a preparation process, there is a possibility that all loading, initialization, caching and the like of necessary classes and the like are not performed. However, by loading, initializing, caching, etc. even for some of the necessary classes, etc., when using the functions by the user, the time required for loading and initializing the relevant classes will be reduced. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to improve the responsiveness of the function when using a certain function for the first time.

  The process related to a part of the function executed in the preparation process may be, for example, a process related to a common path for all paths executed by the function execution unit 21 related to the function. Alternatively, the process may be related to a path that is expected to have a high execution frequency among all paths. The all-path means a path obtained by tracing all branch destinations. Alternatively, it may be a path related to a basic sequence among all paths. With respect to a certain function, the basic sequence refers to a basic (or general) processing procedure for the function.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure executed by the information processing terminal 20 will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the information processing terminal. In FIG. 4, a function A execution unit 21 a will be described as a specific example of the function execution unit 21. However, the processing procedure executed for the function B execution unit 22b and other function execution units 21 may be the same.

  For example, the function A execution unit 21a requests the function management unit 224 to issue a function ID immediately after installation of a program that causes the information processing terminal 20 to function as the function A execution unit 21a (S101). The function management unit 224 generates a function ID that does not overlap with the other function execution units 21 for the function A execution unit 21a, and responds to the function execution unit 21 with the function ID (S102).

  Subsequently, the function A execution unit 21a includes the function ID, identification information of the preparation process of the function A execution unit 21a, identification information of the end process of the function A execution unit 21a, a preparation condition, and an end condition. The function management unit 224 is requested to register function information (S103). In response to the request, the function management unit 224 stores the function information in the function information storage unit 23 (S104). Therefore, the function information storage unit 23 stores the function ID, the preparation process identification information, the end process identification information, the preparation condition, the end condition, and the like for each function execution unit 21.

  The end process is a process executed when function A ends (when function A execution unit 21a is unloaded). For example, the class unloading used in the function A, the cache clearing for saving the memory, the release of the heap area, or the like is executed in the termination process.

  The identification information of the preparation process and the identification information of the end process are, for example, address information of the preparation process or the end process. Specifically, in the case of a C / C ++ language, the address information may be a pointer of a function in which a preparation process is implemented. In the case of Java (registered trademark), the address information may be a reference to a method of a class in which a preparation process is implemented.

  The preparation condition is information that defines the execution timing of the preparation process. That is, the preparation process is executed when the preparation condition is satisfied. In the first embodiment, an example will be described in which “when the activation of the function A is set by the user, the free capacity of the memory is equal to or greater than a predetermined value” is designated as the preparation condition. If the function A is activated, it can be determined that the possibility that the function A is used is high. If the free space of the memory is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the preparation process related to the function A is executed. This is because the influence on the performance of other functions is considered to be small. In the case where the preparation condition is not specified, for example, a predetermined condition such as when the information processing terminal 20 is activated may be adopted as the preparation condition.

  The termination condition is information that defines the execution timing of the termination process. That is, the termination process is executed when the termination condition is satisfied. For example, it may be specified as the termination condition that the function A is disabled.

  Note that steps S101 to S103 need only be executed once after the installation of a program that causes the information processing terminal 20 to function as the function A execution unit 21a, for example.

  Thereafter, it is assumed that activation of the function A is set by the user at an arbitrary timing when the information processing system 1 is activated (S201). The setting is performed, for example, via a setting screen displayed on the display device 211 by the function setting unit 223. In response to the setting, the function setting unit 223 notifies the function A execution unit 21a corresponding to the function A of the activation (S202). The function A execution unit 21a designates its own function ID (hereinafter referred to as “target function ID”), and notifies the function management unit 224 of its own activation (S203).

  In response to the activation notification from the function A execution unit 21a, the function management unit 224 checks the preparation conditions stored in the function information storage unit 23 in association with the target function ID (S204). Here, the preparation condition regarding the function A execution unit 21a is “when the activation of the function A is designated by the user, the free capacity of the memory is equal to or greater than a predetermined value”. Therefore, if the free space of the memory is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the preparation condition is satisfied. Therefore, the function management unit 224 requests the resource management unit 221 to acquire resource information (S205). In response to the request, the resource management unit 221 notifies the function management unit 224 of resource information including the CPU load status, I / O usage frequency, memory usage status, and the like (S206).

  If it is determined based on the resource information that the free space of the memory is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, steps S301 to S309 are executed.

  In step S301, the function management unit 224 calls the preparation process of the function A execution unit 21a based on the identification information of the preparation process associated with the target function ID and stored in the function information storage unit 23 (S301). . In response to the call, the function A execution unit 21a executes a preparation process related to the function A (S302). As a result, the system unit 222 loads, initializes, caches, etc. the data such as the class required in the preparation process (S303). In the case of Java (registered trademark), compilation to native code by a JIT compiler may be executed as initialization.

  Further, the function management unit 224 measures a load related to the preparation process during the execution of the preparation process (S304). For example, an increase in memory usage, an increase in CPU load, and the like are measured. When the preparation process ends, the function management unit 224 stores the measurement result in the function information storage unit 23 in association with the target function ID. The measurement result may be used for determining whether or not the next preparation condition is satisfied. For example, under the condition that “the memory free space is equal to or greater than a predetermined value”, “the increase in memory usage + α” in the measurement result may be applied to the “predetermined value”.

  Thereafter, when a use request for the function A is input by the user at an arbitrary timing (S305), the function A execution unit 21a executes the function A (S306). At this time, since the preparation process is executed for the function A, even if the function A is used for the first time after the information processing terminal 20 is activated, the function A is compared with the case where the preparation process is not executed. Responsiveness can be improved.

  When the execution of the function A is completed, the function A execution unit 21a designates the target function ID and notifies the function management unit 224 that the function A has been executed (S307). In response to the notification, the function management unit 224 stores the function A execution history in the log storage unit 24 (S308). For example, log information including the current date and time and the target function ID is stored in the log storage unit 24.

  Subsequently, the function A execution unit 21a responds with the execution result of the function A as necessary (S309).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the free space of the memory is less than the predetermined value, step S405 and subsequent steps are executed. The processing content of each step after step S405 may be the same as that of step S30X (X is 1 to 9) in which the value of the unit of the step number is common.

  In step S405 and subsequent steps, since the function A preparation processing is not executed in advance before the user uses the function A, the same processing as step S303 is executed when the function A is executed (S406) (S403). ). Therefore, in this case, a delay is caused by the time required for step S403 until the function A is substantially executed.

  For example, when invalidation of the function A is set by the user, the function management unit 224 calls the termination process of the function A based on the termination condition. As a result, the termination process is executed by the function A execution unit 21a, and a part or all of the resources consumed by the preparation process are released.

  Alternatively, the end condition of the function A may be that a predetermined time has passed without the function A being used since the execution of the preparation process. In this case, when the function A is not used within a predetermined time after the execution of the function A preparation process, the function management unit 224 calls the function A end process.

  Further, although FIG. 4 refers to the free space of the memory, conditions regarding the CPU load and other resource loads may be designated as the preparation conditions.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, before a user uses a certain function, a preparation process is executed for the function. Therefore, when the function is used, it can be expected that data such as a class necessary for the function is loaded, initialized, and cached. As a result, it is possible to expect an improvement in responsiveness when using the function.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described. Therefore, points not particularly mentioned may be the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, another example of the execution timing of the preparation process will be described. The function management unit 224 may determine the execution timing of the preparation process for each function based on the log information stored in the log storage unit 24.

  According to the first embodiment, log information indicating that the function A is executed is stored in the log storage unit 24 every time the function A is executed. Further, for example, the system unit 222 may store log information indicating the power on or off in the log storage unit 24 when the information processing terminal 20 is turned on and when the power is turned off.

  According to such a log storage unit 24, the function management unit 224 has the function A for the period from each activation (power ON) to power OFF of the information processing terminal 20 (hereinafter referred to as “activation period”). The number of executions can be grasped. In addition, the function management unit 224 can grasp the number of activation periods in the past N activation periods, and the function A is executed.

For example, if the function A is executed in 9 startup periods of the 10 startup periods in the past, and the average value of the number of executions of the startup A in one startup period is three, The expected value of the number of times function A is executed may be calculated as follows.
9 ÷ 10 × 3 = 2.7
For example, the function management unit 224 calculates the expected value for each function for which the function information is stored in the function information storage unit 23 at each activation of the information processing terminal 20. The function management unit 224 calls a preparation process when the information processing terminal 20 is activated for a function whose expected value is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value. Alternatively, a preparation process for a function with the expected value up to the top Mth may be called. In addition, the value of M may be changed according to the load state of the resource at the completion of the activation process of the information processing terminal 20.

  After calling the preparation process, the function management unit 224 may call an end process for a function that is not used for a predetermined time from the start of the information processing terminal 20.

  The second embodiment may be implemented in combination with the first embodiment.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the information processing terminal 20 is activated, the function preparation process is executed according to the function execution history. As a result, the responsiveness when using the function can be improved.

  In each of the above embodiments, the process executed by the information processing terminal 20 may be executed by the image forming apparatus 10. That is, the image forming apparatus 10 may have the functional configuration shown in FIG.

  In each of the above embodiments, the information processing terminal 20 or the image forming apparatus 10 is an example of an information processing apparatus. The function A is an example of a predetermined function. The function A execution unit 21a is an example of an execution unit. The system unit 222 is an example of a reading unit. The function management unit 224 is an example of a storage processing unit. The log storage unit 24 is an example of an execution history storage unit. The preparation condition is an example of a first condition. The end condition is an example of a second condition. The auxiliary storage device 203 is an example of a first storage unit. The memory 202 is an example of a second storage unit.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information processing system 10 Image forming apparatus 20 Information processing terminal 21 Function execution part 22 Platform part 21a Function A execution part 22b Function B execution part 221 Resource management part 222 System part 223 Function setting part 224 Function management part 23 Function information storage part 24 Log storage unit 201 CPU
202 Memory 203 Auxiliary Storage Device 204 Touch Panel 205 Wireless Communication Device 211 Display Device 212 Input Device

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-92318

Claims (16)

An information processing apparatus,
An execution unit that executes a part of the processing related to the predetermined function before the predetermined function of the information processing apparatus is used;
A reading unit that reads data used in the partial processing from the first storage unit to the second storage unit in response to execution of the partial processing;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The execution unit executes the part of processing at a timing when the first condition is satisfied.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. A storage processing unit that stores an execution history of the predetermined function in an execution history storage unit;
The execution unit executes the part of the processing when the information processing apparatus is activated according to the execution history stored in the execution history storage unit.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The execution unit releases data read by executing the partial processing at a timing when a second condition is satisfied, from the second storage unit,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The first storage unit is a nonvolatile storage unit,
The second storage unit is a volatile storage unit.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. An information processing system including an information processing terminal and an information processing apparatus having the information processing terminal as an operation unit,
An execution unit that executes a part of the processing related to the predetermined function before the predetermined function of the information processing system is used;
A reading unit that reads data used in the partial processing from the first storage unit to the second storage unit in response to execution of the partial processing;
An information processing system comprising: An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus,
An execution procedure for executing a part of processing related to the predetermined function before the predetermined function of the information processing apparatus is used;
A reading procedure for reading data used in the partial processing from the first storage unit to the second storage unit in response to execution of the partial processing;
An information processing method characterized by comprising: The execution procedure executes the part of the process at a timing when the first condition is satisfied.
The information processing method according to claim 7. A storage procedure for storing an execution history of the predetermined function in an execution history storage unit;
The execution procedure executes the part of the processing when the information processing apparatus is activated in accordance with the execution history stored in the execution history storage unit.
The information processing method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein The execution procedure releases data read by executing the partial processing from the second storage unit at a timing when a second condition is satisfied.
The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the information processing method is an information processing method. The first storage unit is a nonvolatile storage unit,
The second storage unit is a volatile storage unit.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 10. In the information processing device,
An execution procedure for executing a part of processing related to the predetermined function before the predetermined function of the information processing apparatus is used;
A reading procedure for reading data used in the partial processing from the first storage unit to the second storage unit in response to execution of the partial processing;
A program characterized by having executed. The execution procedure executes the part of the process at a timing when the first condition is satisfied.
The program according to claim 12, wherein: Causing the information processing apparatus to execute a storage procedure for storing an execution history of the predetermined function in an execution history storage unit;
The execution procedure executes the part of the processing when the information processing apparatus is activated in accordance with the execution history stored in the execution history storage unit.
14. The program according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that: The execution procedure releases data read by executing the partial processing from the second storage unit at a timing when a second condition is satisfied.
15. The program according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that: The first storage unit is a nonvolatile storage unit,
The second storage unit is a volatile storage unit.
16. The program according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein:

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