JP2020076835A - Image processing device, information processing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable the specification of a failure part of hardware that has been an occurrence factor of an error, and to quickly cancel a print job if the error that occurs is an error which cannot continue.SOLUTION: An image processing device includes control means for causing a print job wait while failure diagnostic processing for specifying a failure part is executed in the case that an error that can continue processing occurs, and canceling the print job in the case that an error that cannot continue the processing occurs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing device, an information processing method, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, information processing devices such as multi-function peripherals have become complicated, and various kinds of hardware have been installed to realize their functions.
When an error occurs in a certain hardware, by displaying the error code according to the error that occurred, the service person or user searches for the corrective action according to the error code and takes corrective action for error recovery. ing.
Patent Document 1 discloses that even when overcurrent is detected, the printing process can be interrupted and further restarted if a temporary malfunction that is not a malfunction occurs in the stapler. .

JP, 2005-205769, A

  In the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1, printing is interrupted at the time when the stapler really fails, but other printing is on standby, and the job is canceled after the failure is detected. It was late to notice the cancellation of the print job.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when an error that can continue processing occurs, while a failure diagnosis process that identifies a failure point is executed, a print job is waited, and an error that cannot continue processing occurs And a control unit for canceling the print job.

  According to the present invention, a print job can be immediately canceled when the generated error is an error that cannot be continued.

It is a figure showing an example of a system configuration of an information processing system. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a compound machine. It is a figure which shows the detail of hardware constitutions, such as a controller unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of a multifunction machine. It is a figure which shows an example of a unit code. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of print processing. It is a figure which shows an example which displayed the error code and the unit code. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image printing processing. It is a flow chart which shows an example of failure diagnosis processing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of job execution determination processing. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of a print job when an error occurs. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of print restart processing.

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

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of an information processing system. A PC 110 and a multifunction peripheral 120 are connected to the network 100. Print data is transmitted from the PC 110 to the multi function peripheral 120, and is transmitted via the network 100. The multi-function peripheral 120 is a device that realizes a plurality of types of functions, such as copying and FAX. In addition, the multi function peripheral 120 has a function of internally holding a history of execution of these functions and a function of holding occurrence of an error or alarm. A detailed description of the multifunction machine 120 will be given later.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the multifunction peripheral 120. The multifunction machine 120 includes an information processing controller unit 201, a printer controller unit 202, a scanner controller unit 203, a printer 204, a scanner 205, and an operation unit 206. The information processing controller unit 201 is a controller that controls information processing related to the operation of the multi function peripheral 120, and is connected to the operation unit 206. Further, the information processing controller unit 201 is connected to a printer controller unit 202 which controls a printer 204 which is an image output device and a scanner controller unit 203 which controls a scanner 205 which is an image input device.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details of hardware configurations of the information processing controller unit 201 and the printer controller unit 202. The information processing controller unit 201 has a CPU 301. The CPU 301 activates the OS by the boot program stored in the ROM 302. The ROM 302 is composed of a flash memory such as eMMC and its controller, and stores the control program of the CPU 301. The CPU 301 executes an application program stored in the ROM 302 or the HDD 304 on this OS, thereby executing various processes. The RAM 303 is used as a work area of the CPU 301. The RAM 303 also provides a work area and an image memory area for temporarily storing image data. The ROM 302 or the HDD 304 stores application programs, image data, and various setting values. The HDD 304 may not be installed.

An operation unit I / F 306, a device controller I / F 308, a network 305, and an image processing unit 307 are connected to the CPU 301 via the system bus 309, together with the ROM 302 and the RAM 303. The operation unit I / F 306 is an interface with the operation unit 206 having a touch panel, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 206 to the operation unit 206. Further, the operation unit I / F 306 sends the information input by the user through the operation unit 206 to the CPU 301. A scanner controller unit 203 and a printer controller unit 202 are connected to the device controller I / F 308, and the device controller I / F 308 performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The Network 305 is connected to the network 100 and inputs / outputs information from / to each device on the network 100 via the network 100. The image processing unit 307 performs output image processing to the printer 204, input image processing from the scanner 205, image rotation, image compression, resolution conversion, color space conversion, gradation conversion, and the like. The printer controller unit 202 is connected to a printer 204 having an electrophotographic printer engine, for example. Here, the engine control unit 313 controls the printer engine to print according to the image data received from the information processing controller unit 201 via the device controller I / F 308.
The printer controller unit 202 has a CPU 310, which executes a program stored in the ROM 311 and uses the RAM 312 as a work memory to control the printer 204.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a software configuration of the multifunction device firmware 400 operating on the multifunction device 120 and a software configuration of the printer controller unit firmware 407. The multifunction device firmware 400 is stored in any one of the storage means of the ROM 302, the RAM 303, and the HDD 304, and is executed by the CPU 301. The job control module 401 is connected to the network 100 via the network 305, accepts jobs such as printing according to a specific communication protocol, and executes jobs such as copying, printing, and scanning. At that time, the job control module 401 stores the job execution history in the job execution history DB 402. In addition, the job control module 401 returns data regarding a job in response to an inquiry from another module, receives an event subscription request, and transmits an event at the timing of job status change or the like. For example, the job control module 401 transmits an event at the timing of starting, temporarily stopping, or ending a job. The job execution history DB 402 stores job execution history. The job execution history includes information related to job execution, such as execution start date / time, execution end date / time, number of fed sheets, number of ejected sheets, and presence / absence of stapling, but may include other contents. The job execution history stored in the job execution history DB 402 is stored in the HDD 304. The operation unit control module 403 accepts a user operation from the operation unit 206 via the operation unit I / F 306 to instruct execution of a job such as copying or scanning, and notifies the job control module 401 of the operation.

The device controller I / F control module 404 is a module that receives image data to be processed and control contents from the job control module 401 and controls the printer controller unit 202 and the scanner controller unit 203. The device controller I / F control module 404 also receives, from the printer controller unit 202 and the scanner controller unit 203, usage information, sensor values, and failure information of parts installed in the printer 204 and the scanner 205.
The status management module 405 is a module that manages the status of the multi-function peripheral 120, and has a role of managing the error code and alarm code notified from the printer 204 and the scanner 205 connected to the multi-function peripheral 120, for example. The status management module 405 records in the status management DB 406 information regarding errors and alarms notified from the job control module 401 and the like. When an error occurs in the information processing controller unit 201, the printer controller unit 202, or the scanner controller unit 203, the unit code calculated by the failure diagnosis processing module 409 is also recorded in the state management DB 406. In addition, the state management module 405 is in a state in which when some hardware such as the printer 204 and the scanner 205 cannot operate due to a failure or the like, some problem hardware is stopped and only other functions are used. It also manages the degenerate state.

The printer controller unit firmware 407 is stored in any one of the storage means of the ROM 311 and the RAM 312, and is executed by the CPU 310.
The execution processing module 408 executes print processing based on the print processing request from the device controller I / F control module 404. When an error occurs in the print processing, the execution processing module 408 requests the failure diagnosis processing module 409 to execute failure diagnosis.
The failure diagnosis processing module 409 executes the failure diagnosis processing based on the error code generated when the execution processing module 408 executes the printing processing. Further, the failure diagnosis processing module 409 is a module having a role of identifying a failure point that has caused an error as a result of the failure diagnosis and calculating a unit code including a treatment method that is a method of restoring the failure point. The error code is an example of error information including the type of error.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the unit code.
Reference numeral 501 in FIG. 5 is a unit code. The unit code is information composed of a failure location identified by execution of the failure diagnosis program, a treatment method for recovering from the failure, and the like. The unit code is an example of failure location information including failure location information and the like.
Next, a process executed in the information processing controller unit 201 in the case where an error occurs in the printer 204 during the execution of the print process after the print process is started in the multifunction peripheral 120 and the failure diagnosis is executed. Will be described with reference to FIG. The program according to the procedure shown in this flowchart is stored in any of the storage means of the RAM 303, the ROM 302, and the HDD 304 of the information processing controller unit, and is executed by the CPU 301. Further, this flow represents the print processing when the job control module 401 receives a print instruction from the operation unit I / F 306.
In step S <b> 601, the job control module 401 executes, on the image processing unit 307, conversion processing from print data described in PDL (Page Description Language) or the like into image data in a format interpretable by the printer 204.

In step S602, the job control module 401 requests the device controller I / F control module 404 to print an image. The device controller I / F control module 404 requests the printer controller unit 202 to print an image. Subsequent processing in the printer controller unit 202 will be described later with reference to FIG. At the end of S602, error information indicating that the processing result is normal or abnormal is returned. In this embodiment, error information is defined and used as an error code.
In step S603, the job control module 401 determines whether the job can be continued after the error based on the result of step S602. Here, if no error has occurred, the job control module 401 ends the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.
In step S604, the job control module 401 determines whether an error has occurred based on the result of step S602. If the job control module 401 determines that an error has occurred, the process advances to step S605. If it is determined that no error has occurred, the job control module 401 ends the process of the flowchart illustrated in FIG.
In step S605, the job control module 401 acquires the unit code from the printer controller unit 202 via the device controller I / F control module 404. Alternatively, the job control module 401 may have the printer controller unit 202 return the unit code together with the error code as a result of S602.
In step S606, the job control module 401 notifies the operation unit control module 403 that an error has occurred.
In S607, the operation unit control module 403 displays the error code and the unit code on the operation unit 206 (see FIG. 7).

Next, processing in the printer controller unit 202 after the device controller I / F control module 404 requests the printer controller unit 202 to print an image in S602 will be described with reference to FIG. The program according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is stored in any one of the RAM 312 and the ROM 311 of the printer controller unit 202, and is executed by the CPU 310.
In step S801, the execution processing module 408 requests the printer 204 for print processing.
In step S802, the execution processing module 408 determines whether an error has occurred. If the execution processing module 408 determines that an error has occurred in the print processing, the execution processing module 408 proceeds to step S803, and if it determines that no error has occurred in the print processing, the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 ends.
In step S803, the execution processing module 408 requests the failure diagnosis processing module 409 for failure diagnosis processing. More specific processing of the failure diagnosis processing will be described later with reference to FIG.
In step S804, the execution processing module 408 notifies the job control module 401 of the error status via the device controller I / F control module 404.

Next, the processing when the failure diagnosis processing module 409 is requested by the execution processing module for the failure diagnosis processing in step S803 will be described with reference to FIG. A program according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is stored in any one of the RAM 312 and the ROM 311 of the printer controller unit 202, and is executed by the CPU 310.
In S901, the failure diagnosis processing module 409 identifies the corresponding failure diagnosis program based on the error code generated in S801.
In step S902, the failure diagnosis processing module 409 notifies the device controller I / F control module 404 of the start of failure diagnosis.
In S903, the failure diagnosis processing module 409 executes the failure diagnosis processing using the program identified in S901. In the failure diagnosis in S903, the unit of the error occurrence factor related to the error code is specified, and the treatment method for recovering the error is determined. The failure diagnosis processing module 409 generates the unit code shown in FIG. 5 based on the determined error occurrence factor unit and the determined treatment method. As a result of the failure diagnosis, when a plurality of units have failed, or when the cause of the failure cannot be identified as one, the failure diagnosis processing module 409 may generate a plurality of unit codes.
In step S904, the failure diagnosis processing module 409 notifies the job control module 401 of the failure diagnosis notification via the device controller I / F control module 404.

Next, the processing when the execution processing module 408 notifies the device controller I / F control module 404 of an error in S803 will be described with reference to FIGS. The program according to the procedure shown in this flowchart is stored in any one of the RAM 303, the ROM 302, and the HDD 304 of the information processing controller unit, and is executed by the CPU 301.
In step S1001, the device controller I / F control module 404 determines whether the error code is notified from the printer controller unit 202. If the device controller I / F control module 404 determines that the error code is notified, the process proceeds to step S1002, and if it is determined that the error code is not notified, the process of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 10 ends.
In step S1002, the device controller I / F control module 404 determines from the notified error code whether the error is an unexecutable error. The unexecutable error is an error in which the printer controller unit 202 cannot continue the printing operation. For example, the fixing device in the printer 204 may be out of order. The non-executable error means an error in which the printer controller unit 202 can continue the printing operation. For example, this is the case when one of the plurality of paper feed cassettes in the printer 204 fails. The device controller I / F control module 404 proceeds to S1004 if it is determined to be an unexecutable error, and proceeds to S1003 if it is determined not to be an unexecutable error.
In step S1003, the device controller I / F control module 404 waits for a print job.
In step S1004, the device controller I / F control module 404 disconnects and closes the print port in the network 100.
In step S1005, the device controller I / F control module 404 cancels the print job.

Next, FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining how the print job in execution and in standby is operated by the processing of FIG. In the print job state 1101, it is assumed that job 1 is executing print processing for n print jobs and job 2 is waiting for print processing for m print jobs. A case where an error occurs on the 10th sheet during printing of job 1 will be described.
In the case of the error 1102 that can be continued, when the error occurs, the job 1 is interrupted at the 10th sheet, the printing is waited until the failure diagnosis is completed and the error is resolved (1104).
In the case of the error 1103 that cannot be continued, when the error occurs, the print jobs for the tenth and subsequent sheets of job 1 are canceled (1105).

Next, with reference to FIG. 12, a print restart process when a print job is in a standby state from the execution processing module to the device controller I / F control module 404 in S1003 will be described. The program according to the procedure shown in this flowchart is stored in any of the storage means of the RAM 303, the ROM 302, and the HDD 304 of the information processing controller unit, and is executed by the CPU 301.
In step S1201, the device controller I / F control module 404 determines whether the error has been resolved based on the information notified from the printer controller unit 202. If the device controller I / F control module 404 determines that the error has been resolved, the process advances to step S1202, and if it is determined that the error has not been resolved, the process of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 12 ends.
In step S1202, the device controller I / F control module 404 determines whether there is a print job waiting. If the device controller I / F control module 404 determines that there is a waiting print job, the process advances to step S1203. If it is determined that there is no waiting print job, the process of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 12 ends.
In step S1203, the device controller I / F control module 404 restarts the print job.

  When an error occurs in the printer controller unit 202 by the above processing, the failure diagnosis processing is executed to generate a unit code including a unit which is a failure point and a coping method for recovering from the error state, and an operation unit. It can be displayed at 206. Furthermore, if the error that has occurred is an error that cannot be continued, the print job can be canceled immediately when the error occurs, and it is possible to prevent unnecessary print jobs from being input.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium. Then, it can be realized by a process in which one or more processors in the computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  Although an example of the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment.

201 information processing controller unit 202 printer controller unit 301 CPU
310 CPU

Claims (7)

  When an error capable of continuing the process occurs, a print job is put on standby while the failure diagnosis process for identifying the faulty part is being executed, and when an error that the process cannot be continued occurs, the print job is canceled. Image processing apparatus having means.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit disconnects the print port when an error occurs in which the process cannot be continued.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays error information and failure location information that is a result of the failure diagnosis processing.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the failure diagnosis processing is executed based on the error information.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit restarts the print job when the error is resolved and there is a print job waiting. An information processing method executed by an image processing device, comprising:
When an error capable of continuing processing occurs, a step of holding a print job while a failure diagnosis process for identifying a failure point is being executed,
Canceling the print job when an error occurs that cannot continue processing,
Information processing method including.   A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

Images