JP2022013131A - Electronic apparatus and firmware - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus and firmware that can improve customization properties related to collection of logs.SOLUTION: When a standard device management system as a log collection system is connected with an image forming apparatus 20, a log transmission unit of the image forming apparatus 20 transmits, to the standard device management system, logs that are created by using a setting value managed by a setting value management unit, and when an extended device management system as a log collection system is connected with the image forming apparatus 20, the log transmission unit transmits, to the extended device management system, logs that are created by using a setting value managed by a setting value management service that is an extended service for providing functions other than standard functions of the image forming apparatus 20. A program for the log transmission unit and a program for the setting value management unit are included in firmware 29b of the image forming apparatus 20, and a setting value management program 29g for the setting value management service is not included in the firmware 29b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device and firmware for transmitting logs to a log collection system that collects logs.

As a conventional electronic device, a standard application that realizes the standard functions of the image forming apparatus, an extended application that realizes functions other than the standard functions of the image forming apparatus, and a standard application without using the standard application. An image forming apparatus including an extended function service that provides an extended function of an extended function of a standard function of the image forming apparatus to an extended application is known (see Patent Document 1).

International Publication No. 2015/182303

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, since the program for managing the setting value for log generation is included in the firmware of the image forming apparatus, the firmware is updated in order to be customized for log collection. There is a problem that the customizability regarding log collection is poor.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device and firmware that can improve the customizability of log collection.

The electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device that transmits logs to a log collection system that collects logs, and includes a log transmission unit that transmits logs and a setting value management unit that manages setting values for log generation. , An extended service that provides functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device, and includes a setting value management service that manages setting values for log generation. When the first log collection system as the collection system is connected, the log generated by using the setting value managed by the setting value management unit is transmitted to the first log collection system, and the above is described. When the second log collection system as the log collection system is connected to the electronic device, the log generated by using the setting value managed by the setting value management service is used as the second log collection system. The program for the log transmission unit and the program for the setting value management unit are included in the firmware of the electronic device, and the program for the extended service is not included in the firmware. It is characterized by.

With this configuration, in the electronic device of the present invention, the firmware of the electronic device includes a program for the setting value management unit that manages the setting value for generating the log for the first log collection system, while the first one. Since the program for the setting value management service that manages the setting values for log generation for the log collection system of 2 is a program different from the firmware, even if the firmware is not updated, it is for the setting value management service. Only the program is updated and can be customized for log collection. That is, the electronic device of the present invention can improve the customizability of log collection.

The firmware of the present invention is the firmware of an electronic device that transmits logs to a log collection system that collects logs, and is a program for a log transmitter that transmits logs and a setting that manages setting values for log generation. The log transmission unit includes a program for the value management unit, and the log transmission unit is a setting managed by the setting value management unit when the first log collection system as the log collection system is connected to the electronic device. The log generated using the value is sent to the first log collection system, and the standard of the electronic device when the second log collection system as the log collection system is connected to the electronic device. The second log collection is a log generated by using the setting value managed by the setting value management service that manages the setting value for log generation, which is an extended service that provides functions other than the function of. Transmitted to the system, the firmware is characterized by not including a program for the extended service.

With this configuration, the electronic device that executes the firmware of the present invention includes a program for the setting value management unit that manages the setting value for generating the log for the first log collection system in the firmware of the electronic device. On the other hand, since the program for the setting value management service that manages the setting value for generating the log for the second log collection system is a program different from the firmware, the setting value is set even if the firmware is not updated. Only the program for the management service is updated and can be customized for log collection. That is, the electronic device that executes the firmware of the present invention can improve the customizability of log collection.

The electronic device and firmware of the present invention can improve the customizability regarding log collection.

It is a block diagram of the system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the hardware of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in the case of an MFP. It is a block diagram of the control configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the device management system shown in FIG. 1 in the case of being configured by one computer. It is a flowchart of the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2 when the setting value management program is installed. It is a flowchart of the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2 in the case of detecting the connected device management system. It is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2 when the image forming apparatus transmits a log to a device management system.

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

First, the configuration of the system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 includes an image forming apparatus 20 as an electronic device. The image forming apparatus 20 is composed of, for example, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) and a printer-dedicated machine. The system 10 can include at least one image forming apparatus having the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 20 in addition to the image forming apparatus 20.

The system 10 includes a device management system 40 as a log collecting system for collecting logs of an image forming apparatus. The device management system 40 may be configured by one computer or may be configured by a plurality of computers. The system 10 can include at least one device management system having the same configuration as the device management system 40, in addition to the device management system 40.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the hardware of the image forming apparatus 20 in the case of an MFP.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 20 includes an operation unit 21 which is an operation device such as a button into which various operations are input, and a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Disk Play) which displays various information. The display unit 22 is an image processing device such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) that executes various image processing such as enlargement, reduction, density adjustment, gradation adjustment, and image improvement on the image data. Via a network such as an image processing unit 23, a printer 24 which is a printing device for printing an image on a recording medium such as paper, a scanner 25 which is a reading device for reading an image from a document, a LAN (Local Area Network), and the Internet. , Or via a network communication unit 26, which is a communication device that directly communicates with an external device by wire or wirelessly without going through a network, and a communication line such as an external facsimile machine and a public telephone line (not shown). A fax communication unit 27 that is a fax device that performs fax communication, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port 28, and a storage that is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various information. A unit 29 and a control unit 30 that controls the entire image forming apparatus 20 are provided.

The storage unit 29 stores a program (hereinafter referred to as “general-purpose OS program”) 29a for a general-purpose OS (Operating System) such as Linux (registered trademark) for controlling each hardware of the image forming apparatus 20. ing. The general-purpose OS program 29a may be installed in the image forming apparatus 20 at the manufacturing stage of the image forming apparatus 20, for example, or may be externally stored in an external storage such as a CD (Compact Disk), a DVD (Digital Versaille Disk), or a USB memory. It may be additionally installed in the image forming apparatus 20 from the medium, or may be additionally installed in the image forming apparatus 20 from the network.

The storage unit 29 stores the firmware 29b of the image forming apparatus 20. The firmware 29b may be installed in the image forming apparatus 20 at the manufacturing stage of the image forming apparatus 20, or may be additionally installed in the image forming apparatus 20 from an external storage medium such as a CD, DVD, or USB memory. Alternatively, it may be additionally installed on the image forming apparatus 20 from the network.

The storage unit 29 stores an extension program 29c, which is a program for realizing a function other than the standard function of the image forming apparatus 20. The expansion program 29c may be installed in the image forming apparatus 20 at the manufacturing stage of the image forming apparatus 20, or may be additionally installed in the image forming apparatus 20 from an external storage medium such as a CD, DVD, or USB memory. It may be additionally installed in the image forming apparatus 20 from the network.

The storage unit 29 stores a program for an extended application (hereinafter referred to as an “extended application program”) 29d, which is an application that realizes a function other than the standard function of the image forming apparatus 20. The storage unit 29 can store the program for the extended application for each extended application. The program for the extended application may be installed in the image forming apparatus 20 at the manufacturing stage of the image forming apparatus 20, or may be additionally installed in the image forming apparatus 20 from an external storage medium such as a CD, DVD, or USB memory. It may be additionally installed in the image forming apparatus 20 from the network.

The storage unit 29 is a program for an extended service that provides a service that uses a general-purpose OS to an extended application without using a standard application that is an application that realizes the standard functions of the image forming apparatus 20 (hereinafter, “program for extended service”). I remember 29e. The storage unit 29 can store the extended service program for each extended service. For example, as the extended service program, the log generation program 29f for the log generation service described later, which is an extended service for generating the log of the image forming apparatus 20, and the setting value for generating the log of the image forming apparatus 20. The setting value management program 29g for the setting value management service described later, which is an extended service for managing the device, the communication program 29h for the communication service described later, which is an extended service for communicating with the device management system, and the device management system. This is an extended service for installing the system detection program 29i for the system detection service described later, which is an extended service for detecting the above, the log generation program 29f, the setting value management program 29g, the communication program 29h, and the system detection program 29i. There is an installation program 29j for the installation service. The extended service program may be installed in the image forming apparatus 20 at the manufacturing stage of the image forming apparatus 20, or may be additionally installed in the image forming apparatus 20 from an external storage medium such as a CD, DVD, or USB memory. It may be additionally installed in the image forming apparatus 20 from the network.

The control unit 30 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a memory used as a work area of the CPU. It is equipped with. The CPU executes a program stored in the storage unit 29 or the ROM.

The control unit 30 realizes the control configuration shown in FIG. 3 by executing the program stored in the storage unit 29 or the ROM.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control configuration of the image forming apparatus 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 30 realizes the general-purpose OS 110 by executing the general-purpose OS program 29a (see FIG. 2).

The control unit 30 operates on the general-purpose OS 110 to provide a service related to image processing, an image processing service 121, operates on the general-purpose OS 110 and provides a service related to communication via a network, and a general-purpose network communication service 122. A device operation service 123 that operates on the OS 110 and provides a service for operating each hardware of the image forming apparatus 20 is realized by executing firmware 29b (see FIG. 2). The image processing service 121, the network communication service 122, and the device operation service 123 each control each hardware of the image forming apparatus 20 via the general-purpose OS 110.

The image processing service 121 stores, for example, image data read from a document by setting a resolution and a color with a scanner 25 in a storage unit 29, and stores the image data stored in the storage unit 29 in an image processing unit 23. You may provide a service to process. The image processing service 121 may provide a service for drawing image data to be printed by the printer 24 based on a file. The image processing service 121 enlarges, reduces, rotates, converts colors, and noises the image data acquired from the extended application, the image data read from the original by the scanner 25, or the image data stored in the storage unit 29. Services may be provided that perform image processing such as removal, format conversion, character recognition, and watermark recognition.

The network communication service 122 uses various protocols such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) to send / receive files, stream, and send / receive authentication data via the network communication unit 26. You may provide a service to execute. For example, the network communication service 122 can also send and receive image data read from a document by a scanner 25 and a file stored in a storage unit 29. The network communication service 122 is a user when the image forming apparatus 20 has a user authentication unit that authenticates the user by transmitting / receiving image data facsimile-transmitted / received by the fax communication unit 27, an IC (Integrated Circuit) card, or biometric authentication. It is also possible to send and receive the result of user authentication by the authentication unit, and to send and receive video data generated by the camera when the image forming apparatus 20 has a camera. Further, the network communication service 122 can also transmit and receive the state of each part of the image forming apparatus 20, the result of calling the function of each part, and the like.

The device operation service 123 provides a service that executes processing such as drawing on the display unit 22, driving the printer 24, controlling the fax communication unit 27, user authentication, and acquiring the status of each hardware of the image forming apparatus 20. May be. The device operation service 123 may provide, for example, a service of storing image data read from a document by a scanner 25 in a storage unit 29, or a service of drawing an image on a browser displayed on the display unit 22. Alternatively, a service of transmitting image data to the printer 24 to form an image may be provided, or a service of facsimile transmission of image data stored in a storage unit 29 by a fax communication unit 27 may be provided. May be. When the image forming apparatus 20 has an optional device such as a finisher, the device operation service 123 may provide a service for causing the optional device to perform processing such as bookbinding or staples, or may provide an IC card or biometric authentication. If the image forming apparatus 20 has a user authentication unit that authenticates the user, a service may be provided to cause the user authentication unit to execute the user authentication, or if the image forming apparatus 20 has a camera, the camera may be provided. May provide a service that causes the camera to generate video data, or calls each function such as line-of-sight detection based on the video data generated by the camera. The device operation service 123 may provide a service that executes detailed control of each hardware of the image forming apparatus 20, for example, driving one of the motors of the transport unit of the printer 24. The device operation service 123 may provide a service for acquiring the state of each part of the image forming apparatus 20.

The control unit 30 realizes the platform service IF unit 130 that provides an interface for calling the image processing service 121, the network communication service 122, and the device operation service 123 by executing the firmware 29b. The platform service IF unit 130 includes a log transmission unit 131 that transmits the log of the image forming apparatus 20 to the device management system, a log generation unit 132 that generates the log of the image forming apparatus 20, and a log generation unit 132 of the image forming apparatus 20. It includes a setting value management unit 133 that manages the setting value for the purpose, and a communication unit 134 that communicates with the device management system.

The control unit 30 realizes a standard application by executing the firmware 29b. The standard application operates on the platform service IF unit 130 and uses each hardware of the image forming apparatus 20. For example, the control unit 30 has a copy application 141, which is a standard application that realizes a copy in which an image is read from a document by a scanner 25 in response to an instruction input to an operation unit 21 and the read image is printed by a printer 24. The printer application 142, which is a standard application for printing an image based on data such as data described by, for example, PDL (Page Description Language) received by the network communication unit 26, by the printer 24, and an instruction input to the operation unit 21. The fax application 143, which is a standard application that reads an image from the manuscript by the scanner 25 and sends the read image by the fax communication unit 27, and the image from the manuscript by the scanner 25 according to the instruction input to the operation unit 21. Is read, and a transmission application 144 that transmits the read image by the network communication unit 26 is realized. The printer application 142 may print an image based on a file stored in the storage unit 29 by the printer 24 in response to an instruction input to the operation unit 21. The FAX application 143 transmits an image based on the file received by the network communication unit 26 by the fax communication unit 27, prints the image received by the fax communication unit 27 by the printer 24, and receives the image by the fax communication unit 27. The image may be stored in the storage unit 29.

The control unit 30 realizes the general-purpose OS service platform 150 that provides a service that uses the general-purpose OS 110 without going through the platform service IF unit 130 by executing the extension program 29c (see FIG. 2). The general-purpose OS service platform 150 may provide a service for adding a function to the general-purpose OS 110, such as installing a control program such as a device driver or a script on the general-purpose OS 110.

The control unit 30 realizes the extended application service IF unit 160 that provides an interface for using the platform service IF unit 130 from the extended application side by executing the extension program 29c.

The control unit 30 realizes the standard function service 170, which is a service that provides the standard function of the image forming apparatus 20 to the extended application by using the standard application, by executing the extension program 29c. The standard function service 170 uses the standard application via the extended application service IF unit 160. For example, the extended application can display the screen of the start of copying by the copy application 141 on the display unit 22 by using the standard function service 170. Further, by using the standard function service 170, the extended application can print various job data and files acquired by the extended application itself or specified via the operation unit 21 on the printer application 142. .. Further, by using the standard function service 170, the extended application can acquire the image data specified via the operation unit 21 among the facsimile image data received by the FAX application 143, or can use the operation unit 21. It is possible to send the specified file or the like to the FAX application 143 via the fax application 143.

The control unit 30 realizes an extended service, which is a service that provides functions other than the standard functions of the image forming apparatus 20, by executing an extended service program (see FIG. 2). For example, the control unit 30 is a service that uses the platform service IF unit 130 via the extended application service IF unit 160 without using the standard application, or uses the general-purpose OS 110 by using the general-purpose OS service platform 150. An extended function service 181 that is an extended service that provides the extended application, and an extended service that provides the extended application a service that uses the general-purpose OS 110 by using the general-purpose OS service platform 150 without using the platform service IF unit 130. Realize a certain back-end service 182. The control unit 30 can realize at least one extended function service other than the extended function service 181. The control unit 30 can realize at least one back-end service other than the back-end service 182.

The extended function service is a service that provides an extended function of the standard function of the image forming apparatus 20 to the extended application. As the extended function service, for example, a log generation service realized by executing the log generation program 29f, a setting value management service realized by executing the setting value management program 29g, and a communication program 29h are executed. There is a communication service to be realized and an installation service to be realized by executing the installation program 29j.

A backend service is a service that runs on the backend. The back-end service is a service that provides functions other than the functions of the extension of the standard functions of the image forming apparatus 20 among the functions other than the standard functions of the image forming apparatus 20. The back-end service includes, for example, a system detection service realized by executing the system detection program 29i, a service that provides a function for monitoring the image forming apparatus 20, and monitoring the entire system composed of a plurality of image forming apparatus. A human understands the collected information by collecting information from the image forming apparatus 20 such as a service that provides a function, a service that provides a function of monitoring a specific server, and a counter indicating the number of printed sheets of the image forming apparatus 20. There is a service that provides a function of converting information into a format that can be used, and a service that provides a function of converting the format of information output from the image forming apparatus 20 from the format of an old interface to the format of a new interface.

The control unit 30 realizes the extended service management unit 190 that executes the management of the extended service such as starting, starting, and stopping the extended service by executing the extension program 29c. The extended service management unit 190 monitors the status of the extended service and the general-purpose OS service infrastructure 150.

The control unit 30 realizes the extended application management unit 200 that executes the management of the extended application such as starting, starting and stopping the extended application by executing the extension program 29c.

The control unit 30 realizes the extended application 210 by executing the extended application program 29d (see FIG. 2). The control unit 30 can realize at least one extended application other than the extended application 210. An extended application is an application that is directly used by the user and has a user interface. The user can use the functions provided by this extended application by operating the user interface of the extended application. For example, as an extended application, OCR (Optical Character Recognition), surveillance camera application, water mark creation, invoice creation, employee list management, slip management, contract management, business card management, PDF creation, book management, group management, etc. It may be a practical application, an installer application that adds or changes a device driver or firmware on a general-purpose OS 110, or another management application. The extended application can call the standard function service 170 and use the general-purpose OS 110 by using the standard application, call the extended service and use the general-purpose OS 110 without using the standard application, or directly use the general-purpose OS service platform 150. It is possible to call and use the general-purpose OS 110.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the device management system 40 in the case of being configured by one computer.

As shown in FIG. 4, the device management system 40 includes an operation unit 41, which is an operation device such as a button into which various operations are input, and a display unit 42, which is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information. A communication unit 43, which is a communication device that directly communicates with an external device via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly by wire or wirelessly without a network, and a semiconductor memory that stores various information, for example. , A storage unit 44 which is a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD, and a control unit 45 which controls the entire device management system 40.

The storage unit 44 can store the log 44a of the image forming apparatus. The storage unit 44 can store logs for each image forming apparatus. The logs include, for example, a "Status page" indicating a simple status of the image forming apparatus, a "Service status page" indicating the detailed status of the image forming apparatus, and a "Network status" indicating the network status of the image forming apparatus. "Page", "Maintenance report" showing the detailed status of the image forming device for the service person, "Event log" showing the event that occurred in the image forming device, and "Job" showing the job that occurred in the image forming device. There are a "log", a "Fax Report" which is a FAX report in the image forming apparatus, and a "Debug log" which is a debugging log in the image forming apparatus.

The control unit 45 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM for storing programs and various data, and a RAM as a memory used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the storage unit 44 or the ROM.

The control unit 45 can provide services such as preventive maintenance to the user of the image forming apparatus based on the log stored in the storage unit 44. The service person can perform maintenance of the image forming apparatus after confirming the log stored in the storage unit 44.

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

First, the operation of the image forming apparatus 20 when the setting value management program 29g is installed will be described.

When a user such as an administrator of the image forming apparatus 20 desires to install the setting value management program 29g on the image forming apparatus 20, the setting value management program desired to be installed on the image forming apparatus 20 is installed in the USB memory. After the storage, the USB memory can be attached to the USB port 28 of the image forming apparatus 20.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the image forming apparatus 20 when the set value management program 29g is installed.

The extended service management unit 190 of the image forming apparatus 20 starts the installation service when the USB memory is attached to the USB port 28 of the image forming apparatus 20. When the installation service is started, it executes the operation shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the installation service determines whether or not the set value management program is stored in the USB memory attached to the USB port 28 (S301). Here, the installation service accesses the USB memory via the extended application service IF unit 160, the platform service IF unit 130, the device operation service 123, the general-purpose OS 110, and the USB port 28 in this order.

When the installation service determines in S301 that the setting value management program is stored in the USB memory attached to the USB port 28, the setting value management program stored in the USB memory is stored as the setting value management program 29g. It is installed in the area for the extended function service of 29 (S302). Here, the installation service accesses the storage unit 29 via the extended application service IF unit 160, the platform service IF unit 130, the device operation service 123, and the general-purpose OS 110 in this order.

When the installation service determines in S301 that the set value management program is not stored in the USB memory attached to the USB port 28, or when the processing of S302 is completed, the operation shown in FIG. 5 is terminated.

In the above, the operation of the image forming apparatus 20 when the setting value management program 29g is installed is described. However, the same applies to the operation of the image forming apparatus 20 when the log generation program 29f, the communication program 29h, or the system detection program 29i is installed.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 20 when detecting the connected device management system will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the image forming apparatus 20 when detecting a connected device management system.

As shown in FIG. 6, the system detection service realized by the control unit 30 executing the system detection program 29i determines whether or not a specific timing has been reached until it is determined that the specific timing has been reached. (S321). Here, the specific timing is, for example, a periodic timing.

When the system detection service determines in S321 that a specific timing has been reached, it detects the device management system connected to the image forming apparatus 20 (S322). Here, the system detection service accesses the device management system via the extended application service IF unit 160, the platform service IF unit 130, the network communication service 122, the general-purpose OS 110, and the network communication unit 26 in this order. Then, when the device management system receives a reply, the system detection service determines that the image forming apparatus 20 is connected to the device management system.

After the processing of S322, the system detection service transfers the device management system identification information (hereinafter referred to as "system identification information") such as the system name and location of the device management system detected in S322 via the extended application service IF unit 160. Notifies the log transmission unit 131 (S323), and executes the process of S321.

Next, the operation of the system 10 when the image forming apparatus 20 transmits a log to the device management system will be described.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the system 10 when the image forming apparatus 20 transmits a log to the device management system.

As shown in FIG. 7, the log transmission unit 131 is a device management system in which the device management system indicated by the latest system identification information notified in S323 is managed by the setting value management unit 133 (hereinafter, "" It is referred to as "standard device management system".) In the case of 41, the setting value managed by the setting value management unit 133 is acquired (S341).

When the log transmission unit 131 acquires the set value in S341, the log transmission unit 131 requests the log generation unit 132 to generate a log based on the set value acquired in S341 (S342).

When the log generation unit 132 generates a log in response to the request in S342, the log transmission unit 131 transmits the log generated by the log generation unit 132 to the standard device management system 41 by the communication unit 134 (S343). .. Here, the communication unit 134 accesses the standard device management system 41 via the network communication service 122, the general-purpose OS 110, and the network communication unit 26 in this order. When the standard device management system 41 receives a log from the image forming apparatus 20, the standard device management system 41 stores the received log.

The log transmission unit 131 is a device management system in which the device management system indicated by the latest system identification information notified in S323 is not the standard device management system 41, that is, the setting value is managed by the setting value management service 181a. (Hereinafter referred to as "extended device management system".) In the case of 42, the setting value managed by the setting value management service 181a is acquired via the extended application service IF unit 160 (S344). The setting value managed by the setting value management service 181a is different from the setting value managed by the setting value management unit 133, for example, the content of the collected log. The log transmission unit 131 inquires of the set value management service 181a to determine whether or not the device management system indicated by the latest system identification information notified in S323 is an extended device management system.

When the log transmission unit 131 acquires the set value in S344, the log transmission unit 131 requests the log generation service 181b to generate a log based on the set value acquired in S344 (S345).

When the log transmission unit 131 generates a log by the log generation service 181b in response to the request in S345, the log transmission unit 131 transmits the log generated by the log generation service 181b to the extended device management system 42 by the communication service 181c (S346). .. Here, the communication service 181c accesses the extended device management system 42 via the extended application service IF unit 160, the platform service IF unit 130, the network communication service 122, the general-purpose OS 110, and the network communication unit 26 in this order. When the extended device management system 42 receives the log from the image forming apparatus 20, the extended device management system 42 stores the received log.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 20 includes the program for the setting value management unit 133 that manages the setting value for generating the log for the standard device management system 41 in the firmware 29b, while being extended. Since the setting value management program 29g, which is a program for the setting value management service 181a that manages the setting value for generating the log for the device management system 42, is a program different from the firmware 29b, the firmware 29b is not updated. However, it is possible to customize the log collection only by updating the setting value management program 29g. That is, the image forming apparatus 20 can improve the customizability of collecting logs. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 20 executes the customization regarding the linkage with the device management system as compared with the configuration in which the firmware 29b of the image forming apparatus 20 needs to be updated in order to execute the customization regarding the linkage with the device management system. It is possible to shorten the development period of the software for this purpose.

In the image forming apparatus 20, since the system detection program 29i, which is a program for the system detection service that detects the device management system connected to the image forming apparatus 20, is a program different from the firmware 29b, the firmware 29 is not updated. Even so, the system detection program 29i can be customized with respect to log collection only by updating.

Since the setting value management program 29g of the image forming apparatus 20 is a program different from the firmware 29b of the image forming apparatus 20, the installation of the setting value management program 29g adversely affects the operation of the image forming apparatus 20. In this case, the operation of the image forming apparatus 20 can be easily normalized by deleting the set value management program 29g. Although the set value management program 29g is described, the same applies to the log generation program 29f, the communication program 29h, and the system detection program 29i.

The image forming apparatus 20 includes the log generation service 181b in the present embodiment, but does not include the log generation service 181b when the log for the extended device management system 42 is generated by the log generation unit 132. Is also good.

Since the image forming apparatus 20 includes the communication service 181c for communicating with the extended device management system 42 separately from the communication unit 134 for communicating with the standard device management system 41, the communication method with the extended device management system 42 is standard. Even if the communication method with the device management system 41 is different, it is possible to appropriately communicate with the extended device management system 42. However, when the communication method with the standard device management system 41 and the communication method with the extended device management system 42 are the same, the image forming apparatus 20 communicates with the extended device management system 42 by the communication unit 134. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the communication service 181c.

In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 20 installs this program when the USB memory in which the program for the extended service is stored is attached to the USB port 28. However, the image forming apparatus 20 may install the program for the extended service by another method. For example, the image forming apparatus 20 may install this program when a storage device other than the USB memory in which the program for the extended service is stored is connected.

Any plurality of programs in the present embodiment may be configured as one program. For example, the firmware 29b and the extension program 29c may be configured as one program. Further, at least two of the log generation program 29f, the setting value management program 29g, the communication program 29h, and the system detection program 29i may be configured as one program.

The electronic device of the present invention is an image forming apparatus in the present embodiment, but may be an electronic device other than the image forming apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer).

20 Image forming device (electronic device)
29b Firmware 29e Extended service program (Extended service program)
29f Setting value management program (program for extended service)
29g Communication program (program for extended service)
29h System detection program (program for extended service)
29i installation program (program for extended services)
40 Device management system (log collection system)
41 Standard device management system (log collection system, first log collection system)
42 Extended device management system (log collection system, second log collection system)
131 Log transmission unit 133 Setting value management unit 181a Setting value management service (extended service)

Claims (2)

An electronic device that sends logs to a log collection system that collects logs.
A log transmitter that sends logs, and
The setting value management unit that manages the setting values for log generation,
It is an extended service that provides functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device, and is equipped with a setting value management service that manages setting values for log generation.
The log transmission unit outputs a log generated by using the setting value managed by the setting value management unit when the first log collection system as the log collection system is connected to the electronic device. Using the setting value managed by the setting value management service when the second log collecting system as the log collecting system is connected to the electronic device by transmitting to the first log collecting system. The generated log is transmitted to the second log collection system, and the generated log is transmitted to the second log collection system.
The program for the log transmission unit and the program for the setting value management unit are included in the firmware of the electronic device.
An electronic device, characterized in that the program for the extended service is not included in the firmware. The firmware of an electronic device that collects logs and sends logs to a log collection system.
A program for the log transmitter that sends logs, and
Includes a program for the settings management unit that manages settings for log generation.
The log transmission unit outputs a log generated by using the setting value managed by the setting value management unit when the first log collection system as the log collection system is connected to the electronic device. An extended service that transmits to the first log collection system and provides a function other than the standard function of the electronic device when the second log collection system as the log collection system is connected to the electronic device. The log generated by using the setting value managed by the setting value management service that manages the setting value for log generation is transmitted to the second log collection system.
The firmware is characterized in that it does not include a program for the extended service.

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