JP3938857B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  In the present invention, it is possible to mount a plurality of applications that perform processing unique to each user service related to image forming processing. The application is interposed between the application and hardware resources, and at least two of the applications are provided when providing the user service. An image forming apparatus having a platform for performing management, execution control and image forming processing of commonly required hardware resourcesIn placeRelated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction machine”) in which functions such as a printer, a copy, and a facsimile are housed in a single casing is known. And an image pickup unit are provided, and three types of software respectively corresponding to a printer, a copy, and a facsimile device are provided, and the device is operated as a printer, a copy, or a facsimile device by switching the software.
[0003]
However, if software (including a dedicated OS) corresponding to a printer, a copy, and a facsimile apparatus is separately provided in such a multifunction machine, it takes a lot of time to develop each software. For this reason, among recent multifunction peripherals, a common processing part of a printer application, a copy application, and a fax application is grouped as a platform, and multifunction peripherals that execute each application on this platform have also appeared.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if a multi-function device having such a platform is used, if the software that adds new functions to the copy application is frequently renovated, the copy application will eventually grow, and the software development efficiency will increase. There is a problem of lowering. This problem is common to applications other than the copy application.
[0005]
For example, in recent copying machines, for example, A4 size manuscripts and A4 size print data described in a page description language are expanded to four A4 size sizes, and this is expanded to four A4 size sizes. Some have a so-called enlargement continuous shooting function that prints by dividing them on printing paper. However, since the input target is limited to print data written in a manuscript or page description language, the conventional copying machine cannot easily continually enlarge a character string, and even a simple character string A complicated process is required in which the image is once printed by the printer and then continuously enlarged. In such a case, if the copy application is modified to cope with the enlarged continuous shooting of the character string, the result is that the modification of the copy application requires a lot of time.
[0006]
Similarly, when only the edge of a character string is not printed, or when it is desired to print a calendar, it is not efficient to modify an application such as a copy application each time.
[0007]
  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and provides a new application that operates on an image forming apparatus having a software platform. Image forming equipment to reducePlaceThe purpose is to provide.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is capable of mounting a plurality of applications that perform processing unique to each user service related to image forming processing, and the applications, hardware resources, An image forming apparatus including a platform for performing management, execution control, and image forming processing of the hardware resources commonly required by at least two of the applications when providing the user service. The application is created in a script language that can be executed by the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has a function of an ftp server and accepts the application transferred by ftp.After the file transfer by ftp, when the user logs out, the target directory is searched, and if there is a valid file, a display regarding the valid file is added to the menu displayed on the operation unit.It is characterized by that.
[0010]
  Claims2The invention according to claim1In the image forming apparatus described in 1), after the file transfer by ftp, when the user logs out, the target directory is searched, and the menu having no file is deleted from the menu displayed on the operation unit.
[0011]
  Claims3In the invention according to the present invention, a plurality of applications that perform processing specific to each user service related to image forming processing can be installed, and the application is interposed between the application and hardware resources to provide the user service. An image forming apparatus having a platform for performing management, execution control, and image forming processing of the hardware resources commonly required by at least two of the above, wherein the application is a script language executable by the image forming apparatus The image processing apparatus has a web server function. When transferring the application, a text input screen is prepared on a specific page in the web format, and the text of the application is displayed on the text input screen. New by typing And performing application accepted.
[0012]
  Claims4The invention according to claim3In the image forming apparatus described in (1), the application is deleted when deletion of the input text is accepted on the text input screen.
[0013]
  Claims5The invention according to claim 1 to claim 14In the image forming apparatus according to any one of the above, when a single mail having the contents of the application and a description of a predetermined command in the text and designating the image forming apparatus as a destination is received, It is characterized by adding or deleting an application.
[0014]
  Claims6The invention according to claim5In the image forming apparatus described in the above, the addition result of the application is further transmitted as a reply mail to the received mail.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.SetA preferred embodiment will be described in detail. In this embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a multi-function peripheral that provides a printer service, a copy service, a facsimile service, and the like will be described.
[0023]
(About the hardware configuration and operation of the MFP)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a multifunction machine according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, this multifunction machine has a configuration in which a controller 101 and an engine unit 110 are connected by a PCI 109. The controller 101 is a controller that controls the entire printer and controls drawing, communication, and input from the operation unit 111. The engine unit 110 is a printer engine, a scanner engine, or the like that can be connected to a PCI bus, and is, for example, a monochrome plotter, a 1-drum color plotter, a 4-drum color plotter, a scanner, or a fax unit. The engine unit 110 includes an image processing part such as error diffusion and gamma conversion in addition to a so-called engine part such as a plotter.
[0024]
The controller 101 includes a CPU 102, a north bridge (NB) 103, a system memory (MEM-P) 104, a south bridge (SB) 105, a local memory (MEM-C) 107, an ASIC 108, and an operation unit 111. And a hard disk drive (HDD) 112, and the north bridge (NB) 103 and the ASIC 108 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 106.
[0025]
The CPU 102 performs overall control of the printer, and includes a chip set including the NB 103, the MEM-P 104, and the SB 105. Here, the interface of this CPU is not disclosed, and it is assumed that other devices are connected via a chip set.
[0026]
The NB 103 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 102 to the MEM-P 104, SB 105, and AGP 106. The MEM-P 104 is a system memory used as a printer drawing memory and the like. The SB 105 includes the NB 103, a ROM, a PCI device, This is a bridge for connecting peripheral devices.
[0027]
The MEM-C 107 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and a code buffer, and the ASIC 108 is an IC for image processing applications having hardware elements for image processing, and includes the AGP 106, the PCI 109, the HDD 112, and the MEM-C 107. It also serves as a bridge to connect each.
[0028]
The operation unit 111 is an operation unit that accepts input operations from the user and performs display for the user. The HDD 112 is a storage for storing image data, programs, font data, and forms. It is.
[0029]
The AGP 106 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphics processing. The AGP 106 speeds up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the system memory with high throughput.
[0030]
The AGP 106 is originally used when a 3D (three-dimensional) image is smoothly displayed on a display. In the present embodiment, the NB 103 and the ASIC 108 are connected via the AGP 106. That is, if the two are connected using a low-speed PCI bus, the performance deteriorates. Therefore, the AGP 106 is extended here.
[0031]
Next, the configuration of the ASIC 108 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the ASIC 108 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the ASIC 108 includes an AGP unit 201, a configuration (CONFIG) register 202, a master (MASTER) unit 203, a target (TARGET) unit 204, an internal register 205, and a DMA controller (DMAC). 206, a RAM controller (RAMC) 207, a configuration (CONFIG) register 209, a master (MASTER) unit 210, a target (TARGET) unit 211, and a PCI unit 212.
[0032]
The AGP unit 201 is a unit (chip set interface unit) that executes the bus protocol of the AGP bus 106 connected to the NB 103, and the CONFIG 202 is a PCI configuration register for the AGP bus 106. The master 203 is a unit that executes a bus master function of the AGP bus 106, and the target 204 is a unit that executes a PCI target function included in the AGP bus 106.
[0033]
The internal register 205 is a register required when each unit of the ASIC 108 performs its function, and the DMA controller 206 is a DMA controller for performing DMA transfer to the local memory MEM-C 107.
[0034]
The RAM controller 207 is a memory controller that controls the local memory MEM-C 107, the configuration 209 is a PCI configuration register for the PCI bus 109, the master 210 is a unit that executes the bus master function of the PCI 109, The target 204 is a unit that executes a PCI target function included in the PCI 109. The PCI unit 212 is a unit (engine interface unit) that executes the PCI 109 bus protocol.
[0035]
Next, the internal structure of the configuration (CONFIG) 202 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the internal structure of the configuration 202 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the configuration 202 which is the configuration register on the AGP bus 106 side of the ASIC 108 has two base address registers BAR 202a and BAR 202b.
[0036]
The BAR 202a is a base address register for mapping the local memory MEM-C 107, and the BAR 202b is a base address register for mapping the internal register 205, the PCI memory space, and the PCI I / O space.
[0037]
Next, a space base register for DMAC provided on the internal register 205 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a space base register for DMAC provided on the internal register 205 shown in FIG.
[0038]
As shown in the figure, the internal register 205 includes an AGPMEMBASE register 205a and a LOCALMEMBASE register 205b. The AGPMEMBASE register 205a is a register for setting a base address to which the AGP space of the NB 103 is mapped, and is provided to notify the DMAC 206 of an access destination. The LOCALMEMBASE register 205b is a register for setting a base address to which the memory space of the ASIC 108 is mapped, and is provided to notify the DMAC 206 of an access destination.
[0039]
Next, the mutual relationship of the memory map of the PCI 109, the ASIC 108, and the CPU 102 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the mutual relationship between the memory map of the PCI 109, the ASIC 108, and the CPU 102.
[0040]
A PCI / O space 501 shown in the figure is a PCI / O space of the ASIC 108 visible to the CPU 102, a PCIMEM space 502 is a PCIMEM space of the ASIC 108 visible to the CPU 102, and an internal register space 503 is an internal area of the ASIC 108 visible to the CPU 102. Register space. The AGP 504 is a memory space accessible by the AGP bus protocol managed in the NB 103, and the MEM-P 505 is a memory space managed by the NB 103.
[0041]
The PCI / O space 506 is the PCI / O space of the ASIC 108, the PCIMEM space 507 is the PCIMEM space of the ASIC 108, and the internal register space 508 is the internal register space of the ASIC 108. The AGP 509 is a memory space accessible from the ASIC 108 using the AGP bus protocol, and the MEM-C 510 is a memory space managed by the ASIC 108. The base 511 is the start address of the MEM-C 510, and the base 512 is the start address of the AGP space.
[0042]
Further, the MEM-C 513 is a memory space of the MEM-C 107 that can be accessed from the engine unit 110, the AGP 514 is an AGP space that can be accessed from the engine unit 110, and the PCIM space 515 is obtained by the CPU 102 via the ASIC 108. The PCIM space that is actually accessed, and the PCI / O space 516 is the PCI / O space that the CPU 102 actually accesses via the ASIC 108.
[0043]
As shown in the figure, PCI / O space 516, PCI / O space 506 and PCI / O space 501 are associated with each other, and PCIMEM space 515, PCIMEM space 507, and PCIMEM space 502 are associated with each other. Also, the internal register space 508 and the internal register space 503 are associated with each other.
[0044]
Furthermore, AGP 514, AGP 509, and AGP 504 are associated with each other, and MEM-C 513, MEM-C 510, and MEM-P 505 are associated with each other. Details of the mapping will be described later.
[0045]
Next, (1) initialization operation, (2) printer operation, and (3) copy operation, which are basic operations of the MFP shown in FIG. 1, will be described.
[0046]
(1) Initialization operation
When the power of the multi-function device is turned on, the CPU 102 starts activation from the BIOS before the SB 105 (not shown), and initializes the NB 103 and the SB 105. During this initialization, the configuration 202 of the ASIC 108 is accessed via the AGP 106, the BAR 202a and the BAR 202b shown in FIG. 3 are set, and the initialization of the ASIC 108 as an AGP device is completed.
[0047]
Thus, when the initialization of the ASIC 108 as an AGP device is completed, the internal register 205 of the ASIC 108 can be accessed. Specifically, the AGPMEMBASE register 205a of the internal register 205 is set to which address in the ASIC 108 the AGP space is mapped, and the LOCALMEMBASE register 205b is a local memory MEM− that is directly managed by the ASIC 108. It is set where C107 is mapped.
[0048]
That is, the base 512 address is set in the AGPMEMBASE register 205a shown in FIG. 4, and the base 511 address is set in the LOCALMEMBASE register 205b. When mapping is performed, a memory map shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.
[0049]
Thereby, when viewed from the CPU 102, the system memory exists at the position of the MEM-P 505, and the AGP space 504 is mapped thereon. The AGP space 504 is set in the NB 103 register. Therefore, a register mapped in the PCI space can be seen at the upper address.
[0050]
The internal register space 503, the PCIMEM space 502, and the PCI / O space 501 are set by the BAR 202a of the PCI CONFIG 202. It is set in the memory MEM-C107BAR202b under the control of the ASIC 108, and can be accessed from the CPU 102 via PCI.
[0051]
The base address set in the BAR 202a means the top of the internal register 508, and the PCIMEM space 507 and the PCI / O space 506 are fixedly defined by offsets with respect to the base address.
[0052]
When the CPU 102 accesses the PCIMEM space 507, the write access is posted and the CPU 102 is released so that the next work can be started. The write access is written to the PCIMEM space 515 of the same address of the PCI 109. A write access to the PCI / O space 506 is similarly written to the PCI / O space 16 of the PCI 109.
[0053]
When the CPU 102 performs a read access to the PCIMEM space 502, the access is converted into an AGP access by the NB 103, and the PCI memory space 507 of the ASIC 108 is read-accessed.
[0054]
The ASIC 108 accesses the PCIMEM space 515 of the PCI 109, but it takes time to read the data. Therefore, the ASIC 108 once returns a retry to the AGP access from the CPU 102. When the NB 103 receives the retry signal, the NB 103 repeats read access. When the ASIC 108 reads data from the PCI 109 and data is prepared, the data is returned to the NB 103. The NB 103 passes data to the CPU 102 and the transaction is completed.
[0055]
The engine unit 110 connected to the PCI 109 has a configuration register. By mapping the base address to somewhere in the PCIMEM space 515, the engine PCI register 602 of the engine unit 110 shown in FIG. 6 can be accessed. Become. Note that a PCIMEM space 601 shown in the figure is a PCIMEM space that the CPU 102 can access via the ASIC 108, and an engine PCI 602 is an engine PCI register mapped to the PCIMEM space that the CPU 102 can access via the ASIC.
[0056]
A configuration register 209 also exists on the PCI 109 side of the ASIC 108 for accessing from the engine unit 110. Specifically, a base register for accessing the AGP space 504 of the NB 103, a base register for accessing the memory MEM-C510 managed by the ASIC 108, and a base for setting the input address of the DMAC for image input of the ASIC 108 There are a register, a base register for setting an output address of the image output DMAC of the ASIC 108, and the like. All this work is done in the initialization process.
[0057]
When mapping is completed, a memory map as shown in FIG. 5 is obtained, so that the CPU 102 can access according to this memory map. Further, the engine unit 110 can access the memory according to the memory map as shown in FIG. The engine unit 110 also performs self-diagnosis after power-on and waits for mapping by the CPU 102. Therefore, the engine unit 110 can communicate with the CPU 102 when the initialization is completed.
[0058]
When the initialization of the software is completed, the controller 101 notifies the operation unit 111 of a message indicating that printing is possible, and enters a standby state in preparation for data reception from the host.
[0059]
(2) Printer operation
The ASIC 108 has an interface for connecting to a host such as a network, IEEE 1394, USB, etc. When data reception starts, the ASIC 108 sequentially interprets transmission data and starts drawing on the MEM-P 104. When the drawing is completed, a command is transmitted to the engine unit 110 to instruct to come to obtain the drawn picture.
[0060]
The CPU 102 operates the internal register of the NB 103 in order to make the data of the MEM-P 104 appear in the space of the AGP 504, rewrites the table on the memory, and sets it so that it can be seen from the engine unit 110 in the AGP space 514. The engine unit 110 obtains the top address of the buffer where the picture is drawn, activates the DMAC in the engine unit 110, and reads the picture of the MEM-P505 through the AGP 514. At this time, the ASIC 108 performs a target operation for the PCI 109 and performs a master operation for the AGP 106. The engine unit 110 reads a picture at a timing generated internally.
[0061]
Here, the operation timing of the engine unit 110 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. A sheet size 701 shown in the figure is a sheet size determined by main scanning and sub-scanning, FGATE 702 is a signal indicating an effective range of the sub-scanning of the sheet, and LGATE 703 is a signal indicating an effective range of the main scanning of the sheet. LSYNC 704 is a synchronization signal that is asserted at the head of the main scan.
[0062]
In this way, the engine unit 110, according to the output paper size 701, the effective area FGATE 702 in the sub-scanning direction, the effective area LGATE 703 in the main scanning direction, and the LSYNC 704 indicating the start of the line at the head of each main scanning line. Prepare.
[0063]
When the engine unit 110 receives a print command, the FGATE 702 is created at the same time as the paper is transported, and transfer is started to read the picture into the internal buffer a few LSYNCs 704 hours before the FGATE 702 is asserted.
[0064]
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a basic timing signal of PCI transfer. In the drawing, LSYNC 801 is a line sync, DREQ 802 is a data request, DATA 803 is a data transfer for one line, XREQ 804 is a PCI bus request signal, and XGNT 805 is a PCI bus bus grant signal. , TRANSZ 806 is a PCI bus transaction.
[0065]
PCICLK 807 is a PCI basic clock, XFRAME 808 is a PCI FRAME signal, XDEVSEL 809 is a PCI DEVSEL signal, XIRDY 810 is a PCI IRDY signal, XTRDY 811 is a PCI TRDY signal, and AD [31 : 0] 812 is a PCI address / data bus signal, and CBE [3: 0] 813 is a PCI command / byte enable signal.
[0066]
As shown in the figure, the data transfer request DREQ 802 is asserted at the rising timing of the LSYNC 801, and the transfer of the DATA 803 for one line is completed. Data for one line is transferred in synchronization with each LSYNC 801.
[0067]
On the PCI 109, XREQ 804 is asserted. When the use of the bus is permitted, XGNT 805 is asserted, and one PCI transaction 806 is performed. The data transfer for one line is completed by repeating the PCI transaction. The PCI transaction 806 is a burst transfer.
[0068]
The PCI signal is synchronized with the rise of PCICLK 807. When the bus use permission is obtained, the engine unit 110 serving as the bus master asserts XFRAME 808 and simultaneously issues an address AD [31: 0] 812 and a command CBE [3: 0] 813. The ASIC 108 asserts XDEVSEL 809 when the address AD [31: 0] 812 issued by the engine unit 110 hits the base address register of its CONFIG.
[0069]
If the engine unit 110 can receive data, the assertion of XDEVSEL 809 is confirmed, then XIRDY 810 is asserted, and the target ASIC 108 is informed that data can be received. If data is prepared for the command CBE [3: 0] 813, the ASIC 108 asserts XTRDY 811 and places the data on the bus.
[0070]
Thereafter, in synchronization with PCICLK 807, if there is data, one data is continuously transferred per clock. The engine unit 110 which is a bus master 1 clock before the last data negates the XFRAME 808 to indicate that the next data is the last data of this transaction. After the data transfer is completed, the ASIC 108 negates XDEVSEL 809 and XTRDY 811. The engine unit 110 negates XTRDY 811 and completes the transaction.
[0071]
(3) Copy operation
When the multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 1 performs a copy operation, in order to read a document image, the user first sets the document on the scanner unit of the engine unit 110 of the multifunction device.
[0072]
Then, when a copy condition is instructed from the operation unit 111 and a start key is pressed, a scanning operation is started. Upon receiving the copy start instruction, the controller 101 instructs the scanner unit of the engine unit 110 to start scanning via the PCI 109.
[0073]
Here, the engine unit 110 will be described. FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the engine unit 110 of FIG. As shown in the figure, the engine unit 110 includes a CCD 901, an image processing unit 902, an image shift unit 903, a scaling unit 904, an encoder 905, a PCI unit 906, a drawing unit 907, an image processing unit 908, and an image shift unit. 909 and decoder 910.
[0074]
The CCD 901 is an optical device for reading an image, and the image processing unit 902 is a unit that converts an analog signal read from the CCD 901 into digital and performs shading correction, MTF correction, γ correction, and the like. An image shift unit 903 is a unit that shifts and cuts out an image, a scaling unit 904 is a unit that enlarges / reduces an image, and an encoder 905 is a unit that converts a multi-valued image into a code. . These CCD 901, image processing unit 902, image shift unit 903, scaling unit 904, and encoder 905 correspond to the scanner unit.
[0075]
The PCI unit 906 includes a portion that executes a PCI bus protocol and a DMAC, and transfers image data to the controller 101 and transmits a command from the controller 101 to each unit in the engine unit 110. The drawing unit 907 is a unit that emits a laser to draw on a drum, the image processing unit 908 is a unit that performs γ correction for output, and the image shift unit 909 is a unit that shifts an image when outputting an image. The decoder 910 is a unit that decodes the code and returns it to the original image data. Note that the paper transport mechanism and the like are omitted.
[0076]
The original image is read by the CCD 901, the read analog signal level is A / D converted, and then the image shift unit 903 performs a shift process in the main scanning direction via the input image processing unit 1202. The data is converted into a code by an encoder 905 via a magnification processing unit 904 that performs a magnification process at a magnification specified by the user, and stored in the MEM-C 107 by the PCI unit 906 via the ASIC 108 of the controller 101. Is done.
[0077]
When printing, when the reading of the image into the MEM-C 107 is completed, the controller 101 issues an instruction to output to the engine 110. In the engine 110, the PCI unit 1206 reads image data from the controller 101 via the PCI bus 109 in accordance with this instruction.
[0078]
Specifically, the engine 110 generates a PCI read transaction and issues a read request to the ASIC 109. In response to this read request, the ASIC 109 reads image data from the MEM-C 107 and passes it to the engine 110.
[0079]
When the PCI unit 906 of the engine 110 receives image data from the controller 101, the decoder 910 decompresses the code, the image shift unit 909 performs shift processing for image output, and the image is processed via the output image processing unit 908. The image data is output to the unit 907, passed to the laser driver board for drawing on the photosensitive member, transferred to the final stage, transferred, developed, fixed, printed on paper, and output to the discharge tray.
[0080]
(About the software configuration of the MFP)
Next, the software configuration of the multifunction machine will be described. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing the software configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the MFP 1000 includes a monochrome line printer (B & W LP) 1001, a color line printer (Color LP) 1002, other hardware resources 1003, and the like, and a software group 1010 includes a platform 1020 and a platform 1020. An application 1030 is included.
[0081]
The platform 1020 interprets a processing request from the application 1030 and generates a hardware resource acquisition request as shown below, manages one or a plurality of hardware resources, and receives an acquisition request from the control service. It has a system resource manager (SRM (System Resource Manager) 1023) that performs arbitration and a general-purpose OS 1021.
[0082]
This control service is formed by a plurality of service modules. Specifically, an SCS (System Control Service) 1022, an ECS (Engine Control Service) 1024, an MCS (Memory Control Service) 1025, and an OCS (Operation Panel Control). Service) 1026, FCS (FAX Control Service) 1027, and NCS (Network Control Service) 1028. The platform 1020 has an application program interface that can receive a processing request from the application by a predefined function.
[0083]
The general-purpose OS 1021 is a general-purpose operating system such as UNIX, and executes each software of the platform 1020 and the application 1030 in parallel as processes. By using open source UNIX, the safety of the program can be ensured, the network can be supported, and the source code can be easily obtained. Furthermore, OS and TCP / IP royalties are unnecessary, and outsourcing is easy.
[0084]
The SRM1023 controls the system and manages resources together with the SCS1022, and includes engine units such as scanners and plotters, memory, HDD files, host I / O (Centro I / F, network I / F, IEEE 1394 I / F, In accordance with a request from a higher layer that uses hardware resources (such as RS232CI / F), arbitration is performed and execution control is performed.
[0085]
Specifically, the SRM 1023 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether it is not used by another request). If the requested hardware resource is available, the requested hardware resource is Tell the upper layer that it is available. Also, hardware resource usage scheduling may be performed in response to a request from an upper layer, and the requested contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, memory allocation, file generation, etc.) may be directly executed. .
[0086]
The SCS1022 includes (1) application management, (2) operation unit control, (3) system screen display (job list screen, counter display screen, etc.), (4) LED display, (5) resource management, and (6) interrupt application. Take control. Specifically, in (1) application management, processing for registering an application and notifying other applications of the information is performed. The registered application is notified of the state of the engine unit in accordance with system settings and application request settings. For registered applications, an inquiry about whether or not to change the state of the system, such as an inquiry about power mode transition and an interrupt mode, is made.
[0087]
In (2) operation unit control, exclusive control of the operation unit usage right of the application is performed. Then, the key information from the operation unit driver (OCS) is exclusively notified to the application having the right to use the operation unit. This key information performs mask control for temporarily stopping notification according to system state transition such as during application switching.
[0088]
In (3) system screen display, a warning screen corresponding to the state of the engine unit is displayed according to the request content from the application having the operation unit usage right. Some of them turn on / off warning display according to the state of the application such as a user restriction screen. Except for the state of the engine unit, display control of a job list screen for displaying job reservation / execution status, a counter screen for displaying total counters, and a screen indicating that CSS is being reported is performed. With respect to these system screen displays, drawing is performed as a system screen that covers the application screen without requesting the application to release the operation unit usage right.
[0089]
In (4) LED display, display control of system LEDs such as warning LEDs and application keys is performed. The application-specific LED is directly controlled by the application using a display driver.
[0090]
In (5) resource management, a service for exclusive control of engine resources (scanners, staples, etc.) that must be exclusive when an application (ECS) executes a job is provided. (6) In interrupt application control, Control and service to make certain applications have priority operation.
[0091]
The ECS 1024 controls engine units such as a monochrome line printer (B & W LP) 1001, a color line printer (Color LP) 1002, and other hardware resources 1003, and performs image reading and printing operations, status notification, jam recovery, and the like. Do it.
[0092]
Specifically, according to the job mode designation received from the application 1030, a series of copy / scan / print operations are realized by sequentially issuing print requests to the SRM 1023. In the job to be handled by the ECS 1024, it is assumed that a scanner (SCANNER) is designated as the image input device or a plotter (PLOTTER) is designated as the image output device.
[0093]
For example, “SCANNER → PLOTTER” is specified for a copy operation, “SCANNER → MEMORY” is specified for file storage, and “SCANNER → FAX-IN” is specified for facsimile transmission. In addition, “MEMORY → PLOTTER” is designated for stored file printing or printing from the printer application 1211, and “FAX-OUT → PLOTTER” is designated for facsimile reception.
[0094]
Although the definition of the job varies depending on the application, here, the processing operation for one set of image groups handled by the user is defined as one job. For example, in the case of a copy ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) mode, an operation for reading one set of documents placed on the document table is one job, and in the pressure plate mode, a reading operation until the final document is determined is one job. . In the case of the copy application 1012, the operation of copying a bundle of documents is one job, and in the case of the fax application 1013, the transmission operation of one document or the reception operation of one document is one job. In this case, the printing operation for one document is one job.
[0095]
The MCS 105 performs memory control. Specifically, the MCS 105 acquires and releases an image memory, uses a hard disk device (HDD), compresses and decompresses image data, and the like.
[0096]
Here, as functions necessary for managing information necessary as image data files stored in the hard disk device, (1) file access (generation / deletion / open / close) function (including exclusive processing), ( 2) Various file attribute management (physical) such as file name / ID management (file / user) / password management / accumulation time management / number of pages / data format (compression method, etc.) / Access restriction / creation application / print condition management (Management of image data in page units), (3) Join / insert / cut-off function in file units and page units, (4) File sort functions (accumulation time order / user ID order, etc.), (5) All File information notification (for display / search), (6) Recovery function (file / page discard of damaged file), (7) File Automatic deletion function of the Le and the like.
[0097]
The functions for holding and accessing image data to a memory such as a RAM include (1) a function for acquiring file and page / band attribute information from the application 1230, and (2) an image data area from the application 1030. There are secure, release, read, and write functions.
[0098]
The OCS 1026 is a module that controls an operation panel serving as information transmission means between the operator and the main body control, and provides a process for notifying the main body control of an operator's key operation event and a library function for each application to construct a GUI. Processing, processing for managing the constructed GUI information for each application, display reflection processing on the operation panel, and the like are performed.
[0099]
The OCS 1026 includes (1) a library providing function for GUI construction, (2) an operation unit hardware resource management function, (3) a VRAM drawing / LCD display function (hardware display, display application switching, display language switching, Window dark color display, message / icon blink display, message connection display), (4) hard key input detection function, (5) touch panel key input detection function, (6) LED output function, (7) buzzer output function, etc. .
[0100]
FCS 1027 performs facsimile transmission / reception using the PSTN / ISDN network from each application layer of the system controller, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed by BKM (backup SRAM), facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion transmission / reception. API is provided.
[0101]
Specifically, the FCS 1027 includes (1) a transmission function for transmitting a document requested to be transmitted from the application layer to a facsimile receiver using the PSTN / ISDN network, and (2) a facsimile reception received from the PSTN / ISDN network. Receiving function for transferring and printing screens and various reports to each application layer, (3) Phonebook quoting / registration function for quoting and registering facsimile management items such as phonebook and group information stored in the fax board (4) Fax log notification function for notifying the application that needs the transmission / reception result history information stored in the BKM installed on the fax board, (5) When the status of the fax board changes, the FCS Has an event notification function that notifies registered applications of events that have changed .
[0102]
The NCS 1028 is a module group for providing a service that can be commonly used for applications that require network I / O. The NCS 1028 distributes data received by each protocol from the network side to each application, and distributes data from the application. Mediates when sending to the network side. Specifically, it has server daemons such as ftpd, httpd, lpd, snmpd, telnetd, and smtpd, and client functions of the same protocol.
[0103]
The application 1030 includes a printer application 1011 that is a printer application having a page description language (PDL), PCL, and postscript (PS), a copy application 1012 that is a copy application, and a fax application 1013 that is a facsimile application. A scanner application 1014 that is a scanner application, a net file application 1015 that is a net file application, and a process inspection application 1016 that is a process inspection application.
[0104]
Since each of the applications 1011 to 1016 can execute an operation by using each process on the platform 1020, a screen display control program for performing screen control, key operation control, job generation, and the like is the main component. Note that a new application can also be installed via the network connected by the NCS 1028. Each application can be added or deleted for each application.
[0105]
As described above, the multifunction machine 1000 is not provided with a controller board for each function such as a printer, a copy, and a facsimile, unlike a conventional multifunction machine, and a printer application, a copy application, and a facsimile application are simply executed on a common OS. It doesn't work. In other words, the multifunction machine 1000 is designed to improve the development efficiency of each application and increase the productivity of the entire apparatus by centrally processing the processes commonly required for each application on the platform 1020. .
[0106]
By the way, in the above description, only the application of the multi-function peripheral 1000 is basically shown. However, since the multi-function peripheral 1000 is responsible for common processing by the platform 1020, it is easy to develop a new application. become. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by generating such a new application, an increase in development cost due to the modification of the existing application is prevented.
[0107]
(About new applications)
Hereinafter, as a new application, a character enlargement continuous shooting application, an edge printing application, a density setting application, a calendar printing application, and a calendar enlargement continuous shooting application will be described. In other words, the basic idea of an application that forms an application separately from an existing application and the input operation of the application are the same. It will be explained in the following.
[0108]
(1) About the character enlargement continuous shooting application
The character enlargement continuous shooting application enlarges the character string input from the operation unit, divides the enlarged character string into a plurality of elements while overlapping a part thereof, and a plurality of the divided elements. Application that prints on each print paper. This character enlargement continuous shooting application is different from the conventional enlargement continuous shooting, and allows an enlarged continuous shooting of a character string, not simply an enlarged continuous shooting of a document.
[0109]
When performing the character enlargement continuous shooting, when the user selects the user menu 1101 from the menu shown in FIG. 11 displayed on the operation unit 111 and presses the button 1102, the character enlargement continuous shooting is performed as shown in FIG. A selectable submenu 1201 is displayed. Note that a lower triangular circle 1103 is displayed on the button 1102 to indicate that there is a submenu 1201.
[0110]
Then, when a character enlargement continuous shooting is selected from this submenu 1201, a screen for inputting a character string to be subjected to the character enlargement continuous shooting is displayed, so that the user can select an arbitrary character string (for example, “athletic meet”). input. The output size parameter is also specified, but this output size is determined to be one character for four sheets of A4 paper.
[0111]
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a print result obtained by enlarging the character string “athletic meet”. Each character shown in the figure consists of four A4 sheets. As shown in FIG. 14, when the character “luck” is formed with four sheets, the upper and lower margins 1401 and the left and right margins 1402 overlap. A part of the character is printed considering the above.
[0112]
FIG. 15 shows the printing result of each sheet when the character “luck” is printed on four A4 sheets. As shown in the drawing, on the sheet 1501 in the upper left part of the character “luck”, printing is performed to the end face in consideration of the overlap with the sheet 1502 in the upper right part and the sheet 1503 in the lower left part. In addition, the upper right sheet 1502 has a margin on the left side so that the upper left sheet is pasted thereon, and the lower side is printed to the edge.
[0113]
Further, since the sheet 1501 can be pasted from the upper side on the lower left portion 1403, the upper portion has a margin, and the right side is printed to the edge. Further, since the sheets 1502 and 1503 can be pasted on the lower right sheet 1504, the left and upper margins are provided.
[0114]
As described above, by using this character enlargement continuous shooting application, it is possible to perform the enlarged continuous shooting of each character forming the character string. In particular, since the character enlargement continuous shooting application is provided separately from existing applications such as a copy application and a printer application, it is not necessary to modify the existing application, so that the development efficiency of the application can be improved.
[0115]
(2) Other applications
First, the edge printing application is an application that extracts an edge of a character string input from the operation unit and prints the extracted edge. In other words, depending on the purpose of the printed paper, it may be desired to apply a color later. For example, in a kindergarten, a kindergarten can be helped with work and a work time can be provided. At this time, it is desirable to print only the edges because the color cannot be painted if the inside is made black. In this edge printing application, only the edge of the character is printed as shown in FIG. Yes.
[0116]
If the print density of the edge can be changed, the print result may be used more effectively. For example, it is a case where it is desired to form a color-coded pattern that does not partition colors with lines. For this reason, a density setting application for setting the density of the edge to be printed by the edge printing application can be further provided to reduce the edge density as shown in FIG.
[0117]
Next, the calendar printing application is an application that prints the calendar of the year and month input from the operation unit. That is, this calendar printing application is designed to output a monthly calendar as shown in FIG. 17 by selecting a commonly used monthly calendar from a menu. Specifically, by pressing the button 1102 of the user menu 1101 shown in FIG. 11 to display the submenu 1201 shown in FIG. 12 and designating the calendar, the calendar printing application can be executed. . Note that in the case of a multifunction device capable of color output, the user can select to make Saturday blue and Sunday red. Further, by providing the calendar printing application with an enlarged continuous shooting function, a calendar enlarged continuous shooting application can be formed.
[0118]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, various applications such as a character enlargement continuous shooting application are provided, and these applications can be executed by a multifunction machine such as Java or Basic language. It can be created by a simple script language and transferred by ftp (file transfer protocol) using a network. In this case, it is assumed that the multifunction device has a function as an ftp server.
[0119]
Here, after the file is transferred by ftp, when the user logs out, the multi-function peripheral can search the target directory, and if there is a valid file, it can be configured to automatically add it to the menu. Further, after the user logs out, the MFP can search the target directory and delete the corresponding menu if there is no file.
[0120]
For example, when the basic tab of the default menu having the basic tab 1801 and the application tab 1802 shown in FIG. 18 is displayed, the display contents shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are changed when a calendar print application is added.
[0121]
Also, when transferring an application, instead of using ftp, a text input screen is prepared in a specific page in a web format, and the text of the application can be poured into the window. If you want to delete a function, you can open the page for that function in the same way and delete the text in the window into which the text has been inserted. In this case, it is assumed that the multifunction peripheral has a web server function.
[0122]
Functions can be added by sending an e-mail containing the contents of the application to the MFP. In this case, for example, when a predetermined name that is determined in advance, such as “USERFUNCTION_0001”, is the title of the mail, an application is added. Also, when deleting a function, a command such as “delete” or “remove” is written in the body and transmitted.
[0123]
The result of adding the application, that is, the function can be returned by e-mail. The contents of this reply e-mail can be "addition of USERFUNCTION_0001 has been completed", "addition of USERFUNCTION_0001 failed. Error content is a syntax error." In this case, it is assumed that the copying machine has a function of a mail server or a function of regularly checking whether a mail has arrived at another mail server connected via a network. A general-purpose tool is used for sending mail from the user. If the application itself becomes a huge file, this method is not appropriate, so it is desirable to do it when the mail size is about 8 Kbytes or less. In the case of e-mail, broadcast communication is possible, so the same function can be added to multiple MFPs in a workgroup with a single e-mail.
[0124]
The function to be added can be added to the menu common to the work group that owns the multifunction device and can be added to the personal menu. The personal menu is requested to input an ID, and the user collates with the ID. When the menu is displayed, the menu is not complicated and is easy for the user to use. If the personal menu is not used and disappears from the screen after a certain period of time (for example, 1 minute), it becomes easier for the next user to open the personal menu.
[0125]
If any user can add the function itself, a conflict of adding the function occurs. Therefore, a personal menu is provided to avoid it. If it is an email, it can be managed by the user name of the sender. In the case of ftp, the login name can be distinguished. When adding with a web browser, a login screen can be provided to distinguish individuals.
[0126]
(About application exchange)
In the above description, new applications that operate on the multifunction peripheral have been described. However, if these applications can be exchanged via the Internet, the applications can be used more effectively. Therefore, application exchange will be described below.
[0127]
Use the above application program as free software or shareware software, issue a user ID and password so that only users using the MFP can use a website that users exchange using the Internet, and applications between users By providing a place for replacement, it is possible to promote the development of functions by the user and improve the business. In this case, the user ID is issued by the company that sold the multifunction peripheral or the company entrusted with management.
[0128]
Here, in the case of shareware software, a charge is not incurred just by adding a menu to the multifunction device, but a charge is displayed when a certain period or a certain number of trials are used. The service fee is charged in the form of what value-added yen per job. If the user rejects it, it is deleted from the menu. The creator of the application, which is shareware software, is paid the usage fee of the shareware software collected from the company that sold the MFP or the company that was entrusted with management.
[0129]
When the creator chooses whether the application is free software or shareware software, the application is registered after a certain examination and given a unique number. In this case, it is desirable that the shareware software is expressed in encrypted text without publishing the source. However, it is assumed that the multifunction device has a function of decrypting the encryption. In the multi-function peripheral, shareware software having a number is managed, and once installed, it is determined whether or not it is time to charge and remains in the record. Even if you reject a billing inquiry, the information is saved, and if you add a function again after deleting the function, the next time the menu is selected, you will be told that the trial period has ended and you will be charged Inform the user whether or not
[0130]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, a character enlargement continuous shooting application or the like can be used as an application that operates on the multifunction peripheral having the platform 1020 without modifying the existing printer application 1011 and the copy application 1012. Since it can be added separately, the development efficiency of the application can be improved.
[0131]
In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the platform 1020 is formed by the SCS1022, SRM1023, ECS1024, MCS1025, OCS1026, FCS1027, and NCS1028, and the printer application 1011, the copy application 1012, the fax application 1013, the scanner application 1014, and the net file application. Although the case where the existing application 1030 is formed by 1015 and the process inspection application 1016 is shown, the present invention is not limited to this.
[0132]
  As explained above,According to the present invention, the application is created in a script language that can be executed by the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus has the function of an ftp server and accepts an application transferred by ftp. It is possible to obtain an image forming apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving the image via a network.
[0133]
Further, according to the present invention, the application is created in a script language that can be executed by the image forming apparatus, and the image processing apparatus has a web server function, and when transferring the application, a specific page in the web format is used. Since a text input screen is prepared and a new application is received by inputting the text of the application to the text input screen, an image forming apparatus capable of sending and receiving a new application via a network The effect that is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the ASIC shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an internal structure of a CONFIG shown in FIG. 2;
4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a space base register for DMAC provided on the internal register shown in FIG. 2; FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a mutual relationship between a memory map of PCI, ASIC, and CPU;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a PCIMEM space of an engine unit.
7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining operation timing of the engine unit shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a basic timing signal of PCI transfer.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an engine unit shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu displayed on the operation unit.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a submenu in which character enlarged continuous shooting can be selected.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a result of character enlargement continuous shooting of a character string called athletic meet.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram when the character “luck” of athletic meet is continuously enlarged on four sheets of characters.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a print result of each sheet when the character “luck” of the athletic meet is continuously enlarged on four sheets.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an output result of printing only an edge of a character string by an edge printing application.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a calendar printed by a calendar printing application.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a basic menu displayed on the operation unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 controller
102 CPU
103 NB (North Bridge)
104 MEM-P (system memory)
105 SB (South Bridge)
106 AGP
107 MEM-C (local memory)
108 ASIC
109 PCI
110 Engine part
1000 MFP
1001 B & W LP
1002 color LP
1003 Other hardware resources
1010 Software group
1011 Printer application
1012 Copy application
1013 Fax application
1014 Scanner application
1015 Net file application
1016 Process inspection application
1020 platform
1021 General-purpose OS
1022 SCS
1023 SRM
1024 ECS
1025 MCS
1026 OCS
1027 FCS
1028 NCS
1030 application

Claims (6)

It is possible to install a plurality of applications that perform processing unique to each user service related to image formation processing, and are interposed between the application and hardware resources, and at least two of the applications are common when providing the user service. An image forming apparatus provided with a platform for performing management, execution control and image forming processing of the hardware resources required for
The application is created in a script language that can be executed by the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus has a function of an ftp server, accepts the application transferred by ftp ,
When the user logs out after file transfer by ftp, the target directory is searched, and if there is a valid file, a display regarding the valid file is added to a menu displayed on the operation unit. . 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the user logs out after file transfer by ftp, the target directory is searched, and a menu having no file is deleted from the menu displayed on the operation unit. It is possible to install a plurality of applications that perform processing unique to each user service related to image formation processing, and are interposed between the application and hardware resources, and at least two of the applications are common when providing the user service. An image forming apparatus provided with a platform for performing management, execution control and image forming processing of the hardware resources required for
The application is created in a script language that can be executed by the image forming apparatus, and the image processing apparatus has a function of a web server. The image forming apparatus accepts a new application by inputting the text of the application on the text input screen. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the application is deleted when deletion of the input text is accepted on the text input screen. Further, the application is added or deleted when a single mail having the contents of the application and a description of a predetermined command in the text and specifying the image forming apparatus as a destination is received. Item 5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the addition result of the application is transmitted as a reply mail to the received mail.

Images