JP5418979B2 - Equipment controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a controller that sets an operation mode in response to a user input to a device having a plurality of operation modes, and in particular, when there are changes in parameters (setting values) of various setting items that affect the operation mode. This refers to a change notification to a module that controls or manages device usage, in-machine status or operation results with reference to the parameters. The present invention, for example, is not intended to be limited to this, but includes operations such as printing, document reading, copying, facsimile transmission / reception, and multifunction functions of a printer, scanner, copying machine, facsimile, and multifunction printer (MFP). It can be used for the controller to set.

  Conventionally, with regard to parameters of various setting items such as MFPs, for example, the module in the device that uses the parameters has been mainly responsible for referring to the current value of the target parameter and holding it by itself. By comparing, it is determined whether or not the parameter has changed. In the conventional method, the processing efficiency of the system is lowered because a process for confirming the parameter is performed every certain period in order to recognize in real time that the parameter has been changed.

  In the conventional method, for example, when the parameter state is monitored at regular intervals by polling, it cannot be detected that the parameter has been changed at an accurate timing. Further, there is a problem that the processing efficiency is lowered because the module in the device is repeatedly checked for a certain period of time.

  Although not applicable to the above-described controller, Patent Document 1 describes a notification method for notifying a change in setting information in the MFP to a personal computer PC (user terminal) to which the MFP is connected via an external network. . The storage means stores setting information and necessity information indicating necessity of notification in association with each other, and when there is a setting value change that requires notification, a setting change notification is sent to a user terminal having management authority. Do. Necessity of notification is set for each setting value item (Table 2), but there is no specification of the notification destination for each item, and if there is a change in the setting value for notification required, all user terminals with management authority Will be notified of changes via email.

  Although it does not correspond to the above-mentioned controller, Patent Document 2 discloses that one network terminal device (transmission terminal) in a network in which network terminal devices are connected to each other as an improvement of the problem of confirmation of setting value change by polling. When the other network terminal device (reception terminal) recognizes the change contents of the setting related to the network terminal device (reception terminal), in order to reduce the load on the network, the transmission terminal that has changed the setting leaves the network and after a certain time has passed To the receiving terminal, and in response to the participation notification, the receiving terminal responds to the participation notification, requests the transmitting terminal to transmit the changed contents of the setting, and responds in response to the transmitting terminal. Describes a setting information transmission / reception system that uses UPnP to receive the contents of changes sent by.

  In the setting change notifications in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the setting is uniformly changed for all PCs connected to the network. Therefore, if there are many network-connected PCs, the load on the network increases. It is not possible to set a PC that notifies a setting change for each setting item.

  The present invention provides a controller for setting an operation mode in response to user input of a device having a plurality of operation modes, which is different from the above-described conventional terminal, and control of device use, in-machine state or operation results in the device, or It is an object to reduce the load on the controller by making the notification process highly efficient when notifying a plurality of modules to be managed of the setting change.

(1) Input means for a device (MFP) having a plurality of operation modes, having a plurality of modules (104 to 108,...) That perform control or management of at least one of device use, in-machine state, and operation results. A controller that sets an operation mode according to the input of (5, 17),
Storage means (112) for storing setting values (113) of a plurality of items for specifying the operation mode and module specifying information (114) indicating whether or not notification of change of the setting values is addressed to each module; and
In response to the change of the setting value in the storage means (112), the necessity of notification in the module specifying information (114) of the setting value item is searched and the change of the setting value is notified to the module requiring notification. Change notification means (116);
A controller (100) comprising:

  (2) The module specifying information is an array of information bits (notification destination flag) assigned to each of the plurality of modules, one array being assigned to each of the plurality of items (Table 1), The change notifying means (116) refers to each information bit of the array addressed to the changed setting value item in the order of arrangement, and when the information bit needs to be notified, the module ( Table 2) is notified of a change in the set value; the controller according to (1) above.

  (3) The device is a document scanner, and the controller is a scanner controller that sets a document reading mode of the document scanner; the controller according to (1) or (2) above.

  (4) The device is a printer, and the controller is a printer controller that sets a print mode of the printer; the controller according to (1) or (2) above.

  (5) The device is a copying machine including a document scanner and a printer, and the controller is a copying system controller that sets a copying operation of the printer and the document scanner; described in (1) or (2) above controller.

  (6) The apparatus includes a document scanner and a printer, and is a multifunction printer that performs a document scanner single operation, a printer single operation, and a copying operation, and the controller is a complex function that sets operation modes of the printer and the document scanner. The controller according to (1) or (2) above.

  (7) The device includes a facsimile function, and the controller sets an operation mode of the facsimile function; the controller according to (5) or (6) above.

  In addition, in order to make an understanding easy, the code | symbol of the corresponding element of the Example shown in drawing and mentioned later is added to the parenthesis by reference for reference. The same applies to the following.

  The module identification information indicates whether or not the setting value change notification for each module is required, and the notification destination of the setting value change is specified for each setting item in the storage means. Search and notification are simplified, the processing of the setting change notification by the controller becomes highly efficient, and the load on the controller is reduced.

  Further, for example, a bit flag “1” is set or deleted (set to “0”) from each module to each bit of the module specifying information (bit string) as a bit string in which 1 bit is assigned to each module. This makes it possible to flexibly change the necessity of notification of change for each notification destination module.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a multifunction printer MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer controller 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of a setting value change process executed by a CPU 7 of the printer controller 100 in response to setting value input from each module shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of registration processing with the module as a notification destination, which is executed by the CPU 7 of the printer controller 100 in response to a registration request as a notification destination (change notification required) from each module shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of a registration deletion process using the module as a non-notification destination, which is executed by the CPU 7 of the printer controller 100 in response to a registration request from each module shown in FIG. 2 as a non-notification destination (no change notification is required). is there.

  Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a multifunction printer MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reading device 1 is a document scanner, which includes a line sensor composed of a CCD photoelectric conversion element, an A / D converter, and a drive circuit for them. From the density information of the document obtained by scanning the set document, each of RGB Generate and output 8-bit digital image data. The first image data processing device 2 performs a process for unifying the digital image data from the reading device 1 to a predetermined characteristic. The characteristics to be unified are characteristics suitable for changing the output destination when image data is stored and reused inside the MFP.

  The digitized image data input from the reading device 1 is subjected to scanner γ conversion in the first image data processing device 2 to a predetermined characteristic, for example, γ = 2.2, from a characteristic based on reflectance. The γ characteristic is converted. Next, the first image data processing device 2 performs a filter process to correct a characteristic such as the MTF characteristic of the reading device 1 to a predetermined characteristic. The first image data processing device 2 performs color conversion from the color space of the reading device 1 to a predetermined color space. Next, the resolution input from the reading device 1 is converted into a predetermined resolution.

  The image data whose characteristics are unified by the first image data processing device 2 is sent to the bus control device 3. When receiving the RGB image data from the first image data processing device 2, the bus control device 3 accumulates it in the memory 8 via the CPU 7. The RGB image data developed in the memory 8 is stored and saved in the HDD 6 as necessary, for example, in preparation for re-output. Next, the RGB image data stored in the memory 8 is sent to the second image data processing device 4 via the CPU 7 and the bus control device 3.

  The bus control device 3 is a data bus control device that exchanges various data such as image data and control commands, and also has a bridge function between a plurality of types of bus standards. In this embodiment, the first image data processing device 2, the second image data processing device 4, and the CPU 7 are connected to each other by a PCI-Express bus and the HDD 6 by an ATA bus to form an ASIC.

  The second image data processing device 4 is a digital image data standardized to characteristics predetermined by the first image data processing device 2 and image data input through the line I / F device 12 or the external I / F device 13. On the other hand, image adjustment / processing including processing for suppressing the use of a developer and image processing suitable for an output destination designated by the user are performed.

  The filter processing in the second image data processing device 4 corrects the sharpness and S / N of the RGB image data so that the reproducibility when output to the plotter device 10 which is a printer is improved. Specifically, sharpening / smoothing processing is performed in accordance with mode information for designating desired image processing. For example, in the character mode, a sharpening process is performed to make the character clear / clear, and in the photo mode, a smoothing process is performed to smoothly express gradation. When the second image data processing device 4 receives RGB data of 8 bits, the second image data processing device 4 performs color conversion to CMYK 8 bits, which is a color space for the plotter device. At this time, the saturation is also adjusted according to the mode information designated by the user. Further, the resolution of the CMYK image data is converted in accordance with the performance of the plotter device (printer) 10. Next, the γ characteristic of the CMYK image data is subjected to γ conversion according to the process characteristic of the plotter device 10. When 8 bits of CMYK are received, halftone processing according to the gradation processing capability of the plotter device 10 is performed.

  When receiving the CMYK image data from the second image data processing device 4, the bus control device 3 accumulates it in the memory 8 via the CPU 7. The CMYK image data stored in the memory 8 is sent to the plotter device 10 via the CPU 7 and the plotter I / F device 9. The plotter device 10 outputs the received CMYK image data to transfer paper. That is, an image appears on the paper with a developer.

  The HDD 6 stores digital image data and accompanying information of the digital image data. The HDD 6 is a large-sized storage device that is a main part of the database system of the MFP. As a storage unit for storing data handled by the MFP, parameters (setting values) of various setting items of the printer controller 100 and the setting items. A notification destination flag (Table 1) which is corresponding notification destination information (module identification information) is stored.

  The CPU 7 is a microprocessor that controls the entire control of the multifunction printer MFP. The memory 8 temporarily stores data to be exchanged in order to absorb a speed difference when bridging between a plurality of types of bus standards and a processing speed difference between the connected components themselves, and the CPU 7 performs the digital image processing. It is a volatile memory that temporarily stores programs and intermediate processing data when controlling the apparatus. Since the CPU 7 is required to perform high-speed processing, the system is activated by a boot program stored in the ROM 15 at the normal activation, and thereafter, the processing is performed by a program developed in the memory 8 that can be accessed at high speed.

  When the plotter I / F device 9 receives digital image data composed of CMYK sent via the general-purpose standard I / F integrated with the CPU 7, the plotter I / F device 9 performs a bus bridge process for outputting to the dedicated I / F of the plotter device 10. . The general-purpose standard I / F used in this embodiment is a PCI-Express bus.

  When the plotter device 10 receives the digital image data composed of CMYK, the plotter device 10 outputs the received image data on the transfer paper using an electrophotographic process using a laser beam. Of course, the process used for output can be arbitrarily selected, and may be an ink jet printer that is often used for personal use in recent years.

  S. B. Reference numeral 14 denotes a general-purpose electronic device called a South Bridge. A bus bridge function often used in constructing a CPU system mainly including PCI-Express and an ISA bridge is formed as a general-purpose circuit. In this embodiment, the ROM 15 is bridged. The ROM 15 is a memory that stores a program (including boot) when the CPU 7 performs image processing control.

  The operation display device 5 is an interface between the MFP and the user, and includes an LCD (liquid crystal display device: liquid crystal touch panel) and a key switch. The operation display device 5 displays various statuses, operation methods, and announcements of the device on the LCD. Detects touch input and key switch input.

  The line I / F device 12 is a device that connects a PCI-Express bus and a telephone line. With this apparatus, the MFP can exchange various data via the telephone line. The FAX 16 is a general facsimile machine, and exchanges image data with the digital image processing apparatus via a telephone line. The external I / F device 13 is a device for connecting a PCI-Express bus and an external device, and this machine MFP can exchange various data with the external device by this device. In this embodiment, a network (Ethernet (registered trademark)) and USB are used for the connection I / F. That is, the MFP can connect to a network or an external medium 18 (such as an SD card) via the external I / F device 13 to send image data to the outside or read image data from outside. The PC 17 is a so-called personal computer, and the user performs various controls and input / output of image data with respect to the MFP of this machine via application software and drivers installed in the personal computer. The external medium 18 is a memory device such as a so-called compact flash (registered trademark) card or SD card, and records various electronic data including image data. The user can exchange image data between the MFP and the memory device. Input / output (read, write) can be performed.

  The printer controller 100 designates document image reading (image distribution), printing (PC document printing), copying, or facsimile transmission from the operation display device 5 or the PC 17, and condition input (setting item parameters) for defining these operation contents. In response to the designation or input of (setting value) and the start instruction, the image processing operation of the operation mode corresponding to the designation and input value is set in each part of the image processing of the MFP, and the operation start is instructed. The controller 100 is a scanner controller for document image reading, a printer controller for printing, a copying system controller for copying, a facsimile controller for facsimile transmission / reception, and in the sense of executing all of the combined functions. It is a multi-function printer controller.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the functional configuration of the printer controller 100 related to the implementation of the present invention. The database system 102 includes the HDD 6, the bus control device 3, and the CPU 7 shown in FIG. 1, and the internal module 103 includes a plurality of modules 104 to 108 for controlling or managing the use of the MFP, the in-machine state, and the operation results. ··including. Some of these modules, print management 104, device management 107, counter information management 108,... Are functions of management processing executed by the CPU 7 and the bus control device 3 according to the management program, and management data read / write functions to the HDD 6. is there. The network I / F 105 performs communication management and communication control of the line I / F device 12 and the external I / F device 13. The user I / F 106 performs user management and input / output control of the user input / output I / F 11 connected to the operation display device 5 and the external I / F device 13 communicating with the PC 17 via the network. The storage unit 112 of the database system 102 is configured in the HDD 6, and the parameters (setting values) 113 of various setting items of the printer controller 100 and the module specification for each module indicating whether or not to change the parameters (setting values) are required. A notification destination flag 114, which is information, is stored.

  The database system 102 that implements the present invention includes a setting value change reception 109 that accepts a change in setting value from each module of the internal module 103, registration of necessity of a setting value change notification from each module, and notification destination module registration that accepts an update request. A deletion reception 110, a search 111 for specifying which setting item is targeted, and a storage 112 (HDD 6) for storing data handled by the database system 102. The storage 112 includes various types of printer controller 100. There is a parameter (setting value) 113 of a setting item and a notification destination flag 114 (Table 1) which is module identification information corresponding to the setting item parameter. The database system 102 further compares the parameter (current set value: current value) stored in the storage 112 with a value input from a module (for example, 105, 106). Referring to a value comparison 115 for changing a parameter to an input value and a notification destination flag (notification destination information: module identification information) as a parameter value change, search for and change a module requiring change notification It includes a change notification 116 that issues a notification. These functions, change reception 109, notification destination module registration / deletion reception 110, search 111, value comparison 115, and change notification 116 are included in the parameter (setting value) change processing of the CPU 7.

  FIG. 3 shows an overview of the parameter (setting value) changing process of the CPU 7. When a parameter (setting value) is specified or input for a specific setting item from the operation display device 5 or the PC 17, the user I / F 106 or the network I / F 105 requests the CPU 7 to change the setting value for the specific setting item. Notice. If it is time to accept the set value change, the CPU 7 searches the search 11 to see if there is a change request target (s11, s12). If the target setting item is found as a result of the search, the target setting value 113 stored in the storage 112 is acquired, and the current setting value is compared with the value input at the time of the change request in the value comparison 15 ( s13). If there is a change in the value as a result of the comparison, the setting value stored in the storage 112 is changed to the input value (s14), and then the notification that is the module identification information stored in the storage 112 Each digit of the destination flag 114 is checked bit by bit from the least significant digit (s15, s16), and the notification destination flag is ON (the flag content is “1”) (if the checked bit is ON). From the change notification 116, the changed setting value is notified to the module to which the ON bit in the internal module 103 is addressed (s17). When this is finished for the most significant digit, the changing process is finished (s18, END).

  With the above procedure, for the changed setting value item in the internal module 103, the change of the setting value is notified to all the modules that are set to change notification required (ON) in the notification destination flag 114.

ｓ１６の通知先フラグのチェックについて、表１に、各設定項目に対する通知先フラグ（モジュール特定情報）の例を、表２には、通知先フラグの各ビット桁番に宛てられたモジュールの例を示す。設定項目名には、表２に示すものの他に多数ある。例えば、原稿読取りや複写に関しては、カラー／モノクロ，読取り解像度（ｄｐｉ），明るさ，コントラスト，記録濃度，写真／文章処理，変倍その他があり、複写や印刷に関しては、表１に示す用紙サイズ，給紙トレイ，設定枚数（印刷枚数）などもある。

Regarding the check of the notification destination flag of s16, Table 1 shows an example of a notification destination flag (module specifying information) for each setting item, and Table 2 shows an example of a module addressed to each bit digit number of the notification destination flag. Show. There are many setting item names in addition to those shown in Table 2. For example, for document reading and copying, there are color / monochrome, reading resolution (dpi), brightness, contrast, recording density, photo / text processing, scaling, etc. For copying and printing, the paper sizes shown in Table 1 , Paper feed tray, set number of sheets (number of printed sheets), and the like.

  In this embodiment, a 1-bit flag is assigned to each module. That is, the number of data digits (number of bits) on the module specifying information (bit string) addressed to each module is 1, and the notification destination flag (module specifying information) is a 1-bit bit string addressed to each module (Table 1).

  For example, if the parameter (setting value) of the item “paper size” in Table 1 is changed, the bit of the notification destination flag “01... 111” in Table 1 is ON (“ 1 ”), the module shown in Table 2, that is, the print management unit addressed to the first digit (least significant bit) of the notification destination flag, and the network I / F addressed to the second digit User I / F addressed to the third digit,..., Device management unit addressed to the (N-1) th digit.

  FIG. 4 shows an outline of the notification required registration process executed by the CPU 7 of the printer controller 100 in response to a registration request as a notification destination (change notification required). When a registration request for a certain setting item (target module) for a specific setting item from the internal module 103 comes to the notification destination module registration / deletion reception 110, the registration / deletion process is possible. If there is, the CPU 7 searches whether there is a target setting item in the search 111 (s21, s22). If the target setting item is found as a result of the search, notification of the target module (the digit to which the address is addressed) in the notification destination flag (module identification information) addressed to the setting item stored in the storage 112 Obtain the destination flag (1 bit), perform bit operation (OR) with the registration flag (bit “1”) input at the time of request, and add the result value “1” to the notification destination flag (module identification information). The bit addressed to the target module is updated (s23 to s25). As a result, a module that does not require notification (notification destination flag 1 bit = “0”) is registered as a new notification destination.

  FIG. 5 shows an outline of the change processing to change notification unnecessary, which is executed by the CPU 7 of the printer controller 100 in response to the notification destination deletion request to be a non-notification destination (change notification unnecessary). When a deletion request from a notification destination that makes a certain module (target module) a non-notification destination (no change notification is required) for a specific setting item from the internal module 103 comes to the notification destination module registration / deletion reception 110, If it is the timing at which the deletion can be performed, the CPU 7 searches the search 111 for a target setting item (s31, s32). If the target setting item is found as a result of the search, notification of the target module (the digit to which the address is addressed) in the notification destination flag (module identification information) addressed to the setting item stored in the storage 112 The destination flag (1 bit) is acquired, the deletion flag (bit “0”) input at the time of request is bit-operated (AND), and the result value “0” is added to the notification destination flag (module identification information). The bit addressed to the target module is updated (s33 to s35). As a result, the module requiring notification (notification destination flag 1 bit = “1”) is registered as not requiring change notification (notification destination flag 1 bit = “0”). That is, the change notification requirement is deleted.

  In this way, by assigning each module to each digit of the notification destination flag as shown in Table 2, it is possible to determine a notification destination module that requires a change notification when the setting value is changed. Processing efficiency can be improved.

  1: reading device (document scanner), 2: first image data processing device, 3: bus control device, 4: second image data processing device, 5: operation display device, 6: HDD, 7: CPU, 8: memory 9: Plotter I / F device, 10: Plotter device (printer), 11: User input / output I / F, 12: Line I / F device, 13: External I / F device, 14: S.P. B. (South Bridge), 15: ROM, 16: FAX, 17: PC, 18: External media (SD card, etc.), 100: Printer controller, 102: Database system, 103: Internal module, 104: Print management (Module), 105: network I / F (module), 106: user I / F (module), 107: device management (module), 108: counter information management (module), 109: setting value change acceptance (part) 110: Notification destination module registration / deletion acceptance (part) 111: Search (part) 112: Storage (part) (HDD 6) 113: Parameter setting values of various setting items 114: Notification destination flag (module identification information) ), 115: value comparison, 116: change notification.

JP 2007-336077 A Japanese Patent No. 3747887

Claims (7)

A controller that has a plurality of modules that perform control or management of at least one of device use, in-machine status, and operation results, and sets an operation mode according to an input of an input unit of a device having a plurality of operation modes,
Storage means for storing setting values of a plurality of items specifying the operation mode and module specifying information indicating whether or not notification of change of the setting values is addressed to each module; and
A change notification means for searching for notification necessity in the module specifying information of the setting value item and notifying the notification-needed module of the change of the setting value in response to the change of the setting value in the storage means;
A controller comprising:   The module specifying information is an array of information bits (notification destination flag) assigned to each of the plurality of modules, in which one array is addressed to each of the plurality of items, and the change notification means is changed. If the information bits are to be notified by referring to the information bits of the array addressed to the item of the set value, the change of the set value is notified to the module to which the information bit is addressed; Item 2. The controller according to item 1.   The controller according to claim 1, wherein the device is a document scanner, and the controller is a scanner controller that sets a document reading mode of the document scanner.   The controller according to claim 1, wherein the device is a printer, and the controller is a printer controller that sets a print mode of the printer.   The controller according to claim 1, wherein the device is a copying machine including a document scanner and a printer, and the controller is a copying system controller that sets a copying operation of the printer and the document scanner.   The device includes a document scanner and a printer, and is a multi-function printer that performs a single scanner operation, a single printer operation, and a copying operation. The controller is a multi-function printer controller that sets operation modes of the printer and the document scanner. The controller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The controller according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the device has a facsimile function, and the controller sets an operation mode of the facsimile function.

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