JP6210022B2 - Information processing apparatus and memory access arbitration method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including a plurality of modules that can access a memory connected via a bus, and a memory access arbitration method.

  In general, an information processing apparatus including a plurality of modules that can access a memory connected via a bus is known. In this type of information processing apparatus, access to the memory may compete between a plurality of modules. On the other hand, a configuration is known in which contention for access to a memory is arbitrated based on a priority set in advance for each module (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-284056 A

  By the way, it is conceivable that the usage frequency of each function of the information processing apparatus differs for each user. However, when the priority for each module is fixed and set, the frequency of use of the user in each function is not reflected in the processing speed of the function.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of changing the processing speed of each function according to the use frequency of a user in a configuration for arbitrating contention for access to a memory based on a priority set in advance for each module, And providing a memory access arbitration method.

  An information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of modules, an arbitration unit, a frequency acquisition unit, and a priority change unit. The plurality of modules can access a memory connected via a bus. When the access to the memory competes among a plurality of the modules, the arbitration unit arbitrates the access competition to the memory based on a priority set in advance for each module. The frequency acquisition unit acquires the usage frequency of each of the modules. The priority changing unit changes the priority of each of the modules according to the usage frequency of each of the modules acquired by the frequency acquiring unit.

  A memory access arbitration method according to another aspect of the present invention includes the following first step, second step, and third step. In the first step, when access to the memory competes between a plurality of modules accessible to the memory connected via the bus, the first step is performed to the memory based on a priority set in advance for each module. Mediate access conflicts. The second step acquires the usage frequency of each of the modules. In the third step, the priority of each module is changed according to the frequency of use of each module acquired in the second step.

  According to the present invention, an information processing apparatus capable of changing the processing speed of each function according to the use frequency of a user in a configuration for arbitrating contention for access to a memory based on a priority set in advance for each module; And a memory access arbitration method is realized.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of priorities set in the modules of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of priority change processing executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of changing the priority set in the module of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: The thing of the character which limits the technical scope of this invention is not.

[Schematic Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 10]
First, a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an ADF 1, an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, a first control unit 5, an operation display unit 6, a storage unit 7, and A second control unit 8 is provided. The image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a scan function, a facsimile function, and a copy function, in addition to a printer function for forming an image based on image data. Here, an apparatus including the first control unit 5 and the second control unit 8 is an example of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. Further, the present invention is applicable to information processing apparatuses such as a scanner apparatus, a printer apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a copier, a personal computer, a tablet terminal, and a smartphone.

  The ADF 1 is an automatic document feeder that includes a document setting unit, a plurality of conveyance rollers, a document pressing unit, and a paper discharge unit, and conveys a document read by the image reading unit 2. The image reading unit 2 includes a document table, a reading unit, a plurality of mirrors, an optical lens, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and can execute image reading processing for reading image data from a document.

  The image forming unit 3 forms an image by an electrophotographic method based on image data read by the image reading unit 2 or image data input from an information processing apparatus such as an external personal computer ( Print processing) can be executed. Specifically, the image forming unit 3 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an optical scanning device (LSU), a developing device, a transfer roller, a cleaning device, a fixing roller, a pressure roller, and a paper discharge tray. In the image forming unit 3, an image is formed on the sheet supplied from the paper feeding unit 4, and the sheet after the image formation is discharged to the paper discharge tray. The sheet is a sheet material such as paper, coated paper, postcard, envelope, and OHP sheet.

  The first control unit 5 includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM (not shown). The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which information such as a control program for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile storage unit, and the EEPROM is a non-volatile storage unit. The RAM and the EEPROM are used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU. The first control unit 5 performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 10 by executing various control programs stored in advance in the ROM using the CPU.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus 10, a job relating to image processing is executed by the first control unit 5 executing the control program. Specifically, the job executed by the image forming apparatus 10 includes a copy job, a print job, a fax job, and a preview display job.

  The copy job is a job for causing the image forming unit 3 to print image data of a document read by the image reading unit 2. The print job is a job for causing the image forming unit 3 to print image data transmitted from an external information processing apparatus. The fax job is a job for executing fax communication with an external fax communication apparatus. Specifically, the fax job includes a fax transmission job for transmitting image data of a document read by the image reading unit 2 to the external fax communication apparatus, and image data transmitted from the external fax communication apparatus. A fax reception job to be printed by the image forming unit 3 is included. The preview display job is a job for displaying a preview image of the image data stored in the storage unit 7 on the operation display unit 6.

  The operation display unit 6 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various types of information according to control instructions from the first control unit 5, and various types of information displayed on the first control unit 5 according to user operations. And an operation unit such as an operation key or a touch panel.

  The storage unit 7 is a storage device such as an SSD (solid state drive) or an HDD (hard disk drive). The storage unit 7 stores image data read by the image reading unit 2 and the like.

  Incidentally, an information processing apparatus such as the image forming apparatus 10 may be provided with a plurality of modules capable of accessing a memory connected via a bus. In this type of information processing apparatus, access to the memory may compete between a plurality of modules. On the other hand, a configuration is known in which contention for access to a memory is arbitrated based on a priority set in advance for each module.

  Here, it is conceivable that the usage frequency of each function of the information processing apparatus differs for each user. However, when the priority for each module is fixed and set, the frequency of use of the user in each function is not reflected in the processing speed of the function. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 10, as described below, the processing speed of each function can be changed according to the use frequency of the user.

  Hereinafter, the second control unit 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  The second control unit 8 is an integrated circuit that is provided separately from the first control unit 5 that controls the image forming apparatus 10 in an integrated manner, and includes a plurality of modules that perform functions of the image forming apparatus 10. is there. For example, the second control unit 8 is configured as an ASIC.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the second control unit 8 includes an image input circuit 81, a copy processing circuit 82, an image output circuit 83, a print processing circuit 84, a fax processing circuit 85, a preview display circuit 86, a memory, A controller 87, a memory 88, and a bus arbitration circuit 89 are provided. In the second control unit 8, the image input circuit 81, the copy processing circuit 82, the image output circuit 83, the print processing circuit 84, the fax processing circuit 85, the preview display circuit 86, and the memory controller 87. The bus arbitration circuit 89 is connected to be communicable with each other via a bus 80. Here, the image input circuit 81, the copy processing circuit 82, the image output circuit 83, the print processing circuit 84, the fax processing circuit 85, and the preview display circuit 86 are examples of a plurality of modules in the present invention. In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish between them, they are referred to as modules 8X.

  The image input circuit 81 performs image processing such as shading correction processing and gamma correction processing on the image data input from the CCD of the image reading unit 2, and stores the image data after the image processing in the memory 88 or The data is stored in the storage unit 7.

  The copy processing circuit 82 executes image processing on the image data read from the memory 88 based on the execution condition of the copy job preset by the user, and the image data after the image processing is stored in the memory 88. Remember me. For example, the copy processing circuit 82 includes an encoding circuit 821 that performs compression / decompression processing on image data, and an image processing circuit 822 that performs image processing such as rotation processing and scaling processing on image data. .

  The image output circuit 83 reads the image data from the memory 88, executes image processing such as screen processing, and outputs the image data after image processing to the optical scanning device of the image forming unit 3.

  The print processing circuit 84 executes image processing on the image data transmitted from the external information processing apparatus based on the execution condition of the print job preset by the user, and the image data after the image processing Is stored in the memory 88. For example, the print processing circuit 84 includes a network I / F 841 that receives image data transmitted from the external information processing apparatus, an encoding circuit 842 that performs compression / decompression processing on the image data, and image data. An image processing circuit 843 that executes image processing such as rasterization processing, rotation processing, and scaling processing.

  The fax processing circuit 85 executes image processing on the image data read from the memory 88 based on a preset execution condition of the fax transmission job, and the image data after the image processing is processed as the external fax. Send to communication device. The fax processing circuit 85 performs image processing on image data transmitted from the external fax communication device based on a preset execution condition of the fax reception job, and performs image processing after image processing. Data is stored in the memory 88. For example, the fax processing circuit 85 includes an encoding circuit 851 that compresses and decompresses image data using a method suitable for the fax communication, and an image processing circuit 852 that executes image processing such as rotation processing and scaling processing on the image data. And a fax I / F 853 for transmitting image data to the external fax communication apparatus and receiving image data transmitted from the external fax communication apparatus.

  The preview display circuit 86 causes the operation display unit 6 to display a preview image of the image data stored in the storage unit 7. For example, the preview display circuit 86 performs a scaling process on the image data read from the storage unit 7 and stores the image data after image processing in the memory 88, and the A drawing circuit 862 for displaying image data after image processing by the image processing circuit 861 on the operation display unit 6 is included.

  The memory controller 87 executes image data writing processing and reading processing for the memory 88 in response to an access request to the memory 88 from each of the modules 8X.

  The memory 88 is a storage device used as a work area for image processing by each of the modules 8X. For example, the memory 88 is a DDR-SDRAM.

  The bus arbitration circuit 89 arbitrates access conflict to the memory 88 based on a priority set in advance for each of the modules 8X when access to the memory 88 conflicts among the plurality of modules 8X. To do. The bus arbitration circuit 89 is an example of an arbitration unit in the present invention. The processing executed by the bus arbitration circuit 89 is an example of the first step in the present invention.

  For example, in the image forming apparatus 10, five levels of the priority are set for each of the modules 8X. The bus arbitration circuit 89 includes a register 891 that stores the priority set for each of the modules 8X. FIG. 4 shows an example of the priority set for each of the modules 8X stored in the register 891. In FIG. 4, the higher the value set as the priority, the higher the module 8X, the higher priority is given to access to the memory 88. For example, when the access to the memory 88 of the image input circuit 81 of priority 5 and the preview display circuit 86 of priority 3 competes, the bus arbitration circuit 89 may display the image input circuit 81 and the preview display. The right to use the bus 80 is allocated so that the number of times of data transmission using the bus 80 of the circuit 86 becomes a ratio of 5 to 3. It should be noted that the setting contents of the priority and the arbitration method of contention for access to the memory 88 by the bus arbitration circuit 89 may be different from the above.

  By the way, when the image reading process is executed by the image reading unit 2, image data for one page of the document is continuously input from the CCD to the image input circuit 81. Here, when the input speed of the image data from the CCD to the image input circuit 81 exceeds the transmission speed of the image data from the image input circuit 81 to the memory 88, the image reading unit 2 reads the image data. A so-called overflow may occur in which part of the image data is not stored in the memory 88. When the printing process is executed in the image forming unit 3, the output speed of the image data from the image output circuit 83 to the optical scanning device is the speed of the image data from the memory 88 to the image output circuit 83. When the transmission speed is exceeded, so-called overrun in which an abnormal image is formed in the image forming unit 3 may occur. For this reason, it is preferable that the higher priority is set for the image input circuit 81 and the image output circuit 83 in each of the modules 8X than for the other modules 8X.

  On the other hand, the first control unit 5 includes an execution number counting unit 51, a frequency obtaining unit 52, and a priority changing unit 53, as shown in FIG. Specifically, a priority change program for causing the CPU to execute a priority change process described later (see FIG. 5) is stored in advance in the ROM of the first control unit 5. The priority changing program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD, DVD, or flash memory, and is read from the recording medium and stored in a storage unit such as the EEPROM of the first control unit 5. It may be installed. Then, the first control unit 5 executes the priority change program stored in the ROM using the CPU, whereby the execution number counting unit 51, the frequency acquisition unit 52, and the priority It functions as the changing unit 53.

  The execution number counting unit 51 counts the number of executions of each job. For example, in the image forming apparatus 10, the number of execution times of each job is stored in the EEPROM. Specifically, the execution number counting unit 51 increments the execution number of the job related to the execution stored in the EEPROM each time the job is executed, thereby obtaining the execution number of the job. Count. The execution number counting unit 51 may count the number of executions of each of the jobs for each predetermined period, and the number of executions of each of the jobs from the start of use of the image forming apparatus 10. May be counted. In addition, the execution number counting unit 51 may be configured for each user as long as the image forming apparatus 10 can identify the execution subject of each job, such as requesting a user login operation as a premise of execution of each job. It is also conceivable to count the number of executions of each job.

  The frequency acquisition unit 52 acquires the usage frequency of each of the modules 8X.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus 10, each of the plurality of modules 8X is provided corresponding to the type of job. That is, the copy processing circuit 82 is provided corresponding to the copy job, and the print processing circuit 84 is provided corresponding to the print job. Further, the fax processing circuit 85 is provided corresponding to the fax job, and the preview display circuit 86 is provided corresponding to the preview display job. The image input circuit 81 is shared by the copy job and the fax job. The image output circuit 83 is shared by the copy job, the print job, and the fax job.

  The frequency acquisition unit 52 acquires the execution frequency for each type of job as the usage frequency of each module 8X. Specifically, the frequency acquisition unit 52 acquires the execution frequency for each type of the read job as the usage frequency of each module 8X by reading the number of executions of each of the jobs stored in the EEPROM. . Thereby, the acquisition process of the usage frequency of each module 8X is simplified. The frequency acquisition unit 52 acquires the number of executions in the most recent period as the usage frequency when the execution number counting unit 51 counts the number of executions of each job for each predetermined period. Can be considered. In addition, when the execution count counter 51 counts the number of executions of each job for each user, the frequency acquisition unit 52 executes the number of executions of each job corresponding to the logged-in user for each user login. It is also conceivable to acquire as a usage frequency.

  The priority changing unit 53 changes the priority of each of the modules 8X according to the usage frequency of each of the modules 8X acquired by the frequency acquiring unit 52. Specifically, the priority changing unit 53 changes the priority of each of the modules 8X for each predetermined time including when the image forming apparatus 10 is powered on or returned from the power saving mode. . The priority changing unit 53 changes the priority of each module 8X for each user login when the frequency acquisition unit 52 acquires the usage frequency of each module 8X for each user login. It is possible to do.

[Priority change processing]
Hereinafter, an example of a procedure of priority change processing executed by the first control unit 5 according to the priority change program in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, Steps S1, S2,... Represent processing procedure (step) numbers executed by the first control unit 5.

<Step S1>
First, in step S <b> 1, the first control unit 5 determines whether the image forming apparatus 10 is turned on or returned from the power saving mode.

  If the first control unit 5 determines that the image forming apparatus 10 is turned on or is restored from the power saving mode (Yes in S1), the process proceeds to step S2. As a result, in the image forming apparatus 10, the priority of each of the modules 8X is periodically changed to contents corresponding to the use frequency of each of the jobs. If the image forming apparatus 10 is not turned on or returned from the power saving mode (No side of S1), the first control unit 5 turns on the image forming apparatus 10 in step S1. Wait for return from power saving mode.

<Step S2>
In step S2, the first control unit 5 reads the number of executions of each of the jobs stored in the EEPROM, and uses the number of executions of each of the read jobs as the frequency of use of each module 8X corresponding to each of the jobs. Get as. Here, the process of step S2 is an example of a second step in the present invention, and is executed by the frequency acquisition unit 52 of the first control unit 5.

<Step S3>
In step S3, the first control unit 5 changes the priority of each module 8X according to the usage frequency of each module 8X acquired in step S2. Here, the process of step S3 is an example of a third step in the present invention, and is executed by the priority changing unit 53 of the first control unit 5.

  Specifically, the first control unit 5 acquires an initial priority value of each of the modules 8X stored in advance in the ROM as an initial setting value. Then, the first control unit 5 changes the initial priority value of each module 8X by adding a change value corresponding to the usage frequency of each module 8X, and the initial priority after the change. The degree value is stored in the resist 891 of the bus arbitration circuit 89 as the priority.

  Here, FIG. 6 shows an example of the initial priority and the change value. As shown in FIG. 6, in the image forming apparatus 10, the initial priority of the image input circuit 81 and the image output circuit 83 is set to a higher value than the other modules 8 </ b> X. The priority value is set as it is as the priority. This is to suppress the occurrence of the overflow during the execution of the image reading process and the occurrence of the overrun during the execution of the printing process. Of course, the initial priority value may be changed according to the frequency of use of the image input circuit 81 and the image output circuit 83. In this case, for example, it is conceivable to add the change value corresponding to the average value of the number of executions of the copy job and the fax job sharing the image input circuit 81.

  For example, the first control unit 5 increases the priority of the module 8X that is least frequently used. Thereby, for example, the execution of the job used only in an emergency can be prioritized over the execution of the job frequently used during normal times. Further, it is conceivable that the first control unit 5 lowers the priority of the module 8X having the highest use frequency. Accordingly, it is possible to give priority to the execution of the plurality of jobs used only in an emergency over the execution of the jobs frequently used during normal times. Furthermore, the first control unit 5 may increase the priority of the module 8X having the highest use frequency. For example, when the frequently used job is important for the user, the execution of the job important for the user can be prioritized over the execution of the other jobs.

  Thus, in the priority change process, the priority of each of the modules 8X corresponding to each job is changed according to the use frequency of each job. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 10, it is possible to change the processing speed of each function according to the use frequency of the user.

1: ADF
2: Image reading unit 3: Image forming unit 4: Paper feeding unit 5: First control unit 51: Execution number counting unit 52: Frequency acquisition unit 53: Priority changing unit 6: Operation display unit 7: Storage unit 8: First 2 control unit 80: bus 81: image input circuit 82: copy processing circuit 83: image output circuit 84: print processing circuit 85: fax processing circuit 86: preview display circuit 87: memory controller 88: memory 89: bus arbitration circuit 10: Image forming apparatus

Claims (4)

A plurality of modules that are accessible to the memory connected via the bus and are provided corresponding to the type of job executed by the own device ;
When access to the memory conflicts between a plurality of the modules, an arbitration unit that arbitrates access conflict to the memory based on a preset priority for each module;
An execution number counting unit for counting the number of executions of each of the jobs;
A frequency acquisition unit that acquires an execution frequency for each type of the job as a usage frequency of each of the modules corresponding to the type of the job ;
A priority changing unit that changes the priority of each of the modules according to the frequency of use of each of the modules acquired by the frequency acquiring unit;
Equipped with a,
The execution number counting unit counts the number of executions of each job for each user who logs in to the device,
The frequency acquisition unit acquires the number of executions of each of the jobs corresponding to the logged-in user as the usage frequency of each of the modules corresponding to the type of job for each login of the user,
The priority change portion, the information processing apparatus to change the priority of the module respectively for each user login. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the priority changing unit increases the priority of the module that is least frequently used. The priority change portion, the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 using the frequency lowers the priority of the highest the module. A first control unit including a CPU and a memory that is accessible via a bus and includes a plurality of modules provided corresponding to the type of job executed by the own device, and a second including an arbitration unit A memory access arbitration method executed by an information processing device comprising a control unit,
A first step of arbitrating access competition to the memory based on a priority set in advance for each module when the arbitration unit competes for access to the memory among the plurality of modules;
A counting step in which the first control unit counts the number of executions of each of the jobs;
A second step in which the first control unit acquires an execution frequency for each type of job as a use frequency of each of the modules corresponding to the type of job ;
A third step in which the first control unit changes the priority of each of the modules in accordance with a use frequency of each of the modules acquired by the second step;
Only including,
In the counting step, the number of executions of each job is counted for each user who logs in to the device,
In the second step, for each login of the user, the number of executions of each of the jobs corresponding to the logged-in user is acquired as the usage frequency of each of the modules corresponding to the type of the job,
In the third step, a memory access arbitration method in which the priority of each of the modules is changed every time a user logs in .

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