JP6380815B2 - Storage device use management program and electronic device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage area management program that uses a life-span nonvolatile storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), and an electronic device that includes the storage area management program.

  HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) are widely used as nonvolatile storage devices used in image forming apparatuses and other electronic devices. In recent years, non-volatile memory devices using semiconductors such as SSDs and NAND flash devices are also used due to technological advances and cost reductions related to semiconductors. The time required for reading is shorter than that of the HDD, which is useful. However, many nonvolatile memory devices using semiconductors have a lifetime due to the limit of the number of times of writing. It cannot be used permanently, and it is necessary to keep this in mind when using it.

  With respect to this point, Patent Document 1 discloses an image processing apparatus that calculates the number of processing pages and the number of executions for each type of image processing, calculates the number of times of writing, and notifies that when the number of times of writing exceeds a threshold value. Yes.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an image forming apparatus that restricts writing to a lifetime nonvolatile memory device when the number of defective blocks of the lifetime nonvolatile memory device reaches a specific number.

JP 2013-152661 A JP 2009-055457 A

  The image processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 notifies that the number of writings is equal to or greater than a threshold value, that is, it is difficult to execute a job. Is left to the user's discretion. It is not easy for the user to make such a determination.

  The image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 uniformly restricts all jobs. Jobs with high demand by users cannot be executed exceptionally.

  The present invention makes efficient use of a non-volatile storage device by giving priority to a job having a high use efficiency of the non-volatile storage device while the writing of the non-volatile storage device having a limited number of times of writing such as SSD is limited. It is an object to provide a storage device use management program for an electronic device. It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic device including a storage device use management program.

The storage device use management program of the present invention includes:
A storage device use management program for managing the use of a nonvolatile storage device having a limit on the number of times of writing provided in an electronic device,
The job is classified into classes, and the performance evaluation value of the job and the amount of data written to the nonvolatile storage device are recorded for each class, and the efficiency index based on the execution evaluation value and the amount of write data The electronic device as a job control unit that limits execution of jobs of a specific number of classes from the top when the efficiency index value is equal to or less than a threshold value or when the classes are arranged in ascending order of the efficiency index It is characterized by functioning a computer.

  According to this feature, the execution of a job can be controlled (restricted or unrestricted) depending on the class of the job. The efficiency index can determine the degree to be unrestricted.

The storage device use management program of the present invention includes:
The execution evaluation value is a job execution count.

  According to this feature, the efficiency index can be determined depending on the number of job executions. Further, it is possible to perform control that increases the possibility that a class to which a frequently executed job (large demand) belongs is not restricted.

The storage device use management program of the present invention includes:
The user is assigned an importance,
The execution evaluation value is a value obtained by adding the importance related to a user who gives an instruction to execute each job execution.

  According to this feature, the execution evaluation value of a class to which a job executed by a user with high importance belongs is large. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that a job of a class frequently executed by a user having a high degree of importance will be restricted.

The storage device use management program of the present invention includes:
The efficiency index is a decrease function of the average write data amount that is the write data amount per job, and is an increase function of the execution evaluation value.

  According to this feature, the smaller the average write data amount, the higher the efficiency index. A job with a small burden on the nonvolatile storage device is preferentially executed. Further, the larger the execution evaluation value, the higher the efficiency index. A job that is frequently executed (large demand) is preferentially executed.

The storage device use management program of the present invention includes:
The efficiency index is a value obtained by dividing the execution evaluation value by the average write data amount.

  According to this feature, the efficiency index can be obtained by a simple calculation.

The storage device use management program of the present invention includes:
The job control unit monitors the number of writes in the nonvolatile storage device, and determines a class for determining whether to limit job execution based on the number of writes.

  According to this feature, it is possible to change the job execution limit based on the number of times of writing in the nonvolatile storage device and to effectively use the nonvolatile storage device.

The electronic device of the present invention is
A processor that executes a storage device use management program; and a nonvolatile storage device that has a limit on the number of writes.
The storage device use management program is a storage device use management program for electronic devices described above.

  According to this feature, an electronic apparatus utilizing the above-described storage device management program is provided.

  An image forming apparatus using the above-described storage device management program can be provided. The image forming apparatus can easily classify color printing, monochrome printing, and other jobs into classes, and is suitable for utilizing the storage device management program of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a storage device usage management program that prioritizes jobs with high use efficiency of a nonvolatile storage device and efficiently uses the nonvolatile storage device. In addition, an electronic apparatus provided with a storage device use management program is provided.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic device. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a calculation example of the efficiency index. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing of the storage device use management program.

  Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described assuming that the electronic apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus (electronic device) 1 includes a control unit 2 and a storage unit 3.

  The control unit 2 includes a job control unit 21 and a performance recording unit 22.

  The job control unit 21 calculates an efficiency index and restricts execution of a job of a class having a low efficiency index. Details will be described later.

  The performance record unit 22 aggregates the number of job executions, the execution evaluation value, and the amount of data written to the nonvolatile storage device by class, and records them in the storage device 32.

  The control unit 2 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example, and operates as the job control unit 21 and the performance recording unit 22 by executing a program. A storage device usage management program for electronic devices is configured by the programs related to the job control unit 21 and the performance recording unit 22.

  The storage unit 3 includes an SSD (Solid State Drive) 31 and a storage device (for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive)) 32 with no limit on the number of times of writing.

  The SSD 31 is widely used and is provided with a limit on the number of times of writing. The SSD 31 has a plurality of physical blocks. The number of writes to each block is leveled between a plurality of blocks by the function of the SSD 31. When the number of times of writing to the same block reaches the upper limit value, writing to that block becomes impossible and a defective block is formed. That is, the life of the SSD 31 depends on the amount of data written to the SSD 31. Therefore, the occurrence of defective blocks can be roughly estimated by counting the amount of data written to the SSD 31. Further, the SSD 31 notifies the so-called S.D. M.M. A. R. T.A. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology)

  Incidentally, when the ratio of bad blocks to all blocks of the SSD 31 reaches a specific value (for example, 10%), the life of the SSD 31 is exhausted. Since the number of writes to each block is leveled among a plurality of blocks, the number of writes to the SSD 31 with respect to the number of writes required for all blocks of the SSD 31 to become defective blocks (specifically, the write to each block of the SSD 31) When the ratio of the total number of times reaches a specific value (for example, 10%), it can be said that the life of the SSD 31 has expired.

  The storage device 32 with no limit on the number of times of writing stores the number of times of execution 321, the execution evaluation value 322, and the amount of write data 323. However, the execution count 321 and the execution evaluation value 322 may be the same (or proportional) as described later. In that case, either one may be saved.

  The procedure for actually restricting job execution will be described below.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a calculation example of the efficiency index. The efficiency index e is obtained by classifying jobs into classes. In this embodiment, the electronic apparatus according to the present invention is the image forming apparatus 1 and is classified into classes such as Print Mono (monochrome printing), Print Color (color printing), and Copy (copy).

  The job execution count n (321), the execution evaluation value N (322), and the write data amount d (323) are tabulated by the record recording unit 22 and stored in the storage device 32. Each time the job is executed, the result recording unit 22 increases the value of the number of executions n by 1 and increases the value of the execution evaluation value N (322) by the importance of the user who has instructed execution of the job. The value of the amount d is increased by the amount of data written in the SSD 31 (for example, in megabyte units).

  Here, the importance of the user who instructed the execution of the job is a value assigned to each user. The user who has instructed execution of the job can be determined by the user ID or the like, and the result recording unit 22 adds the importance of the user to the value of the execution evaluation value N (322).

  The procedure to determine the importance level based on the user is to hold and use the data indicating the correspondence between the user and the importance level, attach the user name according to a predetermined rule, obtain the importance level from the user name, execute the job Any other procedure may be used in which the importance is obtained (estimating the user) based on the instructed terminal ID.

  As the importance, for example, the importance of a general user is 1, the importance of a user in a higher rank in the company is 2, and the importance of a user who is involved in an important and urgent project is 3. The importance can be increased so as not to limit the jobs that the user instructs to execute.

  Note that the importance may be the same for all users. In this case, the execution count n and the execution evaluation value N are equal (or proportional). In this case, only one of the execution count n and the execution evaluation value N may be stored.

  The average write data amount m is the write data amount per job, and is calculated as m = d / n. The record recording unit 22 may store the average write data amount m in the storage device 32 (as the write data amount 323) instead of the write data amount d.

  The efficiency index e is calculated by the job control unit 21 as e = f (n, N, d) based on the execution count n, the execution evaluation value N, and the write data amount d. In this embodiment, e = f (n, N, d) = N / m = N / (d / n) = nN / d. The function f can be designed arbitrarily. For example, e = f ′ (N, m) = N / m may be set. However, the smaller the average write data amount and the larger the execution evaluation value, the higher the efficiency index should be. That is, the efficiency index e should be expressed as a decreasing function of the average write data amount m and expressed as an increasing function of the execution evaluation value N. Therefore, when f (n, N, d) can be changed to f ′ (N, m) (when d is replaced with nm and the function f can be changed to a function f ′ of the variable N and m not including the variable n). ∂f ′ / ∂N> 0 and ∂f ′ / ∂m <0.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing of the storage device use management program. When job execution is requested (step 21a), the job control unit 21 is activated.

  First, the job control unit 21 monitors and acquires the write count of the SSD 31 (step 21b). Specifically, from SSD 31 to S.I. M.M. A. R. T.A. What is necessary is just to acquire information.

  Next, the job control unit 21 calculates an efficiency index for each class (step 21c). The job control unit 21 reads the execution evaluation value N (322) and the write data amount d (323) from the storage device 32, and calculates the efficiency index e as e = f (n, N, d). Note that the order of step 21b and step 21c is arbitrary, and may be reversed.

  Next, the job control unit 21 determines an execution restriction class (step 21d). The restriction of execution is performed in order from the class with the smallest efficiency index e. For example, if the write count of the SSD 31 exceeds the threshold value, the job control unit 21 restricts execution (not to execute) of the class having the smallest efficiency index value. Further, thresholds for restricting the execution of the n classes in order from the smallest efficiency index value are set to n = 2, 3,. . . You may provide about each of these. Note that the threshold for the number of writings may be a number corresponding to a specific ratio (for example, 90%) with respect to the number of writings required for the life of the SSD 31 to be exhausted. In this case, if the number of times the SSD 31 is written is ((number of times required for the life of the SSD 31 to be exhausted) − (threshold)) times, the life of the SSD 31 is exhausted. In the embodiment of the present invention, the writing to the SSD 31 during this period can be selectively restricted to efficiently use the SSD 31.

  Here, instead of restricting the execution of one (n) classes in order from the smallest value of the efficiency index, a threshold relating to the efficiency index value is provided, and the class having the efficiency index value equal to or lower than the threshold is set. It is also possible to restrict the execution of.

In FIG. 2, the classes are Print Color, Print Mono, Copy, and ScanToBox in descending order of efficiency index. It is conceivable to limit the execution of jobs corresponding to one or a plurality of classes in the reverse order as the number of writes of the SSD 31 increases. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, assuming that the execution of jobs corresponding to two classes is restricted in the reverse order (lowest order) of the efficiency index, the job control unit 21 determines ScanToBox and Copy as effective restriction classes.
In addition, the execution of jobs corresponding to classes less than the efficiency index threshold value may be restricted. For example, if the threshold value of the efficiency index is 15, the job control unit 21 determines ScanToBox, Copy, and Print Mono as effective restriction classes.

  Here, in FIG. 2, the number of executions n and the execution evaluation value N do not match. That is, processing based on the importance of the user is performed. If the importance level is not processed (equivalent to all users having the same importance level), the execution evaluation value N is equal to the execution count n. In FIG. 2, assuming that N = n and calculating the efficiency index with e = n / m instead of e = N / m, the efficiency index of Print Mono is 5, which is smaller than Copy. When restricting the execution of jobs corresponding to the two classes in the reverse order of the efficiency index, ScanToBox and Print Mono are the execution restriction classes. The execution restriction class is different from the case of processing importance.

  When the importance is processed, the print evaluation value N of Print Mono is larger than the number of executions n (compared with other classes). Print Mono is frequently used by high-value users. By processing the importance level, the possibility of restricting the execution of a job (important for business) frequently used by a user having a high importance level is reduced.

  Note that the processing from step 21b to step 21d does not necessarily have to be performed every time job execution is requested. The class for limiting the execution obtained in step 21d may be stored and applied to subsequent jobs. Changes in the number of SSD 31 writes and the efficiency index that occur due to one job execution can be assumed in advance, so the execution restriction class is fixed as long as the execution restriction class changes (for example, during 10 job executions). This is because it does not become a big problem.

  Next, the job control unit 21 determines whether or not the requested job belongs to the execution restriction class (step 21e), and executes the job if it does not belong to the execution restriction class (step 21e: No) (step 21e). 21g).

  If it belongs to the execution restriction class (step 21e: Yes), execution with user privileges is determined (step 21f). Execution with user privileges is permitted for execution for a given user, or is the execution restriction target for a given user with a large efficiency index value (for example, changed to a value multiplied by the importance of that user) Any other thing that recalculates whether or not. If execution with user privileges is permitted (step 21f: Yes), the job is executed (step 21g). If execution with user privileges is not permitted (step 21f: No), the job is not executed. Note that it is not always necessary to determine whether to execute with user privileges (step 21f). It can be used exceptionally for urgent processing, etc., and there may be operational situations where it is not necessary.

  Thereafter, the performance recording unit 22 updates the values of the execution count 321, the execution evaluation value 322, and the write data amount 323 (step 22a), and the processing of the storage device use management program is terminated.

  Here, it is assumed that the update of the execution count 321, the execution evaluation value 322, and the write data amount 323 (step 22 a) is performed even when the job is not executed. This is because a job that has not been executed is considered to be in demand due to a request. Note that the write data amount 323 may not be accurately obtained unless the job is actually executed. In that case, another method may be used in which the write data amount is estimated, the average write data amount is retained and not updated.

  As described above in detail, in the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the storage device use management program determines a job to be executed based on the efficiency index. The non-volatile storage device can be used efficiently by prioritizing jobs with high use efficiency of the non-volatile storage device.

  For electronic devices that make efficient use of non-volatile storage devices by prioritizing jobs with high use efficiency of non-volatile storage devices while the writing of non-volatile storage devices with limited number of writes such as SSD is limited A storage device use management program and an electronic device provided with the storage device use management program are considered to be used by many electronic device producers.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Control part 21 Job control part 22 Performance recording part 3 Storage part 31 SSD
32 Storage device 321 Number of executions 322 Execution evaluation value 323 Write data amount

Claims (7)

A storage device use management program for managing the use of a nonvolatile storage device having a limit on the number of times of writing provided in an electronic device,
The job is classified into classes, and the performance evaluation value of the job and the amount of data written to the nonvolatile storage device are recorded for each class, and the efficiency index based on the execution evaluation value and the amount of write data The electronic device as a job control unit that limits execution of jobs of a specific number of classes from the top when the efficiency index value is equal to or less than a threshold value or when the classes are arranged in ascending order of the efficiency index Storage device usage management program that allows computers to function.   The storage device use management program according to claim 1, wherein the execution evaluation value is the number of executions of a job. The user is assigned an importance,
2. The storage device use management program according to claim 1, wherein the execution evaluation value is a value obtained by adding the importance related to a user who has instructed execution for each execution of a job.   The efficiency index is a decrease function of an average write data amount that is the write data amount per job, and is an increase function of the execution evaluation value. The storage device use management program according to the item.   5. The storage device use management program according to claim 4, wherein the efficiency index is a value obtained by dividing the execution evaluation value by the average write data amount.   The job control unit monitors a write count of the non-volatile storage device, and determines a class for determining whether to limit job execution based on the write count. The storage device use management program according to any one of the above. A processor that executes a storage device use management program; and a nonvolatile storage device that has a limit on the number of writes.
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device use management program is a storage device use management program for an electronic device according to claim 1.