JP6746379B2 - Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device to which a plurality of storage devices are connected, a control method thereof, and a program thereof.

In recent years, a high-performance MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) is required to have a storage medium capable of high-speed processing in response to the demand for high image quality and high-performance processing. Up to now, the request has been dealt with by performing striping processing using a plurality of magnetic storage devices (HDD: Hard Disk Drives). However, since a plurality of HDDs are used, there are problems that power consumption is high and that startup time is slow due to spin-up at startup.
On the other hand, semiconductor memory devices (SSD: Solid State Drives) have begun to be used in various information processing devices due to the speeding up and cost reduction of semiconductor memories. Since SSD has no mechanical drive parts, it does not have a spin-up time for a disk like an HDD and has a short startup time. Therefore, the problem of startup time can be solved by changing the storage medium from HDD to SSD for use. However, if the SSD having the same capacity as the HDD is used as a substitute, the byte unit price is still high and it becomes very expensive. In addition, the SSD has a limit in the number of block erases, and if data writing concentrates on the SSD, the number of erases of the SSD increases, resulting in a short product life.

Therefore, there is a method in which the high-speed processing part is supplemented by the SSD, the HDD and the SSD are mixedly mounted, and the capacity is supplemented by the HDD. The storage capacity of SSD is kept to the minimum necessary, and HDD and SSD are selectively used for each processing unit executed in the system. For each processing unit, low priority processing is gradually used for SSD. A method of applying a limit has been proposed. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

JP 2014-32582 JP

In the method of Patent Document 1, the priority of SSD use is set for each job process according to the level indicating the life status of the SSD. The use of SSDs is restricted from the one with the lowest priority, and the HDD is allowed to take the place of them. However, when the SSD job processing is sent to the HDD, the user feels that the processing suddenly becomes slow due to the difference in data transfer speed. Therefore, instead of switching the SSD job processing to the HDD at a certain point in time, gradually switching to the HDD to secure a certain data transfer speed, while the user is advised that the SSD lifespan is approaching. It is desirable to notify them.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following features.
In an information processing device that connects at least two storage devices, a semiconductor storage device and a magnetic storage device, and controls a write destination when writing data to the storage device, a plurality of warnings determined from the number of writes of the semiconductor storage device Holding means for holding a level, a write ratio to the semiconductor memory device and the magnetic memory device corresponding to each warning level, and a total number of times of writing in the semiconductor memory device; and a 1 Cell based on the total number of times of writing. Each time the number of writes is updated, the warning level is determined with reference to the holding means, and one data write destination is set to the semiconductor memory device and the magnetic memory device based on the write ratio corresponding to the warning level. And a control means assigned to and.

According to the present invention, several levels are provided based on the upper limit value of the number of times of writing in the semiconductor memory device (SSD), and the ratio of the SSD job processing to the HDD is gradually increased according to the level. As a result, it is possible to prevent the SSD writing from being suddenly changed to the HDD and prevent an unexpected decrease in the transfer rate.

It is a block diagram of the whole system in a present Example. It is a block diagram of a Disk Controller in the present embodiment. It is a storage medium write ratio management table in the present embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of a descriptor table in the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the image processing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a write ratio control method of the image processing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a writing ratio and an allocation order of each storage medium in the present embodiment. 7 is an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit when the number of SSD writes reaches a warning level in the present embodiment. 9 is an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit when the number of SSD writes is in the warning level region in the present embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a method of transferring image data to a transfer destination storage medium in another embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating data writing to a storage medium in another embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the entire image processing system including the image processing apparatus according to this embodiment. This example will be described with an MFP system configuration as an example of an image processing apparatus, but is applicable to any information processing apparatus equipped with an HDD and an SSD.
The Controller Unit 100 is composed of a CPU 101, a ROM 106, a DRAM 107, an SRAM 108, various I/Fs (102, 103, 105, 110), a Disk Controller 104, and various image processes (111, 112). These devices are connected by a system bus 113 and an image bus 114. Each device is controlled by expanding an OS (Operating System) and application programs on the DRAM 107 and executing them.

The CPU 101 is a controller that controls the entire system, and executes system control, arithmetic processing, OS, and applications.
The Network I/F 102 is connected to the LAN 120 and inputs/outputs image data and the like from an external information device and prints via the network.
The operation unit I/F 103 is an interface unit of the operation unit 115, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 115, and a system user inputs an operation on the operation unit 115.

The disk controller 104 is connected to a semiconductor storage device (SSD) 116 and a magnetic storage device (HDD) 117, and inputs/outputs data. Input/output of data is controlled according to the ATA standard. As described later, the Disk Controller 104 compares the write count 305 of 1 Cell of the storage medium with the storage medium write ratio management table 300, and adjusts the write ratio to the SSD 116 and the HDD 117.
The image bus I/F 105 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 113 and the image bus 114 and converts the data structure.

The ROM 106 is a read-only memory, is used as a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program.
The DRAM 107 is a system work memory for the CPU 101 to operate, and executes a control of the entire system and an application by a stored program. It also serves as an image memory for temporarily storing image data.
The SRAM 108 is a non-volatile memory and holds system setting data.
The system detection unit 109 monitors the power mode of the entire system and stores the power supply of each device as a register value.

The device I/F 110 connects the scanner 118 or printer 119, which is an image input/output device, to the controller 100 and converts image data.
The scanner image processing unit 111 corrects or processes input image data.
The print image processing unit 112 performs correction, resolution conversion, and the like on the print output image.
The system bus 113 is a collective representation of local buses and signal lines between a control bus and a data bus and arbitrary blocks.
The image bus 114 is connected to the scanner 118, the printer 119, and the image processing units (111, 112) via the device I/F 110.

The operation unit 115 is a device such as a touch panel having both a display function and an operation function, and has a role of displaying input image data and a role of transmitting information input by the system user to the CPU 101.
The SSD 116 and the HDD 117 store system software, various applications, image data, and their management information.
The scanner 118 is an image input device, illuminates an image on a paper sheet serving as an original, and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown) to convert it into an electric signal as raster image data.
The printer 119 is an image output device and converts raster image data into an image on paper.

FIG. 2 shows an internal block diagram of the Disk Controller 104.
The CPU 201 performs system control, arithmetic processing, ATA standard command processing, and transmission command processing to the SSD 116 and HDD 117.
The host I/F (202, 203) is connected to the SSD 116 and the HDD 117 and controls input/output of commands and data according to the ATA standard.
The ROM 204 stores a boot program of the CPU 201 and data of setting values of various modes.
The RAM 205 is used as a work area for programs of the Disk Controller 104 and a temporary data storage area. Further, it holds and manages a storage medium write ratio management table 300 described later.

The device I/F 206 is connected to the system bus 113 of the Controller Unit 100, and sequentially controls the input/output of data. The command arriving at the device I/F 206 is sent to the CPU 201 once, and then the command is sent to each device according to the judgment of the CPU 201.
The system bus 207 is a control bus and a data bus.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the storage medium write ratio management table 300 in this embodiment, which is stored in the RAM 205 in the Disk Controller 104.
In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the write ratio of each storage medium is set from the mode in which one job process is executed using only SSD to the mode in which both SSD and HDD are executed.
In FIG. 3, the warning level 301 indicates the degree of reaching the upper limit of the write count of the SSD 116 by a level, and is determined by comparing the current 1Cell write count 305 and 1Cell write count threshold 302. When the number of writes is small and the warning level is level 0, there is no limit to writing to the SSD. The larger the level value, the more serious the SSD 116 is, and level 6 cannot write to the SSD 116.

The 1-cell write count threshold 302 is a write-count threshold for associating the current 1-cell write count 305 with the warning level 301, and has several levels based on the maximum write count of the SSD 116.
The SSD ratio 303 and the HDD ratio 304 indicate the write ratio of the job in each storage medium at each warning level. Each time the warning level 301 rises, the job allocation to the SSD 116 is decreased, and that amount is increased as the job allocation to the HDD 117. As a result, a part of the job is gradually transferred to the HDD 117, and finally the HDD 117 is made to perform all job processing. As a result, it is possible to avoid sudden transition of all processing to the HDD 117 when the SSD 116 reaches the end of its life.

The current 1-cell write count 305 indicates how many times the write has been performed for 1 SSD SSD. When the Disk Controller 104 writes a job to the SSD 116, the CPU 201 accumulates the total number of times of writing from the data transfer amount, and updates the current number of times of writing 1Cell 305. This method of updating the number of times of writing is an example, and a method of updating S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) of SSD 116 by the Disk Controller 104 may be used.

FIG. 4 shows a table stored in the RAM 205 in the Disk Controller 104, which is used when writing the image data in the SRAM 108 in the storage medium in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The table shown in FIG. 4 is used when writing data to the storage medium, and is composed of two tables: a command table 401 and a data table 402. Hereinafter, this table will be referred to as the descriptor table 400.

The command table 401 includes a command No. 403 indicating a command issue number, a logical LBA (logical block address) 404 at the start address, a sector count 405 indicating the number of sectors, a SATA command 406, and an EOF flag 407 indicating the final entry determination. ..
The command No. 403 manages the entry number and has serial numbers of CMD1 to the final command CMDn.
The logical LBA 404 is an address on the storage medium side that is specified when writing. The logical LBA has the SSD 116 and the HDD 117 as serial numbers, and looks like one storage medium.

The sector count 405 indicates the number of sectors, and changes according to the amount of written data.
The SATA command 406 indicates the command number of the SATA standard, and is “0x35” in the case of Write DMA command, for example.
The EOF flag 407 is a flag indicating whether or not it is the last entry. When it is "0", it indicates continuation, and when it is "1", it indicates termination.
The data table 402 includes a data No. 408 indicating a data number, a source address 409 indicating a start address of stored data, a destination address 410 indicating a transfer destination start address, and a byte count 411 indicating a transfer data amount. The EOF flag 412 is similar to the EOF flag 407.

The data No. 408 manages the data number and has serial numbers of DATA1 to final data DATAn.
The source address 409 is a head address when reading the stored data on the SRAM 108 at the time of writing.
The destination address 410 is a head address when the received data at the time of Read is stored in the SRAM 108.
The byte count 411 indicates the data transfer amount in bytes.
The EOF flag 412 is the same as the EOF flag 407. When it is "0", it indicates continuation, and when it is "1", it indicates termination.

The logical LBA 404 in the descriptor table 400 is adjusted using the SSD ratio 303 and HDD ratio 304 of the storage medium write ratio management table 300, and the write ratio to each storage medium is adjusted.
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for explaining the control method of the image processing apparatus in this embodiment.
The control method of the image processing apparatus is realized by the CPU 201 in the Disk Controller 104 expanding the program in the RAM 205 and executing it.
Writing to each storage medium (116, 117) is managed by the descriptor table 400 generated by the CPU 201 in the Disk Controller 104. The descriptor table 400 is referred to when reading/writing the data stored in the DRAM 107 from/to each storage medium (116, 117) in page units.
When the image data is temporarily stored in the DRAM 107 (S501), the CPU 201 determines the write ratio of each storage medium (116, 117) according to the warning level based on the storage medium write ratio management table 300 (S502). ). The CPU 201 determines the write destination logical LBA 404 in the descriptor table 400 of each page based on the SSD ratio 303 and the HDD ratio 304 (S503). The CPU 201 refers to the descriptor table 400 and transfers the image data stored in the DRAM 107 to the designated storage medium (116, 117) (S504).

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for explaining the write ratio control method of the image processing apparatus in this embodiment.
The write ratio control method of the image processing apparatus is realized by the CPU 201 in the Disk Controller 104 expanding the program in the RAM 205 and executing it.
When writing to the SSD 116, the CPU 201 accumulates the data transfer amount of write data and updates the total write count (S601). Subsequently, the CPU 201 calculates the average number of writes 305 per cell by dividing the total number of writes by the number of cells in the SSD 116, and updates the current number of writes 305 for one cell in the storage medium write ratio management table 300 ( S602). The average write count 305 per cell is compared with the write count threshold 302 of 1 Cell to determine the warning level 301 (S603). The CPU 201 determines the write ratio (303, 304) of each storage medium of the SSD 116 and the HDD 117 based on the warning level (S604). Then, the descriptor table is created by allocating the number of pages corresponding to the write ratio (S605), and the write is executed.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the write ratio and allocation order of each storage medium.
The CPU 201 refers to the storage medium write ratio management table 300, and when the current total write count 305 of the SSD 116 does not reach the warning level: level 1, all job processing that should be performed by the SSD 116 can be performed by the SSD 116 as is. Is. At this time, the description of the logical LBA of each descriptor table can specify the logical LBA of the SSD 116. On the other hand, when the current average write count 305 of 1 Cell has reached the warning level: level 1, a part of the job performed by the SSD 116 must be performed by the HDD 117. At this time, the CPU 201 sets that page as the logical LBA of the HDD 117 by describing the logical LBA 404 in the descriptor table 400.

For example, it is assumed that a job of 100 pages (001 to 100) as shown in FIG. 7 arrives at the DRAM 107. Warning level: In level 1, according to the SSD ratio 303 and the HDD ratio 304, the CPU 201 creates a descriptor table corresponding to the logical LBA of each storage medium (116, 117) at a ratio of SSD116:HDD117=75:25. To do. As a result, 75 of 100 pages are written to the SSD 116, and the remaining 117 jobs of 25 pages are made to be carried by the HDD 117. At this time, writing to the HDD 117 is inserted every four pages so that the HDD 117 does not have a bias. The descriptor table 400 is adjusted and created so that after writing three pages of jobs to the SSD 116, the next one page is written to the HDD 117, and the next three pages are written to the SSD. To do. When the warning level: Level 3 is reached, the CPU 201 performs the job writing process at the ratio of SSD: HDD=50:50, so that the descriptor table should be written alternately to the SSD 116 and the HDD 117 for each page. Adjust the logical LBA 404 in.

FIG. 8 is a display of the UI screen 800 when the number of writing times of the SSD 116 in this embodiment reaches the warning level: level 1.
When the number of writings to the SSD 116 increases and the warning level: level 1 is reached, the user is urged to replace the SSD at an early stage and the HDD 117 starts to carry a part of the SSD 116 target job. To display as a warning. This notification is displayed on the UI screen 800 in the pop-up window 801 every time the warning level 301 is updated, and indicates that a part of the job of the SSD 116 is supplemented by the HDD 117 and is of high urgency. ..

FIG. 9 is a display of a screen displayed on the operation unit 115 when the number of writing times of the SSD 116 in the present embodiment is in the warning level area.
As described above, when the write count of the SSD 116 reaches the warning level: level 1, a pop-up window notifies the HDD 117 that a part of the job of the SSD 116 is being supplemented. After this notification, if the SSD 116 is not replaced and the operation is continued, the notification is always displayed at the bottom of the UI screen 900. This display 901 always informs the user that the processing speed is low in the form of "warning level 1: Please replace the storage medium (SSD)", and recommends that the SSD 116 be replaced early.
By adopting the write control method as described above, it is possible to prevent the job processing from being completely changed from the SSD to the HDD and to cause a sudden decrease in the processing speed, and the life of the SSD approaches the user by using the UI screen. The SSD can be promptly replaced.
Further, in the present embodiment, the CPU 201 in the Disk Controller 104 senses that data has arrived in the DRAM 107 and creates the descriptor table 400, but the CPU 101 plays the role of the CPU 201 and creates the table. Can also

In the first embodiment, when the writing count of the SSD 116 approaches the end of its life, and when a job with a plurality of pages is spelled, the job is allocated from the SSD 116 to the HDD 117 based on the storage medium write ratio management table 300. .. In the second embodiment, allocation of SSD 116 and HDD 117 of a job when a one-page job comes will be described. In the first embodiment, since the job is a multi-page spelling job, a method of changing the ratio of jobs to be carried by the HDD in page units is adopted. Therefore, in the one-page job, writing is performed in one of the jobs, and it is not possible to give a predetermined writing ratio to the storage medium.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating transfer of image data to a transfer destination storage medium by the Disk Controller 104 according to the second embodiment.

As described in the first embodiment, when the SSD 116 approaches the end of its service life, the warning level 301 of the storage medium write ratio management table 300 causes the CPU 201 to restrict writing to the SSD 116 and cause the HDD 117 to bear part of the job. Reference numeral 1000 in FIG. 10 is a simulation of image data of a one-page job. When the number of writing times of the SSD 116 reaches the warning level, writing is performed to each storage medium (116, 117) with the SSD ratio 303 and the HDD ratio 304 as in the first embodiment. At this time, the CPU 201 divides the image data 1000 of one page into the area 1001 and the area 1002 in order to write the one-page job to each storage medium at a predetermined ratio. Warning level: In the case of level 1, the data in the area 1001 corresponding to 75% of the write data is written in the SSD 116, and the data in the area 1002 corresponding to the remaining 25% is written in the HDD 117.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart illustrating a control method of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment.
Similar to the first embodiment, when writing to the SSD 116, the CPU 201 accumulates and updates the total number of writes (S1101) and calculates the number of writes per cell (S1102). The allocation value is determined by using the current writing count 305 of 1 Cell, and the warning level of the storage medium write ratio management table 300 is determined (S1103). Then, the value assigned to each storage medium is determined based on the warning level (S1104). The CPU 201 refers to the SSD ratio 303 and the HDD ratio 304 to divide the image data of the one-page job into the SSD 116 and the HDD 117 for writing (S1105). The CPU 201 creates a descriptor table for each divided data and writes each data in each storage medium (S1105). As a result, each time the warning level 301 rises, the writing to the SSD 116 gradually decreases and the writing to the HDD 117 increases.

By adopting such a control method, the write ratio to each storage medium can be set for the one-page job as in the first embodiment, the write limit to the SSD 116 is set, and the write to the HDD 117 is gradually performed. Can be transitioned.
This time, the description has been made mainly with a restriction on writing to the SSD, but this method is not limited to SSD, and can be used for all those conforming to the SATA standard.
Further, in the present embodiment, the warning level is determined from the write count of 1 Cell, and the write ratio to the SSD and the HDD is determined from the determined warning level, but the write ratio can be directly determined from the write count of 1 Cell.

(Other Examples)
The present invention provides a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by the processing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.
Further, the configurations and contents of the various data described above are not limited to this, and various configurations and contents can be configured according to the use and purpose.
Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can be implemented as, for example, a system, a device, a method, a program, a storage medium, or the like.
Further, the present invention also includes all configurations in which the above-described embodiments are combined.

116 SSD
117 HDD
301 warning level
303 SSD write ratio
304 HDD write ratio

Claims (11)

An information processing apparatus for connecting at least two storage devices, a semiconductor storage device and a magnetic storage device, and controlling a write destination when writing data to the storage device,
A plurality of warning levels determined from the write count of the semiconductor memory device, and writing rate to said semiconductor memory device corresponding to each warning level and the magnetic storage device, the total write count of the semiconductor memory device, the Holding means for holding,
Wherein each time of updating the write count of 1Cell based on the total number of writes, with reference to the holding means to determine a warning level, based on the write rate corresponding to the warning level, the write destination of a data Control means assigned to the semiconductor memory device and the magnetic memory device;
An information processing device comprising: The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the write ratio stored in the holding unit is such that the write ratio of the magnetic storage device increases as the warning level increases. The number of times of writing of 1 Cell is calculated by dividing the total number of times of writing by the number of Cells of the semiconductor memory device,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that. Wherein the control means determines the warning level from the write count threshold from 1 cell,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. A notification means for warning the user in response to the increase in the warning level,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that. When the write ratio of the semiconductor memory device is limited, the semiconductor memory device has a notification unit that prompts replacement of the semiconductor memory device.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that. A writing unit that determines the writing ratio to each storage device in page units according to the warning level and performs writing.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that. A writing unit that determines a writing ratio to each storage device according to the warning level, divides one page of data by the writing ratio, and performs writing.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a write count threshold value of 1 Cell of each warning level is calculated from the maximum write count of the storage device. A method of controlling an information processing device, comprising: connecting at least two storage devices, a semiconductor storage device and a magnetic storage device, and controlling a write destination when writing data to the storage device,
A plurality of warning levels determined from the write count of the semiconductor memory device, and writing rate to said semiconductor memory device corresponding to each warning level and the magnetic storage device, the total write count of the semiconductor memory device, the Holding step to hold,
Wherein each time of updating the write count of 1Cell based on the total write count, determines the warning level, based on the write rate corresponding to the warning level, the magnetic storage where to write the one of the data to the semiconductor memory device A control step assigned to the device,
A method for controlling an information processing device, comprising: A program for causing a computer to execute the control method of the information processing device according to claim 10 .

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