JPH04299654A - Data backup system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make easy and sure the preservation and restoration of data for client for electronic imager by performing the preservation and restoration in a data base through an external storage port while selectively holding the operation of printer and scanner. CONSTITUTION: A prompt is displayed on a user interface 52 provided with the external storage port and a display, a controller is set in a data base preserve mode or a data base repair mode and corresponding to the working states of scanner 6 and printer 8, the working states of scanner 6 and printer 8 are determined. In order to start the preserving or restoring operation through the external storage device port, the operation of printer 8 and scanner 6 is selectively held and the preserving or restoring operation is completed through the external storage device port. Thus, complete client jobs and customized job data base objects can be preserved in off-line mode and easily restored.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to data retention systems for electronic imaging devices, and more particularly to techniques for preserving and restoring customer data for such electronic imaging devices.

Electronic imaging devices, such as copiers and printing devices, are becoming more complex and sophisticated in the jobs they can perform, and if full and effective utilization of the devices is to be achieved, the devices and device controls must be The interface between them must necessarily be extended. Appropriate interfaces must provide the control, display, and messages necessary to start, program, monitor, and maintain the device, as well as device-related information and information about the customer using the device for effective operation. should be easy to store and retrieve. In particular, the system transfers useful information about the customer using the device to external devices, such as device-related information and user preferences and profiles, security information, customer jobs, and database objects such as identifiers, logos, and raster images. We need to provide a means to preserve and restore it.

Conventional techniques include user interface systems and storage and access of diagnostic information and data. An example of this is

Grabel, US Pat. No. 4,591,997, discloses a method for storing and printing images in which the bitmapped images are recorded on an external permanent memory storage medium for future use. There is. When a recorded image is needed, it can be recalled from the storage medium. A system is shown having a printing device, a computer, and a permanent storage medium. A copy of the new printed image is automatically recorded on the storage medium. Column 3, 57-68
See line.

[0005] The problems with the device system according to the prior art are as follows.
To save to an external device and restore to the device valid device data such as job programs, user initialization data, user profiles, security information, and audit and accounting information, as well as job database objects such as logos and raster images. This is the problem. It would also be desirable to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive way to save and restore fully customized customer requirements. Also, information and databases can be stored offline to prevent loss of information within the device due to system startup or malfunction, as well as difficult and time-consuming requirements to rescan and rebuild lost information or databases. is also preferable.

However, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for offline storage and easy restoration of complete customer jobs as well as customized job database objects. Another object of the present invention is to provide a special interactive frame for saving and restoring and temporary information backup so that the system can be restored to its original state in the event that a restore or permanent backup fails. The goal is to provide the ability to Another object of the present invention is to provide demand printing, ie, the ability to recover jobs to be reprinted without having to repeat previous scanning or editing operations. Other features of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds.
The unique features of the invention are pointed out with originality in the appended claims forming a part of this specification.

In summary, the present invention provides a database for directing the operation of electronic scanners and electronic printing devices for image generation and image processing means by transmitting complete job requests and database objects via external storage ports. a control unit including a mass memory device for storing objects, and an electronic image processing device having a user interface with an external storage port and a display, and control by setting prompts on the user interface; Place the device in database save or restore mode, determine the operating state of the scanner and printing device depending on the operating state of the scanner and printing device, and use the printing device to initiate a save or restore operation via the external storage port. and selectively suspending operation of the scanner and completing a save or restore operation via an external storage port.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the drawings, in which parts and the like are assigned the same reference numerals. Also there,

0009
FIG. 1 shows an electronic printing system with a job supply according to the invention that is capable of constructing print jobs from various inputs or in response to special program instructions.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main parts of the printing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the main mechanical parts of the printing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a somewhat detailed structure of a document scanner.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are schematic block diagrams showing the main components of the system controller.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the operating system including the printed wiring board and shared line connections.

FIG. 9 is an overall block diagram of the save and restore operations according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the save and restore operations according to the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example laser-based printing system 2 for processing print jobs is depicted in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. This printing system 2 for explanation includes a scanner section 6, a controller section 7,
and a printer section 8. Although a particular printing system is presented and described in detail, the present invention may be used in other types of printing systems, such as inkjet, ionic, and others.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2-4, the scanner section 6 includes a transparent platen upon which a document 22 to be manipulated is placed. One or more linear arrays 24 are connected to the platen 20.
is supported for reciprocating scanning motion below. Lens 26 and mirrors 28, 29, 30 cooperate to focus array 24 on the linear segment of platen 20 and the document being scanned thereon. Array 24 provides image signals or pixels representing the scanned image, which are processed accordingly by processor 25 before being sent to controller section 7.
Output to.

Processor 25 converts the analog image signal output by array 24 into digital signals and provides the necessary image data for system 2 to store and manipulate the image data in the format required to perform the programmed job. Performs signal processing. Processor 25 may, for example, apply filtering, thresholding, screening, cropping, and other enhancements and modifications to the image signal.

[0020] The document to be scanned is subject to circular document handling (R
DH) mode, or semi-automatic document handling (SADH)
can be placed on platen 20 for scanning by an automatic document handling device (ADF) operable in mode. Book mode and computer paper feeder (
Manual modes are also provided, including a CFF) mode, the latter corresponding to documents in the form of computer fanfold paper. In the RDH mode of operation, automatic document handling device 35 has a document tray 37 in which documents 2
2 are arranged as a stack or batch. Tray 3
The document 22 in 7 is transferred to the platen 2 by a vacuum transport belt 40, a document transport roll 41, and a document supply belt 42.
0, where the document is scanned by array 24. Following scanning, the document is removed from platen 20 by belt 42 and returned to tray 37 by document supply roll 44.

In the SADH mode of operation, document insertion slot 46 provides an entry point into document supply belt 42 between tray 37 and platen 20 from which individual documents can be manually inserted for transfer to platen 20. can. A feed roll 49 behind slot 46 forms a handle for loading and feeding documents onto supply belt 42 and onto platen 20. After scanning, the document is removed from platen 20 and delivered to catch tray 48.

[0022] In the manual mode of operation, automatic document handler 35 pivots to expose platen 20. This allows document 22 to be manually placed onto platen 20 before array 24 is activated to scan the document. When scanning is complete, the document is removed and platen 20 is cleared for the next document. In the book mode, the book is manually placed face down on the platen 20, aligning the book's centerline with positioning indicia (not shown) located along the edge of the platen 20. The system is programmed to scan one or both pages of the book open on the platen. The process is repeated with other pages of the book until all desired pages have been scanned, after which the book is removed to open platen 20.

In the CFF mode of operation, computer paper is fed through slot 46 and advanced by feed roll 49 to document supply belt 42, which advances a page of fanfold paper into position on platen 20. .

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the printer section 8
includes a laser-format printing device and, for purposes of illustration, a raster output scanner (ROS) 87 and a print module 9.
5, a paper supply section 107, and a finishing section 120. ROS 95 has a laser 91 whose beam is split into two imaging beams 94. Each beam 94 is modulated by an acousto-optic modulator 92 according to the image signal input to form a dual image beam 94. The beam 94 is scanned across the movable photoreceptor 98 of the printing module by the mirrored portion of the rotating polygon 100, exposing the photoreceptor 98 to two image lines with each scan, represented by the image signal input to the modulator 92. form an electrostatic latent image. Prior to exposure by the imaging beam 94, the photoreceptor 98 is uniformly charged by a corotron 102 serving as a charging unit. The electrostatic latent image is developed in a developing device 104 and transferred to a transfer station 10.
6, the print medium 10 is supplied from the paper supply unit 107.
Transferred to 8. Media 108 can include all of a variety of sizes, types, and colors as seen. In transfer, print media is advanced from either primary paper tray 110 or secondary paper trays 112 or 114 to a time-limited print with the developed image on photoreceptor 98. The developed image transferred to print media 108 is permanently fixed or fused by fuser 116 and the final print is ejected to output tray 118 or to finishing station 120. The finishing section 120 includes a stitcher 122 for binding or stapling the printed matter together for bookbinding, and a thermal binder for binding the printed matter with adhesive to form a book.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7, the controller unit 7 includes an image input controller 50, a user interface (UI) 52,
It is divided into a system controller 54, a main memory 56, an image operation section 58, and an image output controller 60.

The scanned image data input from the processor 25 of the scanner section 6 to the controller section 7 is compressed by the compression/processor 51 of the image input controller 50 on the printed wiring board 70-3. Passing the image data through the compression/processor 51 divides each slice into slices with a width of N scan lines and each slice has a slice pointer. The compressed image data contains a slice pointer and all associated image descriptors that provide image-specific information (e.g. the height and width in pixels of the document, the compression method used, a pointer to the compressed image data, and a pointer to the image slice pointer. , etc.) are stored in the image file. Image files representing various print jobs are temporarily stored in a system memory 61 consisting of random access memory or RAM, pending transfer to main memory 56 where the data is held for temporary use.

As best seen in FIG. 1, UI 52 includes a CRT display consisting of a combined operator control/interactive touch screen 62, a keyboard 64, and a mouse 66. The UI 52 serves as an interface between the operator and the printing system 2, allowing the operator to program print jobs and other instructions, and to provide system operating information,
Provides access to instructions, programming information, diagnostic information, and more. Items displayed on the touch screen 62, such as files and icons, are operated by touching the item displayed on the screen with a finger or by using a mouse to align the cursor 67 with the selected item and then pressing the mouse.

Main memory 56 includes a plurality of hard disks 90-1, 90-2, 90-3 for storing device operating system software, device operating data, and currently being processed scanned image data.

[0029] If the compressed image data in main memory 56 requires further processing or needs to be displayed on touch screen 62 of UI 52 or
Data is accessed on main memory 56 when needed. If processing beyond that provided by processor 25 is required, the data is transferred to image manipulation section 58 on printed wiring board 70-6 where additional processing steps such as collation, preparation, disassembly, etc. are performed. Following processing, the data may be returned to main memory 56 and sent to UI 52 for display on touch screen 62 or to image output controller 60.

The image data output to the image output controller 60 is expanded, and the printed wiring boards 70-7, 70
Preparation for printing is made by the image generation processor 86 (visible in FIG. 5) of -8. Thereafter, the data is output to the printer section 8 by the distribution processing devices 88 and 89 on the printed wiring board 70-9. Image data sent to printer section 8 for printing is normally removed from memory 56 to make room for new image data.

With particular reference to FIGS. 5-7, controller section 7 includes a plurality of printed wiring boards 70, each also connected to system memory 61 by a pair of memory buses 72, 74, and includes a memory controller 76. System memory 61 is connected to buses 72 and 74 via the system memory 61 . The printed wiring board 70 includes a system controller printed wiring board 70-1 having a system processor 78, and a low-speed I/O processor printed wiring board 70-2 having a UI communication control device for transferring data to and from the UI.
, disks 90-1, 90-2, 90- of the main memory 56
3, a disk drive controller processor 82 for transferring data to each image data controller (a compression/processor 51 for compressing image data is on the printed wiring board 70-3), and an image operation processing device of an image operation section 58. An operation printed wiring board 70-6, an image generation processor 8 that processes image data for printing by the printer unit 8.
Image generation processing device printed wiring board 70-7 having 6
, 70-8, a distribution processing device printed wiring board 70-9 having dispatcher processor buses 88 and 89 for controlling data transfer with the printer unit 8, and a start-up control/start-stop scheduler printed wiring board 70- 1
Contains 0.

With particular reference to FIG. 8, system control signals are distributed over multiple printed wiring boards. This includes an EDN core printed wiring board 130, markings and
An imaging core printed wiring board 132 , a paper holding core printed wiring board 134 , and a finishing binder core printed wiring board 136 are included along with various input/output (I/O) printed wiring boards 138 . The system bus 140 is a core printed wiring board 130, 132, 13
4, 136 and the controller section 7, while the local bus 142 is connected to the I/O printed wiring board 13.
8 and their associated core printed wiring boards.

Upon power-up of the device, the operating system software transfers from memory 56 to the EDN core printed wiring board and from there to the remaining core printed wiring board 13.
2, 134, 136 via bus 140. Each core printed wiring board 130, 132, 134, 13
6 has a boot ROM 147 for controlling downloading of operating system software to a printed wiring board, fault detection, and other functions. Boot ROM1
47 transfers operating system software and control data to and from printed wiring boards 130 , 132 , 134 , 136 via bus 140 and control data to and from I/O printed wiring board 138 via local bus 142 . be able to transfer. In addition, R
OM, RAM, and NVM types of memory are interposed in various parts of the system 2.

[0034] In general, appropriate interface techniques can provide instructions to an operator to perform various save or record information and restore information operations. For example, save or record information and job database objects icons or soft buttons on a touchscreen screen can be displayed and selected for copying information and job database objects to a suitable external device, e.g. stream tape or a suitable disk. can. In one particular embodiment, 24 tracks per tape, 90 blocks per track, and 36 pages per block, or a total of 77 per tape.
, 760 pages is used. The particular tape required may depend on the type of data loaded, such as soft load files or font files.

Various operator prompting and confirmation techniques may be used, as is well known in user interface systems. For example, if an icon or soft button is used, selection can be confirmed by adding shading to the button or icon. Additionally, various message prompts such as "Saving data" may be used throughout the save and restore operations. If all the information has been transferred to the external device, another message such as "All data saved" can be displayed. If an error occurs during data storage, an appropriate error code can be displayed.

The control device typically includes a large capacity memory device such as a fixed disk for database storage, an external storage port, and a user interface with a display, and the method for saving and restoring the database via the external storage port is Prompts on the user interface to place the controller in database save mode or database repair mode, determines the scanner and printer operating state depending on the scanner and printer operating state, and connects the controller via the external storage port. selectively suspends printing device and scanner operations to initiate a save or restore operation via the external storage port, and complete the save or restore operation via the external storage port.

Referring to FIG. 9, according to the present invention, the control device includes a manager 150 for starting external tape backup and an installer (I).
nstaller) 152 is included. This backup process can be divided into two processing stages: save (copy or write) and restore (read or install). In a preferred embodiment, if a save or restore is selected, confirmation is requested and a display is displayed on the touch screen 62 to inform the operator that the device will not be available beyond the time limit. The system in the preferred embodiment must be placed in a standby state before entering backup operation. Various databases are involved in this operation, such as user profiles, security settings, audit trails, accounting, site settings, separators, saved programs, saved customer jobs, and logos. A transfer interface interconnects requests to the database with stream tape 156 and disk 158. The system enters the standby state through the following process. If the scanner is running when external tape backup is selected, the user is notified that scanning will be interrupted and asked to confirm the selection. If the selection is confirmed, the system interrupts the current scan and begins the external tape backup process. In the preferred embodiment, the integrity of scan jobs is not preserved; incomplete scan jobs will be deleted and a rescan will be required.

If the printing device is in operation when external tape backup is selected, the user is notified that tape backup will occur at the boundary with the next job, and is asked whether the selection is correct. If the selection is confirmed, the print job will be held at the boundary with the next job, and the integrity of the print job will be maintained.

If both the printer and scanner are active, the operator is notified that an external tape backup process will occur at the boundary of the next job, and scanning is interrupted. When selecting an external tape backup,
New scan jobs are regulated and current scan jobs are not interrupted until the printing device completes its operation. Jobs stacked in the RDH by the job separator continue to be scanned until the printing device completes the operation. The selected external tape backup selection will be confirmed. The integrity of the print job is preserved, but the integrity of the scan job is not preserved. In the preferred embodiment, all unfinished scan jobs will be deleted and rescanned requested.

[0040] If the system is in a background operation other than scanning or printing, it is shut down so that operation is automatically resumed when the save or restore process is complete. Preferably, a "please wait" message is displayed to the operator while the system suspends scanning, printing, and ongoing background operations. Once printing, scanning, and background operations have stopped, the system will restart.

During a save (copy or write) operation, all permanent customer information is copied to the stream tape, overwriting all other information on the tape. In the preferred embodiment, the operator is reviewing the tape. When overwriting information already contained on a tape, the operator is presented with the tape name, the type of content (if known), and asked to confirm the overwriting. If the operator chooses not to overwrite, he is given the choice of inserting a new tape or aborting the save process. If the system interrupts the save process, any partially completed files on the tape will be deleted.

During a restore (load or install) operation, all saved customer data is loaded and previous customer data is deleted. The tape name is displayed to the operator. The operator is given the option of continuing or canceling the restoration operation. A restore operation can preferably be initiated only when the tape in use was created by the completion of a save operation. Before deleting existing files, the system must verify that the complete set of files has been restored. If verification finds an incomplete set of files or the restore process is interrupted for any reason, the restored files are deleted and the existing files are restarted.

[0043] Once the save or restore operation is complete, a system reboot must be performed before normal system operation can proceed. Once the selected action is successfully completed or aborted, the operator receives an appropriate response. After the system backup process is completed, the system will automatically resume all interrupted operations. If a problem is discovered in the restore file during a repair operation, the operator must perform the next restore operation from another tape before the system is fully operational.

Referring to FIG. 10, a flow diagram of a customer data backup technique according to the present invention is shown. As previously discussed, the backup process is divided into write and read parts. In either case, selecting either a read or write operation by designating an icon on the touch screen, the operator inserts the tape into the tape drive device depicted at 63 in FIG. When in write mode, the system checks the tape to see if data already exists on the tape. When data is present on the tape, the operator, in the preferred embodiment, is given the opportunity to make a decision to either overwrite the tape on the touch-tone screen or abort the operation. If there is no information on the tape or the operator specifies that it should be overwritten, the appropriate name or designation is given to the tape. In a preferred embodiment, the operator now receives confirmation of the write operation and, if confirmed,
A check is performed to see if the size of data written on the tape exceeds the capacity of the tape. If the data size exceeds the tape capacity, the operation is interrupted. If the data size is smaller than the tape capacity,
The operation begins and the system begins saving files on tape. A "Please wait" message is displayed during the transfer operation. Upon completion of the operation, the system returns to its original state and is ready to resume printing or normal machine operation.

The reading operation begins with the display of the tape name, and if the tape name is incorrect, the operation is interrupted. If the tape name is correct, the operator is prompted via the touch screen to confirm the start of the data transfer. When the data transfer is complete and the data is read from the tape into system memory, the system returns to its original state and resumes all normal mechanical functions.

While we have depicted and described what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and improvements may be made thereto, and that the present invention may be understood in the appended claims. It is intended to include all such modifications and improvements as may be consistent with the spirit and scope of this document.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 shows an electronic printing system with a job supply of the present invention capable of constructing print jobs from various inputs or in response to special program instructions; FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing main parts of the printing system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing main mechanical parts of the printing system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a somewhat detailed structure of a document scanner.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing main components of the system controller.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing main components of the system controller.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing main components of the system controller.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an operating system including a printed wiring board and shared line connections.

FIG. 9 is an overall block diagram of a save and restore operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a save and restore operation according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Printing system, 6 Scanner section, 7
Controller section, 8 Printer section, 20 Platen, 22 Document, 24 Linear array, 25
Processor, 26 Lens, 28, 29, 30 Mirror, 35 Automatic document handling device (ADF), 37
document tray, 40 vacuum transport belt, 41 document transport roll, 42 document supply belt, 44 document transport roll, 46 document insertion slot, 48 catch tray, 49 feed roll, 50 image input controller, 51 compression and processor, 52 user interface (U/I), 54 system controller, 56 main memory, 58 image operation unit, 60
Image output controller, 61 System memory, 62
touch screen, 64 keyboard, 66 mouse, 67 cursor, 70, 70-1 to 10 printed wiring board, 72, 74 memory bus, 78 system processor, 80 communication controller, 82 processor, 86 processor, 87 raster output scanner section (ROS ), 88, 89 processor, 90
-1~3 Hard disk, 91 Laser, 92
acousto-optic modulator, 94 imaging beam, 95 print module section, 98 movable photoreceptor, 100 rotating polyhedron, 102 corotron, 104 development device, 106 transfer station, 107 paper supply section, 108 print medium, 110 main paper tray,
112, 114 Sub-paper tray, 116 Fixing device,
118 output tray, 120 finishing section, 122 stitcher, 130 EDN core printed wiring board,
132 Marking/image forming core/printed wiring board, 134 Paper holding core/printed wiring board, 13
6 Finished binder core/printed wiring board, 138
Input/output printed wiring board, 140 System bus, 142 Local bus, 147 Boot ROM, 15
0 manager, 152 installer, 156 stream tape, 158 disk

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image processing means including an electronic scanner and an electronic printing device for image generation, a control means for instructing the operation of the image processing means, a mass storage device for recording a database, and an external storage device port. and a user interface with a display, wherein the controller is placed in a database save mode or a restore mode by displaying a prompt on the user interface to determine the operating state of the scanner and printing device. and selectively suspending operation of the printing device and scanner to initiate a save or restore operation via the external storage port in response to an operational state of the scanner and printing device; A method for saving and restoring a database via an external storage device port, comprising the steps of completing a save or restore operation of a database.