JP2008142932A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which makes acquisition of log information sure up to the time point even when a system failure occurs in an unexpected situation. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has a memory card interface means for carrying out input/output of data by attaching a memory card, and a control means which carries out the control of storing the log information that shows an operating state of the image forming apparatus into the memory card via the memory card interface means. The control means carries out storage processing to the memory card by checking setting of log information storage processing (step S301), setting of storage processing by the memory card (step S302), and an attachment state of the memory card (step S303). When a storage capacity to the memory card is maximum (step S305), overwriting saving is carried out to the old log information by an indication input (step S310). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique that is suitably applied to an image forming apparatus having a memory card connector and that effectively stores information indicating the apparatus state (hereinafter referred to as log information). is there.

  Conventionally, in an electronic apparatus that executes an operation by executing a control program, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral having a copy function, a printer function, etc., the control program is composed of a plurality of tasks. Various tasks are executed to perform a desired operation. Further, in the image forming apparatus, processing for outputting log information and storing it in a memory is provided in the task for monitoring of operation defects, cause analysis, and the like.

  In addition, image forming apparatuses such as printers and multifunction peripherals are often equipped with a media card interface for reading and writing data using a removable card type memory such as an SD (Secure Digital) card. ing. Possible reasons for installing such a media card interface include updating software and system debugging of an image forming apparatus, and using a card-type memory as a storage medium.

By the way, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic device that can easily and reliably acquire log information when a failure occurs and an operation monitoring method thereof. Further, for example, in Patent Document 2, switching between a state in which a media card interface can be updated or debugged and a state in which the media card interface can be used as a storage medium enables observation inside the system even if a system abnormality occurs during data transfer. An interface circuit of a card type memory has been proposed.
JP 2003-316609 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-259064

  In the prior art, log information cannot be acquired when the image forming apparatus freezes. This is because usually log information is temporarily stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory) and downloaded to an SD card or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) in a batch. Also, in order to attach a debugging cable for system debugging, it is necessary to turn off / on the power once, and log information at that time cannot be saved.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that can reliably acquire log information up to that time even when the system is down due to an unexpected situation.

  In order to achieve such an object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, a memory card interface means for inputting / outputting data by inserting a memory card, and the memory card interface means, Control means for performing control to store log information indicating an operation state of the image forming apparatus in the memory card.

  The invention according to claim 2 further includes storage execution setting means for setting whether or not to execute the storage processing of the log information in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means includes: The log information is stored in the memory card when the storage execution setting unit is set to execute the storage process.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 further includes a storage destination setting unit that sets a storage unit as a storage destination of the log information, and the control unit includes: The log information is stored in the memory card when the memory card is set by the storage destination setting unit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the memory card interface unit further includes a card mounting detection unit that detects a mounting state of the memory card. The control means stores the log information in the memory card when the card attachment detection means detects the attachment state of the memory card.

  The invention according to claim 5 further includes operation display means for receiving an operation content input by a user and displaying device status information in the image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control means When the non-mounted state of the memory card is detected by the card mounting detecting unit, a message indicating that the memory card is not mounted is displayed on the operation display unit.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising storage capacity detection means for detecting the capacity stored in the memory card, wherein the control means is the storage capacity detection. When the means detects that the storage capacity of the memory card is maximum, the operation display means displays a message indicating that the storage capacity is in the maximum capacity state.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the image forming apparatus further includes network interface means for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external apparatus connected to the network. The control means notifies the external device of a message indicating that the memory card is not installed via the network interface when the card insertion detection means detects that the memory card is not installed. Features.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, when the control unit detects that the storage capacity of the memory card is maximum by the storage capacity detection unit, the control unit A message indicating the maximum capacity state is notified to the external device via a network interface.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the control unit has a maximum storage capacity of the memory card by the storage capacity detection unit. If detected, new log information is overwritten and stored in order from the previously stored log information.

  According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus capable of reliably acquiring log information up to that point even when the system is down due to an unexpected situation is realized.

  An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a controller 10, an HDD 17, an operation unit 18, a scanner 19, a plotter 20, and an engine control unit 21. The controller 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) 12, a synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM) 13, a flash ROM (FROM) 14, an SD card slot 15, and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 16. Have

  The CPU 11 is a central processing unit and executes a program. The NVRAM 12 is a non-volatile memory, and stores model-specific information related to the system of the image forming apparatus 1. The SDRAM 13 is a readable / writable memory, and handles programs and stores data as a main memory. The FROM 14 is a read-only memory and stores a program for executing image processing.

  The SD Card Slot 15 is a connector (socket) for inserting / removing an SD card, and has an interface function for connecting the SD card and the image forming apparatus 1. The ASIC 16 is an application specific integrated circuit, and has a plurality of application functions such as an image input / output function, an image processing function, and a data communication function in the image forming apparatus. The ASIC 16 is connected to the NVRAM 12, SDRAM 13, FROM 14, and SD Card Slot 15 via a bus, controls these memories, and exchanges necessary data with the CPU 11.

  The HDD 17 stores image images and various data. The operation unit 18 includes input keys for inputting data, a touch panel, a display liquid crystal display, and the like. The scanner 19 performs document reading for the image forming apparatus 1 to acquire document data. The plotter 20 prints out image information held by the image forming apparatus 1. The engine control unit 21 is connected to the scanner 19 and the plotter 20 to control them, and exchanges the read document data and output image information with the controller 10.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of log information storage processing in the present embodiment.

  First, it is determined whether or not the log information storage process is to be executed (step S201). If the storage process execution setting has been made (step S201 / YES), the process proceeds to the determination of the storage destination storage means. (Step S202). If the setting is such that the storage process is not executed (step S201 / NO), the log information is not saved and the process ends.

  If the storage destination is set as an SD card (step S202 / YES), it is determined whether or not the SD card is mounted in the SD Card Slot (step S203).

  When the SD card is mounted in the SD Card Slot (step S203 / YES), a process of storing log information in the SD card is executed (step S205). If the SD card slot is not mounted (step S203 / NO), a message indicating that the SD card is not mounted is displayed on the operation unit (step S206), and the determination of the SD card mounting state is performed again. (Step S203).

  On the other hand, when the storage destination is not set as the SD card (step S202 / NO), the log information is stored in the RAM as in the past, that is, in the present embodiment, the NVRAM (step S204).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of log information storage processing in the present embodiment. This flow is the same as that in FIG. 2 until the determination of the installation state of the SD card, but the determination of the storage capacity and the instruction for overwriting are newly added.

  First, it is determined whether or not the log information storage process is to be executed (step S301). If the process execution setting has been made (step S301 / YES), the process proceeds to the determination of the storage means of the storage destination. (Step S302) If the setting is not to execute the storage process (NO in Step S301), the log information is not saved and the process ends.

  If the storage destination is set as an SD card (step S302 / YES), it is determined whether or not the SD card is mounted in the SD card slot (step S303). If the SD card is mounted (step S303). In step S303 / YES), it is determined whether the storage capacity of the SD card is maximum (step S305). On the other hand, when the SD card is not attached to the SD Card Slot (step S303 / NO), a message indicating that the SD card is not attached is displayed on the operation unit (step S306), and the determination of the attachment state of the SD card is performed again. (Step S303).

  When it is determined that the storage capacity to the SD card is not the maximum (step S305 / NO), the log information is stored for the free capacity (step S308). When it is determined that the storage capacity is the maximum (step S305 / YES), a message to that effect is displayed on the operation unit, and an instruction for overwriting is input (step S307).

  Then, it is determined whether or not an instruction for overwriting is input (step S309). If the instruction is input (step S309 / YES), the log information is overwritten and stored in the SD card (step S310). Overwriting is performed in order from the old log information (that is, log information that has been previously stored).

  On the other hand, when the storage destination is not set to the SD card (step S302 / NO), the log information is stored in the RAM (NVRAM in the present embodiment) as in the past (step S304).

  In the flow of FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation unit displays the non-installed state of the SD card. However, when the image forming apparatus is connected to the network, the network interface unit is connected to other apparatuses. The notification regarding the non-wearing state may be performed.

  According to the above-described embodiment, when a problem occurs in the image forming apparatus, it is not necessary to save a log in the RAM and collectively save it in the SD card or the HDD. Further, since it is always stored in the SD card, it is possible to store log information until the image forming apparatus is frozen. Furthermore, storing log information in an SD card that is not easily broken improves the safety of information and facilitates carrying.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, the controller log can be directly stored in the SD card.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, it becomes possible to acquire a useless log by selecting about controller log acquisition.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when the storage capacity of the SD card is maximized, the fact that it has been maximized is displayed on the operation unit, so that the user can be notified of the fact.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when the storage capacity of the SD card is maximized, it is possible to notify the user or service person of the fact by displaying that the maximum has been achieved via the network. Become.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when the storage capacity of the SD card reaches the maximum, the latest log information can be continuously acquired without replacing the SD card by sequentially overwriting the old log information. It becomes possible.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when the SD card is not attached, it is possible to notify the user of the fact by displaying the non-attached state on the operation unit.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, when the SD card is not attached, it is possible to notify the user or serviceman of the fact by displaying that the SD card is not attached via the network.

  The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment alone, and various modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Implementation is possible.

  That is, in this embodiment, an SD card is used as a memory card. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other types such as compact flash (registered trademark), smart media, memory stick, and MMC (MultiMedia Card) are applied. May be.

  Further, a computer-readable recording medium that records the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the embodiments of the present invention described above, that is, a storage medium, is supplied to the image forming apparatus, and the computer (CPU or The object of the present invention can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a nonvolatile memory card, and a magnetic disk. A tape or the like can be used.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the log information storage process in embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the log information storage process in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming apparatus 10 Controller 11 CPU
12 NVRAM
13 SDRAM
14 FROM
15 SD Card Slot
16 ASIC
17 HDD
18 Operation unit 19 Scanner 20 Plotter 21 Engine control unit

Claims (9)

A memory card interface means for inputting / outputting data by attaching a memory card;
Control means for performing control to store log information indicating an operation state of the image forming apparatus in the memory card via the memory card interface means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Storage execution setting means for setting whether to execute the storage processing of the log information;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stores the log information in the memory card when the storage execution setting unit is set to execute the storage process. A storage destination setting unit for setting a storage unit as a storage destination of the log information;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stores the log information in the memory card when the memory card is set by the storage destination setting unit. The memory card interface means further comprises card attachment detection means for detecting the attachment state of the memory card,
The said control means stores the said log information in the said memory card, when the mounting state of the said memory card is detected by the said card | curd mounting detection means, The said memory card | curd is characterized by the above-mentioned. The image forming apparatus described. It further has operation display means for accepting operation content input by the user and displaying device status information,
5. The control unit according to claim 4, wherein when the non-installed state of the memory card is detected by the card mounting detection unit, the operation display unit displays a message indicating that the memory card is not installed. The image forming apparatus described. A storage capacity detecting means for detecting the capacity stored in the memory card;
When the storage capacity detecting means detects that the storage capacity of the memory card is maximum, the control means causes the operation display means to display a message indicating that the storage capacity is in the maximum capacity state. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. Network interface means for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external device connected to the network;
The control unit notifies the external device of a message indicating that the memory card is not mounted via the network interface when the card mounting detection unit detects that the memory card is not mounted. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6.   The control unit notifies the external device of a message indicating the maximum capacity state via the network interface when the storage capacity detection unit detects that the storage capacity of the memory card is maximum. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7.   When the storage capacity detecting means detects that the storage capacity of the memory card is maximum, the control means overwrites and stores new log information in order from the previously stored log information. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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