JP6447824B2 - Job processing device program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a job processing apparatus and a program that acquire and update an update program from a server.

  In recent years, in MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) equipped with functions such as printers, scanners, and facsimiles, it has become widely popular to update programs stored in flash ROM (Read Only Memory) via a network. ing. For example, an MFP that detects that an update program has been uploaded to the server executes the aforementioned update by downloading the update program.

  The MFP cannot execute a job or accept an operation during the above-described update. Therefore, the above-described update is usually performed when the MFP is not executing a job or when the MFP is not receiving an operation, that is, in a so-called standby state.

  As a method for updating a program through a network, for example, there are methods described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. Patent Document 1 describes a method of acquiring an update program from a server and updating the computer program of the MFP, and Patent Document 2 describes a method of installing an extension program as necessary.

JP 2011-39827 A JP 2013-25592 A

  When the MFP is executing a job and the job is accumulated in the queue, a new update program may be uploaded to the server. In this case, once the currently running job is finished, once the job execution is stopped, the update program is updated immediately, and the job waiting in the queue after the update is executed. Can be lowered.

  However, the effect of reducing the occurrence rate of defects does not apply to all jobs. The job waiting in the queue may be a job related to the modification contents of the update program, that is, a job whose failure rate is reduced when executed by the update program compared to the case of executing by the program before the update. In some cases, the job does not relate to the modification contents of the update program, that is, a job whose defect occurrence rate does not change even if it is executed by the update program or the program before the update.

  For the latter job, there is no benefit to updating to an update program over several minutes, and you will be penalized for the amount of waiting time due to the update. For this reason, when the currently executing job is completed and the execution of the job is temporarily suspended and updated to the update program, an inefficient case may occur depending on the type of job waiting in the queue.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above problem, and when a program update is required, a job related to the modification content can be executed by the update program, and a job not related to the modification content is updated to the update program. It is an object of the present invention to provide a job processing apparatus and a program that can be executed while minimizing the accompanying decrease in efficiency.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] A queue for storing submitted jobs in the order of submission;
A job processing unit for taking out a job from the head of the queue and executing the taken-out job;
A network communication unit that communicates via a network;
A storage unit storing a program for controlling the operation of the device itself;
A control unit that acquires an update program corresponding to the program from a server using the network communication unit, and updates the program stored in the storage unit to the update program;
With
The control unit checks whether or not the update program exists in the server when a job exists in the queue, and if the update program exists in the server, the update program exists in the queue. The job processing apparatus is characterized in that the update is performed after a job not related to the renovation content is executed.

  In the above invention and the invention described in [7] below, when an update program is uploaded to the server when a job exists in the queue, a job that is not related to the modification contents of the update program is executed among the jobs that exist in the queue After that, update to the update program. For example, the job is executed until the head of the queue becomes a job related to the modification contents of the update program, and then the update to the update program is performed. Alternatively, after changing the order as shown in [2] below, the job is executed until the head of the queue becomes a job related to the modification contents of the update program, and then the update to the update program is performed.

[2] When the job exists in the queue and the update program exists in the server, the control unit updates the update program when a job related to the modification contents of the update program exists in the queue. The job order in the queue is changed so that the job related to the modification contents of the program follows the job not related to the modification contents of the update program, and is not related to the modification contents of the update program existing in the queue. The job processing apparatus according to [1], wherein the update is performed after all jobs are executed.

  In the above invention and the invention described in [8] below, when an update program is uploaded to the server when a job exists in the queue, a job related to the update content of the update program is not related to the update content of the update program The order of the jobs is changed in the queue so that it is behind, and after all the jobs not related to the modification contents of the update program are executed, the update to the update program is performed.

[3] The control unit determines in advance when the update program exists in the server when a job exists in the queue and a job related to the modification contents of the update program exists in the queue. The job processing apparatus according to [1] or [2], wherein a selection regarding the execution timing of the update is received from a user from among a plurality of options, and the update is performed according to the selection.

  In the above invention and the invention described in [9] below, the update program is updated at the timing selected by the user.

[4] The job processing according to [3], wherein a selection as to whether or not to perform the update is accepted before execution of a job related to the modification content of the update program as the selection regarding the execution timing of the update apparatus.

[5] The control unit determines whether or not the level of the defect determined based on at least one of the reproduction rate of the defect related to the modification content of the update program and the importance of the defect is a threshold value or more. [1] to [1] to [3], wherein the update is performed before executing the job related to the modification contents of the update program when the level of the defect related to the modification contents of the update program is equal to or higher than the threshold value. 4]. The job processing apparatus according to any one of 4).

  In the above-described invention and the invention described in [11] below, when the reproducibility or importance of a defect related to the modification contents of the update program exceeds a threshold value, the update program is executed before executing the job related to the modification contents of the update program. Update.

[6] The control unit includes a job related to the modification contents of the update program in the queue, a transmission job for transmitting data to the outside, a job for storing read data in a box, and erasing stored data The job processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the update is performed before the execution of the job related to the modification content when the job is any one of the memory erasing jobs to be performed .

  In the above-mentioned invention and the invention described in [12] below, the occurrence of problems in a transmission job for transmitting data to the outside, a job for saving read data in a box, and a memory erasing job for erasing stored data are recovered. If the job related to the modification contents of the update program is such a job, the update to the update program is performed before the job is executed.

[7] A program executed by the information processing apparatus,
An update program for the control program stored in the storage unit of the information processing apparatus, the method including: storing the submitted jobs in a queue in the order of submission; and retrieving the job from the head of the queue and executing the retrieved job. Checking whether a job exists in the queue as to whether the job exists in a predetermined server;
Determining whether there is a job in the queue that is not related to the modification contents of the update program when the update program exists in the server in the examination;
If a job that is not related to the modification content of the update program exists in the queue in the determination, waiting for the end of execution of the job that is not related to the modification content of the update program;
Obtaining the update program from the server;
After completion of the execution, updating the control program stored in the storage unit to the update program;
The program characterized by having.

[8] The method further includes the step of changing the order of the jobs in the queue so that the job related to the modification content of the update program is behind the job not related to the modification content of the update program,
The program according to [7], wherein in the step of waiting for the end of execution, the end of execution of all jobs not related to the modification contents of the update program existing in the queue is waited.

[9] The method further includes a step of receiving from the user a selection related to the execution timing of the update from a plurality of predetermined options.
In the updating step, the updating is performed according to the selection. The program according to [7] or [8].

[10] The program according to [9], wherein in the step of accepting the selection from the user, a selection as to whether or not to perform the update is accepted before execution of a job related to the modification content of the update program.

[11] In the updating step, whether or not the level of the defect determined based on at least one of a reproduction rate of the defect related to the modification contents of the update program and the importance of the defect is equal to or higher than a threshold value. If the defect level is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the update is performed before executing the job related to the modification contents of the update program. Any one of [7] to [10] Program described in 1.

[12] In the updating step, a job related to the modification contents of the update program in the queue includes a transmission job for transmitting data to the outside, a job for storing the read data in a box, and stored data The program according to any one of [7] to [11], wherein the update is performed before execution of a job related to the modification contents when the memory erase job is one of the memory erase jobs to be erased.

  According to the job processing apparatus and program according to the present invention, when a program update is required, a job related to the modification content can be executed by the update program, and a job not related to the modification content is executed without a decrease in efficiency associated with the update. Can do.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system including a multifunction peripheral and a management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the management server which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a management table. It is a figure which shows the generating risk of the malfunction in an old program and an update program. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of operation | movement in the mode without replacement. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of operation | movement in mode with replacement. It is a figure which shows an example of an update timing selection screen. 10 is a flowchart showing processing performed by a multifunction peripheral operating in a mode with replacement for program update. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a continuation of FIG. 9. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a printing system 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 5 connects a plurality of multifunction peripherals (MFPs) 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B that fulfill the functions of the job processing apparatus according to the present invention and a management server 40 through a network 2 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Configured. Hereinafter, the multifunction peripherals 10A and 10B are generically referred to, or when referring to an arbitrary unit, it is referred to as the multifunction peripheral 10.

  The MFP 10 optically reads a document and prints a duplicate image on a recording sheet, a scan job that saves the image data of the read document as a file, or sends it to an external device, and sends it from a PC And a function for executing a job such as a print job for printing an image relating to the recorded data on a recording sheet and outputting the image.

  The multifunction machine 10 stores a program for controlling the operation of the own apparatus. The management server 40 stores an upgraded version (referred to as an update program) of a program used in the multifunction machine 10. An update program is uploaded and stored in the management server 40 by an administrator or the like.

  The multifunction device 10 downloads an update program uploaded to the management server 40 from the management server 40 via the network 2, and updates (updates) the program stored in the self-device to the update program. Have A program that controls operations related to the program update function is referred to as an update control program.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the multifunction machine 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The multifunction machine 10 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 that controls the operation of the multifunction machine 10 in an integrated manner. The CPU 11 has a ROM 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a nonvolatile memory 14, a hard disk device 15, an image processing unit 16, an image reading unit 17, a printer unit 18, a facsimile communication unit 19, a network communication unit 20, and an authentication unit 21 through a bus. The short-range wireless communication unit 22 and the operation panel 30 are connected.

  The CPU 11 is based on an OS (Operating System) program, and executes middleware, application programs, and the like. The ROM 12 stores a program for starting the multifunction machine 10. After starting in accordance with this program, the program stored in the hard disk device 15 is loaded into the RAM 13, and the CPU 11 executes the program according to the loaded program. Each function as the multifunction device 10 is realized by executing various processes.

  The RAM 13 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 11 executes processing based on a program, an image memory for storing image data, and the like. The RAM is provided with a queue 70 (see FIG. 6) for storing submitted jobs in the order of submission. The queue 70 is a first-in first-out memory.

  The CPU 11 of the multifunction machine 10 places the input job at the end of the queue 70. When the multifunction machine 10 is ready to execute a job, the CPU 11 takes out the head job in the queue 70 and executes the taken job. When the execution of this job is completed, the next job is taken out from the head of the queue 70 and executed. When the execution of the job is completed, if there is no job in the queue 70, a transition is made to a standby state.

  The nonvolatile memory 14 is a memory (flash memory) whose stored contents are not destroyed even when the power is turned off, and is used for storing various setting information.

  The hard disk device 15 is a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device, and stores an OS program, various application programs, user information, various job histories, and the like. The hard disk device 15 stores a program for the CPU 11 to execute a series of controls of the multifunction machine 10 (a program for controlling the operation of the own device). This program is overwritten with the update program downloaded from the management server 40 and updated. The hard disk device 15 may be another storage medium such as an SSD (Solid State Drive).

  The nonvolatile memory 14 or the hard disk device 15 stores an update control program that controls operations related to the program update function. The update control program may be a program different from the program for controlling the operation of the own device, or may be a part of the program for controlling the operation of the own device.

  The image processing unit 16 performs processing such as image enlargement / reduction, rotation, rasterization processing for converting print data into image data, image data compression / decompression processing, and the like.

  The image reading unit 17 performs a function of optically reading a document and acquiring image data. The image reading unit 17 sequentially, for example, a light source that irradiates light on the document, a line image sensor that receives the reflected light for one line in the width direction, and a line-by-line reading position in the length direction of the document. An optical path composed of a moving unit for moving, a lens, a mirror, and the like for guiding reflected light from the document to the line image sensor to form an image, and a conversion unit for converting an analog image signal output from the line image sensor into digital image data And so on.

  The printer unit 18 has a function of forming an image corresponding to image data on a recording sheet. Here, it has a recording paper transport device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device, and forms an image by an electrophotographic process. It is configured as a so-called laser printer. Other methods may be used for image formation.

  The facsimile communication unit 19 performs a function of transmitting / receiving image data to / from an external apparatus having a facsimile (FAX (facsimile)) function through a public line.

  The network communication unit 20 has a function of communicating data with the management server 40 and other external devices through a network such as a LAN.

  The authentication unit 21 performs a function of performing user authentication. Specifically, user authentication is performed when a user logs in, and a login user is specified. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that login is required to use the operation unit 32, and user authentication is always performed before use. The user authentication method may be any suitable method such as user ID (Identification) and password authentication or fingerprint authentication.

  The near field communication unit 22 performs near field communication with an external device such as a portable terminal. The communicable distance is, for example, within 10 cm.

  The operation panel 30 includes a display unit 31 and an operation unit 32. The operation unit 32 includes hard switches such as a start button and a return button and a touch panel. The touch panel is provided on the display unit 31 and detects a position (coordinate position) pressed with a touch pen or a finger. The display unit 31 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) and the like, and has a function of displaying various operation screens, setting screens, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the management server 40. The management server 40 has a CPU 41 that comprehensively controls the operation of the management server 40. The CPU 41 is connected to a ROM 42, a RAM 43, a nonvolatile memory 44, a hard disk device 45, a network communication unit 46, an authentication unit 47, a display unit 51, an operation unit 52, and the like through a bus.

  The CPU 41 is based on the OS program, and executes middleware, application programs, and the like. Various programs are stored in the ROM 42, and each function as the management server 40 is realized by the CPU 41 executing various processes in accordance with these programs.

  The RAM 43 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 41 executes processing based on a program.

  The nonvolatile memory 44 is a memory (flash memory) whose stored contents are not destroyed even when the power is turned off, and is used for storing various setting information.

  The hard disk device 45 is a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device, and stores an OS program, various application programs, and the like. In addition, an update program uploaded by an administrator or the like is stored. Furthermore, a management table 60 (see FIG. 4) in which various information related to the update program is registered is also stored.

  The network communication unit 46 functions to communicate with the multifunction machine 10 and other external devices via the network 2.

  The authentication unit 47 has a function of performing user authentication. The operation unit 52 includes an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display unit 51 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display and has a function of displaying various operation screens, setting screens, and the like.

  Next, the management table 60 held by the management server 40 will be described. FIG. 4 shows an example of the management table 60 held by the management server 40. In the management table 60, a history of programs uploaded to the own device is registered.

  Specifically, for each uploaded program, the version number, the upload date, the content of the repair of the defect, the level of the repaired defect, and the like are registered.

  In the management table 60 shown in FIG. 4, a version 2 program is uploaded after version 1, and in version 2, a defect related to the FAX broadcast transmission function is corrected. The level of failure related to the FAX broadcast transmission function modified by the version 2 program is “3”. The larger this value, the greater the damage caused by the malfunction. Hereinafter, the version 2 program is referred to as an update program, and the version 1 program is referred to as an old program.

  FIG. 5 shows a list 65 indicating the risk of occurrence of a defect in the old program and the update program. Here, the job related to the update contents of the update program is a FAX broadcast transmission job, and the job not related to the update contents of the update program is a FAX transmission job. There is a risk that a malfunction will occur if a FAX broadcast transmission job is executed in the old program, and there is no risk that a malfunction will occur if a FAX broadcast transmission job is executed in the update program. For a FAX transmission job that is a job other than FAX broadcast transmission, there is no risk that a malfunction will occur even if it is executed by an old program or an update program.

  Next, a process in which the multifunction machine 10 operating with the old program downloads an update program from the management server 40 and updates the program of the own apparatus will be described.

  In the multi-function device 10, a process for updating the program (referred to as an update process) requires several minutes to ten and several minutes. Therefore, when a new program is uploaded to the management server 40, update processing to the program is normally performed when the own apparatus is in a standby state in which no job is being executed. When the update process is completed, the device is reset and restarted.

  When an update program is uploaded to the management server 40 during job execution, if there is no next job in the queue 70, the multifunction device 10 downloads the update program from the management server 40 and terminates the program after the job being executed ends. After that, the device itself is reset.

  As an operation mode when an update program is uploaded to the management server 40 during job execution and there are jobs waiting to be executed in the queue 70, the multifunction machine 10 changes the order of the jobs in the queue 70. A mode with replacement and a mode without replacement that does not change the order of jobs in the queue 70 are provided.

<No replacement mode>
In the operation example shown in FIG. 6, as shown in Step 1, there is a FAX transmission job that is not related to the modification contents of the update program at the head of the queue 70, and a FAX broadcast transmission job that is related to the modification contents of the update program after that. When there is an update program, the update program is uploaded to the management server 40.

  In this case, since the job to be executed next to the job currently being executed (the job at the head of the queue 70) is a FAX transmission job not related to the modification contents of the update program, when the execution of the job currently being executed is finished, Step 2 As shown in FIG. 4, the FAX transmission job in the queue 70 is continuously executed with the old program. If there are a plurality of jobs not related to the update contents of the update program before a job related to the update contents of the update program (in this example, FAX broadcast transmission job), all of them are executed by the old program.

  When the execution of a job not related to the update contents of the update program that existed before the job related to the update contents of the update program is finished, the job to be executed next (the job at the head of the queue 70) is the update of the update program. When it becomes a FAX broadcast transmission job related to the contents, as shown in Step 3, execution of the next job is prohibited, and update processing for updating the old program to the update program is performed. When the update process is completed, as shown in Step 4, a FAX broadcast transmission job is executed by the update program. The FAX transmission job that follows this job is executed by the update program.

  In this way, before updating to the update program, jobs that are not related to the update contents of the update program in the queue 70 earlier in the queue than the jobs related to the update contents of the update program (even if executed by the old program) Therefore, these jobs can be executed efficiently at an early stage without waiting for the processing time for updating to the update program. In addition, since the update program is updated before the execution of the job related to the update contents of the update program (in this example, FAX broadcast transmission job), the job related to the update contents of the update program is not risky. Can be executed.

<Mode with replacement>
In the operation example 2, as shown in Step 1 of FIG. 7, there is a FAX broadcast transmission job related to the modification contents of the update program at the head of the queue 70, and a FAX transmission job not related to the modification contents of the update program after that. When there is an update program, the update program is uploaded to the management server 40. In this case, as shown in Step 2, a replacement process is performed to change the job order in the queue 70 so that the job related to the modification content of the update program is behind all the jobs not related to the modification content of the update program.

  When the execution of the job currently being executed is completed, as shown in Step 3, the FAX transmission job in the queue 70 is continuously executed with the old program. If a new job is submitted to the queue 70 during this period, the replacement process is performed again including that job. For example, when a new FAX transmission job is input, the order of the jobs is changed so that this job comes before the FAX broadcast transmission job already in the queue 70.

  When the execution of all jobs not related to the modification contents of the update program is completed and the job to be executed next (the job at the head of the queue 70) becomes a FAX broadcast transmission job related to the modification contents of the update program (When there is no job that is not related to the update contents of the update program after the job related to the update contents of the update program), the execution of the next job is prohibited and the old program is updated as shown in Step 4 Update process to update. When the update process is completed, as shown in Step 5, a FAX broadcast transmission job is executed by the update program. Steps 3 to 5 are the same as Steps 2 to 4 in FIG.

  In this way, the job order is changed in the queue 70 so that the jobs related to the modification contents of the update program are behind all the jobs not related to the modification contents of the update program. Even if there is a job related to the contents of the program modification before a job that is not related to the contents of the program update, a job that is not related to the contents of the program update (even if it is executed in the old program) It is possible to update to an update program after executing all jobs that do not have a risk of occurrence of defects (in this example, FAX transmission jobs).

  As a result, regardless of the order of jobs in the original queue 70, jobs that are not related to the modification contents of the update program can be efficiently executed early without waiting for the processing time for updating to the update program. In addition, after execution of all the jobs not related to the update contents of the update program is completed, the update program is updated before executing the job related to the update contents of the update program (in this example, a FAX broadcast transmission job). Therefore, it is possible to execute a job related to the modification contents of the update program without risk of occurrence of a defect.

  In the mode with replacement, jobs related to the modification contents of the update program may be in a state where they are hardly executed because jobs that are not related to the modification contents are executed one after another. Therefore, the number of jobs to be executed first by changing the order is limited, or the execution time of the job to be executed first is limited. If the limit is exceeded, do not change the job order any further. Then, when the job related to the modification contents of the update program is at the head of the queue 70, it is updated to the update program before executing this, and then the job is sequentially executed by the update program in the order in the queue 70. It should be executed.

  Next, a case will be described in which selection regarding timing for updating to the update program is received from the user.

  The multi-function device 10 has a predetermined plurality of cases when an update program is uploaded to the management server 40 when a job exists in the queue 70 and a job related to the modification contents of the update program exists in the queue 70. A selection regarding the update timing to the update program is received from the user, and update processing is performed according to the selection.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the update timing selection screen 80. The message field 85 displays the description of this screen. When the first selection button 81 is selected, all the jobs in the queue 70 of the multifunction device 10 are processed by the multifunction device 10 with the old program (old ROM in the figure) as it is. After the process is completed, the program is updated to the update program after entering the standby state. In this case, since the job related to the modification contents of the update program in the queue 70 is also processed by the old program, a problem may occur. However, there is no waiting time for updating to the update program.

  When the second selection button 82 is selected, after the program of this multifunction device 10 is updated to the update program, jobs in the queue 70 are processed by this multifunction device 10. In this case, there is no risk of occurrence of a problem in the execution of the job, but a waiting time for updating to the update program also occurs for a job that is not related to the modification contents of the update program.

  When the third selection button 83 is selected, a job not related to the modification contents of the update program is executed, and then the update program is updated. In this case, there is no risk of a problem occurring during job execution. For jobs that are not related to the modification contents of the update program, there is an advantage that there is no waiting time for updating to the update program. However, regarding the job related to the modification contents of the update program, the job that is not related to the modification contents of the update program is processed first even if the job in the queue 70 is earlier than the job that is not related to the modification contents of the update program. As a result, the waiting time until the start of execution increases accordingly.

  The update timing selection screen 80 is displayed on the display unit 31 of the operation panel 30 of the multifunction machine 10 and receives a selection operation. For example, a user who has submitted a job related to the modification contents of the update program in the queue 70 Displayed on the terminal (which may be a PC terminal used for job submission or the user's smartphone) and receives a selection operation.

  The options are not limited to those shown in FIG. 8, and may be, for example, only options relating to whether or not to update the update program before executing a job related to the modification contents of the update program. In this case, if a selection to update to the update program is received before the execution of the job related to the modification contents of the update program, the operation is performed in the above-described replacement mode.

  Next, a case will be described in which the update timing or the like of the update program is controlled according to the level of the defect related to the modification content of the update program.

  Some defects occur every time, while others occur only once at every 100 times and at an occurrence probability of about once every 10,000 times. In addition, some malfunctions have a minor adverse effect while others are serious.

  Therefore, an administrator of the update program sets the level of the defect and registers it in the management table 60 based on at least one of the defect reproduction rate and defect importance. The multi-function device 10 acquires the level of the defect modified by the update program from the management table 60, and whether or not to update to the update program before executing the job related to the modification contents according to the acquired defect level. Determine.

  Specifically, if the level of the defect repaired by the update program is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the automatic operation is performed in the replacement mode or the non-replacement mode. If the level of the defect corrected by the update program is less than a predetermined threshold value, all jobs in the queue 70 are executed as the old program and updated to the update program when the standby state is entered, or The update timing selection screen 80 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed and operates according to the user's selection.

  Next, a case will be described in which the update timing of the update program is controlled in accordance with the type of job related to the modification content of the update program.

  Send jobs to send data to the outside (FAX transmission, Scan to E-mail to send the data read by the scanner by e-mail, etc.), jobs to save the data read by the scanner in the box (memory save job, Scan to BOX In the case of a memory erasure job for erasing stored data, if a problem occurs, the influence of the problem is greater than that of other jobs. Therefore, when the modification contents of the update program are related to the transmission job, the memory erasing job, and the memory saving job, and there is a job related to the modification contents in the queue 70, the replacement mode or the switching is automatically performed. Operates in none mode.

  If the modification contents of the update program are not related to the transmission job, the memory erasing job, and the memory saving job, and there are jobs related to the modification contents in the queue 70, all the jobs in the queue 70 are deleted from the old program. The program is executed as it is, and when it enters a standby state, it is updated to the update program, or the update timing selection screen 80 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show the flow of processing (processing by the update control program) performed by the multi-function device 10 operating in the mode with replacement for program update. In addition to this process, it is assumed that a process of taking out a job from the head of the queue 70 and sequentially executing the job is performed.

  When there is a job in the queue 70 (step S101; Yes), if an update program is uploaded to the management server 40 (step S102; Yes), information about the update program (information indicating the contents of modification, etc.) is sent from the management server 40. Obtain (step S103). Next, information on each job waiting in the queue 70 (information indicating the type of job) is acquired (step S104). Then, it is determined whether each job waiting in the queue 70 is a job related to (matching with) the modification contents of the update program (step S105).

  If there is no job in the queue 70 related to the modification contents of the update program (step S106; No), this process is terminated. In this case, the jobs in the queue 70 are sequentially processed, and after the execution of all jobs is completed and a standby state is entered, update processing to the update program is performed.

  If there is a job related to the modification contents of the update program in the queue 70 (step S106; Yes), the queue 70 is set so that the jobs related to the modification contents are behind all the jobs not related to the modification contents. The order of jobs in the list is changed (step S107).

  It is determined whether or not there is only a job related to the modification contents of the update program in the queue 70 (step S108). If there is a job in the queue 70 that is not related to the modification contents of the update program (step S108; No), the process returns to step S104 and continues.

  If there is only a job related to the modification contents of the update program in the queue 70 (step S108; Yes), the execution of the job is stopped (step S109), and the job data of all jobs waiting in the queue 70 are stored in a nonvolatile manner. The data is saved in the memory 14 (or the hard disk device 15) (step S110).

  Then, the management server 40 is requested to update to the update program (step S111), and the own apparatus is switched to the update processing mode for updating the program (step S112).

  Thereafter, it waits for a response (ACK) indicating that the update request has been accepted from the management server 40 (step S113; No), and if a response indicating that the update request has been accepted is received (step S113; Yes) ), And receives the update program from the management server 40 (step S114).

  Next, the old program is overwritten with the received update program (step S115). When the writing of the update program is completed (step S116; Yes), the own apparatus is restarted (step S117).

  When the apparatus starts up by restarting, the job data saved in the nonvolatile memory 14 in step S114 is returned to the RAM 13 (step S118), and jobs corresponding to the job data are registered in the queue 70 (step S119). Thereafter, the job execution stop performed in step S109 is canceled (step S120). As a result, jobs are executed in order from the top of the queue 70.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the multifunction peripheral 10 in the printing system 5 has been described as an example of a job processing apparatus, but the job processing apparatus is not limited to this. A job processing apparatus configured by extracting the CPU 11, the ROM 12, the nonvolatile memory 14, the network communication unit 20, and the image processing unit 16 from the multifunction machine 10 may be used. Further, the present invention may be a program that causes a multifunction machine to operate as in the embodiment.

2 ... Network 5 ... Printing system 10, 10A, 10B ... Multifunction machine 11 ... CPU
12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Nonvolatile memory 15 ... Hard disk apparatus 16 ... Image processing part 17 ... Image reading part 18 ... Printer part 19 ... Facsimile communication part 20 ... Network communication part 21 ... Authentication part 22 ... Short-distance wireless communication part 30 ... Operation panel 31 ... Display Unit 32 ... Operation unit 40 ... Server 41 ... CPU
42 ... ROM
43 ... RAM
44 ... Non-volatile memory 45 ... Hard disk device 46 ... Network communication part 47 ... Authentication part 51 ... Display part 52 ... Operation part 60 ... Management table 65 ... List 70, 70A, 70B ... Queue 80 ... Update timing selection screen 81 ... First selection Button 82 ... Second selection button 83 ... Third selection button 85 ... Message field

Claims (12)

A queue for storing submitted jobs in the order of submission,
A job processing unit for taking out a job from the head of the queue and executing the taken-out job;
A network communication unit that communicates via a network;
A storage unit storing a program for controlling the operation of the device itself;
A control unit that acquires an update program corresponding to the program from a server using the network communication unit, and updates the program stored in the storage unit to the update program;
With
The control unit checks whether or not the update program exists in the server when a job exists in the queue, and if the update program exists in the server, the update program exists in the queue. The job processing apparatus is characterized in that the update is performed after a job not related to the renovation content is executed. When the job exists in the queue and the update program exists in the server, and the job related to the modification content of the update program exists in the queue, the control unit modifies the update program. The job order is changed in the queue so that the job related to the contents follows the job not related to the modification contents of the update program, and all the jobs not related to the modification contents of the update program existing in the queue are found. The job processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the update is performed after the execution. The control unit, when a job exists in the queue, and when the update program exists in the server and a job related to the modification contents of the update program exists in the queue, The job processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a selection regarding the execution timing of the update is received from a user, and the update is performed according to the selection. 4. The job processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein selection regarding whether or not to perform the update is accepted before execution of a job related to the modification content of the update program as selection regarding the execution timing of the update. The control unit determines whether or not the level of the defect determined based on at least one of the reproduction rate of the defect related to the modification content of the update program and the importance of the defect is a threshold value or more, 5. The update according to claim 1, wherein the update is performed before the execution of the job related to the modification content of the update program when the level of the defect related to the modification content of the update program is equal to or higher than the threshold value. The job processing apparatus according to one. The control unit includes a job related to the modification contents of the update program in the queue, a transmission job for transmitting data to the outside, a job for storing read data in a box, and a memory erasing for erasing stored data. 5. The job processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the job is any one of the jobs, the update is performed before the execution of the job related to the modification content. A program executed by an information processing apparatus,
An update program for the control program stored in the storage unit of the information processing apparatus, the method including: storing the submitted jobs in a queue in the order of submission; and retrieving the job from the head of the queue and executing the retrieved job. Checking whether a job exists in the queue as to whether the job exists in a predetermined server;
Determining whether there is a job in the queue that is not related to the modification contents of the update program when the update program exists in the server in the examination;
If a job that is not related to the modification content of the update program exists in the queue in the determination, waiting for the end of execution of the job that is not related to the modification content of the update program;
Obtaining the update program from the server;
After completion of the execution, updating the control program stored in the storage unit to the update program;
The program characterized by having. Reordering the jobs in the queue so that jobs related to the update content of the update program are behind jobs not related to the update content of the update program,
The program according to claim 7, wherein in the step of waiting for the end of execution, the end of execution of all jobs not related to the modification contents of the update program existing in the queue is waited. The method further includes a step of receiving from the user a selection related to the execution timing of the update from a plurality of predetermined options.
The program according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the updating is performed according to the selection. The program according to claim 9, wherein in the step of receiving the selection from a user, a selection as to whether or not to perform the update is received before execution of a job related to the modification content of the update program. In the updating step, it is determined whether or not the level of the defect determined based on at least one of the reproduction rate of the defect related to the modification content of the update program and the importance of the defect is equal to or higher than a threshold value. The program according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein, when the level of the defect is equal to or higher than the threshold, the update is performed before execution of a job related to the modification content of the update program. . In the updating step, a job related to the modification contents of the update program in the queue includes a transmission job for transmitting data to the outside, a job for storing read data in a box, and a memory for erasing stored data The program according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein when the job is one of deletion jobs, the update is performed before execution of a job related to the modification content.