JP6953994B2 - Simulation device, image forming device, device setting method and device setting program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a simulating device, an image forming apparatus, an apparatus setting method and an apparatus setting program, and in particular, sets an image forming apparatus which executes processing using hardware resources or by executing a program, and an image forming apparatus thereof. The present invention relates to a simulating device, an image forming device, or a device setting method and a device setting program executed by the simulating device.

In recent years, an image forming apparatus represented by a multifunction device (hereinafter referred to as "MFP") has a function of processing an image, and an error may occur during the execution of the image processing. The error in this case may be caused by a defect that occurs in the hardware resource of the MFP. When a problem occurs in a hardware resource, it is necessary to replace the hardware resource in which the problem occurs and repair it. Before the hardware resources are replaced, there is a problem that the MFP may become unusable even though there are hardware resources that have not failed.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-203649, based on the defect information acquired from the image forming apparatus, the combination of the equipment and the control program possessed by the image forming apparatus in which the defect has occurred is divided according to the content of the defect, and each control program is provided. Among the equipment included in the combination with, the equipment included in the number of combinations equal to or more than the first threshold value was specified, and among the combinations of the specified equipment and each control program, a problem occurred in the image forming apparatus. A server device that identifies a combination in which the number is equal to or greater than the second threshold value for each content of the defect is described. According to this server device, a combination in which the number of defects occurring is equal to or greater than the second threshold value is specified as a combination of software and hardware that is likely to cause a defect in the image forming apparatus. However, when a problem occurs in the equipment, processing using the equipment cannot be executed.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-203964

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one of the purposes of the present invention is to set an image forming apparatus having a defect in hardware resources so that at least a part of the processing can be performed. It is to provide a simulation device which can be done.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of satisfying an allowable condition even if a job is executed in a state where a defect occurs in a hardware resource.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus setting method capable of setting an image forming apparatus having a defect in hardware resources to a state in which at least a part of processing can be executed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device setting method capable of satisfying the allowable condition even if a job is executed in a state where a defect occurs in a hardware resource.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus setting program capable of setting an image forming apparatus having a defect in hardware resources to a state in which at least a part of processing can be executed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device setting program capable of satisfying the allowable condition even if a job is executed in a state where a defect occurs in a hardware resource.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and according to a certain aspect of the present invention, the simulation device is an image forming apparatus when a defect occurs in the hardware resources of the image forming apparatus. The simulator means for simulating the image forming apparatus by setting the emulator corresponding to the hardware resource specified by the error information received from the error information to the state where the failure part included in the error information has failed, and the simulating means. The virtual device is a job from a virtual execution control means that controls and causes the virtual device that simulates the image forming device to execute a job, and a plurality of programs that are set to be executable by the virtual device. Even if A setting control means for controlling the image forming apparatus so as to be in a possible state is provided.

According to this aspect, when a problem occurs in the hardware resources of the image forming apparatus, it is predetermined even if the virtual apparatus executes a job from among a plurality of programs set to be executable in the virtual apparatus. A set of one or more programs satisfying the permissible conditions is determined as a setting set, and only one or more programs included in the setting set are executed by the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the image forming apparatus can satisfy the allowable condition even if the job is executed in a state where a defect occurs in the hardware resource. As a result, it is possible to provide a simulation device capable of setting an image forming device having a defect in hardware resources to a state in which at least a part of processing can be executed.

Preferably, setting-group determination means when a malfunction in the volatile memory Ru used for the image forming apparatus a plurality of default program installed to execute the image forming apparatus of the hardware resources occurs, a plurality of setting the virtual device image forming apparatus executable one or more programs in executable state by using only valid region if we volatile memory of the default program.

According to this aspect, when a malfunction occurs in the volatile memory Chi sac hardware resources, an image forming apparatus capable of executing using only valid region of one found volatile memory of the plurality of default program Set the virtual device so that one or more programs can be executed. Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the defect in the volatile memory can be set to a state capable of executing at least part of the process.

Preferably, the setting set determining means takes precedence over the processing that has been executed in the past when there is an alternative program that defines the processing to be executed in the hardware resource in which the defect is detected among the hardware resources. One or more programs that determine the degree, determine the process selected based on the priority from multiple default programs and alternative programs, and can be executed by the image forming apparatus using only the effective area of the volatile memory. Set the virtual device to an executable state.

According to this aspect, if the alternative program that defines processing to be executed by the defect is detected hardware resources are present, only the effective area of either et volatile memory of a plurality of predetermined programs and alternative programs The virtual device is set so that one or more programs that can be executed by the image forming device can be executed by using the virtual device. Therefore, the image forming apparatus in which a defect occurs in the hardware resource can be set to a state in which at least a part of the processing can be executed.

Preferably, the setting set determining means selects the processes in descending order of the number of times the image forming apparatus has been executed in the past, and sets the virtual device in a state in which the program corresponding to the selected processes can be executed.

According to this aspect, the virtual device is set in a state in which a program corresponding to a process that has been executed many times in the past can be executed by the image forming device. It is possible to set the process that has been executed many times to the state in which it can be executed.

Preferably, the setting set determining means determines the priority for the processes that have been executed in the past, and puts the virtual device in a state in which an alternative program that defines the selected process based on the priority can be executed. Set.

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute the process executed by the hardware resource in which the defect has occurred.

Preferably, the setting set determining means determines the priority for the processing that has been executed in the past from among the plurality of programs set in the state in which the virtual device can be executed, and has a high priority. The program is installed by selecting the processes one by one in order, the test job is executed by the virtual device, and when the operating status satisfies the allowable condition, the additional instruction including the program identification information is output and the installation included in the additional instruction is performed. Determine the program set as the setting set.

According to this aspect, a set including one or more programs that define one or more processes that have been executed in the past is determined as the setting set, so that the processing with a high probability of being executed by the image processing device is executed. It can be in a possible state.

Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes an installation means for setting the virtual device in a state in which the virtual device can be executed in order from the program that determines the most frequently executed processes in the past.

According to this aspect, the programs that determine the processes that have been executed most frequently in the past are set to the executable state in order, so the frequently executed processes in the image processing device are prioritized and made executable. be able to.

Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes an uninstall means for setting the virtual device in an unexecutable state in order from a program that determines a process that has been executed less frequently in the past.

According to this aspect, the programs that determine the processes that have been executed less frequently in the past are set to the unexecutable state in order, so the frequently executed processes in the image processing device are prioritized and executed. can do.

Preferably, before causing the image forming apparatus to execute only one or more programs included in the setting set, a saving means for storing the programs set in the image forming apparatus in an executable state as a saving program, and an image forming apparatus. Further, it is provided with a restoration means for setting the image forming apparatus in a state in which the save program can be executed after the trouble that has occurred in the hardware resource is solved.

According to this aspect, before the image forming apparatus is made to execute only one or more programs included in the setting set, the programs set to be executable by the image forming apparatus are stored as a save program, and the hardware resources are stored. After the problem that occurred in is resolved, the save program is set to a state that can be executed by the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the image forming apparatus can be returned to the state before the defect occurs after the defect that occurred in the hardware resource is solved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, when a hardware resource malfunction occurs, the image forming apparatus has an operating state during execution of a job from among a plurality of programs set to be executable. A setting means for determining a set of one or more programs satisfying a predetermined allowable condition as a setting set, and a setting means for setting only one or more programs included in the determined setting set in an executable state. , Equipped with.

According to this aspect, when a problem occurs in a hardware resource, one or more programs whose operating state during execution of a job satisfies the allowable condition from among a plurality of programs set to be executable. The set is determined as the setting set, and only one or more programs included in the setting set are set to be executable. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of satisfying the allowable condition even if the job is executed in a state where a defect occurs in the hardware resource.

Preferably, the setting set determining means enables the non-volatile memory among the plurality of default programs when the non-volatile memory used for executing the plurality of installed default programs in the hardware resources fails. One or more programs that can be executed by the image forming apparatus are set in a state in which they can be executed by using only various regions.

According to this aspect, when a problem occurs in the non-volatile memory among the hardware resources, it is possible to execute one or more programs that can be executed using only the effective area of the non-volatile memory from among a plurality of default programs. Set to state. Therefore, when a problem occurs in the non-volatile memory, it is possible to set a state in which at least a part of the processing can be executed.

Preferably, the setting set determining means is a non-volatile memory among a plurality of default programs and alternative programs when there is an alternative program that defines the processing to be executed in the hardware resource in which the defect is detected among the hardware resources. Set one or more programs that can be executed using only the valid area of.

According to this aspect, if there is an alternative program that defines the processing to be executed on the hardware resource in which the defect was detected, only the effective area of the non-volatile memory is used from among the multiple default programs and the alternative programs. Set the virtual device so that one or more programs that can be executed by the image forming device can be executed. Therefore, when a problem occurs in the hardware resource, at least a part of the processing can be set to be executable.

Preferably, the setting set determining means sets the program corresponding to the process executed many times in the past into an executable state.

According to this aspect, the program corresponding to the process executed many times in the past is set to the executable state, so that when a problem occurs in the hardware resource, the process executed many times in the past is executed. It can be set to an executable state.

Preferably, the setting set determining means sets an alternative program that defines the processing to be executed by the hardware resource into an executable state.

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute the process executed by the hardware resource in which the defect has occurred.

Preferably, the setting set determining means determines a set including one or more programs each defining one or more processes that have been executed in the past as the setting set.

According to this aspect, the set containing the most one or more programs that define one or more processes that have been executed in the past is determined as the setting set, so that the processes with high probability of being executed can be executed. Can be in a state.

Preferably, the installation means for setting the program to be able to execute in order from the program that defines the process that has been executed most frequently in the past is further provided.

According to this aspect, the program that defines the processes that have been executed most frequently in the past is set to the executable state in order, so it is possible to give priority to the processes that have been executed frequently in the past so that they can be executed. can.

Preferably, the uninstallation means for setting the non-executable state in order from the program that defines the process that has been executed less frequently in the past is further provided.

According to this aspect, the programs that define the processes that have been executed less frequently in the past are set to the unexecutable state in order, so the processes that have been executed frequently in the past are prioritized and made executable. Can be done.

Preferably, as a backup means for storing the program set in the executable state as an executable program and a hardware resource before setting only one or more programs included in the setting set to the executable state. It is further provided with a restoration means for setting the save program to an executable state after the trouble that has occurred is resolved.

According to this aspect, the program set in the executable state before setting only one or more programs included in the setting set to the executable state is stored as a save program and generated in the hardware resource. After the problem is resolved, the save program is set to the executable state. Therefore, after the defect that has occurred in the hardware resource has been resolved, it is possible to return to the state before the defect occurred.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus setting method corresponds to the hardware resource specified by the error information received from the image forming apparatus when a defect occurs in the hardware resource of the image forming apparatus. A simulation step that simulates an image forming apparatus by setting the emulator to be in a state where the faulty part included in the error information has failed, and a virtual device that simulates the image forming apparatus in the simulation step to execute a job. setting an execution control step, a set of a plurality of allowable satisfy one or more programs that the virtual device is a predetermined even run a job from among the program that is set to be executable in the virtual device set The setting control step for determining the setting set and the setting control step for controlling the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus can execute only one or more programs included in the determined setting set are executed on the server. Let me.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide an apparatus setting method capable of setting an image forming apparatus having a defect in hardware resources to a state in which at least a part of processing can be executed.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the device setting method is predetermined even if a job is executed from a plurality of programs set in an executable state when a problem occurs in a hardware resource. A setting set determination step for determining a set of one or more programs satisfying the specified allowable conditions as a setting set, and a setting step for setting only one or more programs included in the determined setting set in an executable state. Let the image forming device execute.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a device setting method capable of satisfying the allowable condition even if the job is executed in a state where a defect occurs in the hardware resource.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the device setting program corresponds to the hardware resource specified by the error information received from the image forming device when a defect occurs in the hardware resource of the image forming device. A simulation step that simulates an image forming device by setting the emulator to be in a state where the faulty part included in the error information has failed, and a virtual device that simulates the image forming device in the simulation step to execute a job. setting an execution control step, a set of a plurality of allowable satisfy one or more programs that the virtual device is a predetermined even run a job from among the program that is set to be executable in the virtual device set A setting control step for determining the setting set and a setting control step for controlling the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus can execute only one or more programs included in the determined setting set are executed on the computer. Let me.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide an apparatus setting program capable of setting an image forming apparatus having a defect in hardware resources to a state in which at least a part of processing can be executed.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the device setting program is predetermined even if a job is executed from a plurality of programs set in an executable state when a problem occurs in a hardware resource. A setting set determination step for determining a set of one or more programs satisfying the specified allowable conditions as a setting set, and a setting step for setting only one or more programs included in the determined setting set in an executable state. Let the computer that controls the image forming device execute it.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a device setting program capable of satisfying the allowable condition even if the job is executed in a state where a defect occurs in the hardware resource.

It is a figure which shows an example of the whole outline of the information processing system in one of the Embodiments of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the outline of the hardware configuration of the server in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the outline of the hardware configuration of the MFP in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the detailed structure of the main board in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the outline of the simulator provided with the server in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function which the CPU included in the MFP in 1st Embodiment has. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function which the CPU provided in the server in 1st Embodiment has. It is a figure which shows an example of a hard error detection result. It is a figure which shows an example of the aggregation result of the history information. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a device setting process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a virtual device setting process. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function which the CPU provided in the server in the 1st modification. It is a 1st flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the virtual device setting process in 1st modification. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the virtual device setting process in 1st modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are the same. Therefore, detailed explanations about them will not be repeated.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an overall outline of an information processing system according to one of the embodiments of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, the information processing system 1 includes an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 100 and a server 200.

The MFP 100 is an example of an image forming apparatus, and has at least an image processing function for image processing data to be processed and an image forming function for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper based on the image data. In addition to the image processing function and the image forming function, the MFP 100 may include a document reading function for reading a document and a facsimile transmission / reception function for transmitting / receiving facsimile data.

The server 200 is a general computer. Each of the server 200 and the MFP 100 is connected to the local area network (LAN) 3. Each of the MFP 100 and the server 200 connected to the LAN 3 can send and receive data via the LAN 3. The connection form of LAN3 may be wired or wireless. Instead of LAN3, a network using a public switched telephone network (Public Switched Telephone Networks) or a wide area network (WAN) may be used.

In the information processing system 1 of the present embodiment, when a failure occurs in the hardware resource of the MFP 100, the server 200 determines the software configuration corresponding to the failure occurring in the MFP 100, and the software configuration of the MFP is determined. The MFP 100 is set so that the software configuration is set. As a result, even if a problem occurs in the hardware resources of the MFP 100, the MFP 100 can execute at least a part of the processing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an outline of the hardware configuration of the server according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 2, the server 200 includes a central arithmetic unit (CPU) 201 for controlling the entire server 200, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 for storing a program to be executed by the CPU 201, and a CPU 201. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 used as a work area, a hard disk drive (HDD) 204 for storing data non-volatilely, a communication unit 205 for connecting the CPU 201 to LAN3, a display unit 206 for displaying information, and the like. It includes an operation unit 207 that receives input of a user's operation, and an external storage device 208.

The display unit 206 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic ELD (Electro-Luminescence Display). The operation unit 207 is a hard key such as a keyboard. Further, the operation unit 207 may be a touch panel. The touch panel is provided on the upper surface or the lower surface of the display unit 206 so as to be superimposed on the display unit 206. The touch panel detects a position designated by the user on the display surface of the display unit 206.

The communication unit 205 is an interface for connecting the CPU 201 to the LAN 3. The communication unit 205 communicates with the MFP 100 connected to the LAN 3 by a communication protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol). The protocol for communication is not particularly limited, and any protocol can be used. By registering the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the MFP 100 in the server 200, the server 200 can communicate with the MFP 100 and can send and receive data.

The HDD 204 stores a program executed by the CPU 201 or data necessary for executing the program. The CPU 201 loads the program recorded in the HDD 204 into the RAM 203 and executes the program.

The external storage device 208 is equipped with a CD-ROM (Compact Disk ROM) 209 that stores the program. The CPU 201 can access the CD-ROM 209 via the external storage device 208. The CPU 201 loads the program recorded in the CD-ROM 209 mounted on the external storage device 208 into the RAM 203 and executes the program. The medium for storing the program executed by the CPU 201 is not limited to the CD-ROM209, but is an optical disk (MO (Magnetic Optical Disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versaille Disc)), an IC card, an optical card, and the like. It may be a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM or an EPROM (Erasable Program ROM).

Further, the program executed by the CPU 201 is not limited to the program recorded in the CD-ROM 209, and the program stored in the HDD 204 may be loaded into the RAM 203 and executed. In this case, another computer connected to the LAN 3 may rewrite the program stored in the HDD 204, or add a new program and write the program. Further, the server 200 may download the program from LAN3 or another computer connected to the Internet and store the program in the HDD 204. The program referred to here includes not only a program that can be directly executed by the CPU 201, but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an outline of the hardware configuration of the MFP in the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 3, the MFP 100 includes a main board 111, a document reading unit 130 for reading a document, an automatic document transporting device 120 for transporting a document to the document reading unit 130, and a document reading unit 130. An image forming unit 140 for forming an image on paper or the like based on image data to be read and output, a paper feeding unit 150 for supplying paper to the image forming unit 140, and a communication interface (I / F) unit. It includes 160, a facsimile unit 170, an external storage device 180, a hard disk drive (HDD) 113 as a large-capacity storage device, and an operation panel 115 as a user interface.

The main board 111 is connected to an automatic document transfer device 120, a document reading unit 130, an image forming unit 140 and a paper feeding unit 150, a communication I / F unit 160, a facsimile unit 170, an external storage device 180, an HDD 113, and an operation panel 115. And controls the whole MFP100.

The automatic document transfer device 120 automatically transports a plurality of sheets set on the document tray one by one to a predetermined document reading position set on the platen glass of the document reading unit 130, and the document reading unit 130. The original from which the image formed on the original is read is ejected to the original output tray. The document scanning unit 130 includes a light source that irradiates the document conveyed to the document scanning position with light and a photoelectric conversion element that receives the light reflected by the document, and scans the document image according to the size of the document. The photoelectric conversion element converts the received light into image data which is an electric signal and outputs the light to the image forming unit 140.

The paper feed unit 150 conveys the paper stored in the paper feed tray to the image forming unit 140. The image forming unit 140 forms an image by a well-known electrophotographic method, and the image data input from the document reading unit 130 is subjected to various data processing such as shading correction, and the image data after the data processing is performed. Alternatively, an image is formed on the paper conveyed by the paper feed unit 150 based on the image data received from the outside, and the paper on which the image is formed is discharged to the output tray.

The communication I / F unit 160 is an interface for connecting the MFP 100 to the LAN 3. The communication I / F unit 160 communicates with another computer connected to the LAN 3 by a communication protocol such as TCP or UDP. The protocol for communication is not particularly limited, and any protocol can be used.

The communication I / F unit 160 outputs the data received from the LAN 3 to the main board 111, and outputs the data input from the main board 111 to the LAN 3. The communication I / F unit 160 outputs only the data destined for the MFP 100 among the data received from the LAN 3 to the main board 111, and discards the data received from the LAN 3 destined for the device different from the MFP 100.

The facsimile unit 170 is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to transmit and receive facsimile data. The external storage device 180 is equipped with a CD-ROM181 or a semiconductor memory. The external storage device 180 reads the data stored in the CD-ROM181 or the semiconductor memory. The external storage device 180 stores data in the CD-ROM181 or the semiconductor memory.

The operation panel 115 is provided on the upper surface of the MFP 100 and includes a display unit 118 and an operation unit 119. The display unit 118 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic ELD, and displays an instruction menu for the user, information on acquired image data, and the like. The operation unit 119 includes a plurality of hard keys and a touch panel. The touch panel is a multi-touch compatible touch panel provided on the upper surface or the lower surface of the display unit 118 so as to be superimposed on the display unit, and detects a position designated by the user on the display surface of the display unit 118.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the main board according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 4, the main board 111 includes a CPU 171, a ROM 173, a RAM 175, and an image control ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 177.

The CPU 171 and the ROM 173, the RAM 175, and the image control ASIC 177 are each connected to the bus 179, and data can be transferred. A document reading unit 130, an image forming unit 140, and a facsimile unit 170 are connected to the bus 179. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the automatic document transfer device 120, the paper feed unit 150, the communication I / F unit 160, the external storage device 180, the HDD 113, and the operation panel 115 are connected to the bus 179.

The CPU 171 controls the entire MFP 100. Specifically, the CPU 171 uses the image control ASIC 177, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the facsimile unit 170, the automatic document transporting device 120, the paper feeding unit 150, and the communication I / F unit 160 via the bus 179. It controls the external storage device 180, the HDD 113, and the operation panel 115. The ROM 173 stores a program executed by the CPU 171. The RAM 175 is a volatile semiconductor memory.

The CPU 171 loads the program stored in the HDD 113 into the RAM 175 and executes the program. The program executed by the CPU 171 includes a control program for controlling hardware resources and an application program. Hardware resources include RAM 175, image control ASIC 177, automatic document transfer device 120, document reading unit 130, image forming unit 140, paper feeding unit 150, communication I / F unit 160, facsimile unit 170, external storage device 180, HDD 113 and Includes operation panel 115. The application program is, for example, a facsimile transmission program that controls the facsimile unit 170 to transmit facsimile data, a facsimile reception program that controls the facsimile unit 170 to receive facsimile data, and a print job that controls the communication I / F unit 160. Is included, a print program that controls the image forming unit 140 and the paper feeding unit 150 to form an image based on a print job, and a document reading program that controls the document reading unit 130 to read a document. Further, the application program may include a maintenance program for managing consumables included in the MFP 100 and an error status notification program for notifying an error status. The application program executed by the CPU 171 is not limited to these.

The image control ASIC 177 is connected to the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, and the facsimile unit 170, and is controlled by the CPU 171. The image control ASIC 177 has a plurality of DMA (Direct Memory Access) channels. Here, the image control ASIC177 has eight DMA channels whose channel numbers are DMA-00 to DMA07.

The DMA channel having the channel number DMA-00 is assigned a scanning process and is connected to the document reading unit 130. When the image data that the document reading unit 130 reads and outputs the document is input from the document reading unit 130, the image control ASIC 177 performs image processing of the image data and stores the image data in the RAM 175.

The DMA channel having the channel number DMA-01 is assigned the print output process and is connected to the image forming unit 140. The image control ASIC 177 reads the data stored in the RAM 175, converts it into raster data for printing by the image forming unit 140, and executes a process of outputting the raster data to the image forming unit 140.

The DMA channel having the channel number DMA-02 is assigned the FAX transfer process and is connected to the facsimile unit 170. When the facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 170 is input, the image control ASIC 177 executes a process of storing the data after image processing the facsimile data in the RAM 175. Further, the image control ASIC 177 executes a process of reading the data stored in the RAM 175, converting the data into facsimile data, and outputting the data to the facsimile unit 170.

Further, the DMA channel having the channel number DMA-03 is assigned data compression processing and decompression processing. The image control ASIC 177 reads the data stored in the RAM 175, compresses or decompresses it, and executes a process of storing the processed data in the RAM 175. Data encryption processing and decryption processing are assigned to the DMA channel having the channel number DMA-04. The image control ASIC 177 reads the data stored in the RAM 175, encrypts or decrypts the data, and executes a process of storing the processed data in the RAM 175. The DMA channel having the channel number DMA-05 is assigned a process of synthesizing image data. The image control ASIC 177 reads and synthesizes the image data stored in the RAM 175, and executes a process of storing the combined image data in the RAM 175. A color conversion process is assigned to the DMA channel having the channel number DMA-06. The image control ASIC 177 reads the image data stored in the RAM 175, performs color conversion, and executes a process of storing the converted image data in the RAM 175. A scaling process is assigned to the DMA channel having the channel number DMA-07. The image control ASIC 177 reads the image data stored in the RAM 175, changes the size, and executes a process of storing the processed image data in the RAM 175.

The server 200 in the first embodiment includes a simulator that simulates the MFP 100.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an outline of the simulator provided in the server according to the first embodiment. This simulator is formed in the CPU 201 by the CPU 201 executing a simulation program. With reference to FIG. 5, the simulator includes a CPU peripheral simulator 300 and a hardware (HW) simulator 320. The CPU peripheral simulator 300 includes a virtual CPU 301 that simulates the CPU 171 included in the MFP 100, a virtual memory 303 that emulates the ROM 173 and the RAM 175, a peripheral model 305, a synchronization setting model 307, and an interrupt control unit 309. .. The virtual CPU 301, the virtual memory 303, the peripheral model 305, and the synchronization setting model 307 are connected to the bus 311.

The peripheral model 305 includes an HDD 113, an operation panel 115, an HDD 113A that emulates the communication I / F unit 160 and the external storage device 180, respectively, an operation panel 115A, a communication I / F unit 160A, and an external storage device 180A included in the MFP 100.

The synchronization setting model 307 is set so that the virtual CPU 301 synchronizes with the virtual memory 303 and the peripheral model 305. The interrupt control unit 309 generates an interrupt in the virtual CPU 301 when the virtual CPU 301 is set to synchronize with the virtual memory 303 and the peripheral model 305.

The HW simulator 320 includes a PCI-Express Bus model 321, an image control ASIC model 323, and an apparatus model 325. The PCI-ExpressBus model 321 is connected to bus 311 and emulates a connection according to the PCI-Express standard. The image control ASIC model 323 emulates the image control ASIC 177 included in the MFP 100. The device model 325 emulates the automatic document transfer device 120, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the paper feeding unit 150, and the facsimile unit 170 included in the MFP 100, respectively, the automatic document conveying device 120A, the document reading unit 130A, and the image forming unit. A unit 140A, a paper feeding unit 150A, and a facsimile unit 170A are included.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the function of the CPU included in the MFP in the first embodiment. The function shown in FIG. 6 is a function realized by the CPU 171 when the CPU 171 included in the MFP 100 executes an image control program stored in the ROM 173, the HDD 113, or the CD-ROM 181. The image control program is a part of the device setting program. With reference to FIG. 6, the CPU 171 includes a data receiving unit 51 that receives processed data, an image processing unit 53 that executes image processing on the data, a history storage unit 55 that stores the history of image processing, and image processing. A defect detection unit 57 that detects a defect in image processing by unit 53, a hard error detection unit 61 that detects a failure location of a hardware resource that causes a defect, and a verification request unit 59 that requests verification from a server 200. A setting unit 63 and a restoration unit 65 are included.

The data receiving unit 51 receives the processing data to be processed by the MFP 100. The data receiving unit 51 outputs the processed data to the image processing unit 53 in response to receiving the processed data. The data receiving unit 51 receives the image data that the document reading unit 130 reads and outputs the document as processing data. When the communication I / F unit 160 receives a print job from a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) connected to the LAN 3, the data reception unit 51 receives the print data included in the print job as processing data. When the communication I / F unit 160 receives Web data from a Web (Web) server connected to the Internet 5, the data reception unit 51 receives the Web data as processing data. Further, when the data receiving unit 51 receives an instruction to print the data stored in the HDD 113, the data receiving unit 51 receives the data stored in the HDD 113 as processing data.

The image processing unit 53 performs image processing on the data and generates image data. The image processing unit 53 performs image processing on the processed data in response to input of the processed data from the data receiving unit 51. For example, when the processing data is print data, the print data is image-processed according to the conditions determined by the print job. When the processed data is the image data output by the document reading unit 130, the Web data, or the data stored in the HDD 113, the image processing unit 53 performs image processing on the processed data according to the print conditions input to the operation unit 119 by the user. The number of image processes executed by the image processing unit 53 on the processed data is one or more. A job is a collection of one or more image processes executed by the image processing unit 53 for one processed data.

The history storage unit 55 stores the history of jobs executed by the image processing unit 53. Specifically, the job is stored in the HDD 113. The history storage unit 55 outputs the job history to the verification request unit 59.

The defect detection unit 57 detects a defect that occurs while the image processing unit 53 is executing image processing. The image processing unit 53 is an image processing task in which the CPU 171 executes an image processing program. The defect detection unit 57 detects a defect when the image processing task detects an error predetermined by the image processing program. The error predetermined by the image processing program includes a timeout error in which a predetermined time elapses after the image processing unit 53 starts image processing. The predetermined time may be, for example, a time proportional to the amount of data to be image-processed. When the defect detection unit 57 detects a defect, the defect detection unit 57 outputs the defect information for identifying the detected defect to the hardware error detection unit 61.

The hardware error detection unit 61 detects a defect in the hardware resource in response to the input of the defect information. Specifically, the hard error detection unit 61 identifies the hardware resource that causes the defect identified in the defect information and the location of the failure. The hard error detection unit 61 generates error information indicating the identified hardware resource and the fault location, and outputs the error information to the error information transmission unit 92.

The defect detected by the defect detection unit 57 is an error detected by the image processing task, and corresponds to image processing. Therefore, for example, a table in which the image processing and the hardware resources used to execute the image processing are associated with each other is prepared in advance, and the defect information is identified by the defect information. Identify the hardware resources that correspond to the image processing that has occurred. Hardware resources include RAM 175, image control ASIC 177, automatic document transfer device 120, document reading unit 130, image forming unit 140, paper feeding unit 150, communication I / F unit 160, facsimile unit 170, external storage device 180, HDD 113 and Includes operation panel 115. The hard error detection unit 61 uses the automatic document transfer device 120, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the paper feeding unit 150, the communication I / F unit 160, the facsimile unit 170, and the external as hardware resources that cause a malfunction. When the storage device 180, the HDD 113, and the operation panel 115 are specified, error information including device identification information for identifying them is generated.

When the hardware error detection unit 61 identifies the RAM 175 or the image control ASIC 177 as a hardware resource that causes a malfunction, the hardware error detection unit 61 identifies the faulty part. The image processing task performs image processing using the work area of the RAM 175. Further, the image processing task may request the image control ASIC 177 to perform a part of a plurality of processes that can be executed by the image control ASIC 177. The image control ASIC 177 performs image processing using the work area of the RAM 175.

The failure that occurs in the RAM 175 is when there is an inaccessible area. The hard error detection unit 61 scans the RAM 175 and identifies an inaccessible area as a failure location. For example, it detects an address where data cannot be written or read. When the hard error detection unit 61 identifies the faulty part in the RAM 175, the hard error detection unit 61 generates error information including the area information indicating the specified area.

The hard error detection unit 61 executes an operation check on the DMA channel to which the image processing in which the defect has occurred is assigned among the plurality of DMA channels included in the image control ASIC177. The operation check is, for example, a process of inputting predetermined data and collating the output value with the expected value. The hard error detection unit 61 identifies a DMA channel whose output value is equal to or less than the expected value as a failure location in the operation check. When the image control ASIC177 identifies a failure location, the hard error detection unit 61 generates error information including channel identification information indicating the identified DMA channel. The hardware error detection unit 61 may execute an operation check for each of the plurality of DMA channels included in the image control ASIC177, and may identify the DMA channel in which the error occurred in the operation check as a failure location. In this case, since the operation of all of the plurality of DMA channels of the image control ASIC 177 is checked, it is not necessary to specify the DMA channel to be checked for operation.

The verification request unit 59 requests the server 200 to perform verification in response to the error information input from the hard error detection unit. The verification request unit 59 includes a history transmission unit 91, an error information transmission unit 92, a device information transmission unit 93, a restoration request unit 94, a setting instruction reception unit 95, and a temporary storage request unit 96.

The history transmission unit 91 controls the communication I / F unit 160 to transmit the history information including the job history stored in the history storage unit 55 to the server 200. The error information transmission unit 92 controls the communication I / F unit 160 to transmit the error information to the server 200 in response to the error information input from the hard error detection unit 61, and also sends the error information to the device information transmission unit 93. Output transmission instructions. The device information transmission unit 93 generates device information in response to an input of a transmission instruction from the error information transmission unit 92, and transfers the generated device information to the server 200 by controlling the communication I / F unit 160. Send. The device information includes information about the CPU 171 installed in the MFP 100, hardware information about the hardware resources installed in the MFP 100, and software information about the software resources installed in the MFP 100. The information about the CPU 171 includes the model name of the CPU 171. The hardware information includes the hardware identification information for identifying the hardware resource and the hardware parameters set for controlling the hardware resource. When there are a plurality of hardware resources, the hardware information includes hardware identification information and hardware parameters for each of the plurality of hardware resources. The software information includes the program name of the program installed in the MFP 100 and the software parameters set to execute the program.

The restoration request unit 94, the setting instruction reception unit 95, the temporary storage request unit 96, the setting unit 63, and the restoration unit 65 will be described later.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a function of the CPU included in the server according to the first embodiment. The function shown in FIG. 7 is a function realized by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 included in the server 200 executes a server-side image control program stored in the ROM 202, HDD 204, or CD-ROM 209. The server-side image control program is a part of the image control program.

With reference to FIG. 7, the CPU 201 included in the server 200 includes a device information acquisition unit 251, a history acquisition unit 253, a simulation unit 255, a virtual execution control unit 257, an error information reception unit 259, and a setting instruction unit. 261 includes a request storage unit 263 and a restoration request reception unit 265.

The device information acquisition unit 251 acquires device information from the MFP 100. As described above, the MFP 100 transmits device information when a defect is detected during image processing of the processed data. When the communication unit 205 receives the device information from the MFP 100, the device information acquisition unit 251 acquires the device information received by the communication unit 205. When the device information acquisition unit 251 acquires the device information, the device information acquisition unit 251 outputs the device information to the simulation unit 255.

The history acquisition unit 253 acquires history information from the MFP 100. When the communication unit 205 receives the history information from the MFP 100, the history acquisition unit 253 acquires the history information received by the communication unit 205. The history acquisition unit 253 outputs the acquired history information to the virtual execution control unit 257.

The error information receiving unit 259 controls the communication unit 205 to receive error information from the MFP 100. The error information receiving unit 259 outputs the received error information to the simulation unit 255 and the virtual execution control unit 257.

The simulation unit 255 simulates the MFP 100 based on the device information input from the device information acquisition unit 251 and executes a test job input from the virtual execution control unit 257, which will be described later. First, the simulation unit 255 sets the device mounted on the MFP 100 based on the device information, sets the hard parameters, causes the virtual CPU 301 to execute the software resources executed by the CPU 171 of the MFP 100, and sets the software parameters. ..

The MFP 100 includes an image control ASIC 177, an automatic document transfer device 120, a document reading unit 130, an image forming unit 140, a paper feeding unit 150, a communication I / F unit 160, a facsimile unit 170, an external storage device 180, an HDD 113, and an operation. Includes panel 115. Therefore, the hardware information included in the device information includes the image control ASIC 177, the automatic document transfer device 120, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the paper feeding unit 150, the communication I / F unit 160, the facsimile unit 170, and the external storage. The device 180, HDD 113, and operation panel 115 are defined as devices. The simulation unit 255 includes an image control ASIC 177 defined by hardware information included in the device information, an automatic document transfer device 120, a document reading unit 130, an image forming unit 140, a paper feeding unit 150, a communication I / F unit 160, and a facsimile. An emulator that emulates each of the unit 170, the external storage device 180, the HDD 113, and the operation panel 115 is set, and the hard parameters included in the hard information are set. Further, the simulation unit 255 sets the synchronization with the emulating device. For example, the synchronization setting model 307 of the CPU peripheral simulator 300 shown in FIG. 5 is made to set the register value of the virtual CPU 301 so that the virtual CPU 301 synchronizes with the emulator of the apparatus, and the memory map of the virtual memory 303 is rewritten.

When the error information is input from the error information receiving unit 259, the simulating unit 255 sets the emulator corresponding to the hardware resource specified by the error information to a state in which the faulty part included in the error information has failed. Specifically, the simulation unit 255 is a portion that emulates the RAM 175 of the virtual memory 303 shown in FIG. 5 when the error information includes the area information indicating the area specified as the failure location in the RAM 175. Set the area specified by the area information included in the error information to an inaccessible state. Further, when the error information includes the channel identification information for identifying the DMA channel identified as the failure location in the image control ASIC 177, the simulation unit 255 emulates the image control ASIC 177 shown in FIG. In the model 323, the DMA channel specified by the channel identification information included in the error information is set to the unusable state.

Further, the simulation unit 255 sets the software resource defined by the software information included in the device information to the state in which the virtual CPU executes, and sets the set value included in the device information. Specifically, the simulation unit 255 installs a default program, which is a software resource defined by the software information included in the device information, and sets a setting value included in the device information. As a result, the virtual device simulating the MFP 100 is completed in the simulation unit 255. The data stored in the RAM 175 of the MFP 100 may be acquired as a snapshot and stored in the virtual memory 303.

The virtual execution control unit 257 controls the simulation unit 255, and causes the virtual device in which the simulation unit 255 simulates the MFP 100 to execute a test job. The virtual execution control unit 257 includes a confirmation unit 271, an alternative unit 273, an installation unit 275, a setting set determination unit 277, an operation state acquisition unit 279, and a priority determination unit 281.

The priority determination unit 281 determines the priority for each of the plurality of processes that can be executed by the MFP 100 based on the history information input from the history acquisition unit 253. The history information defines the job executed by the MFP 100. A job is a combination of a plurality of processes, and there are a plurality of types depending on the difference in the combination of the plurality of processes. For example, a job of type copy is a job that combines a scanning process for reading a document and an image forming process for forming an image of image data. A job of type facsimile reception is a job that combines a process of receiving facsimile data, a process of converting facsimile data into image data, and an image forming process of forming an image of image data.

The priority determination unit 281 determines the priority for the processing that has been executed in the past based on the history information. Specifically, the priority determination unit 281 calculates the number of times the processing is executed for each of one or more processing types defined in each job based on a plurality of jobs included in the history information. The higher the number of times each of multiple types of processing has been executed in the past, the higher the priority is determined.

The priority determination unit 281 outputs priority information indicating the priority for each of a plurality of types of processes to the confirmation unit 271 and the installation unit 275. The priority information includes a set of process identification information and a priority for identifying the process for each of a plurality of types of processes.

The confirmation unit 271 outputs the error information to the alternative unit 273 and the installation unit 275 in response to the error information input from the error information receiving unit 259.

When the error information is input from the confirmation unit 271, the alternative unit 273 notifies the installation unit 275 of an alternative program that defines the processing to be executed by the hardware resource specified by the error information. Specifically, when the error information includes the channel identification information for identifying the DMA channel identified as the failure location in the image control ASIC177, the installation unit installs an alternative program that defines the processing assigned to the DMA channel. Notify 275. When the error information includes a plurality of channel identification information, the alternative unit 273 notifies the installation unit 275 of a plurality of alternative programs for which processing corresponding to each of the plurality of DMA channels is defined.

The installation unit 275 selects processes one by one in descending order of priority based on the priority input from the priority determination unit 281, and the alternative program is selected from among a plurality of default programs and from the alternative unit 273. When notified, install the program that determines the selected process from the multiple default programs and alternative programs. The installation by the installation unit 275 here means that the execution file of the program is stored in the portion corresponding to the RAM 175 of the virtual memory 303, and the virtual device is set in a state in which the virtual device can execute the program. For example, the installation unit 275 determines the amount of data stored in the RAM 175 when each of the default program and the alternative program is set to be executable, and the installed program and one or more programs not installed are set. When the total amount of data of each of the programs having the highest priority does not exceed the capacity of the usable area of the RAM 175, it is determined that the program can be installed.

The confirmation unit 271 determines one or more test jobs based on the program installed by the installation unit 275, and causes the virtual device to execute the determined one or more test jobs. Specifically, the confirmation unit 271 specifies one or more processes defined by one or more programs installed in the virtual device by the installation unit 275. A plurality of test jobs in which a plurality of processes that can be executed by the MFP 100 are defined are prepared in advance, and the confirmation unit 271 defines one or more specified processes from the plurality of test jobs prepared in advance. One or more test jobs are determined, and the determined one or more test jobs are executed by the virtual device.

Reference values are set in advance for each of the plurality of test jobs. The reference value is a value indicating an operating state when the MFP 100 executes a test job in a normal state in which no hardware resource failure has occurred in the MFP 100. The values indicating the operating state are, for example, the processing time from the start to the end of the test job, the usage rate of the CPU 171, and the response time while the test job is being executed. The response time is the time from when the user inputs an operation to the operation panel 115 to when the execution of the process corresponding to the operation is completed.

The operation state acquisition unit 279 acquires the operation state while the virtual device simulated by the simulation unit 255 executes the test job, and outputs the acquired operation state to the installation unit 275.

When the operating state input from the operating state acquisition unit 279 satisfies the allowable condition, the installation unit 275 gives an additional instruction including program identification information for identifying the last installed program to the confirmation unit 271 and the setting set determination unit. Output to 277. Further, when the operating state input from the operating state acquisition unit 279 satisfies the allowable condition, the installation unit 275 selects the process having the highest priority from the processes that have not yet been selected, and among a plurality of default programs. When the alternative program is notified from the alternative unit 273, a program that determines the selected process from the plurality of default programs and the alternative program is installed.

When the operating state input from the operating state acquisition unit 279 does not satisfy the permissible condition, the installation unit 275 outputs a determination instruction to the setting group determination unit 277. The installation unit 275 determines that the permissible condition is satisfied if the evaluation value indicated in the operating state is within the reference value. For example, when the processing time from the start to the end of the test job is used as the operating state, it is judged that the allowable condition is satisfied if the processing time is less than the reference value, and the allowable condition is satisfied if the processing time exceeds the reference value. Is not satisfied. Further, when the usage rate of the CPU 171 is used as the operating state, it is determined that the allowable condition is satisfied if the usage rate of the virtual CPU 301 of the virtual device is equal to or less than the reference value, but the usage rate of the virtual CPU 301 of the virtual device is larger than the reference value. If it is judged that the allowable condition is not satisfied. When the response time is used as the operating state, it is judged that the allowable condition is satisfied if the response time of the virtual device is equal to or less than the reference value, but the allowable condition is not satisfied if the response time of the virtual device is larger than the reference value. do.

The setting group determination unit 277 is one or more installation programs specified by the program identification information included in one or more additional instructions input from the installation unit 275 so far when the determination instruction is input from the installation unit 275. The set of is determined as the setting set. When determining the setting group, the setting group determination unit 277 outputs the setting group to the setting instruction unit 261.

The confirmation unit 271 determines a test job each time one or more programs are installed by the installation unit 275, controls the simulation unit 255, and causes the virtual device to execute the test job. Each time the operation state acquisition unit 279 inputs an operation state satisfying the allowable condition, the installation unit 275 selects one process in descending order of priority and installs a program that determines the selected process. Therefore, the setting set determination unit 277 determines the maximum number of program sets satisfying the allowable conditions as the setting set.

Further, the confirmation unit 271 generates an unexecutable table based on the error information input from the error information reception unit 259. The non-executable table is a table that defines the processing that cannot be executed by the MFP 100. In the confirmation unit 271, the hardware resources specified by the error information are the automatic document transfer device 120, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the paper feeding unit 150, the communication I / F unit 160, the facsimile unit 170, and the external storage. In the case of the device 180 and the operation panel 115, the process identification information for identifying the process executed by them is added to the non-executable table. When the hardware resource specified by the error information is RAM 175 or HDD 113, the confirmation unit 271 does not update the non-executable table because the process cannot be specified by them. Further, when the hardware resource specified by the error information is the image control ASIC177, the confirmation unit 271 does not update the non-executable table because the alternative program is installed by the alternative unit 273 and the process can be executed.

The confirmation unit 271 updates the non-executable table when there is a program that has not been installed by the installation unit 275 among the plurality of default programs and the alternative program notified from the alternative unit 273. Specifically, the confirmation unit 271 adds the process identification information for identifying the process defined by the program that has not been installed to the non-executable table. If there is a program that was last installed by the installation unit 275 and did not meet the permissible conditions due to the execution of the test job, the process identification information of the process defined by that program is added to the non-executable table.

The setting instruction unit 261 controls the MFP 100 so that only one or more programs included in the setting set are installed in the MFP 100 in response to the input of the setting set from the setting set determination unit 277. The setting instruction unit 261 controls the communication unit 205 and transmits a setting instruction to the MFP 100. The setting instruction includes an unexecutable table input from the confirmation unit 271 and program identification information for identifying one or more programs included in the setting set, and one or more programs included in the setting set serve as alternative programs. If included, include alternative programs. When the setting instruction unit 261 transmits the setting instruction, the setting instruction unit 261 outputs the storage instruction to the request storage unit 263.

The setting instruction unit 261 controls the MFP 100 so that only one or more programs included in the setting set are installed in the MFP 100 in response to the input of the setting set from the setting set determination unit 277. The setting instruction unit 261 controls the communication unit 205 and transmits a setting instruction to the MFP 100. The setting instruction includes an unexecutable table input from the confirmation unit 271 and program identification information for identifying one or more programs included in the setting set, and one or more programs included in the setting set serve as alternative programs. If included, include alternative programs. When the setting instruction unit 261 transmits the setting instruction, the setting instruction unit 261 outputs the storage instruction to the request storage unit 263.

Here, it will be described together with the restoration request unit 94, the setting instruction reception unit 95, the temporary storage request unit 96, the setting unit 63, and the restoration unit 65 shown in FIG.

When the communication I / F unit 160 receives the setting instruction from the server 200, the setting instruction receiving unit 95 of the MFP 100 that receives the setting instruction receives the received setting instruction. When the setting instruction receiving unit 95 receives the setting instruction, the setting instruction receiving unit 95 outputs the request instruction to the temporary storage request unit 96.

The temporary storage request unit 96 requests the server 200 to temporarily store one or more programs installed in the CPU 171 at that time in response to the input of the request instruction. Specifically, a save request including one or more programs installed in the CPU 171 is transmitted to the server 200 by controlling the communication I / F unit 160. When the transmission of the evacuation request to the server 200 is completed, the temporary storage request unit 96 outputs a completion signal to the setting instruction reception unit 95. The request storage unit 263 of the server 200 stores one or more programs included in the received evacuation request in the HDD 204 in association with the MFP 100 in response to the communication unit 205 receiving the evacuation request from the MFP 100.

The setting instruction receiving unit 95 outputs the setting information to the setting unit 63 in response to the completion signal being input from the temporary storage request unit 96. The setting information includes the setting instruction received from the server 200.

In response to the input of the setting information, the setting unit 63 installs only the program specified by the program identification information included in the setting instruction in the CPU 171 according to the setting instruction. When the setting instruction includes an alternative program, the alternative program is installed in the CPU 171. Therefore, even if the image control ASIC177 has a failure, the CPU 171 executes the alternative program, so that the image control can be performed. The CPU 171 can execute image processing that cannot be executed by the ASIC 177.

Further, when the setting instruction includes the non-executable table, the setting unit 63 sets the process identified by the process identification information included in the non-executable table to be non-executable. In addition, the setting unit 63 displays an error message for notifying that the instructed process cannot be executed when an operation instructing execution is input by the user for the process set to be non-executable. ..

Further, the MFP 100 may solve the failure by exchanging hardware resources after transmitting the error information. The hardware error detection unit 61 detects that the failure has been resolved when the RAM 175 or the image control ASIC 177 is replaced after the failure point is detected in the RAM 175 or the image control ASIC 177. Specifically, the hard error detection unit 61 scans the RAM 175 at predetermined time intervals after detecting a defect in the RAM 175, and detects the resolution of the failure when the inaccessible area cannot be specified. Further, when the hard error detection unit 61 detects a failure location in the image control ASIC177 and then executes an operation check for the DMA channel of the failure location at a predetermined time interval and the output value is within the expected value range. , Detect the resolution of the failure. When the hard error detection unit 61 detects that the failure has been resolved, it outputs a restoration instruction to the restoration request unit 94.

The restoration request unit 94 requests the server 200 to restore the program in response to the restoration instruction being input. Specifically, the restoration request unit 94 controls the communication I / F unit 160 and transmits a restoration request to the server 200.

When the communication unit 205 receives the restoration request from the MFP 100, the restoration request reception unit 265 of the server 200 reads out a plurality of programs stored in the HDD 204 by the request storage unit 263, controls the communication unit 205, and controls them. Is transmitted to the MFP 100.

When the communication I / F unit 160 receives one or more programs from the server 200, the restoration unit 65 of the MFP 100 installs only the received programs in the CPU 171. As a result, one or more programs installed in the CPU 171 can be made the same as before the failure occurred in the RAM 175 or the image control ASIC 177.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a hard error detection result. With reference to FIG. 8, the image control ASIC177 shows the result of the operation check for each of the eight DMA channels. The case where the operation check result is normal is indicated by "OK", and the case where the operation check result is an error is indicated by "NG". Here, it is shown that an error occurred in the operation check in the DMA channel having the channel number DMA-05 and the DMA channel having the channel number DMA07. In this case, the CPU 171 should be equipped with an alternative program that defines the image composition process assigned to the DMA channel whose channel number is DMA-05 and an alternative program that defines the scaling process assigned to the DMA channel whose channel number is DMA-07. As a result, the CPU 171 can execute the image composition processing and the scaling process that cannot be executed in the image control ASIC177.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the aggregation result of the history information. With reference to FIG. 9, the aggregation result is the number of times each process is executed. In this case, the print output processing, compression / decompression processing, fax transfer processing, scaling processing, encryption / decryption processing, scanning processing, color conversion processing, and image composition processing have the highest number of executions in this order, so the priority is given in descending order of the number of executions. Is high.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the device setting process. The device setting process is a process executed by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 included in the server 200 executes the device setting program. With reference to FIG. 10, the CPU 201 included in the server 200 controls the communication unit 205 to determine whether or not the device information and the error information have been received from the MFP 100 (step S01). The standby state is set until the device information and the error information are received (NO in step S01), and when the device information and the error information are received (YES in step S01), the process proceeds to step S02.

In step S02, the communication unit 205 is controlled to receive the history information from the MFP 100. In the next step S03, priority is given to the processes executed in the past, and the process proceeds to step S04. Based on the history of the job included in the history information received in step S02, the number of times executed in the past is calculated for each process included in the job. Then, for each of a plurality of processes that can be executed by the MFP 100, a higher priority is given as the number of executions increases. In step S04, the virtual device setting process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S05. The details of the virtual device setting process will be described later, but it is a process of simulating a virtual device and determining a setting set.

In step S05, the setting instruction is transmitted to the MFP 100 that has transmitted the error information, and the process proceeds to step S06. The setting instruction is a command for controlling the MFP 100 so that only one or more programs included in the setting set are installed. The setting instruction includes an non-executable table and program identification information for identifying one or more programs included in the setting set. Further, when the alternative program is included in one or more programs included in the setting set, the setting instruction includes the alternative program.

The MFP 100 that receives the setting instruction installs only one or more programs included in the setting set according to the setting instruction, but transmits one or more programs installed in the stage before installation as a backup program. In step S06, the communication unit 205 is controlled to receive the save program transmitted from the MFP 100. Then, the received save program is stored in the HDD 204 in association with the MFP 100 (step S07), and the process proceeds to step S08.

In the MFP 100, when the failure of the hardware resource is recovered by repairing the failed hardware resource, the server 200 is requested to restore the program. In step S08, it is determined whether or not the communication unit 205 has received the restoration request from the MFP 100. The state waits until the restoration request is received, and when the restoration request is received, the process proceeds to step S09. In step S09, the save program stored in the HDD 204 associated with the MFP 100 is transmitted to the MFP 100 by controlling the communication unit 205, and the process ends.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the virtual device setting process. With reference to FIG. 11, the CPU 201 sets the hardware resource of the MFP 100 to be simulated in the virtual device based on the device information received in step S01 of the device setting process (step S21), and steps the process. Proceed to S22. Specifically, an emulator that emulates the hardware resources defined by the hardware information included in the device information is set.

In the next step S22, it is determined whether or not the image control ASIC177 has failed. If the error information received in step S01 of the device setting process includes the channel identification information, it is determined that the image control ASIC177 has failed. If it is determined that the image control ASIC177 has failed, the process proceeds to step S23, and if not, the process proceeds to step S25. In step S23, a failure is set in the virtual device, and the process proceeds to step S24. Specifically, in the image control ASIC model 323 set as the emulation of the virtual device in step S21, the DMA channel specified by the channel identification information included in the error information is set to the unusable state.

In step S24, an alternative program is determined and the process proceeds to step S25. The program that defines the processing assigned to the DMA channel specified by the channel identification information included in the error information is determined as the alternative program. When the error information includes a plurality of channel identification information, a plurality of alternative programs corresponding to the plurality of DMA channels are determined.

In the next step S25, it is determined whether or not the RAM 175 has failed. When the error information received in step S01 includes the area information for identifying the failure location of the RAM 175, it is determined that the RAM 175 has failed. If the RAM 175 fails, the process proceeds to step S26, otherwise the process proceeds to step S27. In step S26, in the virtual device set in step S02, the portion of the virtual memory 303 that emulates the RAM 175, which corresponds to the RAM 175 and is specified by the area information included in the error information, cannot be accessed. Set to state.

In step S27, it is determined whether or not a hardware resource other than the RAM 175 and the image control ASIC 177 has failed. If the error information includes information indicating a failure location other than the area information and the channel identification information, the process proceeds to step S28, but if not, the process proceeds to step S29. In step S28, the non-executable table is updated and the process proceeds to step S29. The hardware resources of the MFP 100 are, apart from the RAM 175 and the image control ASIC 177, an automatic document transfer device 120, a document reading unit 130, an image forming unit 140, a paper feeding unit 150, a communication I / F unit 160, a facsimile unit 170, and an external device. There is a storage device 180, an HDD 113, and an operation panel 115. Error information occurs in the automatic document transfer device 120, document reading unit 130, image forming unit 140, paper feeding unit 150, communication I / F unit 160, facsimile unit 170, external storage device 180, HDD 113, or operation panel 115. If it contains information indicating that it has been done, the processing executed by the hardware resource in which the failure occurred is added to the non-executable table.

In step S29, the process having the highest priority is selected as the processing target from the processes not selected as the processing target. Then, it is determined whether or not the program that defines the process selected as the processing target can be selected (step S30). If the program that defines the process selected as the processing target can be selected, the process proceeds to step S31, but if not, the process proceeds to step S35. If there is a program that defines the process selected as the processing target among the plurality of default programs installed in the MFP 100 and the alternative program determined in step S24, that program is selected, but the program is selected as the processing target. If there is no program that defines the processed processing, it is judged that selection is not possible. When there is no program that defines the selected process as the processing target, for example, a failure occurs in the image control ASIC177 and there is no alternative program.

In step S31, it is determined whether or not the selected program can be installed in the virtual device. It is determined whether or not the free space of the portion emulating the RAM 175 of the virtual memory 303 remains the capacity required for the virtual device to execute the program selected as the processing target in step S30. .. If there is free space in the portion of the virtual memory 303 that emulates the RAM 175, the process proceeds to step S32, otherwise the process proceeds to step S39.

In step S32, the program selected as the processing target in step S28 is installed, and the processing proceeds to step S33. Specifically, the program selected as the processing target is set in a state in which the virtual device can be executed. For example, the executable file is stored in the part of the virtual memory 303 that emulates the RAM 175.

In step S33, the virtual device is made to execute the test job, and the process proceeds to step S34. From a plurality of test jobs prepared in advance, one or more test jobs that define all the processes installed in the virtual device are determined. Then, the determined test job is executed by the virtual device. If there are multiple test jobs, have the virtual device execute multiple test jobs in order.

In step S34, the operating state of the virtual device is detected, and the process proceeds to step S35. Here, the operating state of the virtual device is detected by measuring the evaluation value of the virtual device. Since the reference value is set for the test job, the evaluation value corresponding to the reference value is measured. The evaluation value detected as the operating state is the time from the start to the end of the test job when the reference value of the test job indicates the processing time, and the reference value of the test job indicates the usage rate of the CPU 171. In this case, it is the usage rate of the virtual CPU 301 while the test job is being executed. If the reference value of the test job indicates the response time, the operation is input to the operation panel 115A and then the processing corresponding to the operation is performed. The time to complete the execution.

In step S35, it is determined whether or not it is within the permissible range. If the evaluation value detected as the operating state is within a predetermined range from the reference value, it is judged to be within the permissible range. If it is within the permissible range, the process proceeds to step S37, but if not, the process proceeds to step S39. In step S37, the program selected in step S30 is set in the setting set, and the process proceeds to step S38.

In step S38, it is determined whether or not there is a process that is not selected as the processing target in step S27. If there is an unselected process, the process returns to step S27, otherwise the process proceeds to step S39. In step S39, the non-executable table is updated and the process is returned to the device setting process. Specifically, the process identification information of the process defined by all the programs not installed in the virtual device is added to the non-executable table. Further, the process identification information of the process defined by the program determined to be out of the permissible range in step S35 after being installed in the virtual device in step S32 is added to the non-executable table.

<First modification>
In order to determine the setting set, the server 200 in the first embodiment selects in order from the highest priority process until the allowable range is not satisfied, and installs a program that determines the selected process in the virtual device. I made it. The server 200 in the first modification installs an installable number of programs in the RAM 175 in order to determine the setting set, and selects in order from the lowest priority process until the allowable range is reached. Uninstall the program that defines the selected process from the virtual device. Hereinafter, the differences from the server 200 in the first embodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the function of the CPU included in the server in the first modification. The difference from the function shown in FIG. 7 with reference to FIG. 12 is that the virtual execution control unit 257 has been changed to the virtual execution control unit 257A. Since the other functions are the same as the functions shown in FIG. 7, the description is not repeated here.

The virtual execution control unit 257A controls the simulation unit 255, and causes the virtual device in which the simulation unit 255 simulates the MFP 100 to execute a test job. The virtual execution control unit 257A includes a confirmation unit 271A, an alternative unit 273A, an uninstall unit 275A, a setting set determination unit 277A, an operation state acquisition unit 279A, and a priority determination unit 281A.

The priority determination unit 281A determines the priority for each of the plurality of processes that can be executed by the MFP 100 based on the history information input from the history acquisition unit 253. The history information defines the job executed by the MFP 100. A job is a combination of a plurality of processes, and there are a plurality of types depending on the difference in the combination of the plurality of processes. For example, a job of type copy is a job that combines a scanning process for reading a document and an image forming process for forming an image of image data. A job of type facsimile reception is a job that combines a process of receiving facsimile data, a process of converting facsimile data into image data, and an image forming process of forming an image of image data.

The priority determination unit 281A determines the priority for the processing that has been executed in the past based on the history information. Specifically, the priority determination unit 281A calculates the number of times the processing is executed for each of one or more processing types defined in each job based on a plurality of jobs included in the history information. The higher the number of times each of multiple types of processing has been executed in the past, the higher the priority is determined. The priority determination unit 281A outputs priority information indicating the priority for each of a plurality of types of processes to the confirmation unit 271A and the uninstall unit 275A. The priority information includes a set of process identification information and a priority for identifying the process for each of a plurality of types of processes. Further, the priority determination unit 281A identifies a process that has not been executed in the past based on a plurality of jobs included in the history, and provides the uninstall unit 275A with non-execution information indicating the process of the specified process. Output. The non-execution information includes process identification information for identifying a process that has never been executed in the past.

The confirmation unit 271A outputs the error information to the alternative unit 273A in response to the error information being input from the error information receiving unit 259. When the error information is input from the confirmation unit 271A, the alternative unit 273A installs an alternative program that defines the processing to be executed by the hardware resource specified by the error information in the virtual device simulated by the simulation unit 255. do. Specifically, when the error information includes the channel identification information for identifying the DMA channel identified as the failure location in the image control ASIC177, an alternative program that defines the processing assigned to the DMA channel is simulated. Install in the virtual device simulated by the channel 255. Installation here means setting the virtual device so that the virtual device can execute an alternative program. When the error information includes a plurality of channel identification information, the alternative unit 273A installs a plurality of alternative programs for defining the processes corresponding to the plurality of DMA channels in the virtual device.

Further, the confirmation unit 271A generates an unexecutable table based on the error information input from the error information receiving unit 259. The non-executable table is a table that defines the processing that cannot be executed by the MFP 100. In the confirmation unit 271A, the hardware resources specified by the error information are the automatic document transfer device 120, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the paper feeding unit 150, the communication I / F unit 160, the facsimile unit 170, and the external storage. In the case of the device 180 and the operation panel 115, the process identification information for identifying the process executed by them is added to the non-executable table. When the hardware resource specified by the error information is RAM175 or HDD113, the confirmation unit 271A does not update the non-executable table because the process cannot be specified by them. Further, when the hardware resource specified by the error information is the image control ASIC177, the confirmation unit 271A does not update the non-executable table because the alternative program is installed by the alternative unit 273A and the process can be executed.

The simulation unit 255 sets a plurality of default programs, which are software resources defined by the software information included in the device information, in a state in which the virtual CPU can be executed, and the confirmation unit 271A sets the hardware specified by the error information. An alternative program that defines the processing to be executed by the resource may be set so that the virtual device can execute it. On the other hand, when a problem occurs in the RAM 175 in the MFP 100, the capacity of the area available in the RAM 175 may not be sufficient to set the default program and the alternative program in a state in which the virtual device can be executed. In this case, the confirmation unit 271A selects one or more of the plurality of default programs and alternative programs, if there are a plurality of default programs and alternative programs, based on the capacity of the area available in the RAM 175. Set the program to a state in which the virtual device can be executed.

The confirmation unit 271A is based on the priority input from the priority determination unit 281A, from among a plurality of default programs, and if an alternative program exists, from among the plurality of default programs and the alternative program. Select in order from the program that defines the processing with the highest priority. For example, the confirmation unit 271A determines the amount of data stored in the RAM 175 when each of the default program and the alternative program is set to be executable, and the total amount of data of each of the selected programs is the RAM 175. Select the maximum number of programs that do not exceed the available space capacity of.

The confirmation unit 271A is an unexecutable table from among a plurality of default programs, or if there is an alternative program, if there is a program that is not selected from among the plurality of default programs and the alternative program. To update. Specifically, the confirmation unit 271A adds the process identification information for identifying the process defined by the non-selected program to the non-executable table.

The confirmation unit 271A determines one or more test jobs based on the non-executable table, and causes the virtual device to execute the determined one or more test jobs. Specifically, the confirmation unit 271A specifies one or more processes excluding one or more processes specified by the process identification information included in the non-executable table among the plurality of processes that can be executed by the MFP 100. A plurality of test jobs in which a plurality of processes that can be executed by the MFP 100 are defined are prepared in advance, and the confirmation unit 271A defines one or more specified processes from the plurality of test jobs prepared in advance. One or more test jobs are determined, and the determined one or more test jobs are executed by the virtual device.

Reference values are set in advance for each of the plurality of test jobs. The reference value is a value indicating an operating state when the MFP 100 executes a test job in a normal state in which no hardware resource failure has occurred in the MFP 100. The values indicating the operating state are, for example, the processing time from the start to the end of the test job, the usage rate of the CPU 171, and the response time while the test job is being executed. The response time is the time from when the user inputs an operation to the operation panel 115 to when the execution of the process corresponding to the operation is completed.

The uninstall unit 275A uninstalls one or more of the plurality of programs installed in the virtual device, and notifies the setting group determination unit 277A of one or more installation programs installed in the virtual device after the uninstallation. .. Here, the uninstallation by the uninstall unit 275A means that the virtual device sets the program in an unexecutable state. Specifically, uninstalling the program indicates a process of erasing the execution file of the program from the portion corresponding to the RAM 175 of the virtual memory 303. When the non-execution information is input from the priority determination unit 281A, the uninstall unit 275A determines the process specified by the process identification information included in the non-execution information among the plurality of programs installed in the virtual device. The program is uninstalled, and one or more programs installed in the virtual device after the uninstallation are notified to the setting group determination unit 277A.

In addition, the uninstall unit 275A uninstalls the programs installed in the virtual device in order from the program that defines the process with the lowest priority, according to the priority information input from the priority determination unit 281A. , Notifies the setting group determination unit 277A of one or more programs installed in the virtual device after uninstallation.

When the program is uninstalled by the uninstall unit 275A, the confirmation unit 271A updates the non-executable table by adding the process identification information for identifying the process defined by the uninstalled program to the non-executable table. The confirmation unit 271A outputs the non-executable table to the setting instruction unit 261 every time the non-executable table is updated. The confirmation unit 271A determines a test job based on the updated non-executable table every time one or more programs are uninstalled by the uninstall unit 275A, and controls the simulation unit 255 to perform a test job on the virtual device. To execute.

The operation state acquisition unit 279A acquires the operation state while the virtual device simulated by the simulation unit 255 executes the test job, and outputs the acquired operation state to the setting group determination unit 277A. When the operating state input from the operating state acquisition unit 279A satisfies the allowable condition, the setting set determination unit 277A determines the set of one or more installation programs installed in the virtual device at that time as the setting set. If the evaluation value indicated in the operating state is within the reference value, it is determined that the permissible condition is satisfied. For example, when the processing time from the start to the end of the test job is used as the operating state, it is judged that the allowable condition is satisfied if the processing time is less than the reference value, and the allowable condition is satisfied if the processing time exceeds the reference value. Is not satisfied. Further, when the usage rate of the CPU 171 is used as the operating state, it is determined that the allowable condition is satisfied if the usage rate of the virtual CPU 301 of the virtual device is equal to or less than the reference value, but the usage rate of the virtual CPU 301 of the virtual device is larger than the reference value. If it is judged that the allowable condition is not satisfied. When the response time is used as the operating state, it is judged that the allowable condition is satisfied if the response time of the virtual device is equal to or less than the reference value, but the allowable condition is not satisfied if the response time of the virtual device is larger than the reference value. do. When determining the setting group, the setting group determination unit 277A outputs the setting group to the setting instruction unit 261.

The CPU 201 included in the server 200 in the first modification executes the device setting process shown in FIG. 10, but the virtual device setting process executed in step S04 is different.

13 and 14 are flowcharts showing an example of the flow of the virtual device setting process in the first modification. With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the processing of steps S51 to S58 is the same as that of steps S21 to S28 of FIG.

In step S59, the process having the highest priority is selected as the processing target from the processes not selected as the processing target. Then, it is determined whether or not the program that defines the process selected as the processing target can be selected (step S60). If the program that defines the process selected as the processing target can be selected, the process proceeds to step S61, but if not, the process proceeds to step S63. If there is a program that defines the process selected as the processing target among the plurality of default programs installed in the MFP 100 and the alternative program determined in step S54, that program is selected, but the program is selected as the processing target. If there is no program that defines the processed processing, it is judged that selection is not possible. When there is no program that defines the selected process as the processing target, for example, a failure occurs in the image control ASIC177 and there is no alternative program.

In step S61, it is determined whether or not there is free space in the RAM 175. It is determined whether or not the free space of the portion emulating the RAM 175 of the virtual memory 303 remains the capacity required for the virtual device to execute the program selected as the processing target in step S60. .. If there is free space in the portion of the virtual memory 303 that emulates the RAM 175, the process proceeds to step S62, but if not, the process returns to the device setting process.

In step S62, the program selected as the processing target in step S60 is installed, and the processing proceeds to step S63. Specifically, the program selected as the processing target is set in a state in which the virtual device can be executed. For example, the executable file is stored in the part of the virtual memory 303 that emulates the RAM 175.

In step S63, it is determined whether or not there is a process that is not selected as the processing target in step S59. If there is an unselected process, the process returns to step S59, otherwise the process proceeds to step S64.

In step S64, it is determined whether or not there is a process that has not been executed in the past. Among a plurality of processes that can be executed by the MFP 100, a process that is not included in the history information is determined to be a process that has not been executed in the past. If there is a process that has not been executed in the past, the process proceeds to step S65, and if not, the process proceeds to step S68.

In step S65, a program that defines a process that has not been executed in the past is selected as the target program, and the process proceeds to step S66. When there are a plurality of processes that have not been executed in the past, a plurality of programs that define a plurality of processes that have not been executed in the past are selected as the target programs. In step S66, the target program is uninstalled from the virtual device, and the process proceeds to step S67. In step S67, the non-executable table is updated and the process proceeds to step S68. Specifically, process identification information for identifying a process that has not been executed in the past is added to the non-executable table.

In the next step S68, the virtual device is made to execute the test job. Of the plurality of processes that can be executed by the MFP 100, one or more processes excluding one or more processes specified by the process identification information included in the non-executable table are specified, and one or more specified processes are defined respectively. The test job of is determined, and one or more determined test jobs are executed in order by the virtual device.

In step S69, the operating state of the virtual device is detected. The evaluation value corresponding to the reference value specified in the test job is detected as the operating state of the virtual device. In step S70, it is determined whether or not it is within the permissible range. If the evaluation value detected as the operating state is within a predetermined range from the reference value, it is judged to be within the permissible range. If it is within the permissible range, the process proceeds to step S79, but if not, the process proceeds to step S71. When there are a plurality of test jobs, the process proceeds to step S79 when the operating state is within the permissible range in all of the plurality of test jobs. In other words, if the operating state of any one of the plurality of test jobs is out of the permissible range, the process proceeds to step S71. In step S79, a set of one or more programs installed in the virtual device at that time is determined as a setting set, and the process is returned to the device setting process.

In step S71, the process having the lowest priority is selected as the processing target from the one or more processes executed in the past. Then, a program that defines the process selected as the processing target is selected as the target program (step S72). In the next step S73, the target program is uninstalled from the virtual device, and the process proceeds to step S74. In step S74, the non-executable table is updated. Update the non-executable table by adding the process identification information of the process to be processed to the non-executable table.

In the next step S75, the test job is executed by the virtual device, and the process proceeds to step S76. Of the plurality of processes that can be executed by the MFP 100, one or more processes excluding one or more processes specified by the process identification information included in the non-executable table are specified, and one or more specified processes are defined respectively. The test job of is determined, and one or more determined test jobs are executed in order by the virtual device.

In step S76, the operating state of the virtual device is detected in the same manner as in step S69, and the process proceeds to step S77. In step S77, it is determined whether or not it is within the permissible range as in step S70. If it is within the permissible range, the process proceeds to step S79, but if not, the process proceeds to step S78. In step S79, a set of one or more programs installed in the virtual device at that time is determined as a setting set, and the process is returned to the device setting process.

In step S78, it is determined whether or not there is a process that has not been selected as the processing target in step S71 among one or more processes executed in the past. If there is an unselected process, the process returns to step S71, and if it does not exist, the process returns to the device setting process.

As described above, in the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment, the server 200 is a virtual device that simulates the MFP 100 and simulates the MFP 100 when a problem occurs in the hardware resources of the MFP 100. From among the multiple installed programs, a set of one or more programs that satisfy the predetermined tolerance conditions even if the virtual device executes a job is determined as the setting set, and only one or more programs included in the setting set. Controls the MFP100 so that it is installed on the MFP100. Therefore, the MFP 100 can satisfy the allowable condition even if the job is executed in a state where a defect occurs in the hardware resource. Therefore, the MFP 100 having a defect in hardware resources can be set to a state in which at least a part of the processing can be executed.

Further, when a problem occurs in the RAM 175, which is a non-volatile memory included in the MFP 100, the server 200 can execute the MFP 100 using only the accessible area of the RAM 175 from among a plurality of default programs pre-installed in the MFP 100. Set the virtual device so that one or more programs can be executed. Therefore, the MFP 100 in which a problem occurs in the RAM 175 can be set to a state in which at least a part of the processing can be executed.

Further, when the server 200 has an alternative program that defines the processing to be executed by the hardware resource in which the defect is detected, the server 200 uses only the effective area of the RAM 175 from the plurality of default programs and the alternative program in the MFP 100. Set the virtual device so that one or more executable programs can be executed. Therefore, the MFP 100 in which a problem occurs in the hardware resource can be set to a state in which at least a part of the processing can be executed.

Further, since the server 200 sets the virtual device in a state in which the program corresponding to the processing that has been executed many times in the past by the MFP 100 can be executed, the MFP 100 in which a problem occurs in the hardware resource is executed in the past. It is possible to set a state in which a large number of processes can be executed.

Further, since the server 200 sets the virtual device in a state in which an alternative program that defines the processing to be executed by the hardware resource can be executed, the hardware resource in which the defect has occurred in the MFP 100 in which the defect occurs in the hardware resource. It is possible to execute the process executed in.

Further, since the server 200 determines a set including one or more installation programs that define one or more processes that have been executed in the past as a setting group based on the history of the processes executed in the past by the MFP 100. , The processing with high probability of being executed by the MFP 100 can be made executable.

Further, the server 200 is installed in order from the installation program that defines the processes that are frequently executed in the past by the MFP 100. Therefore, it is possible to give priority to the frequently executed processing performed by the MFP 100 so that the processing can be executed.

Further, the server 200 installs one or more of a plurality of programs installed in the virtual device simulating the MFP 100, and the virtual device satisfies the permissible state while the virtual device executes a job. Determine one or more installation programs installed in the configuration set. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine a setting set of one or more programs that satisfy a predetermined permissible condition even if the virtual device executes a job from a plurality of programs installed in the virtual device.

Further, the server 200 uninstalls one or more installation programs that define one or more processes that have not been executed in the MFP 100 in the past, so that the processes that have not been executed in the MFP 100 cannot be executed. Therefore, it is possible to determine the setting set of the installation program that satisfies the allowable conditions.

Further, since the server 200 is installed in order from the installation program that defines the processes that have been executed frequently in the past by the MFP 100, it is possible to give priority to the processes that are frequently executed by the MFP 100 so that they can be executed.

Further, since the server 200 installs an alternative program in the virtual device that defines the process of substituting the hardware resource included in the MFP 100, the MFP 100 can execute the process executed by the defective hardware resource in the MFP 100. can.

Further, the server 200 stores the program installed in the MFP 100 as a save program before causing the MFP 100 to execute only one or more programs included in the setting set, and the problem that occurs in the hardware resource in the MFP 100 is solved. After that, the MFP 100 is controlled so that the save program is installed in the MFP 100. Therefore, the MFP 100 can be returned to the state before the problem occurred after the problem that occurred in the hardware resource was solved.

Further, the server 200 in the first modification uninstalls one or more of the plurality of programs installed in the virtual device simulating the MFP 100, and the state of the virtual device is allowed while the virtual device executes the job. When the conditions are met, one or more installation programs installed in the virtual device are determined as the setting set. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine a setting set of one or more programs that satisfy a predetermined permissible condition even if the virtual device executes a job from a plurality of programs installed in the virtual device.

Further, the server 200 in the first modification is uninstalled in order from the installation program that defines the processes executed in the MFP 100 in the least number of times in the past. Therefore, it is possible to give priority to the frequently executed processing performed by the MFP 100 so that the processing can be executed.

Further, since the server 200 in the first modification uninstalls one or more installation programs that define one or more processes that have not been executed in the MFP 100 in the past, the processing that has not been executed in the MFP 100 can be performed. It is possible to determine the setting set of the installation program that satisfies the allowable conditions by making it infeasible.

Further, since the server 200 in the first modification is uninstalled in order from the installation program that defines the processes that are executed less frequently in the past by the MFP 100, the processes that are frequently executed by the MFP 100 can be executed with priority. Can be in a state.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the setting set is determined by the virtual device that simulates the MFP 100 on the server 200. In the second embodiment, the setting set is determined by the MFP 100 without using the server 200. The MFP 100 in the second embodiment executes the device setting process executed by the server 200 in the first embodiment. In the MFP 100 according to the second embodiment, since the CPU 171 executes the device setting program, the RAM 175 secures an area for executing the device setting program, and the server 200 and the server 200 according to the first embodiment. different. Further, the difference is that the CPU 171 included in the MFP 100 in the second embodiment executes the processing executed by the virtual device by the server 200 in the first embodiment.

The MFP 100 according to the second embodiment is a set of one or more programs whose operating states satisfy the allowable conditions while executing a job from among a plurality of installed programs when a problem occurs in a hardware resource. Is determined as the setting set, and only one or more programs included in the setting set are installed. Therefore, it is possible to set so as to satisfy the allowable condition even if the job is executed in the state where the hardware resource has a problem.

Further, when a problem occurs in the RAM 175, which is a non-volatile memory, the MFP 100 has one or more executable programs that the MFP 100 can execute by using only the accessible area of the RAM 175 from among a plurality of default programs pre-installed in the MFP 100. Set the program to an executable state. Therefore, when a problem occurs in the RAM 175, at least a part of the processing can be set to be executable.

Further, when there is an alternative program that defines the processing to be executed by the hardware resource in which the defect is detected, the MFP 100 can be executed by using only the effective area of the RAM 175 from the plurality of default programs and the alternative programs. Set one or more programs to be executable. Therefore, when a problem occurs in the hardware resource, at least a part of the processing can be set to be executable.

Further, since the MFP 100 temporarily sets the program corresponding to the process executed many times in the past to the executable state, when a problem occurs in the hardware resource, the process executed many times in the past is performed. It can be set to an executable state.

Further, since the MFP 100 sets an alternative program that defines the process to be executed by the hardware resource to the executable state, when a defect occurs in the hardware resource, the program is executed by the hardware resource in which the defect has occurred. The process can be executed.

Further, the MFP 100 determines a set including one or more installation programs that define one or more processes that have been executed in the past as a setting set based on the history of the processes executed in the past, and thus is executed. It is possible to make a process with a high probability executable.

Further, since the MFP 100 is installed in order from the installation program that defines the processes that have been executed most frequently in the past, it is possible to give priority to the processes that have been executed frequently in the past so that the processes can be executed.

Further, since the MFP 100 installs one or more of the plurality of programs and determines one or more installed programs installed at the time when the state during the execution of the job satisfies the allowable condition, the setting group of the plurality of programs is determined. Even if a job is executed from within, a set of one or more programs satisfying a predetermined allowable condition can be easily determined.

Further, since the MFP 100 is installed in order from the installation program that defines the processes that have been executed most frequently in the past, it is possible to give priority to the processes that have been executed frequently in the past so that the processes can be executed.

Further, since the MFP 100 installs an alternative program that defines a process for substituting the hardware resource, it can be set to execute the process executed by the defective hardware resource.

Further, the MFP 100 stores the program installed in the MFP 100 as a save program before installing only one or more programs included in the setting set, and after the problem occurring in the hardware resource is solved, the MFP 100 is used. Install the save program. Therefore, the MFP 100 can be returned to the state before the problem occurred after the problem that occurred in the hardware resource was solved.

<Second modification>
In order to determine the setting set, the MFP 100 in the second embodiment selects in order from the highest priority process until the allowable range is not satisfied, and installs a program that determines the selected process in the virtual device. bottom. Similar to the first modification, the MFP 100 in the second modification has an installable number of programs installed in the RAM 175 in order to determine the setting set, and the priority is set until the program is within the allowable range. Select the lowest process first and uninstall the program that defines the selected process.

Since the MFP 100 in the second modification is uninstalled in order from the installation program that defines the processes that have been executed less frequently in the past, it is possible to prioritize the processes that have been executed in the past so that they can be executed. can.

Further, the MFP 100 in the second modification uninstalls one or more of the installed programs, and installs one or more installation programs when the state during job execution satisfies the allowable condition. Since the setting set is determined, a set of one or more programs satisfying a predetermined allowable condition can be easily determined even if a job is executed from a plurality of programs.

Further, since the MFP 100 in the second modification uninstalls one or more installation programs that define one or more processes that have not been executed in the past, it is impossible to execute the processes that have not been executed in the past. It is possible to determine the setting set of the installation program that satisfies the allowable conditions.

Further, since the MFP 100 in the second modification is uninstalled in order from the installation program that defines the processes that are executed less frequently in the past, the processes that are frequently executed in the past are prioritized so that they can be executed. be able to.

In the first embodiment described above, the server 200 is shown as an example of the information processing device, but the device that causes the server 200 to execute the device setting processing shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. Needless to say, the invention can be regarded as a device setting program for causing the CPU 201 included in the server 200 to execute the setting method and the device setting method.

Further, in the second embodiment, the MFP 100 is shown as an example of the information processing device, but there is also a device setting method for causing the MFP 100 to execute the device setting processes shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 11. Needless to say, the invention can be regarded as a device setting program for causing the CPU 171 included in the MFP 100 to execute the device setting method.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the above description, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

<Additional notes>
(1) The setting set determining means is set to a state in which the virtual device can be executed immediately before the operating state of the virtual device does not satisfy the permissible condition while the virtual device executes the job. The simulation device according to claim 7, wherein one or more sets of programs are determined as the setting set. According to this aspect, it is easy to determine the maximum number of programs that satisfy a predetermined tolerance even if the virtual device executes a job from among a plurality of programs that are set to be executable in the virtual device. be able to.
(2) The setting set determining means is set so that the operating state of the virtual device while the virtual device executes the job satisfies the permissible condition and can be executed by the virtual device1. The simulation device according to claim 8, wherein the set having the maximum number of the above programs is determined as the setting set. According to this aspect, it is easy to determine the maximum number of programs that satisfy a predetermined tolerance even if the virtual device executes a job from among a plurality of programs that are set to be executable in the virtual device. be able to.
(3) Further provided with an uninstall means for setting one or more programs out of a plurality of programs set to be executable in the virtual device to an unexecutable state.
The setting set determining means is a set of one or more programs set to a state in which the virtual device can be executed when the state of the virtual device while the virtual device executes the job satisfies the allowable condition. The simulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the above-mentioned setting set is determined. According to this aspect, one or more of the programs set to be executable in the virtual device are set to the unexecutable state, and the state of the virtual device while the virtual device executes the job is an allowable condition. When the condition is satisfied, one or more installation programs set to be executable in the virtual device are determined. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine the maximum number of programs that satisfy a predetermined allowable condition even if the virtual device executes a job from among a plurality of programs that are set to be executable in the virtual device. ..
(4) The simulation according to (3), wherein the uninstallation means sets one or more programs that define one or more processes that have not been executed in the past in the image forming apparatus into an unexecutable state. Device. According to this aspect, one or more programs that define one or more processes that have not been executed in the past are set in an unexecutable state, so that the processes that have never been executed by the image processing device cannot be executed. It is possible to determine the set of programs that satisfy the permissible conditions.
(5) The simulation device according to (4), wherein the uninstallation means is set to an unexecutable state in order from a program that defines a process that has been executed less frequently in the past. According to this aspect, the programs that determine the processes that have been executed less frequently in the past are set to the unexecutable state in order, so the frequently executed processes in the image processing device are prioritized and executed. can do.
(6) The setting set determining means sets a set of one or more programs in which the operating state during execution of the job does not satisfy the permissible condition and is set to a state that can be executed by the virtual device immediately before. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, which is determined in the setting set. According to this aspect, it is possible to easily determine the maximum number of programs that satisfy a predetermined allowable condition even if a job is executed from a plurality of programs that are set to be executable.
(7) The setting set determining means is a set in which the operating state during execution of the job satisfies the permissible condition and the number of one or more programs set in the executable state is the maximum. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, which is determined in the setting set. According to this aspect, it is possible to easily determine the maximum number of programs that satisfy a predetermined allowable condition even if a job is executed from a plurality of programs that are set to be executable.
(8) Further provided with an uninstall means for setting one or more of a plurality of programs set in an executable state to an unexecutable state.
The setting set determining means determines, in the setting set, a set of one or more programs whose state during execution of the job is set to an executable state at a time when the allowable condition is satisfied. 14. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 14. According to this aspect, one or more of the plurality of programs set in the executable state are set in the non-executable state, and the state during the execution of the job becomes the executable state when the allowable condition is satisfied. One or more programs that have been set are determined as the setting set. Therefore, even if a job is executed from a plurality of programs, a set of one or more programs satisfying a predetermined allowable condition can be easily determined.
(9) The image forming apparatus according to (8), wherein the uninstallation means sets one or more programs that define one or more processes that have not been executed in the past into an unexecutable state. According to this aspect, one or more programs that define one or more processes that have not been executed in the past are set to the unexecutable state, so that the processes that have not been executed in the past cannot be executed. The state can be set to determine the set of installation programs that meet the acceptable conditions.
(10) The image forming apparatus according to (9), wherein the uninstallation means is set to an unexecutable state in order from a program that determines a process that has been executed less frequently in the past. According to this aspect, the programs that define the processes that have been executed less frequently in the past are set to the unexecutable state in order, so the processes that have been executed frequently in the past are prioritized and made executable. Can be done.

1 Information processing system, 3 LAN, 5 Internet, 100 MFP, 200 server, 111 main board, 115 operation panel, 115A operation panel, 118 display unit, 119 operation unit, 120, 120A automatic document transfer device, 130, 130A document reading Unit, 140, 140A image forming unit, 150, 150A paper feeding unit, 160, 160A communication I / F unit, 170, 170A facsimile unit, 171 CPU, 173 ROM, 175 RAM, 177 image control ASIC, 179 bus, 180, 180A external storage device, 201 CPU, 202 ROM, 203 RAM, 204 HDD, 205 communication unit, 206 display unit, 207 operation unit, 209 external storage device, 300 CPU peripheral simulator, 301 virtual CPU, 303 virtual memory, 305 peripheral model , 307 synchronous setting model, 309 interrupt control unit, 311 bus, 320 HW simulator, 321 PCI-ExpressBus model, 323 image control ASIC model, 325 device model, 51 data reception unit, 53 image processing unit, 55 history storage unit, 57 Defect detection unit, 59 Verification request unit, 59A Execution control unit, 61 Hard error detection unit, 63, 63A setting unit, 65, 65A restoration unit, 67 Temporary storage unit, 91 History transmission unit, 92 Error information transmission unit, 93 Device information transmission unit, 94 restoration request unit, 95 setting instruction reception unit, 96 temporary storage request unit, 251 device information acquisition unit, 253 history acquisition unit, 255 simulation unit, 257 virtual execution control unit, 259 error information reception unit, 261 Setting instruction unit, 263 Request storage unit, 265 Restoration request reception unit, 271,271A Confirmation unit, 273,273A Alternative unit, 275 Installation unit, 275A Uninstall unit, 277,277A Setting group determination unit, 279,279A Operation Status acquisition unit, 281,281A Priority determination unit.

Claims (11)

When a problem occurs in the hardware resource of the image forming apparatus, the failure point included in the error information of the emulator corresponding to the hardware resource specified by the error information received from the image forming apparatus has failed. A simulating means that simulates the image forming apparatus by setting the state, and
A virtual execution control means that controls the simulation means and causes the virtual device that simulates the image forming apparatus to execute a job.
A setting that determines a set of one or more programs that satisfy a predetermined allowable condition even if the virtual device executes a job from among a plurality of programs set to be executable by the virtual device. Group determination means and
A simulation device including a setting control means for controlling the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus can execute only one or more programs included in the determined setting set. The setting-group determination unit, when a malfunction occurs in the volatile memory Ru used for a plurality of default program installed in the image forming apparatus is the image forming apparatus to perform one of the hardware resources, the wherein setting a virtual device ready to perform the image forming apparatus executable one or more programs using only valid area before Ki揮-volatile memory from a plurality of predetermined programs, to claim 1 The simulated device described. When there is an alternative program that defines the processing to be executed by the hardware resource in which the defect is detected among the hardware resources, the setting set determining means gives priority to the processing that has been executed in the past. determines, defines a process selected based on the priority from among the plurality of predetermined programs and the alternative program and executable by the image forming apparatus using only valid area before Ki揮-volatile memory The simulation device according to claim 2, wherein the virtual device is set in a state in which one or more programs can be executed. The setting group determining means selects processes in descending order of the number of times they have been executed in the past by the image forming apparatus, and sets the virtual device in a state in which a program corresponding to the selected processes can be executed. The simulation device according to 2 or 3. The setting group determining means determines a priority for a process that has been executed in the past, and puts the virtual device in a state in which an alternative program that defines the process selected based on the priority can be executed. The simulation device according to claim 1, which is set. The setting set determining means determines the priority of the processes that have been executed in the past from among the plurality of programs set in the state in which the virtual device can be executed, and determines the priority in descending order of priority. The program is installed by selecting the processes one by one, the test job is executed by the virtual device, and when the operating status satisfies the allowable condition, the additional instruction including the program identification information is output, and the installation program included in the additional instruction is output. The simulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the set of is determined as the setting set. The simulation device according to claim 6, further comprising an installation means for setting the virtual device in a state in which the virtual device can be executed in order from a program that determines a process that has been executed many times in the past in the image forming device. The simulation device according to claim 6, further comprising an uninstall means for setting the virtual device in an unexecutable state in order from a program that defines a process that has been executed less frequently in the past in the image forming device. An evacuation means for storing a program set in a state in which the image forming apparatus can be executed as an evacuation program before causing the image forming apparatus to execute only one or more programs included in the setting set.
Claims 1 to 8 further include a restoration means for setting the image forming apparatus in a state in which the saving program can be executed after the defect generated in the hardware resource in the image forming apparatus is resolved. The simulator according to any one. When a problem occurs in the hardware resource of the image forming apparatus, the failure point included in the error information of the emulator corresponding to the hardware resource specified by the error information received from the image forming apparatus has failed. A simulation step that simulates the image forming apparatus by setting the state, and
In the simulation step, a virtual execution control step of causing a virtual device that simulates the image forming device to execute a job, and a virtual execution control step.
Determining a set of said virtual device allowed satisfies one or more programs also predetermined by running the job from among a plurality of programs that are set in the executable state in the previous SL virtual device set group Setting set determination step and
A device setting method for causing a server to execute a setting control step for controlling the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus can execute only one or more programs included in the determined setting set. When a problem occurs in the hardware resource of the image forming apparatus, the failure point included in the error information of the emulator corresponding to the hardware resource specified by the error information received from the image forming apparatus has failed. A simulation step that simulates the image forming apparatus by setting the state, and
In the simulation step, a virtual execution control step of causing a virtual device that simulates the image forming device to execute a job, and a virtual execution control step.
Determining a set of said virtual device allowed satisfies one or more programs also predetermined by running the job from among a plurality of programs that are set in the executable state in the previous SL virtual device set group Setting set determination step and
A device setting program for causing a computer to execute a setting control step for controlling the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus can execute only one or more programs included in the determined setting set.

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