JP7518464B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device and a program that can execute standard functions and functions other than the standard functions.

A known conventional electronic device is an image forming device that includes a standard app, which is an application that realizes the standard functions of the image forming device, an extension app, which is an application that realizes functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device, and an extension service that provides the extension app with functions that extend the standard functions of the image forming device without using the standard app (see Patent Document 1).

International Publication No. 2015/182303

However, in conventional image forming devices, there is a possibility that the extended function service may access the memory or storage device of the image forming device more than necessary, which may result in the extended function service affecting the standard functions of the image forming device.

The present invention aims to provide an electronic device and a program that can reduce the possibility of affecting the standard functions of an electronic device when providing functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device.

The electronic device of the present invention includes a memory, an extended service that provides an extended app, which is an application that realizes a function other than the standard function of the electronic device, with a function other than the standard function without using a standard app, which is an application that realizes the standard function, and an extended service management unit that manages the extended service, and the extended service management unit is characterized in that it restricts the extended service according to the available memory size indicated in service management information indicating the available memory size indicating the size in the memory where the extended service is available.

With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention limits the extended service based on the available memory size indicated in the service management information, thereby reducing the possibility that an extended service that provides an extended app with a function other than the standard function of the electronic device will delay the execution of the standard function of the electronic device. In other words, the electronic device of the present invention can reduce the possibility that the standard function of the electronic device will be affected when providing a function other than the standard function of the electronic device.

The electronic device of the present invention includes a CPU, an extended service that provides an extended app, which is an application that realizes a function other than the standard function of the electronic device, with a function other than the standard function without using a standard app, which is an application that realizes the standard function, and an extended service management unit that manages the extended service, and the extended service management unit is characterized in that it executes restrictions on the extended service according to the maximum CPU usage indicated in service management information indicating the maximum CPU usage indicating the maximum value of the CPU usage by the extended service.

With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention limits the extended service based on the maximum CPU usage indicated in the service management information, thereby reducing the possibility that an extended service that provides an extended app with a function other than the standard function of the electronic device will delay the execution of the standard function of the electronic device. In other words, the electronic device of the present invention can reduce the possibility that the standard function of the electronic device will be affected when providing a function other than the standard function of the electronic device.

The electronic device of the present invention comprises a storage device, an extended service that provides an extended app, which is an application that realizes a function other than the standard function of the electronic device, with a function other than the standard function without using a standard app, which is an application that realizes the standard function, and an extended service management unit that manages the extended service, and the extended service management unit is characterized in that it restricts the extended service according to the access range indicated in service management information that indicates the access range indicating the range on the storage device that the extended service can access.

With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention restricts the extended service based on the access range indicated in the service management information, thereby reducing the possibility of security being weakened by the addition of an extended service that provides an extended app with functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device. Therefore, the electronic device of the present invention can reduce the possibility of affecting the standard functions of the electronic device when providing functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device.

In the electronic device of the present invention, the extended service management unit may enforce the restriction on the entire group of extended services.

With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention enforces restrictions on the entire group of extended services, further reducing the possibility that the extended services will affect the standard functionality of the electronic device.

The electronic device of the present invention may include an extended function service that provides the extended application with a function for extending the standard function, and the extended service management unit may execute the restriction on the entire group of the extended function service.

With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention applies restrictions to the entire group of extended function services, reducing the possibility that the extended function services will affect the standard functions of the electronic device.

The electronic device of the present invention includes a back-end service that is an extension service that provides the extension app with functions other than the standard functions, other than the extensions of the standard functions, and the extension service management unit may execute the restriction on the entire group of the back-end service.

With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention enforces restrictions on an entire group of backend services, reducing the possibility that the backend services will affect the standard functionality of the electronic device.

In the electronic device of the present invention, the extended service management unit may enforce the restriction on a service that combines multiple extended services.

With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention imposes restrictions on services that combine multiple extended services, thereby reducing the possibility that a service that combines multiple extended services will affect the standard functions of the electronic device.

The program of the present invention causes an electronic device having a memory to realize an extended service management unit that manages extended services that provide functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device, without using a standard application that is an application that realizes the standard functions, and the extended service management unit executes restrictions on the extended services according to the available memory size indicated in service management information indicating the available memory size that indicates the size in the memory where the extended services are available.

With this configuration, an electronic device that executes the program of the present invention limits extended services based on the available memory size indicated in the service management information, thereby reducing the possibility that an extended service that provides an extended app with functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device will delay the execution of the standard functions of the electronic device. In other words, an electronic device that executes the program of the present invention can reduce the possibility of affecting the standard functions of the electronic device when providing functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device.

The program of the present invention causes an electronic device having a CPU to realize an extended service management unit that manages extended services that provide functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device without using a standard application that is an application that realizes the standard functions, and the extended service management unit executes restrictions on the extended services according to the maximum CPU usage indicated in service management information indicating a maximum CPU usage indicating the maximum value of the CPU usage by the extended services.

With this configuration, an electronic device that executes the program of the present invention limits extended services based on the maximum CPU usage indicated in the service management information, thereby reducing the possibility that an extended service that provides an extended app with functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device will delay the execution of the standard functions of the electronic device. In other words, an electronic device that executes the program of the present invention can reduce the possibility of affecting the standard functions of the electronic device when providing functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device.

The program of the present invention causes an electronic device having a storage device to realize an extended service management unit that manages an extended service that provides a function other than the standard function of the electronic device without using a standard application that realizes the standard function, and the extended service management unit restricts the extended service according to the access range indicated in service management information that indicates an access range indicating the range on the storage device that can be accessed by the extended service.

With this configuration, an electronic device that executes the program of the present invention restricts extended services based on the access range indicated in the service management information, thereby reducing the possibility that security will be weakened by the addition of extended services that provide extended apps with functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device. Therefore, an electronic device that executes the program of the present invention can reduce the possibility of affecting the standard functions of the electronic device when providing functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device.

The electronic device and program of the present invention can reduce the possibility of affecting the standard functions of an electronic device when providing functions other than the standard functions of the electronic device.

1 is a block diagram of hardware of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an extended service management unit shown in FIG. 2; 4 is a diagram showing an example of information set in a service management information table shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a service control unit illustrated in FIG. 3 . 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when an extended service is started. 7 is a flowchart of the memory restriction process shown in FIG. 6 . 7 is a flowchart of the CPU limiting process shown in FIG. 6 . 7 is a flowchart of the access restriction process shown in FIG. 6 .

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

First, we will explain the configuration of an image forming device as an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the hardware of an image forming device 10 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an operation unit 11, which is an operation device such as a button through which various operations are input, a display unit 12, which is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information, an image processing unit 13, which is an image processing device such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) that performs various image processing operations on image data, such as enlargement, reduction, density adjustment, gradation adjustment, and image improvement, a printer 14, which is a printing device that prints images on a recording medium such as paper, a scanner 15, which is a reading device that reads images from a document, and a LAN (Local Area Network). The image forming apparatus 10 is an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) that includes a network communication unit 16, which is a communication device that communicates with an external device via a network such as a network (such as a local area network (LAN) or the Internet) or directly by wire or wirelessly without using a network; a fax communication unit 17, which is a fax device that communicates by fax with an external facsimile device (not shown) via a communication line such as a public telephone line; a memory unit 18, which is a non-volatile memory device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various information; and a control unit 19 that controls the entire image forming apparatus 10.

The memory unit 18 stores a program 18a for a general-purpose OS (operating system) such as Linux (registered trademark) (hereinafter referred to as the "general-purpose OS program") for controlling each piece of hardware in the image forming device 10.

The memory unit 18 stores firmware 18b for the image forming device 10.

The memory unit 18 stores an extension program 18c, which is a program for realizing functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device 10.

The storage unit 18 stores a program 18d for an extended app (hereinafter referred to as an "extended app program"), which is an application that realizes functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device 10. The storage unit 18 can store an extended app program for each extended app.

The storage unit 18 stores a program for an extended service (hereinafter referred to as an "extended service program") 18e that provides an extended app with a service that uses a general-purpose OS without using a standard app, which is an application that realizes the standard functions of the image forming device 10. The storage unit 18 is capable of storing an extended service program for each extended service.

The control unit 19 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 19a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 19b that stores programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 19c that serves as a memory used as a working area for the CPU 19a. The CPU 19a executes the programs stored in the memory unit 18 or the ROM 19b.

The control unit 19 realizes the control configuration shown in FIG. 2 by executing a program stored in the memory unit 18 or ROM 19b.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the control configuration of the image forming device 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 19 realizes the general-purpose OS 110 by executing the general-purpose OS program 18a (see FIG. 1).

The control unit 19 realizes an image processing service 121 that operates on the general-purpose OS 110 and provides services related to image processing, a network communication service 122 that operates on the general-purpose OS 110 and provides services related to communication via a network, and a device operation service 123 that operates on the general-purpose OS 110 and provides services for operating each piece of hardware in the image forming device 10, by executing firmware 18b (see FIG. 1). The image processing service 121, the network communication service 122, and the device operation service 123 each control each piece of hardware in the image forming device 10 via the general-purpose OS 110.

The image processing service 121 may provide a service for, for example, setting the resolution, color, etc., by the scanner 15, storing image data read from a document in the memory unit 18, and having the image processing unit 13 perform image processing on the image data stored in the memory unit 18. The image processing service 121 may provide a service for drawing image data to be printed by the printer 14 based on a file. The image processing service 121 may provide a service for performing image processing such as enlargement, reduction, rotation, color conversion, noise removal, format conversion, character recognition, and watermark recognition on image data obtained from an extension application, image data read from a document by the scanner 15, or image data stored in the memory unit 18.

The network communication service 122 may provide services to execute file transmission and reception, streaming, and authentication data transmission and reception via the network communication unit 16 using various protocols such as TCP/IP and UDP. For example, the network communication service 122 can transmit and receive image data read from a document by the scanner 15 and files stored in the storage unit 18. The network communication service 122 can also transmit and receive image data transmitted and received by facsimile by the fax communication unit 17, transmit and receive the results of user authentication by the user authentication unit when the image forming device 10 has a user authentication unit that authenticates a user by IC card or biometric authentication, and transmit and receive video data generated by the camera when the image forming device 10 has a camera. The network communication service 122 can also transmit and receive the status of each unit of the image forming device 10, the results of calling the functions of each unit, and the like.

The device operation service 123 may provide services to perform processes such as drawing on the display unit 12, driving the printer 14, controlling the fax communication unit 17, user authentication, and obtaining the status of each piece of hardware in the image forming device 10. For example, the device operation service 123 may provide a service to store image data read from a document by the scanner 15 in the memory unit 18, a service to draw an image on a browser displayed on the display unit 12, a service to send image data to the printer 14 to form an image, or a service to send image data stored in the memory unit 18 by facsimile using the fax communication unit 17. The device operation service 123 may provide a service for causing an optional device such as a finisher to execute processes such as bookbinding or stapling when the image forming apparatus 10 includes an optional device, or a service for causing a user authentication unit that authenticates a user by IC card or biometric authentication to execute user authentication when the image forming apparatus 10 includes a user authentication unit, or a service for causing the camera to generate video data when the image forming apparatus 10 includes a camera, or a service for calling up various functions such as gaze detection based on video data generated by the camera. The device operation service 123 may provide a service for performing detailed control of each piece of hardware of the image forming apparatus 10, such as driving one of the motors of the conveying unit of the printer 14. The device operation service 123 may provide a service for acquiring the status of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10.

The control unit 19 realizes the platform service IF unit 130, which provides an interface for calling the image processing service 121, the network communication service 122, and the device operation service 123, by executing the firmware 18b.

The control unit 19 realizes the standard application by executing the firmware 18b. The standard application operates on the platform service IF unit 130 and uses each hardware of the image forming device 10. For example, the control unit 19 realizes a copy application 141, which is a standard application that reads an image from a document by the scanner 15 in response to an instruction input to the operation unit 11 and realizes a copy by printing the read image by the printer 14, a printer application 142, which is a standard application that prints an image based on data received by the network communication unit 16, such as data described in PDL (Page Description Language), by the printer 14, a FAX application 143, which is a standard application that reads an image from a document by the scanner 15 in response to an instruction input to the operation unit 11 and transmits the read image by the fax communication unit 17, and a transmission application 144, which reads an image from a document by the scanner 15 in response to an instruction input to the operation unit 11 and transmits the read image by the network communication unit 16. The printer application 142 may print, by the printer 14, an image based on a file stored in the storage unit 18 in response to an instruction input to the operation unit 11. The fax application 143 may transmit, by the fax communication unit 17, an image based on a file received by the network communication unit 16, print, by the printer 14, an image received by the fax communication unit 17, or store, in the storage unit 18, an image received by the fax communication unit 17.

The control unit 19 realizes the general-purpose OS service infrastructure 150, which provides services that utilize the general-purpose OS 110 without going through the platform service IF unit 130, by executing the extension program 18c (see FIG. 1). The general-purpose OS service infrastructure 150 may provide services that add functions to the general-purpose OS 110, such as installing control programs such as device drivers and scripts on the general-purpose OS 110.

The control unit 19 realizes the extended application service IF unit 160, which provides an interface for using the platform service IF unit 130 from the extended application side, by executing the extension program 18c.

The control unit 19 executes the extension program 18c to realize the standard function service 170, which is a service that uses the standard application to provide the extension application with the standard function of the image forming device 10. The standard function service 170 uses the standard application via the extension application service IF unit 160. For example, the extension application can display a screen for starting copying by the copy application 141 on the display unit 12 by using the standard function service 170. In addition, the extension application can cause the printer application 142 to print various job data and files acquired by the extension application itself or specified via the operation unit 11 by using the standard function service 170. In addition, the extension application can acquire image data specified via the operation unit 11 from among the image data of a facsimile received by the FAX application 143, and cause the FAX application 143 to transmit files specified via the operation unit 11.

The control unit 19 realizes an extended service, which is a service that provides functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device 10, by executing an extended service program (see FIG. 1). For example, the control unit 19 realizes an extended function service 181, which is an extended service that provides an extended application with a service that uses the platform service IF unit 130 without using a standard application or uses the generic OS 110 using the generic OS service base 150, and a back-end service 182, which is an extended service that provides an extended application with a service that uses the generic OS 110 using the generic OS service base 150 without using the platform service IF unit 130. The extended function service 181 uses the platform service IF unit 130 via the extended application service IF unit 160. The control unit 19 can realize at least one extended function service other than the extended function service 181. The control unit 19 can realize at least one back-end service other than the back-end service 182.

The extended function service is a service that provides an extended application with functionality to extend the standard functions of the image forming device 10.

A back-end service is a service that runs on the back-end. A back-end service is a service that provides functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device 10, other than functions that are extensions of the standard functions of the image forming device 10. Examples of back-end services include a service that provides a function to monitor the image forming device 10, a service that provides a function to monitor the entire system consisting of multiple image forming devices, a service that provides a function to monitor a specific server, a service that provides a function to collect information from the image forming device 10, such as a counter indicating the number of pages printed by the image forming device 10, and convert the collected information into information in a format that can be understood by humans, and a service that provides a function to convert the format of information output from the image forming device 10 from an old interface format to a new interface format.

The control unit 19 executes the extension program 18c to implement an extended service management unit 190 that manages extended services, such as starting, starting, and stopping the extended services. The extended service management unit 190 monitors the status of the extended services and the general-purpose OS service infrastructure 150.

The control unit 19 realizes the extended app management unit 200, which manages extended apps, such as launching, starting, and stopping the extended apps, by executing the extension program 18c.

The control unit 19 executes the program 18d for the extended application (see FIG. 1) to realize the extended application 210. The control unit 19 can realize at least one extended application other than the extended application 210. The extended application is an application that is directly used by the user and has a user interface. The user can use the functions provided by the extended application by operating the user interface of the extended application. For example, the extended application may be a practical application such as OCR (Optical Character Recognition), a surveillance camera application, watermark creation, invoice creation, employee list management, slip management, contract management, business card management, PDF creation, ledger management, and group management, or an installer application that adds or modifies device drivers and firmware on the general-purpose OS 110, or other management applications. The extended application can use the generic OS 110 by calling the standard function service 170 and using the standard application, can use the generic OS 110 without using the standard application by calling the extended service, or can use the generic OS 110 by directly calling the generic OS service platform 150.

Figure 3 shows the configuration of the extended service management unit 190.

As shown in FIG. 3, the extended service management unit 190 includes a service reception unit 310 that receives requests for processing to add a new extended service to the image forming device 10 and requests for processing in response to operations such as updating and deleting an existing extended service in the image forming device 10, a service control unit 320 that executes processing in response to the requests received by the service reception unit 310, a service package deployment unit 330 that deploys software packages for the extended services to be newly added to the image forming device 10 in specific locations in the storage unit 18 in response to instructions from the service control unit 320, and a service management information table 340 that shows information on the extended services. For example, when adding a new extended service to the image forming device 10, the service control unit 320 sets information on the extended service in the service management information table 340.

Figure 4 shows an example of information set in the service management information table 340.

As shown in FIG. 4, the service management information table 340 registers, in association with one another, an extended service ID 341, which is identification information for the extended service; a service type 342, which indicates whether the extended service is an extended function service or a back-end service; an available memory size 343, which indicates the size on RAM 19c available for the extended service; a maximum CPU usage rate 344, which indicates the maximum usage rate of CPU 19a by the extended service; an access range 345, which indicates the range on memory unit 18 accessible by the extended service; and an information sharing group 346, which indicates a group that shares information. Note that FIG. 4 omits the specific values of the available memory size and the maximum CPU usage rate.

In the service management information table 340 shown in FIG. 4, the available memory size and maximum CPU usage associated with an extended service ID whose value is "extended service" are the available memory size and maximum CPU usage for the entire group of extended services, respectively. The available memory size, maximum CPU usage, and access range associated with an extended service ID whose value is "extended service" are the available memory size, maximum CPU usage, and access range for the entire group of extended service services, respectively. The available memory size, maximum CPU usage, and access range associated with an extended service ID whose value is "back-end service" are the available memory size, maximum CPU usage, and access range for the entire group of back-end services, respectively. Note that in the service management information table 340, it is preferable that the information associated with an extended service ID whose value is "extended service", "extended service service", or "back-end service" is set in advance before adding a new extended service to the image forming device 10.

The extended function service is a service that provides an extended application with the functionality of extending the standard functions of the image forming device 10, and therefore the function of accessing the memory unit 18 is also an extension of the standard functions of the image forming device 10. Therefore, the extended function service is unlikely to perform unauthorized access, such as unauthorized extraction of data on the memory unit 18. Therefore, in the service management information table 340 shown in FIG. 4, "all range" is set as the access range for the entire group of extended function services.

The back-end service is a service that provides functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device 10, other than functions that are extensions of the standard functions of the image forming device 10, and therefore the function of accessing the storage unit 18 is not an extension of the standard functions of the image forming device 10. Therefore, the back-end service is more likely to perform unauthorized access, such as unauthorized extraction of data on the storage unit 18, than the extended function service. Therefore, in the service management information table 340 shown in FIG. 4, the access range for the entire group of the back-end service is set to "temporary file storage only," which is narrower than the access range for the entire group of the extended function service.

Figure 5 shows the configuration of the service control unit 320.

As shown in FIG. 5, the service control unit 320 includes a service installation control unit 321 that adds a new extended service to the image forming device 10, a service information reference unit 322 that references information on the extended service in the service management information table 340, a service start control unit 323 that starts the extended service, and an access control unit 324 that limits the range on the memory unit 18 that the extended service can access.

The service startup control unit 323 manages the state of each extended service, such as the standby state, running state, and paused state.

Figure 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the image forming device 10 when starting an extended service.

When starting an extended service, the service control unit 320 executes the operation shown in FIG. 6. Note that in the explanation of the operation shown in FIG. 6, the extended service to be started is referred to as the target extended service.

As shown in FIG. 6, the service startup control unit 323 executes memory restriction processing to restrict extended services based on the available memory size (S401).

Figure 7 is a flowchart of the memory limiting process shown in Figure 6.

As shown in FIG. 7, the service start control unit 323 determines whether the sum of the available memory size of all extended services already running and the available memory size of the target extended service exceeds the available memory size for the entire group of extended services (S421). Here, the service start control unit 323 obtains the available memory size of each extended service and the available memory size for the entire group of extended services from the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322.

When the service start control unit 323 determines in S421 that the sum of the available memory size of all extension services already running and the available memory size of the target extension service does not exceed the available memory size for the entire group of extension services, it determines the service type of the target extension service (S422). Here, the service start control unit 323 obtains the service type of the target extension service from the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322.

When the service start control unit 323 determines in S422 that the service type of the target extended service is an extended function service, it determines whether the sum of the available memory size of all extended function services already running and the available memory size of the target extended service exceeds the available memory size for the entire group of extended function services (S423). Here, the service start control unit 323 obtains the available memory size for the entire group of extended function services from the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322.

When the service start control unit 323 determines in S422 that the service type of the target extended service is a backend service, it determines whether the sum of the available memory size of all backend services already running and the available memory size of the target extended service exceeds the available memory size for the entire group of backend services (S424). Here, the service start control unit 323 obtains the available memory size for the entire group of backend services from the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322.

When the service startup control unit 323 determines in S421 that the sum of the available memory size of all already running extended service services and the available memory size of the target extended service exceeds the available memory size for the entire group of extended service services, determines in S423 that the sum of the available memory size of all already running extended service services and the available memory size of the target extended service exceeds the available memory size for the entire group of extended service services, or determines in S424 that the sum of the available memory size of all already running backend services and the available memory size of the target extended service exceeds the available memory size for the entire group of backend services, it decides to stop starting the target extended service (S425) and ends the memory restriction process shown in FIG. 7.

When the service startup control unit 323 determines in S423 that the sum of the available memory size of all extended function services already running and the available memory size of the target extended function service does not exceed the available memory size for the entire group of extended function services, or determines in S424 that the sum of the available memory size of all backend services already running and the available memory size of the target extended service does not exceed the available memory size for the entire group of backend services, it notifies the generic OS 110 that the available memory size of the target extended service will be allocated to the target extended service (S426), and ends the memory restriction process shown in FIG. 7. When the generic OS 110 receives the notification in S426, it manages the target extended service so that it does not exceed the available memory size notified in S426 when executing the target extended service.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the memory restriction process of S401 is completed, the service start control unit 323 determines whether or not the memory restriction process of S401 has decided to stop the start of the target extended service (S402).

When the service startup control unit 323 determines in S402 that it has decided to stop the startup of the target extended service in the memory limiting process in S401, it ends the operation shown in FIG. 6.

When the service startup control unit 323 determines in S402 that the memory limiting process in S401 did not decide to stop the startup of the target extended service, it executes CPU limiting process to limit the extended service based on the maximum CPU usage rate (S403).

Figure 8 is a flowchart of the CPU limiting process shown in Figure 6.

As shown in FIG. 8, the service startup control unit 323 determines whether there is an extended service already running (S441).

When the service start control unit 323 determines in S441 that there is no extended service already running, it notifies the generic OS 110 of the maximum CPU usage rate for the entire group of extended services (S442). Here, the service start control unit 323 obtains the maximum CPU usage rate for the entire group of extended services from the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322. When the generic OS 110 receives the notification in S442, it manages the entire group of extended services so that it does not exceed the maximum CPU usage rate notified in S442 when executing the extended service.

After processing S442, the service start control unit 323 determines the service type of the target extended service (S443). Here, the service start control unit 323 obtains the service type of the target extended service from the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322.

When the service start control unit 323 determines in S441 that an extended service is already running, it determines the service type of the target extended service (S444). Here, the service start control unit 323 obtains the service type of the target extended service from the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322.

When the service startup control unit 323 determines in S444 that the service type of the target extended service is an extended function service, it determines whether or not there is an extended function service already running (S445).

When the service startup control unit 323 determines in S443 that the service type of the target extended function is an extended function service, or determines in S445 that there is no extended function service already running, it notifies the generic OS 110 of the maximum CPU usage for the entire group of extended function services (S446). Here, the service startup control unit 323 obtains the maximum CPU usage for the entire group of extended function services from the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322. When the generic OS 110 receives the notification in S446, it manages the extended function service so that the entire group of extended function services does not exceed the maximum CPU usage notified in S446 when executing the extended function service.

When the service startup control unit 323 determines in S444 that the service type of the target extended service is a backend service, it determines whether or not there is a backend service already running (S447).

When the service start control unit 323 determines in S443 that the service type of the target extended service is a backend service, or determines in S447 that there is no backend service already running, it notifies the generic OS 110 of the maximum CPU usage rate for the entire backend service group (S448). Here, the service start control unit 323 obtains the maximum CPU usage rate for the entire backend service group from the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322. When the generic OS 110 receives the notification in S448, it manages the entire backend service group so that it does not exceed the maximum CPU usage rate notified in S448 when executing the backend service.

When the service start control unit 323 determines in S445 that an extended function service is already running, when the processing of S446 ends, when the service start control unit 323 determines in S447 that a backend service is already running, or when the processing of S448 ends, it notifies the generic OS 110 of the maximum CPU usage of the target extended service (S449). Here, the service start control unit 323 obtains the maximum CPU usage of the target extended service from the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322. When the generic OS 110 receives the notification of S449, it manages the target extended service so that it does not exceed the maximum CPU usage notified in S449 when executing the target extended service.

After processing S449, the service startup control unit 323 ends the CPU restriction processing shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the CPU restriction process of S403 ends, the access control unit 324 executes an access restriction process that restricts the extended service based on the access range (S404).

Figure 9 is a flowchart of the access restriction process shown in Figure 6.

As shown in FIG. 9, the access control unit 324 determines the service type of the target extended service (S461). Here, the access control unit 324 obtains the service type of the target extended service from the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322.

When the access control unit 324 determines in S461 that the service type of the target extended service is an extended function service, it obtains the access range associated with the extended service ID whose value is "extended function service" in the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322 (S462).

When the access control unit 324 determines in S461 that the service type of the target extended service is a backend service, it obtains the access range associated with the extended service ID whose value is "backend service" in the service management information table 340 via the service information reference unit 322 (S463).

After processing S462 or S463, the access control unit 324 notifies the generic OS 110 of the access range acquired in S462 or S463 as the access range of the target extended service (S464), and terminates the access restriction processing shown in FIG. 9. When the generic OS 110 receives the notification of S464, it manages the target extended service so that it does not exceed the access range notified in S464 when executing the target extended service.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the access restriction process of S404 ends, the service start control unit 323 starts the target extension service associated with the information that the target extension service is an extension service and the information that the target extension service is either an extended function service or a back-end service (S405), and ends the operation shown in FIG. 6. Since the information that the target extension service is an extension service is associated with the target extension service, the general-purpose OS 110 can execute the target extension service so that the entire group of extension services does not exceed the available memory size, maximum CPU usage, and access range of the entire group of extension services. Also, since the information that the target extension service is either an extended function service or a back-end service is associated with the target extension service, the general-purpose OS 110 can execute the target extension service so that the entire group of extended function services does not exceed the available memory size, maximum CPU usage, and access range of the entire group of extended function services, or execute the target extension service so that the entire group of back-end services does not exceed the available memory size, maximum CPU usage, and access range of the entire group of back-end services.

The extended service can use the area on RAM 19c and the area on the storage unit 18 used by other extended services that belong to the information sharing group to which the extended service itself belongs. Therefore, multiple extended services that belong to the same information sharing group can share information through the area on RAM 19c and the area on the storage unit 18. Note that the extended service can set whether to allow other extended services to access its own dedicated area in RAM 19c or the storage unit 18, and when it is set to allow access by other extended services, it can allow other extended services that belong to the information sharing group to which the extended service itself belongs to use its own dedicated area. Also, the extended service can set whether to allow other extended services to access a specific area in the shared area in RAM 19c or the storage unit 18, and when it is set to allow access by other extended services, it can allow other extended services that belong to the information sharing group to which the extended service itself belongs to use this specific area.

As described above, the image forming device 10 limits extended services based on the available memory size set in the service management information table 340. Therefore, although extended services that provide extended apps with functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device 10 can be easily added, the possibility that an extended service will delay the execution of the standard functions of the image forming device 10 can be reduced. In other words, when providing functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device 10, the image forming device 10 can reduce the possibility that the standard functions of the image forming device 10 will be affected.

The image forming device 10 limits the extended services based on the maximum CPU usage rate set in the service management information table 340. Although extended services that provide functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device 10 to extended apps can be easily added, the image forming device 10 can reduce the possibility that an extended service will delay the execution of the standard functions of the image forming device 10. That is, when providing functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device 10, the image forming device 10 can reduce the possibility that the standard functions of the image forming device 10 will be affected. For example, execution delays due to the load placed on the CPU 19a by the execution of multiple extended services occur only between these extended services. Execution delays due to the load placed on the CPU 19a by the execution of multiple extended function services occur only between these extended function services. Execution delays due to the load placed on the CPU 19a by the execution of multiple back-end services occur only between these back-end services.

Since the image forming device 10 restricts extended services based on the access range set in the service management information table 340, extended services that provide functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device 10 to extended apps can be easily added, but the possibility of security being weakened by the addition of extended services can be reduced. Therefore, when providing functions other than the standard functions of the image forming device 10, the image forming device 10 can reduce the possibility of affecting the standard functions of the image forming device 10.

In the present embodiment, the image forming device 10 is configured with the available memory size for each extended service, the available memory size for the entire group of extended function services, the available memory size for the entire group of back-end services, and the available memory size for the entire group of extended services. However, the image forming device 10 does not need to have at least one of the available memory size for each extended service, the available memory size for the entire group of extended function services, the available memory size for the entire group of back-end services, and the available memory size for the entire group of extended services configured.

In the present embodiment, the image forming device 10 is configured with a maximum CPU usage rate for each extended service, a maximum CPU usage rate for the entire group of extended function services, a maximum CPU usage rate for the entire group of back-end services, and a maximum CPU usage rate for the entire group of extended services. However, the image forming device 10 does not need to have at least one of the maximum CPU usage rate for each extended service, a maximum CPU usage rate for the entire group of extended function services, a maximum CPU usage rate for the entire group of back-end services, and a maximum CPU usage rate for the entire group of extended services.

The image forming device 10 may be configured with an access range different from that shown in FIG. 4 for the entire group of extended function services and the entire group of back-end services. The image forming device 10 may also be configured with an access range for each extended service, or with an access range for the entire group of extended services.

In the present embodiment, the image forming device 10 registers the available memory size, maximum CPU usage, access range, and information sharing group in the service management information table 340 for each extended service, and applies the available memory size, maximum CPU usage, access range, and information sharing group for each extended service. However, the service management information table 340 may register the available memory size, maximum CPU usage, access range, and information sharing group for each type of service that combines multiple extended services, and apply the available memory size, maximum CPU usage, access range, and information sharing group for each type of service that combines multiple extended services. When the image forming device 10 executes restrictions on a service that combines multiple extended services, it can reduce the possibility that the service that combines multiple extended services will affect the standard functions of the image forming device 10. Here, the types of services that combine multiple extended services include, for example, a service that combines any two extended function services, a service that combines any two back-end services, a service that combines two specific extended function services, a service that combines two specific back-end services, a service that combines any one extended function service and any one back-end service, and a service that combines a specific extended function service and a specific back-end service. Three or more extended services may be combined, and each extended service in the combination may be either any extended service or a specific extended service.

Since the image forming device 10 is equipped with an extended service management unit 190 that manages multiple extended services, customization that utilizes multiple extended services can be performed, thereby improving customizability. For example, the image forming device 10 can improve compatibility with existing systems used by users of the image forming device 10, existing applications used by users of the image forming device 10, and cloud services used by users of the image forming device 10 by providing a back-end service that provides a function for converting the format of information output from the image forming device 10 from an old interface format to a new interface format.

Any of the programs in this embodiment may be configured as one program. For example, the extension program 18c and the extension service program may be configured as one program.

In this embodiment, the electronic device of the present invention is an image forming device, but it may be an electronic device other than an image forming device, such as a PC (Personal Computer).

10 Image forming device (electronic device)
18 Memory unit (memory device)
18c Expansion Program (Program)
19a CPU
19c RAM (memory)
141 Copy application (standard application)
142 Printer app (standard app)
143 FAX application (standard application)
144 Sending application (standard application)
181 Extended Function Service (Extended Service)
182 Back-end services (extended services)
190 Extended service management unit 210 Extended application 340 Service management information table (service management information)

Claims (10)

Memory and
an extension service that provides an extension application, which is an application that realizes a function other than a standard function of the image forming apparatus , with a function other than the standard function without using a standard application, which is an application that realizes the standard function;
an extended service management unit for managing the extended service,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the extended service management unit imposes restrictions on the extended service in accordance with the available memory size indicated in service management information indicating the available memory size, which indicates the size in the memory where the extended service is available. A CPU,
an extension service that provides an extension application, which is an application that realizes a function other than a standard function of the image forming apparatus , with a function other than the standard function without using a standard application, which is an application that realizes the standard function;
an extended service management unit for managing the extended service,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the extended service management unit executes restrictions on the extended service in accordance with the maximum CPU usage indicated in service management information indicating a maximum CPU usage rate that indicates the maximum value of the CPU usage rate by the extended service. A storage device;
an extension service that provides an extension application, which is an application that realizes a function other than a standard function of the image forming apparatus , with a function other than the standard function without using a standard application, which is an application that realizes the standard function;
an extended service management unit for managing the extended service,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the extended service management unit implements restrictions on the extended service in accordance with the access range indicated in service management information indicating the access range on the storage device that the extended service can access. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extended service management unit applies the restriction to an entire group of the extended services. An extension service that is the extension service that provides an extension function of the standard function to the extension application,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extended service management unit applies the restriction to an entire group of the extended function services. A back-end service is the extension service that provides the extension application with functions other than the standard functions, other than the extension functions of the standard functions;
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extended service management unit applies the restriction to an entire group of the back-end services. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extended service management unit applies the restriction to a service that combines a plurality of the extended services. An image forming apparatus having a memory,
an extended service management unit that manages an extended service that provides a function other than the standard function of the image forming apparatus without using a standard application that is an application that realizes the standard function, in the extended application that is an application that realizes the standard function;
A program characterized in that the extended service management unit executes restrictions on the extended service in accordance with the available memory size indicated in service management information indicating the available memory size, which indicates the size in the memory in which the extended service is available. In an image forming apparatus having a CPU,
an extended service management unit that manages an extended service that provides a function other than the standard function of the image forming apparatus without using a standard application that is an application that realizes the standard function, in the extended application that is an application that realizes the standard function;
A program characterized in that the extended service management unit executes restrictions on the extended service in accordance with the maximum CPU usage indicated in service management information indicating a maximum CPU usage rate that indicates the maximum value of the CPU usage rate by the extended service. An image forming apparatus including a storage device,
an extended service management unit that manages an extended service that provides a function other than the standard function of the image forming apparatus without using a standard application that is an application that realizes the standard function, in the extended application that is an application that realizes the standard function;
A program characterized in that the extended service management unit executes restrictions on the extended service according to the access range indicated in service management information indicating the access range that indicates the range on the storage device that the extended service can access.

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