IMAGE GENERATING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN IMAGE GENERATING DEVICE

Abstract

Image generating device (1), comprising: a hard disk (14) configured to store data; a hard disk malfunction detection unit (3) configured to detect a malfunction of the hard disk (14); a partition acknowledgment unit (3) configured to determine whether a malfunctioning section of the hard disk (14) is in a predetermined partition, wherein the partition is a section that logically defines a data management structure in the hard disk (14); and a partition formatting unit (3) configured to format an area in the partition, wherein, When it is determined that the malfunctioning section of the hard disk (14) detected by the hard disk malfunction detection unit (3) is located in the partition predetermined by the partition acknowledgment unit (3), the partition formatting unit (3) formats the partition to restore the area in the partition.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Area of ​​the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an image generation device, a data processing device, a control method of an image generation device and a data processing method, and relates in particular to a technology that is suitable when used when an error has occurred due to a hard disk abnormality. Description of the state of the art

[0002] Traditionally, some imaging devices use a hard disk as a storage device to hold image data, user application data, and temporary data during processing. Hard disk abnormalities include physical abnormalities, such as a poor cable connection, and logical abnormalities, such as track loss errors (where a read / write position on the disk is shifted due to vibration) or unintentional power outages during a write operation.

[0003] When a hard drive abnormality is detected, the imaging device informs a user interface (UI) or remote monitoring system of the error and requests the dispatch of a service technician. The service technician then restores power or formats a portion (partition) of the hard drive that is believed to be experiencing an abnormality. The service technician may replace the hard drive as a countermeasure if the above procedures fail to resolve the error. In this context, the service technician is a person who secures the imaging device. Furthermore, the service technician is a worker who is presumed to possess technical knowledge regarding the imaging device under their responsibility and to resolve any errors or similar issues that may arise.

[0004] In reality, the error is often a fault primarily caused by a logical abnormality of the hard drive resulting from a software malfunction, such as a partition abnormality or file system corruption. In this case, the dispatched service technician can only resolve the error by repeatedly powering on the drive or formatting the partition. A technology for automatically performing formatting when the imaging device detects the abnormality is proposed as a method for resolving these logical abnormalities of the hard drive (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP 2006-33239 (A)).

[0005] On the other hand, even in the case of physical abnormality of the hard drive, the hard drive is occasionally temporarily restored by formatting the partition, and the service technician takes a countermeasure of: restoring the hard drive by formatting when first dispatched; and replacing the hard drive when repeatedly informed of the error.

[0006] However, if the partition is automatically formatted without the user's consent, the service employee will delete the user's image and application data without the user's permission.

[0007] Additionally, even if the error is caused by a physical defect in the hard drive, there is a case where formatting temporarily recovers the data. Consequently, there are instances where the service technician, upon initial dispatch, completes the work without replacing the hard drive and is unable to take appropriate measures to address the underlying physical defect. In this case, the hard drive operates in a state where there is a risk of user data loss.

[0008] German patent application DE 691 25 677 T2 discloses a troubleshooting and recovery process in an electronic reproduction system, which includes storing troubleshooting and recovery instructions for specific system errors in memory, monitoring the system for the occurrence of errors, and accessing and displaying the stored instructions upon detection of an error. Errors with similar recovery characteristics are categorized to facilitate troubleshooting and recovery measures.

[0009] The publication JP 2006-33 239 A discloses a device for recording content, comprising a recording device that cyclically records content on a recording medium, a determination device that determines whether the previous recording operation by the recording device was abnormally terminated upon power supply activation, a reading device for retrieving the content recorded on the recording medium to a specified extent if the result of the determination device is positive, a repair device for repairing a fault if the read operation by the reading device fails due to a fault in the recording medium, and a device for searching for a temporal discontinuity point in the content recorded on the recording medium if the read operation by the reading device is successful.and a device for initiating the recording means in response either to the completion of the repair process by the repair means or to the detection of a temporal discontinuity point by the search device.

[0010] US Patent 5,269,018 A discloses a method for automatically formatting a hard disk connected to a computer system, comprising the following steps: (A) causing the CPU to read data from the floppy disk drive (FDD) to determine if a FLAG-1 file is present in the read data; (B) causing the CPU to read data from the FDD again and delete temporary files if temporary files are present in the read data; (C) causing the CPU to determine if the low-level formatting is complete, access the FDD via the FDC, and transfer the data stored in memory to the FDD, as well as a PRE-FORM.(D) Create a YES file if the hard disk was low-level formatted; (D) Store error information acceptable for the disk's capacity by having the CPU calculate the disk's capacity and determine a landing zone; (E) Delete temporary files created if an error occurred in step (D) and rename the FLAG-1 file to FLAG-2; (F) Determine the landing zone and store a time-converted interrupt at the specified memory address by instructing the CPU to convert the timer interrupt to time; (G) Rename the FLAG-2 file to FLAG-3 and check if the PREFORM.YES file exists; (H) Low-level format the disk and check if the formatting was successful, restarting if necessary; (I) Create an error file if an error occurred in step (H); (J) Display the error message; and (K) Exit the formatting operation. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is designed with reference to the problems described above, and it is an objective to reduce the costs of dispatching a service technician for a logical abnormality of the hard drive that can be rectified by a simple countermeasure, and to adequately eliminate the risk of user data loss.

[0012] The problem is solved by the devices and methods of the independent claims.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, an image generation device according to claim 1 is provided.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, a data processing device according to claim 7 is provided.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, a control method according to claim 8 is provided.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, a data processing method according to claim 9 is provided.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, a non-volatile, computer-readable recording medium is provided according to claim 10.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a non-volatile, computer-readable storage medium is provided according to claim 11.

[0019] According to the present invention, the number of service call-outs required when a hard disk failure occurs can be reduced, which can be recovered by restarting a power source or formatting the partition, without affecting the user's data.

[0020] In addition, according to a further feature of the present invention, a physical abnormality can be adequately detected by the automatic formatting, which is provided according to a predetermined frequency, and such a risk that the user's data may be lost can be resolved at an early stage.

[0021] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a block diagram that represents a configuration example of an image generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 is a view for describing a schematic configuration of a hard drive. Fig. Figure 3 is a view that shows an example of a partition configuration inside the hard drive. Fig. 4 is a view that shows an example of what would happen if an abnormality was detected on the hard drive. Fig. Figure 5 is a flowchart to describe a processing sequence in the image generation device according to the present embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES OF EXECUTION

[0022] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail according to the attached drawings.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 is a block diagram that represents a configuration example of an image generation device 1 of the present embodiment.

[0024] The image generation device 1 has a scanner device 2, a control unit 3, a printer device 4, an operating unit 8, a hard disk 14 and similar components.

[0025] The scanner 2 is a machine that optically reads an image from an original and converts the read image into a digital image. The printer 4 is a machine that outputs the digital image to a paper device. The operating unit 8 is a unit for performing an operation and displaying the present device. The hard disk 14 stores the digital image, a control program, and similar data. The controller 3 is connected to the aforementioned components, issues instructions to each module, and thereby enables the execution of tasks on the image-generating device.

[0026] A computer 10 can input and output the digital image to the image generating device 1 via a LAN 9, create jobs and issue instructions to devices.

[0027] The scanner device 2 comprises a document feeder unit 11, which can automatically and sequentially exchange a bundle of originals, and a scanner unit 12, which optically scans the original and converts the scanned data into a digital image. The converted image data is transmitted to the controller 3.

[0028] The printer device 4 comprises a paper feed unit 18, which can sequentially feed paper from a bundle of paper one after the other, a marking unit 16 for printing the image data on the fed paper, a paper ejection unit 17 for ejecting the paper on which the image has been printed, and a finisher unit 500, which subjects the ejected paper to post-treatment.

[0029] The controller 3 has a CPU 13, transmits and receives image data from the scanner 2 and the printer 4, and stores the image data. More precisely, the controller 3 temporarily stores the image data it has received from the scanner 2 in a memory 15. Afterwards, the controller 3 saves the image data to the hard drive 14, thereby achieving the scanning and retention of the image.

[0030] The controller 3 temporarily stores the image data from the hard drive 14 in the memory 15, transfers the image data to the printer device 4 from the memory 15 and can thereby output a print.

[0031] Additionally, the image generation device 1 has an image processing unit 5, which includes a multi-purpose image processing unit 19. This unit can store image data that has been stored in memory 15 and processed, such as reduction, in the multi-purpose image processing unit 19, back into memory 15. The image generation device 1 has an operation unit 8, which is controlled by the controller 3. This unit causes the CPU 13 to interpret instructions from an operator or the LAN 9 and can execute various tasks. The operation unit 8 can also display the status of the task and the status of the machine, such as the scanner 2 and the printer 4.

[0032] An SRAM 40 is a non-volatile memory and continuously stores data, such as a user setting, even after a power source is switched off. In the present embodiment, the SRAM 40 is also used as a format frequency memory unit, which stores the format frequency, and a format frequency limit memory unit, which stores the upper limit of the frequency of formatting the partitions. A ROM 160 stores a program that is executed by the CPU 13 of the controller 3, but can also be used for the purpose of holding the set value, similar to the SRAM 40.

[0033] A power source device 6 is a device that supplies electrical energy to each unit that forms the image-generating device 1. When the image-generating device 1 is switched off, AC energy 29 is isolated from an AC-DC converter 20 by a switch 30. When the switch 30 is switched on, the AC energy 29 is supplied to the AC-DC converter 20, and the AC-DC converter 20 generates DC energy. The image-generating device 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that the entire device can be controlled by four independent power lines according to the instructions of the CPU 13.

[0034] Specifically, the CPU 13 controls switch 21 and can thereby control the ON / OFF of the electrical power source 25 for a control unit. Similarly, switch 22 can control the ON / OFF of the electrical power source 28 for a printer unit, switch 23 can control the ON / OFF of the electrical power source 26 for the scanner device, and switch 24 can control the ON / OFF of the electrical power source 27 for the multi-purpose image processing unit. The CPU 13 controls these switches 21 to 24 and thereby supplies the electrical power appropriately to the necessary points of the image generation device 1.

[0035] The state is a “resting state” in which the image generating device 1 reduces its own electrical energy as much as possible.

[0036] In the “idle state”, the image generation device 1 controls a peripheral device of the CPU 13 into a generally suspended state, passes an electrical current only to a section that can acquire the task (electrical energy 31 for the idle time), and can control the electrical energy for the entire device in a state in which extremely little electrical energy is consumed.

[0037] Specifically, CPU 13 saves the device's state in memory 15 and switches off the electrical power source 25 for the control unit, including CPU 13 itself. During this time, CPU 13 is not operating, but a power-saving button 610 switches on the electrical power 31 for idle time via the hardware, and CPU 13 enters a state where it can only understand that a command has been received. For example, when a control instruction from computer 10 is sent via LAN 9 or an operation of the operating unit 8 is performed, the electrical power 25 for the control unit is switched on via the hardware.

[0038] Fig. Figure 2 is a view describing a schematic configuration of hard disk 14.

[0039] A magnetic head 201 is moved to sector 203 of a magnetic disk 202 and reads data. The hard disk 14 enters an abnormal state due to factors such as sector 203 being shifted for reading and writing due to external vibration and environmental influences such as temperature and humidity, and writing to sector 203 not being completed normally due to the unintentional power supply shutdown during a write operation.

[0040] Fig. Figure 3 is a view that shows an example of a partition configuration inside hard drive 14.

[0041] A temporary area 301 is a partition for holding data that is temporarily used at the time when the image-generating device 1 develops a compressed image, and similar tasks. A BOX data area 302 is a partition used as a user data area that holds the data for a BOX function of printing and transferring a stored scanned image. An application area 303 is a partition used as a user data area for holding applications that a user can later install and use. The other area 304 is a partition for holding, for example, an executable program and a functional license.

[0042] Fig. Figure 4 is a view that shows an example of a display at the time when an abnormality was detected on hard drive 14. When the abnormality of hard drive 14 is detected, the controller 3 displays main content prompting the user to repeatedly switch on a main power source and an error code 401, indicating the area in which the abnormality was detected, on an LCD 400, thus communicating the occurrence of the abnormality. This is because, if the abnormality of hard drive 14 occurred and was detected at the time of reading, hard drive 14 is occasionally recovered by repeatedly switching on the main power source. [First embodiment]

[0043] The sequence of processes in the image generation device 1 in the embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to a flowchart of Fig.5 described. Each process in the present flowchart is achieved by the CPU 13 of the controller 3, which executes a program stored in the ROM 160.

[0044] In step S501, the controller (data processing device) 3 performs a hard disk malfunction detection process to confirm whether the malfunction (error) occurs in the hard disk 14 or not.

[0045] In step S502, the controller 3 performs a format frequency confirmation process to verify whether the format frequency of hard drive 14 has reached the upper limit. If it is determined that the format frequency has reached the upper limit, the process proceeds to step S515. At this point, the replacement of the hard drive by a service technician is assumed to be the correct action. If it is determined that the format frequency has not reached the upper limit, the process proceeds to step S503.

[0046] In step S503, the controller 3 performs a process of confirming whether a malfunctioning section exists in a provisionally determined partition. Specifically, it performs a partition confirmation process to verify whether the partition on disk 14 that caused the malfunction is temporary area 301. If it is determined that the partition causing the malfunction is temporary area 301, the process proceeds to step S504. If it is determined that the partition causing the malfunction is not temporary area 301, the process proceeds to step S506.

[0047] In step S504, the controller 3 performs a partition formatting process of formatting the partition that is causing the malfunction.

[0048] In step S505, controller 3 adds up the number of formats, or the number of times the formatting was performed. Then, controller 3 performs a format frequency storage process, saving the added number of formats to SRAM 40.

[0049] In step S506, the controller 3 performs a partition confirmation process to verify whether the partition on hard disk 14 causing the malfunction is a BOX data area 302. If it is determined that the partition causing the malfunction is BOX data area 302, the process proceeds to step S508. If it is determined that the partition causing the malfunction is not BOX data area 302, the process proceeds to step S507.

[0050] In step S507, the controller 3 performs a partition confirmation process to verify whether the partition on hard drive 14 causing the malfunction is application area 303. If it is determined that the partition causing the malfunction is application area 303, the process proceeds to step S508. If it is determined that the partition causing the malfunction is not application area 303, the process proceeds to step S515. At this point, the partition causing the malfunction is the other area 304. The process then also considers the case where the imaging device does not start normally, and it is assumed that the hard drive will be replaced by the service technician.

[0051] In step S508, the controller 3 performs a data update confirmation process to verify whether data modified after an initial state is present in the partition causing the malfunction, and specifically, whether data added or updated by a user is present. In the BOX data area 302, such data changes correspond to the user saving an image to be used in the BOX function and changing the name of a directory to be used in the BOX function. Additionally, in the application area 303, such a data change corresponds to the installation of an application that the user can add later. If it is determined that the data change is present, the process proceeds to step S509.If it is determined that the data change is not present, the process proceeds to step S504.

[0052] In step S509, controller 3 confirms whether the data can be read or not. If it is determined that the data can be read, the process proceeds to step S510. If it is determined that the data cannot be read, the process proceeds to step S515. At this point, it is assumed that the service technician informs the user that the data cannot be guaranteed and, with the user's consent, formats the partition causing the malfunction.

[0053] In step S510, the controller 3 confirms whether the available space is sufficient to save the read data. If it is determined that the available capacity is sufficient, the process proceeds to step S511. If it is determined that the available capacity is insufficient, the process proceeds to step S504.

[0054] In step S511, controller 3 performs a data backup process of temporarily saving the data in the available area, excluding the partition containing the malfunctioning section. Specifically, controller 3 saves the read data to memory 15.

[0055] In step S512, control 3 formats the partition that caused the malfunction.

[0056] In step S513, control 3 adds the number of formats.

[0057] In step S514, the controller 3 performs a data recovery process of writing data that was backed up in step S511 back to the read partition, thus restoring the temporarily backed-up data.

[0058] In step S515, the controller 3 performs an error message process to notify the LCD 400 of an error.

[0059] The image generation device configured in the manner described above can reduce the number of dispatches of a service technician required when a hard disk 14 malfunctions, which can be recovered by restarting a power source or formatting the partition, without affecting the user's data.

[0060] Additionally, the image generation device 1 provides a predetermined frequency of automatic formatting, which makes it possible to adequately detect any physical abnormality of the hard disk 14 and eliminate at an early stage any risk of user data loss. Furthermore, the location where the data is backed up in step S511 is not limited to the memory 15, but can also be the SRAM 40 and the ROM 160. Further examples of implementation

[0061] Embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented by a computer of a system or device that reads and executes computer-executable instructions (for example, one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which can also be more completely referred to as a "non-volatile, computer-readable storage medium") to perform the functions of one or more of the embodiments described above, and / or that comprises one or more circuits (for example, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the embodiments described above, and by a method which is carried out by the computer of the system or device, for example, by reading and executing the computer-executable instructions from the storage medium.to perform the functions of one or more of the embodiments described above, and / or to control one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the embodiments described above. The computer may include one or more processors (for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read and execute the computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, by a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may be, for example, one or more hard disks, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), memory of distributed processing systems, an optical disc (such as a compact disc (CD),This includes a "Digital Versatile Disc" (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™, a flash memory device, a memory card, and similar devices.

[0062] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be interpreted in the broadest possible way, so that all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions are included.

[0063] An image-generating device comprises: a hard disk configured to store data; a hard disk malfunction detection unit configured to detect a malfunction of the hard disk; a partition confirmation unit configured to determine whether a malfunctioning section of the hard disk is in a provisionally determined partition; and a partition formatting unit configured to format the partition, wherein, if it is determined that the malfunctioning section of the hard disk detected by the hard disk malfunction detection unit is in the partition provisionally determined by the partition confirmation unit, the partition formatting unit formats the partition.

Claims

[1] Image generating device (1), comprising: a hard disk (14) configured to store data; a hard disk malfunction detection unit (3) configured to detect a malfunction of the hard disk (14); a partition acknowledgment unit (3) configured to determine whether a malfunctioning section of the hard disk (14) is in a predetermined partition, wherein the partition is a section that logically defines a data management structure in the hard disk (14); and a partition formatting unit (3) configured to format an area in the partition, wherein, When it is determined that the malfunctioning section of the hard disk (14) detected by the hard disk malfunction detection unit (3) is located in the partition predetermined by the partition acknowledgment unit (3), the partition formatting unit (3) formats the partition to restore the area in the partition. [2] Image generating device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a data update confirmation unit (3) configured to confirm whether data added or updated by a user is present in a partition of the hard disk (14), wherein if the data updated or added by the user is included in the partition predetermined by the partition acknowledgment unit (3), the data update acknowledgment unit (3) confirms whether data added or updated by the user is included in the partition of the hard disk (14), and If it is determined that the data is not contained in the partition of the hard disk (14), the partition formatting unit (3) formats the partition. [3] Image generating device (1) according to claim 2, further comprising a data backup unit (3) configured to temporarily back up the data to an available area other than the partition containing the malfunctioning section, and a data recovery unit (3) configured to restore the data backed up by the data backup unit (3), wherein the data backup unit (3) backs up the data before the partition is formatted by the partition formatting unit (3), and the data recovery unit (3) recovers the data after the partition has been formatted by the partition formatting unit (3). [4] Image generating device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a format frequency storage unit (3) configured to store a format frequency by the partition formatting unit (3), a format frequency acknowledgment unit (3) configured to acknowledge the format frequency stored in the format frequency storage unit (3), a format frequency limit storage unit (3) configured to store a limit on the frequency of formatting the partition, and a fault notification unit (3) configured to report a fault, wherein, If the upper limit of the formatting frequency, which is provisionally determined and stored by the formatting frequency limit storage unit (3), is reached without formatting the partition by the partition formatting unit (3), the error notification unit (3) will notify the error. [5] Image generating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the provisionally determined partition is a temporary area. [6] Image generating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the provisionally determined partition is a user data area configured to store image data or an application. [7] Data processing device, with: a storage unit (14) comprising a plurality of storage partitions configured to store data; a detection unit (3) configured to detect an error of the storage unit; a determination unit (3) that determines whether the error detected by the detection unit is located in a partition in which a temporary file is to be stored or not, wherein the partition is a section that logically defines a data management structure in the hard disk (14); a formatting unit (3) configured to format an area in the partition where the temporary file is to be stored in order to restore the area in the partition in response to a determination by the determination unit (4) that the fault is in the partition where the temporary file is to be stored. [8] Control method of an image generating device (1), comprising: a hard disk malfunction detection to detect a malfunction of a hard disk (14); a partition acknowledgment to determine whether a malfunctioning section of the hard disk is in a predetermined partition, the partition being a section that logically defines a data management structure in the hard disk (14); and a partition format to format an area within the partition, whereby, If it is determined that the malfunctioning section of the hard disk (14) detected during hard disk malfunction detection is located in the partition predetermined during partition confirmation, the partition is formatted during partition formatting to restore the area in the partition. [9] Data processing methods, including: Storing data in a storage unit (14) comprising a plurality of storage partitions; Detecting a memory unit error (14); Determine whether the error detected by the detection is located in a partition in which a temporary file is to be stored, wherein the partition is a section that logically defines a data management structure in the hard disk (14); Formatting an area in the partition where the temporary file is to be stored, in order to restore the area in the partition in response to a determination that the error lies in the partition where the temporary file is to be stored. [10] Non-volatile computer-readable recording medium that stores a program to operate a computer to perform the method according to claim 8. [11] Non-volatile computer-readable storage medium that stores a program to operate a computer to perform the method according to claim 9.

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