Image processing device

Abstract

To avoid delays in specific processes caused by the process of sending status data to an external device upon request. [Solution] The second processor 5a divides the specified data into a plurality of unit data, sequentially requests the plurality of unit data from the first processor 6a, and executes a plurality of unit data acquisition processes to sequentially acquire the plurality of unit data provided by the first processor 6a, and further sequentially transmits the plurality of unit data to an external device. The second processor 5a executes each of the plurality of unit data acquisition processes at a lower frequency per unit time than when the first processor 6a is not executing the specific process, while the first processor 6a is executing the specific process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that transmits status data to an external apparatus in response to a request.

Background Art

[0002] An image processing apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a multifunction peripheral includes a plurality of processors that execute control or data processing related to image processing.

[0003] It is known that part or all of the plurality of processors execute processing of transmitting counter data representing the consumption amount of consumables to an external apparatus in response to a request (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The counter data is an example of status data that changes according to the situation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Meanwhile, the plurality of processors include a first processor that executes specific high-load processing related to the image processing, and a second processor capable of communicating with an external apparatus. For example, the specific processing is continuous print control that causes the image forming apparatus to execute continuous print processing.

[0006] The first processor records the status data that changes as a result of executing the specific processing in a storage device. The second processor receives a request for the status data from the external apparatus. Furthermore, the second processor relays transmission of the status data between the external apparatus and the first processor.

[0007] In the first processor, the process of sending the status data to the first processor may overlap with the specific process.

[0008] If the aforementioned specific processing overlaps with the status data transmission processing, a delay in the aforementioned specific processing may occur. This delay in the aforementioned specific processing may adversely affect the performance of the image processing device.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can avoid delays in specific processing caused by the process of transmitting situational data to an external device upon request. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] An image processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a storage device, a first processor, and a second processor. The first processor performs processing related to image processing, records situation data that changes according to the situation in the storage device, and provides part or all of the situation data upon request. The second processor is able to communicate with the first processor and an external device, and when it receives a request from the external device for specified data which is part or all of the situation data, it divides the specified data into a plurality of unit data, sequentially requests the plurality of unit data from the first processor, and performs a plurality of unit data acquisition processes to sequentially acquire the plurality of unit data provided by the first processor, and further sequentially transmits the plurality of unit data to the external device. When the first processor is performing a specific processing, the second processor performs each of the plurality of unit data acquisition processes at a lower frequency per unit time than when the first processor is not performing the specific processing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing device that can avoid delays in specific processing caused by the process of transmitting situational data to an external device upon request. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for sending specified data in the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0014] [Configuration of the image processing device 10] In the example shown in Figure 1, the image processing apparatus 10 includes an image reading device 1, an image forming apparatus 2, a user interface device 3, a communication device 4, and a main board 5, among others.

[0015] The image processing device 10 can communicate with external devices such as a host device 8a or a server 8b on the Internet via a network 80. The network 80 includes a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet. The host device 8a and the server 8b are computers that can communicate with the image processing device 10.

[0016] The image reading device 1 performs the image reading process. The image reading process reads an image from the document 91 and outputs the data of the read image. The read image is an image read from the document 91 by the image reading device 1.

[0017] The image forming apparatus 2 executes print processing for forming an image on a sheet 92. The image forming apparatus 2 includes a sheet conveying mechanism that conveys the sheet 92, and a printing device that forms an image on the conveyed sheet 92. The printing device executes the print processing by a predetermined method such as an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

[0018] When the image forming apparatus 2 is an apparatus that executes the print processing by the electrophotographic method, the image forming apparatus 2 includes an image carrier, a charging device, an optical scanning device, a developing device, and a transfer device.

[0019] The charging device charges the surface of the image carrier which is a photoreceptor. The optical scanning device forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier by scanning a light beam. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The transfer device transfers the image on the image carrier to the sheet 92.

[0020] The user interface device 3 includes an operation device 3a and a display device 3b. The operation device 3a is a device that receives a user's operation. For example, the operation device 3a includes operation buttons, a touch panel, and the like. The display device 3b is capable of displaying information. For example, the display device 3b includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel.

[0021] The communication device 4 is a communication interface device that communicates with the external device such as the host device 8a or the server 8b via the network 80.

[0022] The image forming apparatus 2 executes the print processing based on the data of the read image or received print data. The received print data is data included in a print request received from the host device 8a via the communication device 4.

[0023] The main board 5 is a board on which the main processor 5a is mounted. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a storage element 5b accessible by the main processor 5a is also mounted on the main board 5.

[0024] The main processor 5a executes various processes by executing programs stored in the storage element 5b.

[0025] The storage element 5b is a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). Note that an SSD (Solid State Drive) or the like that is not mounted on the main board 5 may be adopted in place of the storage element 5b.

[0026] The image reading apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 2 include a plurality of engine boards 6. Each of the engine boards 6 is mounted with an engine processor 6a and a storage element 6b accessible by the engine processor 6a.

[0027] The storage element 6b is a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory or an EEPROM. Note that an SSD or the like that is not mounted on each of the engine boards 6 may be adopted in place of the storage element 6b.

[0028] The engine processor 6a of each of the engine boards 6 executes various processes by executing programs stored in the storage element 6b.

[0029] The storage element 6b of each of the engine boards 6 is a rewritable storage device. The storage element 6b is a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

[0030] Each of the main board 5 and the engine boards 6 is provided with a device communication interface 7. The device communication interface 7 is an interface for device communication performed between the main processor 5a and the engine processor 6a. The device communication is, for example, serial communication.

[0031] In other words, the main processor 5a can communicate with the engine processor 6a through the device communication interface 7. Furthermore, the main processor 5a can communicate with the external device through the communication device 4.

[0032] Incidentally, the engine processor 6a, one of the multiple processors, performs a high-load specific process related to the image processing.

[0033] Specifically, the engine processor 6a primarily controls the image processing equipment provided in the image processing device 10. For example, the engine processor 6a performs print control.

[0034] The print control is a control that causes the image forming apparatus 2 to perform the print process. The print control includes continuous print control. The continuous print control is a control that causes the image forming apparatus 2 to perform a continuous print process in which images are sequentially formed on each of the multiple sheets 92.

[0035] Furthermore, if the image forming apparatus 2 is an apparatus that performs the printing process using an electrophotographic method, the engine processor 6a performs test image output control. This test image output control is a control that causes the image forming apparatus 2 to perform a test image output process that sequentially forms a plurality of test images on the image carrier.

[0036] Furthermore, the engine processor 6a performs a process to record status data that changes as a result of the execution of the specific process in the memory element 6b. The status data includes data such as the cumulative number of prints, the cumulative number of images read, and the amount of consumables consumed or remaining. The consumables include developer and sheets 92, etc.

[0037] Furthermore, the engine processor 6a performs a process to provide some or all of the status data recorded in the memory element 6b in response to a request from the main processor 5a.

[0038] On the other hand, the main processor 5a among the plurality of processors performs processing that requires communication with the external device via the communication device 4.

[0039] For example, the main processor 5a receives a request for the status data from the external device. Furthermore, the main processor 5a relays the transmission of the status data between the external device and the engine processor 6a.

[0040] In other words, the main processor 5a relays data requests from the external device to the engine processor 6a, and data transmissions from the engine processor 6a to the external device.

[0041] The engine processor 6a is an example of a first processor that performs the image processing-related processing. Each of the engine boards 6 is an example of a first board on which the first processor is mounted.

[0042] The main processor 5a is an example of a second processor capable of communicating with the engine processor 6a and the external device. The main board 5 is an example of a second board on which the second processor is mounted. The memory element 6b is an example of a storage device accessible by the second processor.

[0043] In the engine processor 6a, the process of sending the status data to the main processor 5a may overlap with the specific process.

[0044] If the aforementioned specific processing overlaps with the status data transmission processing, a delay in the aforementioned specific processing may occur. This delay in the aforementioned specific processing may adversely affect the performance of the image processing device 10.

[0045] In this embodiment, the main processor 5a and the engine processor 6a perform a specified data transmission process, which will be described later (see Figure 2). The specified data transmission process is performed when the main processor 5a receives a data request from the external device that specifies some or all of the status data.

[0046] In the following description, all or part of the status data requested by the external device is referred to as specified data. The specified data transmission process is the process of transmitting the specified data recorded in the memory element 6b of the engine board 6 to the external device.

[0047] In this embodiment, the specified data transmission process includes a process to avoid causing a delay in the specific process by transmitting the specified data to the external device.

[0048] [Specified data transmission process] The following describes an example of the procedure for the specified data transmission process, referring to the flowchart shown in Figure 2.

[0049] In the following description, S101, S102, ... represent identification codes for multiple processes executed by the main processor 5a in the specified data transmission process. Also, S201, S202, ... represent identification codes for multiple processes executed by the engine processor 6a in the specified data transmission process.

[0050] The main processor 5a starts the designated data transmission process when it receives a data request from the host device 8a or server 8b via the communication device 4. The data request includes designation information that specifies the designated data, which is part or all of the status data.

[0051] In the following description, the external device that sent the data request will be referred to as the data request device. In this embodiment, the data request device is either a host device 8a or a server 8b.

[0052] <Process S101> In step S101, the main processor 5a divides the specified data into multiple unit data.

[0053] The aforementioned device communication has limitations on the size or type of data that can be sent or received in a single communication. Each of the multiple unit data is data that can be sent or received in a single device communication.

[0054] Furthermore, in step S101, the main processor 5a selects the target engine board from among the multiple engine boards 6 that is the destination for the specified data, according to the specified information.

[0055] In the specified data transmission process, the main processor 5a communicates with the engine processor 6a of the target engine board via the device communication interface 7.

[0056] The main processor 5a executes the process of step S101, and then executes the process of step S102.

[0057] <Process S102> In step S102, the main processor 5a selects one of the plurality of unit data, each of which is part of the specified data, as the target unit data.

[0058] The main processor 5a executes the process of step S102, and then executes the process of step S103.

[0059] <Process S103> In step S103, the main processor 5a executes a unit data acquisition process. The unit data acquisition process includes a process of requesting the target unit data from the engine processor 6a and a process of acquiring the target unit data from the engine processor 6a.

[0060] In the unit data acquisition process described above, the main processor 5a requests and acquires the target unit data via the device communication.

[0061] The main processor 5a executes the process of step S103, and then executes the process of step S104.

[0062] <Process S104> In step S104, the main processor 5a transmits the target unit data obtained in step S103 to the data request device via the communication device 4.

[0063] The main processor 5a executes the process of step S104, and then executes the process of step S105.

[0064] <Process S105> In step S105, the main processor 5a selects the following process depending on whether or not the transmission of the specified data to all of the data request devices has been completed.

[0065] The main processor 5a executes the process of step S106 if the transmission of the specified data to all of the data request devices has not been completed. On the other hand, the main processor 5a terminates the specified data transmission process when the transmission of the specified data to all of the data request devices has been completed.

[0066] <Process S106> In step S106, the main processor 5a selects the following process depending on whether the engine processor 6a of the target engine board is performing the specific process.

[0067] The main processor 5a executes the processes from step S102 onward if the engine processor 6a has not executed the specified process.

[0068] The main processor 5a executes the process of step S107 when the engine processor 6a is executing the specific process.

[0069] <Process S107> In step S107, the main processor 5a waits until the unit image processing, which is part of the image processing being performed by the image processing device 10, is completed by the specific processing. The unit image processing is a series of processes that are repeated multiple times in the image processing being performed by the image processing device 10.

[0070] If the image processing being performed by the image processing device 10 as a result of the specified processing is the continuous printing process, then the unit image processing is a unit printing process for one sheet 92.

[0071] If the image processing being performed by the image processing device 10 by the specified processing is the test image output processing, the unit image processing is the process of forming one of the plurality of test images on the image carrier.

[0072] The main processor 5a executes the processes from step S102 onward when the unit image processing is completed.

[0073] On the other hand, in the specified data transmission process, the engine processor 6a first executes the process of step S201.

[0074] <Process S201> In process S201, the engine processor 6a checks for requests until it receives a data request from the main processor 5a.

[0075] The engine processor 6a executes process S202 when it receives a data request from the main processor 5a.

[0076] <Process S202> In step S202, the engine processor 6a reads the target unit data requested by the main processor 5a from the memory element 6b and transmits the target unit data to the main processor 5a.

[0077] The engine processor 6a executes the process of process S202, and then executes the process of process S201.

[0078] As described above, when the main processor 5a receives a request for the specified data, which is part or all of the status data, from the external device, it divides the specified data into the plurality of unit data (see step S101).

[0079] Furthermore, the main processor 5a performs the unit data acquisition process multiple times (see steps S102 and S103). That is, in steps S102 and S103, the main processor 5a sequentially requests the multiple unit data from the engine processor 6a and sequentially acquires the multiple unit data provided by the engine processor 6a.

[0080] Furthermore, the main processor 5a sequentially transmits the multiple unit data obtained through the multiple unit data acquisition processes to the external device (see step S104).

[0081] The main processor 5a changes the execution frequency per unit time of each of the multiple unit data acquisition processes depending on whether the engine processor 6a is executing the specific process or not (see steps S106 and S107).

[0082] In other words, when the engine processor 6a is performing the specific processing, the main processor 5a executes each of the multiple unit data acquisition processes at a lower frequency per unit time than when the engine processor 6a is not performing the specific processing.

[0083] For example, when the continuous printing process is being executed, the main processor 5a executes the multiple unit data acquisition processes, limiting the number of times the unit printing process is performed for each of the multiple sheets 92 (see step S107).

[0084] Furthermore, when the test image output process is being executed, the main processor 5a executes the multiple unit data acquisition processes, limiting the number of times to each of the multiple test images formed on the image carrier (see step S107).

[0085] On the other hand, when the engine processor 6a is not performing the specific processing, the main processor 5a executes the multiple unit data acquisition processes in succession (see step S106).

[0086] By employing the image processing device 10, delays in the specific processing caused by the process of transmitting the status data to the external device upon request are avoided.

[0087] In the image processing device 10, the main processor 5a and the engine processor 6a are each mounted on separate boards, and data is transmitted and received by the aforementioned device communication.

[0088] Therefore, due to the constraints of the device communication, the main processor 5a needs to divide the specified data into the multiple unit data and obtain it from the engine processor 6a. The specified data transmission process is suitable for application to such an image processing device 10.

[0089] [Notes on the invention] The following is an overview of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiments. Note that each configuration and processing function described below can be selected and combined as desired.

[0090] <Note 1> Memory device and A first processor that performs image processing, records situation data that changes according to the situation in the storage device, and provides part or all of the situation data upon request. The system includes a first processor and an external device, and when it receives a request from the external device for specified data which is part or all of the status data, it divides the specified data into a plurality of unit data, sequentially requests the plurality of unit data from the first processor, and executes a plurality of unit data acquisition processes to sequentially acquire the plurality of unit data provided by the first processor, and further sequentially transmits the plurality of unit data to the external device, The second processor is an image processing apparatus that, when the first processor is performing a specific process, executes each of the multiple unit data acquisition processes at a lower frequency per unit time than when the first processor is not performing the specific process.

[0091] <Note 2> The image forming apparatus is equipped with a device that forms an image on a sheet. The aforementioned specific processing includes continuous print control, which causes the image forming apparatus to perform a continuous print process that sequentially forms images on each of the multiple sheets. The image processing apparatus according to Appendix 1, wherein the second processor, when the continuous printing process is being executed, performs the multiple unit data acquisition process, limiting the number of times to each of the multiple sheets for which the unit printing process is performed.

[0092] <Note 3> The image forming apparatus comprises an image forming device that forms an image on an image carrier and transfers the image on the image carrier to a sheet. The specified process includes test image output control, which causes the image forming apparatus to perform a test image output process that sequentially forms a plurality of test images on the image carrier. The image processing apparatus according to Appendix 1, wherein the second processor, while the test image output process is being executed, performs the multiple unit data acquisition process, limiting the number of times to each of the multiple test images formed on the image carrier.

[0093] <Note 4> The image processing apparatus according to any one of the appendices 1 to 3, wherein the second processor executes the multiple unit data acquisition processes consecutively when the first processor is not performing the specific processing.

[0094] <Note 5> The first board on which the first processor is mounted, An image processing apparatus according to any one of the appendices 1 to 4, comprising: a second board on which the second processor is mounted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1: Image reading device 2: Image forming apparatus 5: Main board (second board) 5a: Main processor (second processor) 6: Engine board (first board) 6a: Engine Processor (First Processor) 6b: Memory element (memory device) 10: Image processing device

Claims

1. Memory device and A first processor that performs image processing, records situation data that changes according to the situation in the storage device, and provides part or all of the situation data upon request. The system includes a first processor and an external device, and when it receives a request from the external device for specified data which is part or all of the status data, it divides the specified data into a plurality of unit data, sequentially requests the plurality of unit data from the first processor, and executes a plurality of unit data acquisition processes to sequentially acquire the plurality of unit data provided by the first processor, and further sequentially transmits the plurality of unit data to the external device, The second processor is an image processing device that, when the first processor is performing a specific process, executes each of the multiple unit data acquisition processes at a lower frequency per unit time than when the first processor is not performing the specific process.

2. The image forming apparatus is equipped with a device that forms an image on a sheet. The aforementioned specific processing includes continuous print control, which causes the image forming apparatus to perform a continuous print process that sequentially forms images on each of the multiple sheets. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second processor, when the continuous printing process is being executed, performs the multiple unit data acquisition processes, limiting the number of times each unit printing process is performed for each of the multiple sheets.

3. The image forming apparatus comprises an image forming device that forms an image on an image carrier and transfers the image on the image carrier to a sheet. The specified process includes test image output control, which causes the image forming apparatus to perform a test image output process that sequentially forms a plurality of test images on the image carrier. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second processor, while the test image output process is being executed, performs the multiple unit data acquisition process, limiting the number of times to each of the multiple test images formed on the image carrier.

4. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second processor continuously performs the multiple unit data acquisition processes when the first processor is not performing the specific processing.

5. The first board on which the first processor is mounted, An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: a second substrate on which the second processor is mounted.

Images