Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that can acquire log information as needed while the information processing device is transitioning to an energy saving state and immediately before power of the information processing device is turned off.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes a plurality of external devices with non-volatile storage media, and a Log management kernel module that changes an external device, which is an output destination of log information, and the amount of information of the log information according to an external device, which has a maximum capacity among the external devices that can be used as the output destination of the log information, and outputs the log information to the maximum capacity external device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to conserve log storage space, a technology has been developed that monitors measured values ​​of the usage status of a device (an example of an information processing device) and stores only log information related to functions for which the measured values ​​exceed a predetermined reference value. Another technology has been developed that sets an output level for log information, stores high-priority log information in an external device that is the primary output destination for log information, and, when the log storage space of the external device exceeds a threshold, changes the storage destination for log information to another external device. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The above-mentioned method of storing log information outputs the log information to memory, and periodically stores the necessary log information in an external device having a non-volatile storage medium depending on the usage status of the device, making it possible to retrieve the log information later.

[0004] However, when the device is transitioning to an energy-saving state or when the device is turned off, the power supply to the external devices is sequentially cut off, making it difficult to store log information in the external devices.

[0005] One way to address this issue is to record log information in the register of an RTC (Real Time Clock), which is constantly powered. However, there are problems with this method, such as the fact that there is a limit to the amount of log information that can be stored in the RTC register, and that the process of saving the log information takes time, so if this is done during a process with timing constraints, such as power processing, it can cause malfunctions.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that make it possible to obtain log information, as needed, while the information processing device is transitioning to an energy-saving state and immediately before the information processing device is turned off. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a method for storing a plurality of external devices each having a nonvolatile storage medium. a status monitoring unit that identifies software and devices that frequently experience operational abnormalities among the software and devices possessed by the information processing device based on a configuration of the information processing device, a past operation history of the information processing device, and a record of occurrence of operational abnormalities of the information processing device, and notifies a log storage unit of software device information of the identified software and devices; and a status monitoring unit that determines whether or not to output the log information to an external device based on the software device information and log information received from the log storage unit, and when it is determined that the log information should be output to the external device, Log information output destination and The maximum capacity of the external device that can be used the external device as the external device to which the log information is to be output; The amount of information in the log information is The above-mentioned decision External Devices Capacity to depending on Change it to Decided and a log management kernel module that outputs the log information to an external device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The present invention has an effect of making it possible to acquire, as necessary, log information while the information processing apparatus is transitioning to an energy-saving state and immediately before the power of the information processing apparatus is turned off. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus to which an information processing apparatus according to this embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a software configuration for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of a process for recording log information in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a process for recording log information in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a process for recording log information in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a process for recording log information in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus to which an information processing apparatus according to this embodiment is applied. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment has an image forming unit 112 and a controller 101. Also, as shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is communicably connected to an external device 111 via a network such as the Internet. Here, the external device 111 performs the function of issuing print instructions and controlling the image forming apparatus 10.

[0012] The controller 101 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 102, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104, an image processing means 105, an operation unit 106, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 107, an SD (Secure Digital) memory card 108, an NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) 109, and a NIC (Network Interface Card) 110.

[0013] The CPU 102 executes an operating system (OS) and a control program to control the operation of the image forming apparatus 100. The RAM 104 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 102. The ROM 103 is a non-volatile memory that stores programs executed by the CPU 102. The CPU 102 loads the programs stored in the ROM 103 onto the RAM 104 and executes them.

[0014] The operation unit 106 receives input of user operation information and displays information to the user. The HDD 107, SD memory card 108, and NVRAM 109 function as external storage devices. The HDD 107 is a large-capacity storage device that stores various data such as image data, document data, various programs executed on the image forming apparatus 100, font data, system information, and user information.

[0015] The SD memory card 108 is used when updating the image forming apparatus 100 or adding a function that is not originally provided in the image forming apparatus 100. The NVRAM 109 is a small-capacity storage device used to store setting values ​​and the like of devices such as the image forming apparatus 100. These external storage devices are also used to accumulate log information of the image forming apparatus 100. The NIC 110 is a network control unit that controls data communication between the image forming apparatus 100 and an external device 111 via a network.

[0016] The image forming means 112 has a plotter 113 and a scanner 114. The plotter 113 functions to print out an image based on image data resulting from image processing from the controller 101. The scanner 114 is an image reading device that scans an image recorded on a storage medium such as paper and transfers the image data obtained by the scan to the controller 101.

[0017] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a software configuration for controlling the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. Next, an example of a software configuration for controlling the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0018] 2, in the image forming apparatus 100, a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or a monitor program starts an OS (Operating System) 201 on the controller 101. In the present embodiment, the OS 201 includes a log management kernel module 207, an HDD driver 208, an SD card driver 209, an NVRAM driver 210, and an RTC driver 211. Here, the HDD driver 208, the SD card driver 209, the NVRAM driver 210, and the RTC driver 211 are drivers for external devices (e.g., the HDD 107, the SD memory card 108, the NVRAM 109, and the RTC) that are nonvolatile storage media included in the image forming apparatus 100.

[0019] The image forming apparatus 100 executes, in parallel, a copy application 202, a printer application 203, a scanner application 204, a FAX application 205, and a log management module 206 on the OS 201. In this embodiment, the log management module 206 includes a status monitoring unit 206a and a log storage unit 206b.

[0020] The status monitoring unit 206a identifies software and devices that frequently exhibit operational abnormalities among the software and devices possessed by the image forming apparatus 100, based on the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 (an example of an information processing apparatus), the past operation history of the image forming apparatus 100, and records of occurrence of operational abnormalities. Then, the status monitoring unit 206a notifies the log storage unit 206b of information on the identified software and devices (hereinafter referred to as software device information).

[0021] The log storage unit 206b calls the interface of the log management kernel module 207 to periodically record the software device information notified by the status monitoring unit 206a and the log information written in memory by each module in an external device.

[0022] The log management kernel module 207 determines whether to output the log information to an external device based on the software device information and log information received from the log storage unit 206b. If the log information is to be output to an external device, the log management kernel module 207 determines to which external device the log information is to be output.

[0023] When the log storage unit 206b requests the log management kernel module 207 to write log information to an external device while the image forming apparatus 100 is running, the log management kernel module 207 identifies the external device with the largest capacity among the external devices available at that time. Next, the log management kernel module 207 outputs the log information written in the memory to the identified external device.

[0024] Specifically, the log management kernel module 207 changes the external device to which the log information is to be output and the capacity (amount of information) of the log information to match the external device with the largest capacity among the external devices available as the log information output destination.The log management kernel module 207 then outputs the log information with the changed capacity to the external device with the largest capacity.

[0025] This allows the output destination of the log information to be switched by scanning external devices available at that time when the log information stored in the memory is written to an external device. As a result, even when the image forming apparatus 100 is transitioning to an energy-saving state or immediately before the image forming apparatus 100 is turned off, the log information necessary for analyzing a fault in the image forming apparatus 100 can be saved. Furthermore, the log information while the image forming apparatus 100 is transitioning to an energy-saving state or immediately before the image forming apparatus 100 is turned off can also be acquired as needed.

[0026] The log management kernel module 207 also determines whether or not log information from the kernel within the OS 201 needs to be output to an external device. The log management kernel module 207 also determines whether or not log information from the kernel needs to be output to an external device when the image forming apparatus 100 transitions to an energy-saving state or when the image forming apparatus 100 is being powered off. The log management kernel module 207 then directly outputs the log information that it determines needs to be output to an external device to the external device.

[0027] Fig. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of a process for recording log information in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Figs. 4 to 6 are diagrams for explaining an example of the process for recording log information in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Next, with reference to Figs. 3 to 6, an example of the flow of a process for recording log information when the image forming apparatus 100 transitions to an energy saving state or when the power of external devices is turned off in sequence during the process of turning off the power of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

[0028] When the kernel of the OS 201 is started, the device drivers (e.g., the HDD driver 208, the SD card driver 209, the NVRAM driver 210, and the RTC driver 211) of the OS 201 call an interface that performs a process of saving log information to the log management kernel module 207 (step S300). At that time, each device driver notifies the log management kernel module 207 of external device information such as the capacity (amount of information) of the external device and a direct output function for accessing the external device.

[0029] The log management kernel module 207 creates an external device list (see FIG. 4) for log storage processing, which includes the capacity and direct output function of the external device, based on the external device information notified from each device driver (step S301). After starting up the kernel of the OS 201, the log management kernel module 207 starts the execution of each user process (step S302).

[0030] The status monitoring unit 206a of the log management module 206 periodically acquires the operating status of devices such as the image forming device 100 (for example, device configuration information indicating the configuration of the image forming device 100, and the operating history of the image forming device 100) (step S303). Next, based on the operating status (for example, device configuration information, operating history) and the module correspondence table (see FIG. 5), the status monitoring unit 206a identifies software (for example, a copy application, a print application) and external devices (for example, an HDD, an SD card) used by the function in which the failure or a similar error has occurred.

[0031] Specifically, the status monitoring unit 206a acquires error identification information (SC notification) from each piece of software and an external device (more specifically, a device driver of the external device). The image forming apparatus 100 stores in advance a module correspondence table (table data; see FIG. 5) that associates, for each piece of error identification information, the frequency of error occurrence with the component module that caused the error (for example, a software name that is the name of the software, a device driver name that is the name of the device driver, and information that identifies the process within the software). The status monitoring unit 206a refers to the module correspondence table to identify the software that caused the error. The status monitoring unit 206a creates a module correspondence table (see FIG. 5) that includes the frequency of error occurrence for each piece of error identification information or for each piece of software that caused the error.

[0032] 3, the status monitoring unit 206a notifies the log storage unit 206b of the operation information of the identified software, external devices, etc. The log storage unit 206b periodically notifies the log management kernel module 207 of the operation information notified from the status monitoring unit 206a (step S304). The log management kernel module 207 acquires the operation information from the log storage unit 206b (step S305).

[0033] Thereafter, when the power control process of the image forming apparatus 100 is started by a user operation, each device driver deletes its own external device information from the external device list (see FIG. 4) when the power control process stops the supply of power to the external device. Here, the power control process is a process of transitioning the power state of the image forming apparatus 100. In this embodiment, the power control process includes a process of transitioning the image forming apparatus 100 to an energy saving state and a process of turning off the power of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0034] Specifically, when each device driver performs a shutdown process (i.e., a power control process) for that device driver, it notifies the log management kernel module 207 that the shutdown process will be executed. The log management kernel module 207 deletes the external device information corresponding to the device driver for which it has been notified that the shutdown process will be executed from the external device list (see FIG. 4), and updates the external device list.

[0035] Returning to FIG. 3, during execution of the power control process, the log management kernel module 207 determines whether the power state of the image forming apparatus 100 is transitioning when outputting log information for software including the kernel and for external devices. The log management kernel module 207 also determines whether to output log information to an external device based on the software and device notified by the log storage unit 206b (step S306). Furthermore, the log management kernel module 207 determines whether to output log information for a function in which operational abnormalities (errors) frequently occur and a device driver used by that function (step S306). If the log information to be output to the external device is log information for a device driver used by a function in which operational abnormalities frequently occur, the log management kernel module 207 outputs that log information.

[0036] That is, the log management kernel module 207 outputs log information to an external device when there is a sign of an abnormality occurring during power control processing of the image forming apparatus 100. This allows log information to be output while the image forming apparatus 100 is transitioning to an energy-saving state and while processing is being performed to turn off the power of the image forming apparatus 100, thereby preventing the overhead of storing log information in an external device from becoming large.

[0037] For example, the log management kernel module 207 determines whether an abnormality in access to an external device has occurred while the image forming apparatus 100 is in operation. In this embodiment, the log management kernel module 207 determines whether each device driver is included in a configuration module with a "high" error frequency in a module correspondence table (see FIG. 5) created while the image forming apparatus 100 is in operation. Then, if an abnormality in access to an external device has occurred, the log management kernel module 207 outputs log information to the external device. This makes it possible to leave log information only when there is a high possibility that an abnormality in power control processing will occur due to an abnormality in access to an external device.

[0038] Furthermore, for example, the log management kernel module 207 determines whether software errors occur frequently. In this embodiment, the log management kernel module 207 determines whether each piece of software is included in a configuration module for which the error frequency is set to "high" in a module correspondence table (see FIG. 5) created while the image forming apparatus 100 is in operation. That is, the log management kernel module 207 outputs log information to an external device when the number of software errors occurring in the image forming apparatus 100 exceeds a threshold value. This makes it possible to leave log information only when there is a high possibility of an abnormality occurring during the power control process of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0039] Furthermore, for example, the log management kernel module 207 determines whether or not to output log information of a device driver used by a function in which errors occur frequently. In this embodiment, the log management kernel module 207 determines whether or not to output log information of the "xxx driver," with only the "xxx driver" being a device driver that is a component module in which the frequency of errors is "high" as the output target. In other words, the log management kernel module 207 outputs to an external device only the log information of a device driver that uses a function in which the number of errors occurring is equal to or greater than a threshold among the functions of the image forming apparatus 100. This makes it possible to selectively save only necessary log information when the capacity of the external device is such that not all log information can be saved.

[0040] Returning to FIG. 3, when outputting log information to an external device, the log management kernel module 207 determines an external device to which the log information is to be output based on the external device list (see FIG. 4), and outputs the log information directly to the determined external device (step S307). As the power control process progresses, external device information is deleted from the external device list shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, the log management kernel module 207 determines an external device to which the log information is to be output from among the device drivers in operation in the updated external device list (see FIG. 4). In this embodiment, the log management kernel module 207 refers to the external device list shown in FIG. 4 and determines the external device with the largest capacity among the operating external devices as the external device to which the log information is to be output. As a result, even if the power state of the external device is transitioning, log information of a function in which an abnormality frequently occurs can be output to the external device, thereby shortening the time required to resolve the malfunction of the function.

[0041] In this embodiment, the error occurrence frequency is divided into three levels. However, if all log information is output even if the error occurrence frequency is high, the image forming apparatus 100 may not operate normally. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the log management kernel module 207 may set a log level in the direct output function in the kernel and change the level of log information to be output depending on the external device to which the log information is output (written). In other words, when a log level (output level) is set in the log information in the kernel of the OS 201 of the image forming apparatus 100, the log management kernel module switches the log information to be output depending on the external device to which the log information is output. This makes it possible to output the minimum amount of log information necessary. Here, the log level indicates the importance of the log information.

[0042] Specifically, a log level column is added to the external device list shown in FIG. 4, and the output of log information within the kernel is unified in advance to the DBG_PRINTF macro. The first argument indicates the ID of the device currently being used as the output destination. This is updated when an external device that has been turned off is removed, and the ID of the external device with the largest capacity is used as a global variable. The second argument indicates the log level, with a smaller value indicating higher-level log information. When outputting log information in step S307, the log management kernel module 207 compares the log level set in the second argument of DRPRINTF with the log level of the row indicated by the ID in the first argument. If the log level of the row indicated by the ID in the first argument of DRPRINTF is equal to or greater than the log level set in the second argument of DPRINTF, the log management kernel module 207 outputs the log information to the external device using the direct output function.

[0043] For example, in the external device list shown in Figure 6, the log management kernel module 207 selects an HDD as the output target if the HDD is available at the time of outputting log information, but does not select the HDD as the output target if the HDD is powered off. In other words, a low log level is indicated as a log level that is output only when there is sufficient capacity. This makes it possible to retain only the necessary log information according to the capacity of the external device.

[0044] As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, when the log information stored in the memory is written to an external device, the image forming apparatus 100 can scan the currently available external devices and switch the output destination of the log information. As a result, even when the image forming apparatus 100 is transitioning to an energy saving state or immediately before the image forming apparatus 100 is powered off, the log information necessary for analyzing a failure in the image forming apparatus 100 can be saved.

[0045] Each function of the above-described embodiments can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the term "processing circuit" in the present embodiment includes a processor programmed to execute each function by software, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, as well as devices such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and conventional circuit modules designed to execute each of the above-described functions.

[0046] Note that the information processing device is not limited to image forming device 100, as long as it is a device equipped with a communication function. The information processing device may be, for example, a PJ (Projector), an IWB (Interactive White Board: a white board with an electronic blackboard function that allows mutual communication), an output device such as digital signage, a HUD (Head Up Display) device, industrial machinery, an imaging device, a sound collection device, medical equipment, a network home appliance, an automobile (Connected Car), a notebook PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a game console, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a digital camera, a wearable PC, a desktop PC, or the like.

[0047] The program executed by image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is provided by being pre-installed in ROM 103 or the like. The program executed by image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

[0048] Furthermore, the program executed by image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Also, the program executed by image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0049] The program executed by the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment has a modular structure including the above-mentioned sections (Log management module 206, status monitoring section 206a, Log management kernel module 207), and in actual hardware, a processor such as CPU 102 reads and executes the program from the above-mentioned ROM 103, thereby loading the above-mentioned sections onto the main memory, and the Log management module 206, status monitoring section 206a, and Log management kernel module 207 are generated on the main memory. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 100 Image forming device 102 CPU 103 ROM 104 RAM 200 BIOS or monitor program 201 OS 206 Log Management Module 206a Status monitoring unit 206b Log storage section 207 Log management kernel module 208 HDD Driver 209 SD card driver 210 NVRAM Driver 211 RTC driver [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0051] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-009465

Claims

1. a plurality of external devices having non-volatile storage media; a status monitoring unit that identifies software and devices that frequently exhibit operational abnormalities among the software and devices included in the information processing device based on a configuration of the information processing device, a past operation history of the information processing device, and a record of occurrence of operational abnormalities of the information processing device, and notifies a Log storage unit of software device information of the identified software and devices; a Log management kernel module that determines whether or not to output the log information to an external device based on the software device information and log information received from the Log storage unit, and when it determines to output the log information to the external device, determines the external device with the largest capacity among the external devices available as an output destination of the log information as the external device to which the log information is to be output, changes the amount of the log information in accordance with the capacity of the determined external device, and outputs the log information to the determined external device; An information processing device comprising:

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the log management kernel module outputs the log information to the external device when it determines, based on the log information, that there is a sign that an abnormality will occur during a power control process of the information processing apparatus.

3. 3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the log management kernel module outputs the log information to the external device when it determines that the configuration module with a high error frequency in a module correspondence table linking the error frequency with the configuration module that causes the error includes a device driver for the external device.

4. The information processing device described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the log management kernel module outputs the log information to the external device when it determines that a configuration module in which the error frequency is high in a module correspondence table linking the error frequency with the configuration module that causes the error includes software in the information processing device.

5. 5. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the log management kernel module outputs to the external device only the log information of a device driver that uses a function of the information processing device where the number of errors occurring is greater than or equal to a threshold value.

6. 5. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein when an output level is set for the log information within the kernel of the OS of the information processing device, the log management kernel module changes the output level of the log information up to depending on the external device to which the log information is output.

7. An information processing method executed in an information processing apparatus having a plurality of external devices each having a non-volatile storage medium, comprising: a state monitoring unit identifying software and devices that frequently exhibit operational abnormalities among the software and devices possessed by the information processing device based on a configuration of the information processing device, a past operation history of the information processing device, and a record of occurrence of operational abnormalities of the information processing device, and notifying a Log storage unit of software device information of the identified software and devices; a step of a Log management kernel module determining whether to output the log information to an external device based on the software device information and log information received from the Log storage unit, and when determining to output the log information to the external device, determining the external device with the largest capacity among the external devices available as an output destination of the log information as the external device to which the log information is to be output, changing the amount of the log information in accordance with the capacity of the determined external device, and outputting the log information to the determined external device; An information processing method including:

8. A computer included in an information processing apparatus having a plurality of external devices each having a nonvolatile storage medium, a status monitoring unit that identifies software and devices that frequently experience operational abnormalities among the software and devices included in the information processing device based on a configuration of the information processing device, a past operation history of the information processing device, and a record of occurrence of operational abnormalities of the information processing device, and notifies a Log storage unit of software device information of the identified software and devices; a Log management kernel module that determines whether or not to output the log information to an external device based on the software device information and log information received from the Log storage unit, and when it is determined that the log information should be output to the external device, determines the external device with the largest capacity among the external devices available as an output destination of the log information as the external device to which the log information is to be output, changes the amount of the log information in accordance with the capacity of the determined external device, and outputs the log information to the determined external device; A program to function as a

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