IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD THEREFOR, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Abstract

A data processing apparatus and method configured to load a program corresponding to each of a plurality of functions into a memory, the apparatus and method including storing a program for a specific function from among the plurality of functions, storing a program for a function different from the specific function from among the plurality of functions, loading the program for the specific function into the memory, and loading the program for the function different from the specific function into the memory after power is supplied to the second storage unit based on a request for accessing the second storage unit generated during execution of the program for the specific function.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a data processing system including a data processing apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of the digital MFP and a controller unit illustrated in FIG. 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of a memory in the controller unit illustrated in FIG. 2 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of a function loading management table illustrated in FIG. 2 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an external appearance of an operation unit illustrated in FIG. 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example of processing of data performed in a data processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an example of processing of data performed by the data processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A through 8C respectively illustrate a state in which a program is loaded into a RAM illustrated in FIG. 2 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a prioritized function changing display shown in a function utilization operation portion of the operation unit illustrated in FIG. 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a flow of data processing performed by the data processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a method of updating a program stored in the ROM illustrated in FIG. 2 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a state in which the function loading management table illustrated in FIG. 2 is updated according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a configuration of a data processing apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates an operation screen displayed on a function utilization operation portion of an operation unit illustrated in FIG. 13 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates an operation screen displayed on a function utilization operation portion of an operation unit illustrated in FIG. 13 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates processing of data performed by the data processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a configuration of an image processing system to which the data processing apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 18 illustrates an operation screen displayed in an operation unit illustrated in FIG. 17 according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating data processing performed by the data processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a data processing apparatus according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus configured to load a program corresponding to each of a plurality of functions into a memory and execute the program, the data processing apparatus comprising: a first storage unit configured to store a program for a specific function from among the plurality of functions;a second storage unit configured to store a program for a function different from the specific function;a first loading control unit configured to load the program for the specific function from the first storage unit into the memory; anda second loading control unit configured to load the program for the function different from the specific function from the second storage unit into the memory after power is supplied to the second storage unit according to a request for accessing the second storage unit generated during execution of the program for the specific function.

2. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first storage unit is a semiconductor memory that can be accessed at a speed higher than a speed for accessing the second storage unit, and wherein the second storage unit is an external memory that is accessed at a speed lower than the speed for accessing the first storage unit.

3. The data processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the external memory is a hard disk.

4. The data processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the semiconductor memory is a flash memory.

5. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program stored in the first storage unit can be changed.

6. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a storing unit configured to store identification information of the program to be stored in the first storage unit; anda storage control unit configured to select a program corresponding to the identification information stored in the storing unit from among programs stored in the second storage unit, and to store the selected program in the first storage unit.

7. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the request for accessing the second storage unit is generated either at a time of storing image data received when the program for the specific function is executed or at a time of storing image data generated when the program for the specific function is executed.

8. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the request for accessing the second storage unit is generated at a time of requesting a function corresponding to a program not loaded into the memory.

9. A method for loading programs in a data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus configured to load a program corresponding to each of a plurality of functions into a memory and execute the program, the method comprising: storing a program for a specific function from among the plurality of functions in a first storage unit;storing a program for a function different from the specific function in a second storage unit;loading the program for the specific function from the first storage unit into the memory; andloading the program for the function different from the specific function from the second storage unit into the memory after power is supplied to the second storage unit according to a request for accessing the second storage unit generated during execution of the program for the specific function.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first storage unit is a semiconductor memory that can be accessed at a speed higher than a speed for accessing the second storage unit, and wherein the second storage unit is an external memory that is accessed at a speed lower than the speed for accessing to the first storage unit.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the external memory is a hard disk.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the semiconductor memory is a flash memory.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the program stored in the first storage unit can be changed.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: storing identification information of the program to be stored in the first storage unit; andselecting a program corresponding to the identification information from among programs stored in the second storage unit and storing the selected program in the first storage unit.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the request for accessing the second storage unit is generated either at a time of storing image data received when the program for the specific function is executed or at a time of storing image data generated when the program for the specific function is executed.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the request for accessing the second storage unit is generated at a time of requesting a function corresponding to a program not loaded into the memory.

17. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable process steps, the computer-executable process steps causing a computer to execute the method of claim 9.