MULTIFUNCTION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

A program that is to be preferentially loaded into a memory is stored in a specific memory and the program stored in the specific memory is changeable to another program. Thus, the program that is to be preferentially loaded into the memory is thereby made changeable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration based on a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing configurations of a digital multifunction peripheral and controller according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of storing a program for using a split program for fast start up of functions of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of entry of a function load table according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts an external view of a console unit of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process for enabling the preferential use of specific functions of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process for loading a program of a function of the digital multifunction peripheral into a RAM according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are diagrams showing a situation in which a program for a function is loaded into a work memory region of RAM by a CPU in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a console unit upon selecting a scan function in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a console unit at the time of power off processing, displaying a preferential function to be loaded next in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process of storing in ROM a program of a preferential function at the time of power off processing of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing updating of a function program of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing updating of a preference flag in a function load table of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing configurations of a digital multifunction peripheral and controller according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a time-related preferential function table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an update process of a preferential function information storage unit of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a usage configuration of a time and preferential function of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a console unit which displays at the time of power off processing a preferential function to be loaded the next time.

FIG. 19 is a diagram which shows storing of a program in a preferential function program storage unit of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a function load table after power off processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing configurations of a digital multifunction peripheral and controller according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in a first activated function data storage unit according to the third embodiment.

FIGS. 23A and 23B are diagrams showing an example of an update flag according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of updating first activated function data of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for updating first activated function data of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the status of each flag and table, etc., when the power of the digital multifunction peripheral is on or recovering from sleep mode according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing each state after all function programs that are installed in an HDD are loaded into RAM and all functions are usable.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a state in which a user uses a scanning function from the state of FIG. 27 and in which the first activated function data storage unit and the update flag have been updated.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a state in which a start is further advanced from FIG. 28, a program of a scan function has been stored in a preferential function program storage of ROM, and a function loading table has been updated.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral and a controller unit according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a configuration of a program in the case of using a split program enabling rapid start-up of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the fourth embodiment.

FIGS. 32A, 32B and FIGS. 33A, 33B are diagrams showing a state of a CPU loading from HDD to RAM split program configurations of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing start-up processing of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the fourth embodiment.

FIGS. 35A, 35B, and 35C are diagrams showing a state of the HDD, RAM, and first activated function data storage unit of the digital multifunction peripheral according to a fourth embodiment.

FIGS. 36A, 36B, and 36C are diagrams showing a display state of a display unit for each state shown in FIGS. 35A, 35B, and 35C.

FIGS. 37A and 37B are diagrams showing states of the HDD, RAM, first activated function data storage unit, and update flag when the first activated function data is updated in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a data example of a first activated function log storage unit according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing start up processing of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 40A, 40B and FIGS. 41A, 41B are diagrams showing states of the HDD, RAM, and first activated function log storage unit at the time of start up of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing an update process of a first activated function log of a digital multifunction peripheral according to the fifth embodiment.

FIGS. 43A, 43B and FIG. 44 are diagrams showing states of an HDD, RAM, first activated function log storage unit, and update flag, in a case that the first activated function log of the digital multifunction peripheral is updated according to the fifth embodiment.

Claims

1. An apparatus capable of executing a plurality of functions, comprising; a first storage unit configured to store a plurality of programs corresponding respectively to a plurality of functions;a second storage unit configured to store a first program to be preferentially loaded into a memory for implementing the program, among the plurality of programs;a first load control unit configured to load the first program stored in said second storage unit into the memory;a second load control unit configured to load a second program stored in said first storage unit which differs from the first program stored in said second storage unit into the memory, after loading the first program stored in said second storage unit into the memory; anda change unit configured to change the first program stored in said second storage unit for another program being different from the first program and stored in said first storage unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display a message indicating that a function corresponding to the program loaded into the memory is executable.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said change unit changes the first program stored in said second storage unit according to a function implemented before the apparatus was powered off.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a timer unit configured to supply time information; anda function identification storage unit configured to store function identification data for specifying a function to be preferentially started up according to a time,wherein said change unit changes the first program in said second storage unit for the another program according to the time indicated by time information supplied by said timer unit, wherein the another program corresponds to a function expressed by the function identification data stored in said function identification storage unit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein if the time information supplied by said timer unit indicates a predetermined time, said change unit changes the first program in said second storage unit for the another program corresponding to the predetermined time.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said change unit changes the first program for a program corresponding to a function that was first used after powering on said apparatus or recovering from a power saving mode.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a prohibit unit configured to prohibit the changing of a program by said change unit after changing of a program by said change unit, until the next time power is turned on or recovery from a power saving mode is achieved.

8. An apparatus capable of executing a plurality of functions, comprising: a log storage unit configured to store a log indicating functions first used, after starting up said apparatus;a determination unit configured to determine a first program to be preferentially loaded into a memory based on a log stored in said log storage unit; anda load control unit configured to load the first program determined by said determination unit into the memory from a storage unit for storing a plurality of programs corresponding respectively to a plurality of functions.

9. A method for controlling an apparatus having a first storage unit for storing a plurality of programs which correspond respectively to a plurality of functions, comprising; a first load step of preferentially loading into a memory a first program stored in a second storage unit storing a program to be preferentially started up out of the plurality of programs;a second load step of loading, after the first program stored in said second storage unit has been loaded into the memory, a second program stored in said first storage unit that differs from the first program stored in said second storage unit into the memory; anda change step of changing the first program stored in said second storage unit for another program stored in said first storage unit.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of displaying a message indicating that a function corresponding to the program loaded into the memory is executable.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein in said change step, the first program stored in said second storage unit is changed according to a function used before the apparatus was powered off.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a function identification storage step of storing function identification data for specifying a function to be preferentially started up according to the time, wherein in said change step, according to the time, the first program stored in said second storage unit is changed into a program corresponding to the function identification data stored in said function identification storage step.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein in said change step, if it is a predetermined time, the first program stored in said second storage unit is changed into a program corresponding to the predetermined time.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein in said change step, the first program stored in said second storage unit is changed into a program corresponding to a function used first either after power of said apparatus is turned on or after recovering from a power saving mode.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a prohibit step of prohibiting changing of the first program in said change step after changing a program in said change step, until a next time power of said apparatus is turned on or recovery is achieved from the power saving mode.

16. A control method of an apparatus, comprising: a log storage step of storing a log indicating functions first used, after starting up said apparatus;a preferential program determination step of determining a program to be preferentially loaded into a memory based on the log stored in said log storage step; anda load control step of loading a first program determined in said preferential program determination step into the memory from a storage apparatus storing a plurality of programs corresponding respectively to a plurality of functions.

17. A program which makes a computer execute a control method according to claim 9.