JP2015118471A - Image processor, control method thereof, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism capable of installing a program by utilizing a resource amount of processing whose processing already finishes in the case where an image processor cannot install the program due to a resource amount.SOLUTION: An image processor 101 installs a program on the basis of a resource amount described in a manifest file. The image processor 101 determines whether shortage occurs in a resource amount of the image processor when installing the program, and reduces the resource amount described in the manifest file to update the manifest file when it is determined that the shortage occurs in the resource amount of the image processor.

Description

  The present invention relates to a mechanism for reliably executing an initial installation operation of an extension program that extends the functions of an image processing apparatus.

  When a new image processing apparatus is introduced, it is necessary to perform initial installation work in accordance with the use environment of the image processing apparatus in advance. The initial installation work includes work such as installation of hardware options such as a finisher for finishing a printed material, and setting of a control program for the image processing apparatus.

  In recent years, an image processing apparatus installed in an office has a built-in add-in function, and a system that can expand the function of the image processing apparatus using an expansion program has become widespread. An example of this type of system is Canon's MEAP (registered trademark).

  The resource management of the extended program takes a method of allocating resources in advance by comparing the resource information necessary for execution with the resource information usable in the execution environment. That is, the application can be installed in the image processing apparatus only when the resources necessary for executing the extension program can be secured. By performing such control, the system can prevent an error due to lack of resources during execution like a PC application, and provides an environment where the functions of the image processing apparatus can be used stably. .

  As a mechanism that allows an extended program to be executed even when resources are insufficient, a mechanism that switches the operation mode according to the execution environment (see Patent Document 1), or a mechanism that updates the extension program manifest (see Patent Document 2) was there.

JP 2011-70394 A JP 2012-155478 A

  However, since the conventional technology solves the problem of insufficient resource amount according to the firmware mechanism provided in advance in the image processing apparatus, the system of the image processing apparatus needs to be corrected. In addition, when the operation mode is switched according to the resource environment of the extension program, there is a problem that the functions of the extension program that can be used are limited, and all the functions cannot be used. When an extension program installs another extension program, there may be a case where the capacity falls short. In this case, if the function is limited, the initial installation work may not be performed. Further, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 2, an extension program is installed according to the resources of the image processing apparatus, and thus a restriction is imposed on the installed extension program.

  The present invention provides a mechanism that enables a program to be installed using the resource amount of a process that has already been completed when the image processing apparatus cannot install the program due to the resource amount.

  An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an installation unit that installs a program based on a resource amount described in a manifest file, and whether or not the resource amount of the device itself is insufficient when the program is installed. Determining means for determining whether or not the resource amount of the device itself is insufficient, and updating means for reducing the resource amount described in the manifest file and updating the manifest file.

  According to the present invention, when the image processing apparatus cannot install a program due to the resource amount, the program can be installed using the resource amount of the process that has already been completed. Accordingly, since the operation can be performed only by the mechanism of the extension program, the installation process can be executed without requiring a special mechanism in the firmware of the image processing apparatus.

It is a figure which shows the apparatus structural example of the image processing apparatus information processing system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of an image processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the software structural example of an image processing apparatus. It is a block diagram describing the functional configuration of the extended program system service. It is an example of a manifest file included in the extension program. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of an extended program initial installation work support program. It is an example of the data storage destination of the portable storage medium which the program shown in FIG. 6 uses. It is an example of the script file which the program shown in FIG. 6 uses. It is an example of the resource amount table in which the resource amount required for each process is described. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the installation process of an extended program. It is an example of the execution operation screen of an extended program initial installation support program. It is the flowchart shown about the update process of the manifest file. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of installation processing of an extension program according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of installation processing of an extension program according to the third embodiment. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of installation processing of an extension program according to the fourth embodiment.

Example 1
<Hardware configuration example>
The hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The initial installation work support program shown in the present embodiment is not limited to the image processing apparatus in the present embodiment, and includes an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) and other information processing apparatuses.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device configuration of an initial installation work support system including an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. An information processing system including the image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an image processing apparatus 101, a portable storage medium 102, and a client computer 103. The image processing apparatus 101 is assumed to be a multifunction machine in which a plurality of functions such as a scanner, a printer, a facsimile, and a file transmission function are integrated in a copying machine, but may be a device having only a single function. The image processing apparatus 101 also has an interface for connecting a portable storage medium. The type of interface for connecting the portable storage medium is not limited, but in this embodiment, the USB interface is used. By connecting the portable storage medium 102 to this interface, the image processing apparatus 101 can read / write data from / to the portable storage medium 102.

  The portable storage medium 102 may be of any type as long as it is a storage device that can be easily removed from a host device. In this embodiment, a USB storage 214 that implements a USB mass storage class is used.

  The client computer 103 is a so-called personal computer. The client computer 103 has an interface for connecting a portable storage medium. The type of interface for connecting the portable storage medium is not limited, but a USB interface is used in this embodiment. By connecting the portable storage medium 102 to this interface, the client computer 103 can read / write data from / to the portable storage medium 102. Further, the client computer 103 has a Web browser program, and can make various settings of the image processing apparatus 101 by accessing a Web site published by the image processing apparatus 101.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a main part of the image processing apparatus 101. The image processing apparatus 101 includes a controller unit 200, to which a scanner 270 that is an image input device and a printer 295 that is an image output device are connected, and an operation unit 212 is connected. The controller unit 200 performs control for realizing a copy function for printing out image data read by the scanner 270 by the printer 295.

  The controller unit 200 has a CPU 201, and the CPU 201 starts up an operation system (OS) by a boot program stored in the ROM 203. The CPU 201 executes a program stored in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 204 on the OS, thereby executing various processes. A RAM 202 is used as a work area of the CPU 201. The RAM 202 provides a work area and an image memory area for temporarily storing image data. The HDD 204 stores the program and image data. The CPU 201 to the operation unit I / F 206, the network I / F 210, and the USB host I / F 213 are connected via the system bus 207, and can transmit and receive data to and from each other.

  The operation unit I / F 206 is an interface with the operation unit 212 having a touch panel, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 212 to the operation unit 212. In addition, the operation unit I / F 206 sends information input by the user through the operation unit 212 to the CPU 201. A network I / F 210 is an interface for connecting the image processing apparatus 101 to a LAN.

  The USB host I / F 213 is an interface unit that communicates with the USB storage 214. The USB host I / F 213 outputs the data stored in the HDD 204 to the USB storage 214. The USB host I / F 213 receives data stored in the USB storage 214 and transmits it to the CPU 201. The USB storage 214 is an external storage device that stores data, and is detachable from the USB host I / F 213. A plurality of USB devices including the USB storage 214 can be connected to the USB host I / F 213.

  An image bus I / F 205 is a bus bridge for connecting the system bus 207 and an image bus 208 for transferring image data at high speed and converting the data format. The image bus 208 is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394. A device I / F 220, a scanner image processing unit 280, and a printer image processing unit 290 are connected to the image bus 208.

  A scanner 270 and a printer 295 are connected to the device I / F 220, and the device I / F 220 performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. A scanner image processing unit 280 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. The printer image processing unit 290 performs correction, resolution conversion, and the like corresponding to the printer 295 for the print output image data.

<Software configuration example>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an execution environment of the extension program of the image processing apparatus 101. On the operating system (OS) 300, there is a device control library 301 for controlling devices such as the scanner 270 and the printer 295 from an application. On the library, a native program 302 provided in the image processing apparatus 101 in an initial state such as copying, FAX, and scanner, and an extended program execution platform 303 that is an execution program execution framework are operating.

  On the native program 302, a firmware update service 304, an option validation service 305, and a setting management service 306 operate. On the extended program execution platform 303, an extended program system service 307, an extended program management service 308, and an extended program 309 are operating. The firmware update service 304 is a service that provides various functions for updating firmware. For example, the firmware update service 304 refers to the firmware designated by the user and determines whether the firmware needs to be updated. Further, the firmware is updated with respect to the native program 302 or via the native program 302.

  The option validation service 305 is a service for validating an option function incorporated in advance in the native program 302. The option validation service 305 identifies and validates the option function specified by the option license file designated by the user.

  The setting management service 306 is a service for managing various setting information such as printers and scanners. The setting management service 306 provides a function of rewriting the setting information of the native program 302 when, for example, one or more settings or a file including a plurality of setting information is designated by the user. The setting management service 306 has a user interface (hereinafter referred to as UI), and the user can instruct setting change via the operation unit 208 of the image processing apparatus 101.

  The extended program system service 307 is a utility library that is useful in common with extended programs, and is provided from the system. By calling functions provided in the extended program system service 307 from the extended program 309, it is possible to save time and effort for developing a new extended program.

  The extension program management service 308 manages the extension program 309 (installation / uninstallation / start / stop / resource management, etc.). By using the extended program management service 308, it is possible to install another extended program and acquire the amount of resources from the extended program.

  The extension program 309 can access other extension programs and modules of the image processing apparatus 101 such as the RAM 202 only through the extension program execution platform 303, the extension program system service 307, and the extension program management service 308.

  An extension program having a user interface (hereinafter referred to as UI) can display an icon on the main menu screen displayed on the operation unit 212 of the image processing apparatus 101. When the operation unit I / F 206 detects that the user has selected this icon through the operation unit 212, the operation unit I / F 206 transmits the fact to the CPU 201. Receiving the notice, the CPU 201 displays the UI of the extension program selected by the user on the operation unit 212.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the extended program management service 308 in detail. The extended program management service 308 includes a user interface control unit 401, an extended program control unit 402, a manifest file acquisition unit 403, and a resource information management unit 404.

  The user interface control unit 401 controls a user interface for managing the extension program. The user interface control unit 401 according to the present embodiment is a web application, and the user can access the image processing apparatus 101 from a web browser and perform an extension program management operation. The user interface control unit 401 has an I / F for accessing from an extension program, and can perform management operations on other extension programs. The extension program control unit 402 receives a request from the user interface and controls execution of the extension program. The manifest file acquisition unit 403 acquires information used when managing the extension program from the extension program. The resource information management unit 404 manages the amount of resources that can be used on the image processing apparatus 101 and the resources that are used by the extended program being operated. Here, the resource information includes the free capacity of the work memory and the free capacity of the storage device 105.

<Example of manifest file>

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the contents described in the specified manifest file defined by the framework so that each extension program has. The manifest file 500 includes extension program information 501 such as the name of the extension program, and consumption resource information 502 that describes the maximum value of the amount of resources used when the extension program is activated. In the consumption resource information 502, the amount of resources measured in advance by the developer of the extension program is described, and the maximum usage amount of the memory and the maximum usage amount of the storage device are described. Specifically, MaximumMemoryUsage 1024 indicates the amount of resources required when installing the extension program App 1, and when the program is activated, MaximumFile Usage 512000 is required as the amount of resources. If there is no resource amount greater than these values in the image processing apparatus 101, the extension program cannot be installed. Even if it can be installed, there is a possibility that it will run out of resources when starting the extended program. In FIG. 5, only the resource information of the extension program is described, but it is assumed that the resource information related to firmware information and device settings is also described. Alternatively, firmware information and device setting resource information may be described in another manifest.

  When the extension program is installed, the extension program management service 308 analyzes the extension program based on the manifest file 500. The extension program management service 308 determines whether or not the usage amount of the extension program resource to be installed does not exceed the amount of resources that can be used by the device.

<Initial installation work support program>
The extension program initial installation work support program, which is one of the extension programs, performs the resource area expansion process of the extension program execution environment, which will be described later. The extended program initial installation work support program is preferably installed when the image processing apparatus 101 is shipped from the production site, but may be installed at the initial installation work site.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the extended program initial installation work support program. Each function is realized by the CPU 211 executing a program corresponding to each function. The extended program initial installation work support program 600 includes a UI control unit 601, a storage management unit 602, a process execution unit 603, a resource management unit 604, and a script analysis unit 605.

  The UI control unit 601 provides a user for operating the extended program initial installation work support program to the user through the operation unit 219, and receives the user's operation. The storage management unit 602 reads and writes data in the USB storage 223. In addition, the insertion / removal of the USB storage 223 is detected. The process execution unit 603 performs various processes in accordance with instructions from the UI control unit 601 and the storage management unit 602.

  The resource management unit 604 uses the extension program management service 308 to determine whether or not the extension program to be installed by the extension program initial installation work support program 600 does not run out of resources. If it is determined that there is a shortage of resources, it is corrected / updated so as to reduce the value of the consumed resource amount 502 of the manifest file 500 of the extended program initial installation work support program 600, and the amount of resources necessary for the installation is changed to the image processing apparatus 101. To ensure. The script analysis unit 605 analyzes the script of the installation work instruction information stored in the USB storage 223, and determines the process and order to be executed by the process execution unit 603.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the folder and file structure in the USB storage 214 used by the initial installation work support program 600 according to the present invention. In the root folder 700, there are a Firmware folder 701, an Embedded Func folder 703, an App folder 705, a DevConfig folder 708, a Log folder 710, a Script. An xml file 712 exists.

  The Firmware folder 701 is a folder for storing firmware to be updated for the image processing apparatus 101. In the figure, the Firmware folder 701 includes Firmware_v1.0.1.1.0 in which firmware groups are archived in the zip format. A zip file 702 exists.

  The EmbeddedFunc folder 703 is a folder for storing a license file for activating a function preinstalled in the image processing apparatus 101. In the figure, the Embedded Func folder 703 contains a license file Embedded Func-License. lic 704 exists.

  The App folder 705 is a folder for storing an extension program to be installed in the image processing apparatus 101 in the initial installation work and a license file necessary for installing the extension program. In this figure, in the App folder 705, the extension program Application001. jar 706 and the license file App001-License. lic 707 exists.

  The DevConfig folder 708 is a folder for storing setting information that has been set and exported in advance by the reference image processing apparatus. In the figure, the DevConfig folder 708 contains a file deviceConfigurationFile.archived in the zip format. Zip 709 exists.

  The Log folder 710 is a folder for storing a file (hereinafter, a log) as a result of execution by the initial installation work support program. In this figure, the Log folder 710 contains Log. txt 711 is stored, but before executing the initial installation work support program, the Log folder 710 and the Log. There is no txt711. These folders and files are created by the initial installation work program during or after execution.

  Script. xml 712 is an instruction sheet (script) indicating a work procedure for automatically processing the initial installation work. Details of the script will be described later with reference to FIG. This script is a file that defines the processing procedure. The image forming apparatus 101 may determine whether or not to execute the initial installation work support program depending on the presence or absence of the script file. That is, the USB storage 204 in use may be used as an identifier indicating that it is the USB storage 204 for the initial installation work support program according to the present invention.

  ResourceTable. The csv 713 is a file that describes how much resources are used in each process when performing the initial installation work. The contents of the file will be described later with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the CSV file is used. However, it may be a file of another format, and may exist in the extended program initial installation work support program instead of on the USB memory. Further, the configuration in this figure is an example, and the configuration is not limited to this, and an arbitrary folder configuration may be used.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a script that is an instruction sheet showing a work procedure for automatically processing the initial installation of the image processing apparatus 101. The script 800 is read by the storage management unit 602 of the initial installation work support program 600 and analyzed by the script analysis unit 604 via the processing execution unit 603. The script 800 analyzed by the script analysis unit 604 is then subjected to the process described by the process execution unit 603. The script 800 in this figure is described in XML (Extensible Markup Language), and includes an image processing device identification unit 801 and a process description unit 802. In this figure, the script is expressed by XML, but is not limited to XML, and may be written by a shell script or the like.

  The image processing device identification unit 801 describes information for identifying the image processing device 101 that is the target of the initial installation work, and optionally specifies <deviceId> that is the identifier of the image processing device 101 and the contents of this script. <Comment> indicated by the character string. <Comment> may be used not only as a description of the content of this script but also as an identifier when it cannot be identified only by <deviceId>. For example, it can be used as an identifier when it is necessary to prepare a plurality of settings for one image processing apparatus 101.

  The process description part 802 describes a process group necessary for performing the initial installation. In this figure, the process description unit 802 includes a firmware update process 803, an extension program installation process 804, and an extension program start process 805. The processing description unit 802 also includes a system built-in extended program activation process 806, a setting information import process 807, and an extended program setting information import process 808. The tag indicating each process includes an Order attribute. In this figure, the order of the processes is determined according to the value of Order.

  The firmware update process 803 is a process for updating firmware via the firmware update service 303. The firmware update process 803 defines a process by describing an <updateFirmwareCommand> tag, and designates a file to be used by a <relativeDirPath> tag and <FirmwareName>. The <relativeDirPath> tag describes a relative path from the root folder 700 to the firmware to be updated. The <FirmwareName> tag specifies the firmware to be updated. In the figure, firmware archived in the Zip format is designated.

  The extension program installation process 804 defines the process by the description of the <installApplicationCommand> tag. An extension program to be installed is specified by a <relativeDirPath> tag and an <AppFileName> tag. The <relativeDirPath> tag describes a relative path from the root folder 700 to the actual extension program to be installed. The <AppFileName> tag specifies the entity of the extension program to be installed. In this figure, an extension program in the Jar file format is designated. Note that the format of this extension program is not limited to the Jar file format.

  The license for the extension program to be installed is specified by a <licenseRelateDirDirPath> tag and a <licenseFileName> tag. The <licenseRelativDirDirPath> tag describes the relative path from the root folder 700 to the license file for the extension program. The <licenseFileName> tag specifies the license of the extension program. In this figure. A license file in the lic file format is specified, and the file format of the license is not limited to this.

  The extension program start process 805 is defined by the description of the <startApplicationCommand> tag, and the extension program to be started is specified by the <appId> tag. In the <appId> tag, an ID that uniquely identifies the extension program to be started is specified.

  The system built-in extended program activation process 806 defines the process by the description of the <activateEmbeddedFunctionCommand> tag. The embedded extension program activated by the <relativeDirPath> tag and the <licenseFileName> tag is designated. The <relativeDirPath> tag describes the relative path from the root folder 700 to the license file of the embedded extension program to be activated. The <licenseFileName> tag specifies a license entity for validating the embedded extension program. In this figure, a license file in the lic format is designated, and the license file format is not limited to this. If there is no built-in extension program preinstalled in the image processing apparatus 101, or if it is not activated, the description of this process is unnecessary.

  The setting information import process 807 defines the process by describing the <importDeviceConfigCommand> tag. A setting information file to be imported is specified by a <relativeDirPath> tag and a <configFileName> tag. The <relativeDirPath> tag describes the relative path from the root folder 700 to the setting information file to be imported. In the <configFileName> tag, a setting information file to be imported is specified. In the figure, a setting information file archived in the Zip format is designated. The format of the setting information file is not limited to the Zip file format.

  The extended program setting information import process 808 defines the process by the description of the <importAppConfigCommand> tag. An extended program setting information file to be imported is designated by a <relativeDirPath> tag and a <configFileName> tag. The <relativeDirPath> tag describes the relative path from the root folder 700 to the setting information file to be imported. The <configFileName> tag specifies a setting information file to be imported. In this figure, an extended program setting information file archived in the Zip format is designated. The format of the setting information file is not limited to the Zip file format. Note that the script processing shown in the drawing is not limited to the processing described, and for example, restart processing of the image processing apparatus 101 may be added. Further, there may be overlap and increase / decrease of processing as required.

  FIG. 9 illustrates a data table holding the amount of resources used in each process of the initial installation support program, which is used to expand the area where the extension program can be installed. The extension program initial installation work support program refers to the data table shown in FIG. 9 when installing the extension program or the like.

  Each processing resource usage table 900 describes the amount of resources required for the resource usage 902 for each processing 901 of the initial installation support program. The used resource amount 902 describes the size of the installation area to be used. In addition to the installation area, the size of the memory area used by each process when the extended program initial installation support program is started may be described. The initial installation support program corrects the value of the resource amount described in the manifest file of the extended program initial installation support program based on the value described in the used resource amount 902. Each processing resource usage table 900 may be described for each processing, or may be described as a value that summarizes all processing performed before installing the extension program.

<Initial installation work support program_working steps>
Hereinafter, the initial installation work of the expansion program of the image processing apparatus 101 according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram of an operation screen of the extended program initial installation work support program. The processing is started by confirming the file name of the script 800 executed by the extended program initial installation work support program and pressing the execution button 1101. However, the execution start method may be executed when the USB memory 214 is inserted in addition to pressing the execution button 1101.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the present invention. The CPU 201 executes various processes of the present invention by loading a program stored in the HDD 204 or the ROM 203 into the RAM 202 and executing it. In step S1001, the script analysis unit 605 analyzes the script 800 read from the USB storage 214 and interprets the processing order described in the script 800. In step S <b> 1002, the script analysis unit 605 confirms whether the next process to be executed is the extended program installation process 804.

  When the process to be executed next is the extended program installation process 804, the process proceeds to S1003. If the process to be executed next is not the extended program installation process 804, the process execution unit 603 executes the process in S1012. The processing here may be any of firmware update processing 803, extension program start processing 805, system built-in extension program activation processing 806, and setting information import processing 807. If it is necessary to execute next in S1013, the process proceeds to S1002, and if there is no process, the process ends.

  In step S1003, the process execution unit 603 measures the total amount of resources used by the already installed extension program. The total resource amount includes resources used by the extended program initial installation support program itself. The resource management unit 604 makes an inquiry to the manifest file acquisition unit 403 of the extension program management service 308, so that the total resource usage of the extension program already installed in the image processing apparatus 101 can be acquired.

  In step S1004, the resource management unit 604 confirms the amount of resources used by the extension program to be installed. The resource management unit 604 reads the manifest file and acquires the resource information of the extension program to be installed. The value to be acquired may be only the value of one program to be installed next, or the total value of all the extended programs to be installed. When the total value of all the extended programs is acquired, the subsequent processing of S1011 is not necessary.

  In step S <b> 1005, the resource management unit 604 adds up the resource amounts acquired in steps S <b> 1003 and S <b> 1004, and compares the added value with the resource amount that can be used as an extension program area in the image processing apparatus 101. If it is determined that a shortage of resources occurs when the extension program is installed, the process proceeds to S1006. If the resource shortage does not occur, the process execution unit 603 executes the extension program installation process 804 in S1012.

  In S1006, it is determined whether there is a process already executed in S1012. If there is no process executed, the extension program installation process 804 cannot be executed because the resources used by the extension program initial installation support program cannot be reduced. Therefore, the storage management unit 602 gives up execution of the extended program installation process 804, and the process proceeds to S1013. If there is a process that has already been executed, the resource can be reduced by modifying the manifest file, and the process advances to step S1007.

  In S1007, ResourceTable. Based on the csv 713, the resource management unit 604 acquires the total amount of resources used by the processing that has already been executed by the extended program initial installation support program. In step S1008, the process execution unit 603 corrects / updates the value of the resource used declared in the manifest file of the extended program initial installation work support program based on the value acquired in step S1007. The value correction method will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  In step S1009, the process execution unit 603 registers the manifest file corrected in step S1008 in the image processing apparatus 101. As a result, an area usable for installing the extension program can be expanded. The corrected manifest file is reflected via the extended program management service 308. Alternatively, a new extension program initial installation support program Jar file having a corrected manifest file may be installed, and the currently installed extension program initial installation support program may be uninstalled.

  In S1010, the storage management unit 602 installs the extension program. The storage management unit 602 reads the extension program from the App folder 705 of the USB storage 214 and executes installation using the extension program control unit 402. In S1011, it is determined whether there are other extension programs to be installed by the initial installation work support program. If there are others, the process returns to S1003 and the extension program installation process 804 is measured and executed. If there is no extension program to be installed, the process proceeds to S1013.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining a manifest file correction method in which S1007 and S1008 are detailed. In step S1201, the resource management unit 604 receives an instruction from the processing execution unit 605, and calculates the amount of resources to be reduced. The resource amount is the sum of the resource amounts of the processes that have already been executed using the process use resource amount table 900. For example, if the processing of firmware update and device setting data import has been completed, the resource management unit 604 calculates a resource amount of 300 MB.

  In step S1202, the resource management unit 604 reads the manifest file of the extended program initial installation support program. Here, the resource amount of the extension program to be installed next is acquired. In S1203, the resource management unit 604 compares the values acquired in the processing of S1201 and S1202.

  If it is determined in S1204 that the amount of resources described in the manifest of the extended program initial installation support program is larger, the processing execution unit 603 reduces the amount of resources already executed from the amount of resources described in the manifest file in S1205. To do. That is, the resource amount relating to the firmware update and device setting data import that have already been processed is reduced from the resource amount of the extension program to be installed next. If it is determined that the total value of the resource amounts of the processes for which the process execution has been completed is larger, in S1206, the process execution unit 603 sets the resource amount described in the manifest of the extended program initial installation support program to zero.

  In step S1207, the process execution unit 603 corrects the resource amount of the manifest file so that the values obtained in steps S1205 and S1206 are obtained. As described above, according to the image processing apparatus described in the first embodiment, when the image processing apparatus cannot install the program due to the resource amount, the program is installed using the resource amount of the process that has already been completed. Is possible. Therefore, the initial setting operation of the image processing apparatus can be made more efficient, and the expansion program installation operation can be performed more reliably.

(Example 2)
As in the first embodiment, as a means for increasing the area in which the extension program can be installed, a method in which the extension program is divided and configured in advance into one host bundle and one or more fragment bundles having functions of each processing There is also. Here, the bundle refers to a Java (registered trademark) module, and is synonymous with an application in the present invention. The OSGi specification has a mechanism of a host bundle and a fragment bundle. A host bundle refers to a bundle to which a fragment bundle is added. A fragment bundle is a bundle that does not operate alone, but adds (attaches) the bundle itself to the class loader space of the host bundle. By modifying or expanding the function of the host bundle using the fragment bundle when the application is modified or expanded, the file size to be installed can be reduced and the module can be efficiently distributed.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing in this embodiment. The operation after the execution button 1101 on the operation screen of the extended program initial installation work support program is pressed will be described. The steps for checking whether or not the extension resource area of the extension program from S1301 to S1306 needs to be extended are the same as S1001 to S1006 in FIG.

  In step S1307, the fragment bundle having the process that has already been executed is uninstalled. The processing execution unit 603 of the extended program initial installation support program instructs the extended program management service 308 to uninstall the fragment bundle, thereby performing uninstallation. The fragment bundle to be uninstalled may be one fragment bundle for each process that has been executed, or one fragment bundle that has been executed.

  Unlike the first embodiment, the second embodiment does not perform a manifest file update process. This is because a manifest file is held for each host bundle and fragment bundle, and for example, it is not necessary to update the amount of resources described in the manifest held by the host bundle. Therefore, in the processing of S1303, the resource management unit 604 measures the resource amount for each bundle described in the plurality of manifest files.

  Since the processes S1308 to S1311 after uninstallation are the same as S1010 to S1013 in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. By these methods, the image processing apparatus can extend the installation area of the extension program more easily.

(Example 3)
As in the first and second embodiments, even if the installation area is expanded before the extension program is installed, the installation may not be performed. For example, in the installation work of the image processing apparatus, basically, each process can be performed in any order. Therefore, there is a possibility that the extension program installation is described in the script as the first process to be performed before the firmware installation or device setting. In that case, the initial installation work support program 600 proceeds to the next process once and finally installs the extension program.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing in the present embodiment. Since S1401 to S1407 are the same as S1001 to S1007 of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. In step S1408, the process execution unit 603 determines whether the extension program can be installed based on the resource amount acquired in step S1407. If possible, the process proceeds to S1410. If it is not possible, the installation process cannot be executed even if the process proceeds to the next S1410. Therefore, in S1409, the process execution unit 603 changes the order of the processes and executes the executable processes. By performing the installation process last, another process can be performed first, and the total amount of resources calculated in the process of S1407 can be increased. After the order is changed, the process proceeds to S1415 to execute the next process.

  Steps S1410 to S1415 are the same as steps S1008 to S1013 of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. By these methods, the image processing apparatus can more reliably execute the installation process.

Example 4
As described in the third embodiment, in the installation operation of the image processing apparatus, basically, each process can be performed in any order. However, there are cases where the order of processing cannot be changed. For example, the following processing cannot be performed unless an extension program is installed. The processing to be executed next cannot import the setting data related to the previously installed extension program before the extension program is installed. In such a case, since the order of processing cannot be changed, the method of the third embodiment cannot proceed with the processing.

  Here, in order to secure resources necessary for the extension program installation processing 804, attention is paid to the resource amount of the extension program that has already been installed but is not used. The resource amount is reduced by reducing the resource amount of the stopped extension program from the declared value of the manifest of the initial installation support program. When the installation process is completed, the manifest file can be modified again and restored to its original state so that it can operate without any problems. In this case, the storage management unit 602 only needs to read the manifest file read from the USB storage 214 or the like again.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing in this embodiment. Since the processing from S1501 to S1507 is the same as S1001 to S1007 of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  In step S <b> 1508, the process execution unit 603 compares the resource amount of the process for which the process has been completed with the resource amount required for the extension program to be installed. If the amount of resources required for the extension program to be installed is larger, the installation cannot be executed even if the processing proceeds to S1512. Therefore, in step S1509, the resource management unit 604 checks whether there is an extended program that is stopped. If there is an extended program that is stopped, the resource management unit 604 obtains the total amount of resources required for the extended program that is stopped in S1510. In step S1511, the resource amount of the already completed processing is added and deleted from the resource amount of the manifest file of the extended program initial installation support program. Thereafter, the manifest file modified in S1513 is re-registered.

  Furthermore, when the resource area necessary for installing the extension program cannot be secured with only the resources of the extension program being stopped, the extension program being started may be stopped and S1509 may be executed.

  As a result, the image processing apparatus can execute installation processing for all extension programs without changing the processing order.

(Other examples)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (computer program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media. Then, the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

101 Image processing apparatus

Claims (10)

Installation means for installing the program based on the amount of resources described in the manifest file;
Determining means for determining whether or not a shortage occurs in the resource amount of the device when installing the program;
An image processing apparatus comprising: an update unit configured to reduce the resource amount described in the manifest file and update the manifest file when it is determined that the resource amount of the own device is insufficient. The determination means determines whether or not a shortage of the resource amount of the own device occurs based on the resource amount obtained by adding the resource amount of the already installed program and the resource amount of the installation target program. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The said update means updates the said manifest file by subtracting the resource amount of the process already completed from the resource amount of the program of the installation object described in the said manifest file. Image processing apparatus. The update means can be executed before installing the installation target program among the processes described in the script when the resource amount of the device itself is insufficient even if the resource amount of the already completed process is subtracted. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing is executed to update the manifest file. When the update means cannot change the order of the processes described in the script and it is determined that the resource amount of the own device is insufficient, the resource amount of the process that has already been completed and already installed The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the manifest file is updated by further subtracting a resource amount of a program that is not activated. Installation means for installing a program including a host bundle and at least one fragment bundle based on the amount of resources described in the manifest file;
Determining means for determining whether or not a shortage occurs in the resource amount of the device when installing the program;
When it is determined that there is a shortage in the resource amount of the own device, the device includes an uninstall unit that uninstalls the fragment bundle that has already been processed from the own device.
An image processing apparatus. The determination means determines the resource of the own device based on the sum of each resource amount described in the manifest file held by the bundle that has already been processed and the resource amount required for the installation target program. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein it is determined whether or not a shortage occurs in the amount. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the manifest file is held for each of the host bundle and the fragment bundle. An installation process for installing the program based on the amount of resources described in the manifest file;
A determination step of determining whether or not a shortage occurs in the resource amount of the device itself when installing the program;
An update step of updating the manifest file by reducing the resource amount described in the manifest file when it is determined that the resource amount of the own device is insufficient. Control method.   A computer program that causes a computer to execute the control method according to claim 9.

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