JP2017211808A - Electronic apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus capable of reducing the risk that data stored in the solid state drive (SSD) is lost without increasing the number of components of the electronic apparatus.SOLUTION: A multifunction peripheral (MFP) 100 includes a hard disk drive (HDD) 110 mounted with a temperature sensor is disposed near the SSD 109. The MFP determines whether to execute backup of data stored in the SSD 109 on the basis of average delete number of the SSD 109 and a piece of temperature information of the HDD 110 acquired from the HDD 110.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, a control method thereof, and a program.

  MFPs are known as electronic devices that store data in a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The MFP stores data such as programs and image data in a storage device. In recent years, SSDs (Solid State Drives), which have higher heat resistance than HDDs and are capable of high-speed random access, are also used as storage devices. Since the SSD does not require an initial operation such as a spin-up at the time of activation of the MFP system required in the HDD, for example, the activation process can be executed in a short time. On the other hand, SSDs have a higher price per capacity than HDDs, and the cost of an MFP increases when a large-capacity storage device is installed. For this reason, an MFP having both the SSD and the HDD is developed by taking advantage of the characteristics of the SSD and the HDD, and the SSD and the HDD are selectively used according to the application. For example, the SSD is used for system startup, and the HDD is used for storing a large amount of data.

  By the way, in the SSD, when a preset data retention period elapses after the power supply to the MFP is stopped, all stored data is lost. The data retention period becomes shorter due to an increase in the number of SSD rewrites or an increase in the ambient temperature of the SSD. On the other hand, in the MFP, a temperature sensor is provided in the SSD, the ambient temperature of the SSD is detected by the temperature sensor, and rewriting to the SSD is stopped based on the detected ambient temperature of the SSD and the number of times of rewriting of the SSD. Is determined (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This prevents the data retention period from being shortened due to an increase in the number of SSD rewrites or an increase in the ambient temperature of the SSD, and reduces the risk of losing data stored in the SSD.

JP 2014-167809 A

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, it is necessary to provide a temperature sensor in the SSD in order to reduce the risk of losing data stored in the SSD, the number of parts of the MFP increases, and the manufacturing cost of the entire MFP increases. The problem of increasing will arise.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device, a control method thereof, and a program that can reduce the risk of losing data stored in an SSD without increasing the number of parts of the electronic device.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device including an SSD (Solid State Drive) for storing data and a module with a temperature sensor, and acquires temperature information from the module with a temperature sensor. First acquisition means, second acquisition means for acquiring the number of times the SSD is rewritten, and backup execution control means for controlling execution of backup of data stored in the SSD. The backup execution control means is arranged in the vicinity of the module with temperature sensor, and determines whether or not to execute the backup based on the number of rewrites and temperature information acquired from the module with temperature sensor. To do.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the risk of losing data stored in the SSD without increasing the number of parts of the electronic device.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an MFP as an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of backup execution determination processing executed by the MFP of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the 1st modification of the backup execution determination process of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the 2nd modification of the backup execution determination process of FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of backup processing executed by the MFP of FIG. 1. It is a figure for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of SSD of FIG. 1, and HDD.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In this embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an MFP as an electronic device will be described. However, the application destination of the present invention is not limited to the MFP, and the present invention can be applied to any device such as a PC including an SSD. Can do.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of MFP 100 as an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the MFP 100 includes a control unit 101. The control unit 101 includes a CPU 102, ROM 103, RAM 104, external I / F control unit 105, external I / F 106, operation unit control unit 107, storage control unit 108, SSD 109, HDD 110 (module with temperature sensor), and device control unit 111. Prepare. The CPU 102, ROM 103, RAM 104, external I / F control unit 105, operation unit control unit 107, storage control unit 108, and device control unit 111 are connected to each other via a bus bridge 112. The external I / F 106 is connected to the external I / F control unit 105, and the SSD 109 and the HDD 110 are connected to the storage control unit 108, respectively.

  The MFP 100 can execute jobs such as print processing, scan processing, and post-processing. For example, the MFP 100 executes a print job based on print data transmitted from an external device (not shown). The control unit 101 controls the entire MFP 100 as a whole. The CPU 102 performs programs by executing programs stored in the ROM 103, the SSD 109, the HDD 110, and the like. The ROM 103 stores a startup program executed by the CPU 102 and data. The RAM 104 is used as a work area for the CPU 102, and the RAM 104 is used as a temporary storage area for each data. The external I / F control unit 105 controls data communication with an external device performed via the external I / F 106. The operation unit control unit 107 performs data communication with an operation unit (not shown) that is a user interface of the MFP 100. The storage control unit 108 performs data communication with the SSD 109 and the HDD 110.

  The SSD 109 stores programs such as a main program and application programs including the OS of the CPU 102, and image data. The SSD 109 is a memory device in which the number of rewrites is limited. When the number of rewrites exceeds the limit number, data cannot be rewritten. Further, the SSD 109 loses data stored in the SSD 109 when the data retention period elapses after the MFP is de-energized. The data retention period becomes shorter due to an increase in the number of SSD rewrites or an increase in the ambient temperature of the SSD 109. The HDD 110 stores programs and relatively large capacity data. For example, the HDD 110 is set as a backup destination of the SSD 109 and has a capacity capable of storing all the data stored in the SSD 109. Since the data retention characteristics of the HDD 110 change according to changes in the ambient temperature of the HDD 110, a temperature sensor (not shown) is mounted on the HDD 110 in order to control the ambient temperature of the HDD 110. In the present embodiment, the SSD 109 and the HDD 110 are arranged in the vicinity. A device control unit 111 controls a document feeding unit (not shown), an image reader unit that controls the execution of scan processing, a print control unit that controls printing processing, and performs post-processing such as punch processing and folding processing. Data communication is performed with a post-processing control unit or the like that controls the process.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the backup execution determination process executed by MFP 100 in FIG.

  The process in FIG. 2 is performed by the CPU 102 executing a program stored in the ROM 103 or the like.

  In FIG. 2, first, when the CPU 102 receives an execution instruction for starting processing of the MFP 100 such as turning on the power or returning to the power saving mode by operating the operation unit (not shown) (step S <b> 201), the SMART information of the HDD 110 is acquired from the HDD 110. To do. The HDD 110 is arranged in the vicinity of the SSD 109, and the S.M.A.R.T information of the HDD 110 includes information indicating a health condition determination result of the HDD 110 and temperature information of the HDD 110. The temperature information of the HDD 110 includes the ambient temperature of the HDD 110 and the single temperature of the HDD 110 when the MFP 100 is activated. Next, the CPU 102 acquires the temperature information of the HDD 110 from the S.M.A.R.T information of the HDD 110 (step S202), and approximates the environmental temperature A that is the ambient temperature of the SSD 109 based on the acquired temperature information of the HDD 110 (step S203). Specifically, CPU 102 calculates environmental temperature A by subtracting the single temperature of HDD 110 when MFP 100 is started from the ambient temperature of HDD 110 when MFP 100 is started. In this way, the MFP 100 acquires the ambient temperature of the SSD 109 on which the temperature sensor is not mounted.

  Next, the CPU 102 acquires S.M.A.R.T information of the SSD 109. The S.M.A.R.T information of the SSD 109 includes information indicating the health condition determination result of the SSD 109 and information regarding the number of times the SSD 109 is rewritten. The information related to the number of times of rewriting of the SSD 109 includes an average number of times of writing and an average number of times of erasing obtained by averaging the number of times of writing and erasing of the SSD 109, respectively. Thereafter, the CPU 102 acquires information on the number of rewrites, for example, the average number of erasures of the SSD 109 from the S.M.A.R.T information of the SSD 109 (step S204). Next, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the calculated environmental temperature A is greater than a preset temperature threshold value α (step S205). The temperature threshold value α is an upper limit value of the storage temperature of the SSD 109. If the temperature of the SSD 109 does not exceed the temperature threshold value α, the data retention period is not shortened due to at least the temperature of the SSD 109.

  As a result of the determination in step S205, when the environmental temperature A is higher than the temperature threshold value α, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the average erase count of the SSD 109 is larger than a preset allowable count γ (step S206). The allowable number of times γ is a number determined based on a rewrite allowable value of a flash memory (not shown) mounted on the SSD 109. When the average number of erasures exceeds the allowable number γ, the data retention period of the SSD 109 is shortened to half or less.

  As a result of the determination in step S206, when the average erase count of the SSD 109 is equal to or smaller than the allowable count γ, the CPU 102 ends this process. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S206, when the average erase count of the SSD 109 is larger than the allowable count γ, the CPU 102 determines that there is a high possibility that the data stored in the SSD 109 is lost. Thereafter, the CPU 102 shifts to an SSD protection mode in which data stored in the SSD 109 is backed up (step S207), and ends this process.

  As a result of the determination in step S205, when the environmental temperature A is equal to or lower than the temperature threshold value α, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the average erase count of the SSD 109 is larger than a preset allowable count σ (step S208). The allowable number σ is a number determined based on a rewrite upper limit value (Program / Erase (P / E) cycle) of a flash memory (not shown) mounted on the SSD 109. When the average number of erasures exceeds the allowable number σ, the rewriting performance of the SSD 109 is significantly lowered.

  As a result of the determination in step S208, when the average erase count of the SSD 109 is equal to or smaller than the allowable count σ, the CPU 102 ends this process. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S208, when the average erase count of the SSD 109 is greater than the allowable count σ, the CPU 102 determines that there is a high possibility that data stored in the SSD 109 will be lost, and performs the processing from step S207.

  According to the processing of FIG. 2 described above, the HDD 110 is arranged in the vicinity of the SSD 109, and whether to back up the data stored in the SSD 109 based on the average erase count of the SSD 109 and the temperature information of the HDD 110 acquired from the HDD 110. Is decided. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the need to newly provide a temperature sensor in the SSD 109 in order to determine whether or not to back up the data stored in the SSD 109. Thus, the data of the SSD 109 can be reduced without increasing the number of parts of the MFP 100. The risk of disappearance can be reduced.

  In the process of FIG. 2 described above, temperature information of the HDD 110 when the MFP 100 is activated is acquired from the HDD 110. Here, in order to accurately calculate the ambient temperature A from the ambient temperature of the HDD 110 included in the temperature information of the HDD 110, a temperature component unnecessary for the ambient temperature A in the ambient temperature of the HDD 110, for example, a single temperature component of the HDD 110 is included. It is preferably not included. That is, it is preferable to obtain the ambient temperature of the HDD 110 in a state where the HDD 110 is not operating. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the temperature information of the HDD 110 when the MFP 100 is activated, that is, the ambient temperature of the HDD 110 when the HDD 110 is not operating is acquired from the HDD 110. Thereby, the ambient temperature of the SSD 109 can be accurately calculated based on the ambient temperature of the HDD 110 in a state where the HDD 110 is not operating.

  Furthermore, in the process of FIG. 2 described above, the module with the temperature sensor is the HDD 110. Here, since the data retention characteristics of the HDD change according to the change in the ambient temperature of the HDD, the HDD is usually equipped with a temperature sensor in order to control the ambient temperature of the HDD. Accordingly, the ambient temperature of the SSD 109 can be calculated from the S.M.A.R.T information of the HDD 110 arranged in the vicinity of the SSD 109 without providing a temperature sensor in the SSD 109.

  In the processing of FIG. 2 described above, since the HDD 110 has at least a capacity capable of storing all data stored in the SSD 109, all data stored in the SSD 109 can be backed up to the HDD 110.

  As described above, the present invention has been described using the above-described embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

  For example, the ambient temperature of the HDD 110 when the MFP 100 is activated may be used as the environmental temperature A as it is.

  In the above-described embodiment, the temperature information of HDD 110 when MFP 100 is in an idle state (standby) may be acquired from HDD 110.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a first modification of the backup execution determination process of FIG.

  The process of FIG. 3 is performed by the CPU 102 executing a program stored in the ROM 103 or the like.

  In FIG. 3, first, the CPU 102 performs the above-described processing of steps S201 to S205 in FIG.

  As a result of the determination in step S205, when the environmental temperature A is higher than the temperature threshold value α, the CPU 102 performs the processing after step S206 in FIG. On the other hand, when the environmental temperature A is equal to or lower than the temperature threshold value α as a result of the determination in step S205, the CPU 102 waits until the MFP 100 shifts to the idle state (step S301). If MFP 100 does not receive an instruction to execute each process for a predetermined period, MFP 100 shifts to an idle state. When MFP 100 shifts to the idle state, CPU 102 acquires S.M.A.R.T information of HDD 110 from HDD 110. The S.M.A.R.T information of the HDD 110 includes the ambient temperature of the HDD 110 and the single unit temperature of the HDD 110 when the MFP 100 is in an idle state as temperature information of the HDD 110. The temperature of the HDD 110 is adjusted so that the ambient temperature of the HDD 110 does not increase by a fan or the like (not shown) from when the MFP 100 is activated until the MFP 100 shifts to the idle state. Therefore, the ambient temperature of HDD 110 in the idle state of MFP 100 has a minute value of a temperature component that is unnecessary when calculating the ambient temperature of SSD 109, and the ambient temperature of HDD 110 substantially matches the ambient temperature of SSD 109. Next, the CPU 102 acquires the temperature information of the HDD 110 from the S.M.A.R.T information of the HDD 110 (step S302), and approximates the environmental temperature B that is the ambient temperature of the SSD 109 based on the acquired temperature information of the HDD 110 (step S303). Specifically, CPU 102 calculates environmental temperature B by subtracting the stand-alone temperature of HDD 110 when MFP 100 is in an idle state from the ambient temperature of HDD 110 when MFP 100 is in an idle state. Next, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the environmental temperature B is higher than the temperature threshold value α (step S304).

  As a result of the determination in step S304, when the environmental temperature B is higher than the temperature threshold value α, the CPU 102 performs processing in step S206 and subsequent steps. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S304, when the environmental temperature B is equal to or lower than the temperature threshold value α, the CPU 102 performs the processing after step S208.

  In the process of FIG. 3 described above, temperature information of the HDD 110 when the MFP 100 is in an idle state is acquired from the HDD 110. Here, the temperature of HDD 110 is adjusted so that the ambient temperature of HDD 110 does not rise by a fan or the like (not shown) from when MFP 100 is activated until it shifts to the idle state. Therefore, the ambient temperature of HDD 110 in the idle state of MFP 100 has a minute value of a temperature component that is unnecessary when calculating the ambient temperature of SSD 109, and the ambient temperature of HDD 110 substantially matches the ambient temperature of SSD 109. Thereby, the ambient temperature of the SSD 109 can be calculated with higher accuracy.

  In the present embodiment, a different allowable number may be set for each calculated ambient temperature of the SSD 109.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a second modification of the backup execution determination process of FIG.

  The processing in FIG. 4 is performed by the CPU 102 executing a program stored in the ROM 103 or the like.

  In FIG. 4, first, the CPU 102 performs the processes of steps S <b> 201 to S <b> 203 in FIG. 2 described above. Next, the CPU 102 refers to the allowable number list stored in the HDD 110 or the like (step S401). In the allowable number list, the allowable number corresponding to each temperature is set, and a different allowable number is set for each temperature. Thereafter, the CPU 102 sets an allowable number of times (hereinafter, “temperature A allowable number of times”) corresponding to the ambient temperature A that is the ambient temperature of the SSD 109 based on the acquired allowable number list (step S402). Next, the CPU 102 acquires the average erase count of the SSD 109 from the S.M.A.R.T information of the SSD 109 (step S403), and determines whether or not the average erase count is greater than the temperature A allowable count (step S404).

  As a result of the determination in step S404, when the average erase count is equal to or lower than the temperature A allowable count, the CPU 102 ends this process. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S404, when the average erase count is larger than the temperature A allowable count, the CPU 102 determines that there is a high possibility that the data stored in the SSD 109 will be lost, and performs the processing from step S207.

  In the processing of FIG. 4 described above, different allowable times are set for each ambient temperature of the SSD 109 (for each temperature information), so whether the data stored in the SSD 109 is backed up at an appropriate timing according to the ambient temperature of the SSD 109. You can decide whether or not.

  Next, backup processing executed by MFP 100 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of backup processing executed by MFP 100 in FIG.

  The process of FIG. 5 is performed by the CPU 102 executing a program stored in the ROM 103 or the like.

  In FIG. 5, first, when the MFP 100 is in an idle state (YES in Step S501), the CPU 102 determines whether or not the MFP 100 has shifted to the SSD protection mode (Step S502).

  If the result of determination in step S502 is that there is no transition to SSD protection mode, the CPU 102 ends this processing. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S502, when the CPU 102 shifts to the SSD protection mode, the CPU 102 checks the HDD 110 (step S503). Next, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the backup data of the SSD 109 is stored in the HDD 110 (step S504).

  As a result of the determination in step S504, when the backup data of the SSD 109 is not stored in the HDD 110, the CPU 102 determines to back up all the data stored in the SSD 109 (backup execution control means). Thereafter, the CPU 102 secures a backup area in the HDD 110 (step S505), backs up all data in the SSD 109 to the HDD 110 (step S506), and ends this processing.

  As a result of the determination in step S504, when the backup data of the SSD 109 is stored in the HDD 110, the CPU 102 compares the backup data of the SSD 109 with the data stored in the SSD 109 (step S507). Next, the CPU 102 determines whether or not there is a difference between the backup data of the SSD 109 and the data stored in the SSD 109 (step S508).

  If the result of determination in step S508 is that there is no difference, the CPU 102 decides not to back up the data stored in the SSD 109 (backup execution control means), and ends this processing. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S508 is that there is a difference, the CPU 102 backs up only the data having the difference among the data stored in the SSD 109 to the HDD 110 (step S509), and ends this process.

  In the process of FIG. 5 described above, since the backup is executed when the MFP is in an idle state, it is possible to suppress degradation in the performance of the MFP due to the backup being executed when the MFP is in a normal state.

  In the above-described embodiment, the SSD 109 and the HDD 110 are mounted in the same casing (see, for example, the casing 601 in FIG. 6A and the casing 602 in FIG. 6B), and between the SSD 109 and the HDD 110. It is preferred that no shield is placed.

  The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read the program. It can also be realized by processing to be executed. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

100 MFP
102 CPU
109 SSD
110 HDD

Claims (9)

An electronic device comprising an SSD (Solid State Drive) for storing data and a module with a temperature sensor,
First acquisition means for acquiring temperature information from the module with temperature sensor;
Second acquisition means for acquiring the SSD rewrite count;
Backup execution control means for controlling execution of backup of data stored in the SSD,
The SSD is disposed in the vicinity of the module with the temperature sensor,
The said backup execution control means determines whether to perform the said backup based on the said rewrite frequency and the temperature information acquired from the said module with a temperature sensor, The electronic device characterized by the above-mentioned. A calculation means for calculating an ambient temperature of the SSD based on temperature information acquired from the module with the temperature sensor;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first acquisition unit acquires the temperature information when the electronic device is activated from the module with a temperature sensor.   The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the first acquisition unit acquires the temperature information when the electronic device is on standby from the module with a temperature sensor. It further comprises setting means for setting the allowable number of times,
The backup execution control means determines execution of the backup when the number of rewrites exceeds the allowable number of times,
The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets a different allowable number for each temperature information.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the backup is executed when the electronic device is on standby.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the module with a temperature sensor is an HDD. The data stored in the SSD is backed up in the module with temperature sensor,
The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the module with a temperature sensor has at least a capacity for storing data stored in the SSD. A method for controlling an electronic device comprising an SSD for storing data and a module with a temperature sensor,
A first acquisition step of acquiring temperature information from the module with temperature sensor;
A second acquisition step of acquiring the SSD rewrite count;
A backup execution control step for controlling execution of backup of data stored in the SSD,
The SSD is disposed in the vicinity of the module with the temperature sensor,
The method for controlling an electronic device, wherein the backup execution control step determines whether or not to execute the backup based on the number of rewrites and the temperature information acquired from the module with a temperature sensor. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an electronic device including an SSD for storing data and a module with a temperature sensor,
The method for controlling the electronic device includes:
A first acquisition step of acquiring temperature information from the module with temperature sensor;
A second acquisition step of acquiring the SSD rewrite count;
A backup execution control step for controlling execution of backup of data stored in the SSD,
The SSD is disposed in the vicinity of the module with the temperature sensor,
The backup execution control step determines whether or not to execute the backup based on the number of rewrites and the temperature information acquired from the module with a temperature sensor.

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