Information processing device, interface controller initializing method and program

• US 20080077725A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yabuki, Tomoyasu
• Granted Patent: US 7,752,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00238 using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer output via network, e.g. network printing H04N1/00233
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32609 Fault detection or counter-measures, e.g. original mis-positioned, shortage of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32625 Fault detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32667 Restarting a communication or performing a recovery operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0046 Software interface details, e.g. interaction of operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An interface controller initializing method for an information processing device equipped with multiple interfaces of the same type comprises the steps of: detecting control of an interface executed by a first control unit; detecting an end of the control of the interface by the first control unit executed according to instructions regarding the control of the interfaces issued by a second control unit; detecting abnormality regarding the control of an interface by the first control unit; allowing a user to input an initialization instruction for initialization of the first control unit; and executing the initialization of the first control unit on condition that the abnormality regarding the control of an interface by the first control unit has been detected, the initialization instruction has been inputted, and the end of the control of at least one of the other interfaces by the first control unit has been detected.

Claims

1. An information processing device equipped with multiple interfaces of the same type which can be connected with external devices, comprising:

a first control unit capable of controlling the multiple interfaces in parallel;

a second control unit which issues instructions regarding control of the interfaces to the first control unit;

an execution detecting unit which detects the control of an interface executed by the first control unit;

an end detecting unit which detects an end of the control of an interface by the first control unit executed according to the instructions regarding the control issued by the second control unit, on condition that the control of the interface by the first control unit has been detected by the execution detecting unit;

an abnormality detecting unit which detects abnormality regarding the control of an interface by the first control unit;

an initialization unit which executes initialization of the first control unit;

an input unit through which an initialization instruction for the initialization of the first control unit is inputted; and

an initialization control unit which executes the initialization of the first control unit by use of the initialization unit on condition that the abnormality regarding the control of an interface by the first control unit has been detected by the abnormality detecting unit, the initialization instruction has been inputted through the input unit, and the end of the control of at least one of the other interfaces by the first control unit has been detected by the end detecting unit.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising an instruction suspending unit which requests the second control unit to suspend the issuance of the instructions to the first control unit on condition that the abnormality has been detected by the abnormality detecting unit.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the initialization control unit defers the initialization of the first control unit until the ends of the control of all of the other interfaces by the first control unit are detected by the end detecting unit.

4. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the initialization control unit defers the initialization of the first control unit until the end of the control of an interface connected with an external device of a prescribed type is detected by the end detecting unit.

5. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device is equipped with USB terminals as the multiple interfaces of the same type and a USB host driver as the first control unit.

6. A computer-readable record medium storing computer-readable instructions that cause a computer, which controls an information processing device equipped with multiple interfaces of the same type which can be connected with external devices, to execute:

an execution detecting step of detecting control of an interface executed by a first control unit capable of controlling the multiple interfaces in parallel;

an end detecting step of detecting an end of the control of an interface by the first control unit executed according to instructions regarding the control of the interfaces issued by a second control unit, on condition that the control of the interface by the first control unit has been detected by the execution detecting step;

an abnormality detecting step of detecting abnormality regarding the control of an interface by the first control unit;

an input step of allowing a user to input an initialization instruction for initialization of the first control unit; and

an initialization control step of executing the initialization of the first control unit on condition that the abnormality regarding the control of an interface by the first control unit has been detected by the abnormality detecting step, the initialization instruction has been inputted in the input step, and the end of the control of at least one of the other interfaces by the first control unit has been detected by the end detecting step.

7. The computer-readable record medium according to claim 6, further storing computer-readable instructions that cause the computer to execute an instruction suspending step of requesting the second control unit to suspend the issuance of the instructions to the first control unit on condition that the abnormality has been detected by the abnormality detecting step.

8. The computer-readable record medium according to claim 6, wherein the initialization control step defers the initialization of the first control unit until the ends of the control of all of the other interfaces by the first control unit are detected by the end detecting unit.

9. The computer-readable record medium according to claim 6, wherein the initialization control step defers the initialization of the first control unit until the end of the control of an interface connected with an external device of a prescribed type is detected by the end detecting unit.

10. An interface controller initializing method for an information processing device equipped with multiple interfaces of the same type which can be connected with external devices, comprising:

an execution detecting step of detecting control of an interface executed by a first control unit capable of controlling the multiple interfaces in parallel;

an end detecting step of detecting an end of the control of an interface by the first control unit executed according to instructions regarding the control of the interfaces issued by a second control unit, on condition that the control of the interface by the first control unit has been detected by the execution detecting step;

an abnormality detecting step of detecting abnormality regarding the control of an interface by the first control unit;

an input step of allowing a user to input an initialization instruction for initialization of the first control unit; and

an initialization control step of executing the initialization of the first control unit on condition that the abnormality regarding the control of an interface by the first control unit has been detected by the abnormality detecting step, the initialization instruction has been inputted in the input step, and the end of the control of at least one of the other interfaces by the first control unit has been detected by the end detecting step.

11. The interface controller initializing method according to claim 10, further comprising an instruction suspending step of requesting the second control unit to suspend the issuance of the instructions to the first control unit on condition that the abnormality has been detected by the abnormality detecting step.

12. The interface controller initializing method according to claim 10, wherein the initialization control step defers the initialization of the first control unit until the ends of the control of all of the other interfaces by the first control unit are detected by the end detecting unit.

13. The interface controller initializing method according to claim 10, wherein the initialization control step defers the initialization of the first control unit until the end of the control of an interface connected with an external device of a prescribed type is detected by the end detecting unit.