IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND MEMORY CONTROL METHOD

• US 20100002263A1
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: SHINDOH, HIDENORI
• Granted Patent: US 8,885,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32358 using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter H04N1/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32443 with asynchronous operation of the image input and output devices connected to the memory
• 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 image forming apparatus has a read unit to read a document image and generate image data of the document image, a memory management unit to manage a storage unit which is segmented into storage regions, and an engine to write the image data generated by the read unit to the storage unit. The engine acquires setting information related to writing of the image data from the memory management unit to the storage unit, and writes the image data to the storage unit based on the setting information that is acquired.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a read unit configured to read a document image and to generate image data of the document image;

a memory management unit configured to manage a first storage unit which is segmented into a plurality of storage regions; and

an engine configured to write the image data generated by the read unit to the first storage unit,

wherein the engine acquires setting information related to writing of the image data from the memory management unit to the first storage unit, and writes the image data to the first storage unit based on the setting information that is acquired.

2. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a point setting unit configured to set a check point with respect to a predetermined storage region of the first storage unit; and

a detecting unit configured to detect writing of the image data up to the check point set by the point setting unit,

wherein the check point is reset to a vacant storage region of the first storage unit when the detecting unit detects the writing of the image data up to the check point set by the point setting unit.

3. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the point setting unit sets two check points; and

the two check points are reset with respect to the storage regions of the first storage unit so as to be alternately detected by the detecting unit.

4. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a backup processing unit configured to back up the image data written in the first storage unit into a second storage unit in units of the storage regions of the first storage unit by a backup process, when the detecting unit detects the writing of the image data up to the check point set by the point setting unit.

5. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the backup processing unit generates an alarm display request if the detecting unit detects the writing of the image data up to a next check point that is set by the point setting unit in a state where the backup process of the backup processing unit has not ended.

6. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the backup processing unit generates a process stop request if the detecting unit detects the writing of the image data up to a check point that is set by the point setting unit with respect to a storage region immediately preceding a target storage region for which the backup process is being carried out in a state where the backup process of the backup processing unit has not ended.

7. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image data relates to a long image which cannot be stored in its entirety within the first storage unit.

8. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image data relates to a color image which cannot be stored in its entirety within the first storage unit.

9. A memory control method for an image forming apparatus comprising a read unit configured to read a document image and to generate image data of the document image, a memory management unit configured to manage a first storage unit which is segmented into a plurality of storage regions, and an engine configured to write the image data generated by the read unit to the first storage unit, said memory control method comprising:

acquiring, by the engine, setting information related to writing of the image data from the memory management unit to the first storage unit; and

writing, by the engine, the image data to the first storage unit based on the setting information that is acquired.

10. The memory control method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

setting a check point with respect to a predetermined storage region of the first storage unit; and

detecting writing of the image data up to the check point set by said setting,

wherein the check point is reset to a vacant storage region of the first storage unit when said detecting detects the writing of the image data up to the check point set by said setting.

11. The memory control method as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said setting sets two check points; and

the two check points are reset with respect to the storage regions of the first storage unit so as to be alternately detected by said detecting.

12. The memory control method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

backing up the image data written in the first storage unit into a second storage unit in units of the storage regions of the first storage unit by a backup process, when said detecting detects the writing of the image data up to the check point set by said setting.

13. The memory control method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said backing up generates an alarm display request if said detecting detects the writing of the image data up to a next check point that is set by said setting in a state where the backup process has not ended.

14. The memory control method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said backing up generates a process stop request if said detecting detects the writing of the image data up to a check point that is set by said setting with respect to a storage region immediately preceding a target storage region for which the backup process is being carried out in a state where the backup process has not ended.

15. The memory control method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the image data relates to a long image which cannot be stored in its entirety within the first storage unit.

16. The memory control method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the image data relates to a color image which cannot be stored in its entirety within the first storage unit.

17. A computer-readable storage medium on which a program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a process comprising:

reading a document image and generating image data of the document image;

managing a first storage unit which is segmented into a plurality of storage regions; and

writing the image data generated by said reading to the first storage unit,

wherein said writing acquires setting information related to writing of the image data from said managing to the first storage unit, and writes the image data to the first storage unit based on the setting information that is acquired.

18. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 17, wherein the program causes the computer to perform a process further comprising:

setting a check point with respect to a predetermined storage region of the first storage unit; and

detecting writing of the image data up to the check point set by said setting,

wherein the check point is reset to a vacant storage region of the first storage unit when said detecting detects the writing of the image data up to the check point set by said setting.

19. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said setting sets two check points; and

the two check points are reset with respect to the storage regions of the first storage unit so as to be alternately detected by said detecting.

20. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 19, wherein the program causes the computer to perform a process further comprising:

backing up the image data written in the first storage unit into a second storage unit in units of the storage regions of the first storage unit by a backup process, when said detecting detects the writing of the image data up to the check point set by said setting.