Image processing apparatus, method of controlling image processing apparatus, and recording medium

• US 10,282,318 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2017
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Inventors: Takahashi, Kenichi, Ozawa, Kaitaku, Hosono, Masao, Nakajima, Tomoaki, Kawaguchi, Toshikazu, Nakano, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Yu
• Application Number:
  US15/782,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20180107613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/128 for dedicated transfers to a network for protocol converters G06F13/387
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1605 based on arbitration arbitration in handling access to a common bus or bus system G06F13/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4031 with arbitration

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a plurality of memories and a hardware processor which controls an execution operation of a first function including an image processing function and an execution operation of a second function including a server function, by using the plurality of memories. The hardware processor estimates a required bandwidth which is a memory bandwidth required for the execution operation of the first function on the basis of a current operation mode of the image processing apparatus among a plurality of operation modes of the image processing apparatus, and determines a bandwidth securing channel for first function which is a channel capable of being used for the execution operation of the first function and incapable of being used for the execution operation of the second function, out of a plurality of channels used to access the plurality of memories, on the basis of the required bandwidth.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of memories; and

a hardware processor which controls an execution operation of a first function including an image processing function and an execution operation of a second function including a server function, by using said plurality of memories,

said image processing apparatus capable of operating in any of a plurality of operation modes,

wherein said hardware processor estimates a required bandwidth which is a memory bandwidth required for said execution operation of said first function on the basis of a current operation mode of said image processing apparatus among said plurality of operation modes,

determines and assigns one or more bandwidth securing channels out of a plurality of channels used to access said plurality of memories for said first function, wherein at least one bandwidth securing channel is a channel capable of being used exclusively for said execution operation of said first function and incapable of being used for said execution operation of said second function, on the basis of said required bandwidth,

determines and assigns one or more bandwidth securing channel out of the plurality of channels for said second function, and

executes said first function and said second function in parallel,

wherein, when the required bandwidth does not require said plurality of memories for the first function, the bandwidth securing channel for the second function is distinct from the one or more bandwidth securing channels for said first function,

and wherein, when at least one bandwidth securing channel must be shared between said first function and said second function, an arbitration operation determines a priority of said first function and said second function, and executes said first function and said second function based on the priority.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said hardware processor changes a channel capable of being used for said execution operation of said first function among a plurality of channels in accordance with a plurality of stages regarding said required bandwidth.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

said hardware processor determines said bandwidth securing channel for first function out of said plurality of channels at least one stage among said plurality of stages regarding said required bandwidth.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said hardware processor determines said bandwidth securing channel for first function out of said plurality of channels at two or more stages among said plurality of stages regarding said required bandwidth, and

expands said bandwidth securing channel for first function as said required bandwidth becomes larger.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said hardware processor determines said bandwidth securing channel for first function before starting an execution of a new job regarding said first function.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

after estimation of said required bandwidth, said hardware processor reestimates said required bandwidth on the basis of an actual compression ratio of data compressed in an image compression process regarding said image processing function and redetermines said bandwidth securing channel for first function on the basis of said required bandwidth after being reestimated.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

after estimation of said required bandwidth, said hardware processor reestimates said required bandwidth on the basis of a determination result in an image type determination process regarding said image processing function and redetermines said bandwidth securing channel for first function on the basis of said required bandwidth after being reestimated.

8. A method of controlling an image processing apparatus which controls an execution operation of a first function including an image processing function and an execution operation of a second function including a server function by using a plurality of memories, to perform:

a) estimating a required bandwidth which is a memory bandwidth required for said execution operation of said first function on the basis of a current operation mode of said image processing apparatus among a plurality of operation modes of said image processing apparatus;

b) determining and assigning one or more bandwidth securing channels out of a plurality of channels used to access said plurality of memories for said first function, wherein at least one bandwidth securing channel is a channel capable of being used exclusively for said execution operation of said first function and incapable of being used for said execution operation of said second function, on the basis of said required bandwidth;

c) determining and assigns one or more bandwidth securing channel out of the plurality of channels for said second function; and

d) executing said first function and said second function in parallel,

wherein, when the required bandwidth does not require said plurality of memories for the first function, the bandwidth securing channel for the second function is distinct from the one or more bandwidth securing channels for said first function,

and wherein, when at least one bandwidth securing channel must be shared between said first function and said second function, an arbitration operation determines a priority of said first function and said second function, and executes said first function and said second function based on the priority.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for recording therein a computer program which causes a computer controlling said image processing apparatus, to execute the method as defined in claim 8.

10. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of memories; and

a hardware processor which controls an execution operation of a first function including an image processing function and an execution operation of a second function including a server function, by using said plurality of memories,

wherein said hardware processor estimates a required bandwidth which is a memory bandwidth required for said execution operation of said first function on the basis of an operation state of a user on said image processing apparatus,

determines and assigns one or more bandwidth securing channels out of a plurality of channels used to access said plurality of memories for said first function, wherein at least one bandwidth securing channel is a channel capable of being used exclusively for said execution operation of said first function and incapable of being used for said execution operation of said second function, on the basis of said required bandwidth,

determines and assigns one or more bandwidth securing channel out of the plurality of channels for said second function, and

executes said first function and said second function in parallel,

wherein, when the required bandwidth does not require said plurality of memories for the first function, the bandwidth securing channel for the second function is distinct from the one or more bandwidth securing channels for said first function,

and wherein, when at least one bandwidth securing channel must be shared between said first function and said second function, an arbitration operation determines a priority of said first function and said second function, and executes said first function and said second function based on the priority.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

said operation state of said user includes any of:

a state where said user approaches said image processing apparatus and then is present in front of said image processing apparatus;

a state where said user starts a panel operation of said image processing apparatus and selects a copy setting screen in said panel operation;

a state where said user starts a panel operation of said image processing apparatus and selects a scan setting screen in said panel operation;

a state where said user starts an operation on an automatic document feeding mechanism of said image processing apparatus;

a state where said user starts an operation on a document platen of said image processing apparatus;

a state where said user starts a panel operation of said image processing apparatus and selects a box storage screen in said panel operation;

a state where said user starts connection to said image processing apparatus for remote operation; and

a state where said user starts a print request to said image processing apparatus via a network.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

said operation state of said user includes a state where said user starts a panel operation of said image processing apparatus and selects a copy setting screen in said panel operation.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said hardware processor estimates said required bandwidth on the basis of a setting content regarding a copy job.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

after estimation of said required bandwidth, said hardware processor reestimates said required bandwidth on the basis of an actual compression ratio of data compressed in an image compression process regarding said image processing function and redetermines said bandwidth securing channel for first function on the basis of said required bandwidth after being reestimated.

15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

after estimation of said required bandwidth, said hardware processor reestimates said required bandwidth on the basis of a determination result in an image type determination process regarding said image processing function and redetermines said bandwidth securing channel for first function on the basis of said required bandwidth after being reestimated.

16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

said operation state of said user includes any of:

a state where said user starts a panel operation of said image processing apparatus and selects a scan setting screen in said panel operation;

a state where said user starts an operation on an automatic document feeding mechanism of said image processing apparatus; and

a state where said user starts an operation on a document platen of said image processing apparatus.

17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

said hardware processor estimates said required bandwidth on the basis of a setting content regarding a scan job.

18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

said operation state of said user includes a state where said user starts a print request to said image processing apparatus via a network.

19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

said hardware processor estimates said required bandwidth on the basis of a setting content regarding a print job.

20. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

said hardware processor determines said bandwidth securing channel for first function before starting an execution of a new job regarding said first function.

21. A method of controlling an image processing apparatus which controls an execution operation of a first function including an image processing function and an execution operation of a second function including a server function by using a plurality of memories, to perform:

a) estimating a required bandwidth which is a memory bandwidth required for said execution operation of said first function on the basis of an operation state of a user on said image processing apparatus;

b) determining and assigning one or more bandwidth securing channels out of a plurality of channels used to access said plurality of memories for said first function, wherein at least one bandwidth securing channel is a channel capable of being used exclusively for said execution operation of said first function and incapable of being used for said execution operation of said second function, on the basis of said required bandwidth;

c) determining and assigns one or more bandwidth securing channel out of the plurality of channels for said second function; and

d) executing said first function and said second function in parallel,

wherein, when the required bandwidth does not require said plurality of memories for the first function, the bandwidth securing channel for the second function is distinct from the one or more bandwidth securing channels for said first function,

and wherein, when at least one bandwidth securing channel must be shared between said first function and said second function, an arbitration operation determines a priority of said first function and said second function, and executes said first function and said second function based on the priority.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for recording therein a computer program which causes a computer controlling said image processing apparatus, to execute the method as defined in claim 21.