JP2010123009A - Information management device and information management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent information recorded in a recording area from being lost when reusing the recording area in which the number of times of recording information reaches the maximum number of rewriting times in a nonvolatile rewritable memory with the maximum number of rewriting times set therein. <P>SOLUTION: An information management part 3 of an image forming apparatus records a count value recorded in the current count value recording area 17 in a count value storage section 18 when switching the current count value recording area 17 to a new count value recording area 17 or the past count value recording area 17 because the number of times of recording a count value in the current count value recording area 17 reaches the maximum number of rewriting times of an NVRAM 15. This prevents the past count value recorded in the past count value recording area 17 from disappearing when reusing the past count value recording area 17 where the number of recording times reaches the maximum number of rewriting times in the NVRAM 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention uses, for example, a non-volatile rewritable memory in which the number of times that information can be normally recorded in the same area is limited for recording management of specific information such as a count value indicating the number of print sheets used in a printing apparatus. The present invention relates to an information management apparatus and an information management method.

  For example, the printing apparatus records a count value indicating the number of used printing sheets in order to manage the number of used printing sheets. A nonvolatile rewritable memory such as a flash memory may be used as a recording medium for recording the count value. In such a printing apparatus, every time printing is performed and printing paper is used, the count value recorded in the count value recording area in the nonvolatile rewritable memory is rewritten. As a result, the count value recording (rewriting or overwriting) is repeatedly performed on the count value recording area.

  A nonvolatile rewritable memory such as a flash memory has a limit on the number of times information can be normally recorded in the same area. For this reason, in a nonvolatile rewritable memory such as a flash memory, a maximum number of rewrites, which is the maximum number of times that information can be normally recorded in the same area, is set. The maximum number of times of rewriting is determined by the manufacturer of the nonvolatile rewritable memory as a specification of the nonvolatile rewritable memory. However, the maximum number of rewrites is the number of times that a manufacturer or the like guarantees that information can be normally recorded in the nonvolatile rewritable memory. That is, after the number of times of information recording in the same area reaches the maximum number of times of rewriting, it is not always impossible to record information in the area.

In the printing apparatus described above, when the number of times the count value is recorded in the count value recording area reaches the maximum number of times of rewriting in the nonvolatile rewritable memory, a new count value recording area different from the current count value recording area is created. It is formed in a non-volatile rewritable memory, and the subsequent count value is recorded in this new count value recording area (see Patent Document 1 or 2).
JP 08-272664 A JP 2003-141880 A

  By the way, in the printing apparatus described above, when the number of times the count value is recorded in the count value recording area reaches the maximum number of times of rewriting of the nonvolatile rewritable memory, a new count value recording area is formed in the nonvolatile rewritable memory. The subsequent count value is recorded in the new count value recording area. Therefore, in the printing apparatus described above, new count value recording areas are successively formed in the nonvolatile rewritable memory as the use of the printing apparatus proceeds. Assuming this, in the printing apparatus described above, a recording area having a recording capacity capable of forming a plurality of count value recording areas (referred to as a “count value recording section”) is a nonvolatile rewritable memory. Secured in advance.

  However, when the use of the printing apparatus is greatly advanced, the count value recording section may be filled with a large number of past count value recording areas in which the count value recording count reaches the maximum rewrite count. In such a case, the count value must be recorded by using again any one of a number of past count value recording areas in which the count value recording count has already reached the maximum rewrite count. In this case, since the past count value recorded in the past count value recording area used again for recording the count value is overwritten with the new count value, the past count value disappears. The past count value recorded in the past count value recording area in the count value recording section may be referred to in other processing in the printing apparatus. For this reason, if the past count value recorded in the past count value recording area disappears, there is a problem that the count value cannot be referred to. Similar problems may occur in addition to recording the count value in the printing apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of, for example, the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to re-record a recording area in which the number of times of information has reached the maximum number of rewrites in a nonvolatile rewritable memory in which the maximum number of rewrites is set. An object of the present invention is to provide an information management apparatus and an information management method capable of preventing the information recorded in the recording area from being lost.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the information management device of the present invention is a nonvolatile rewritable memory in which a maximum number of rewrites, which is the maximum number of times that information can be normally recorded in the same area, is set. A recording unit; a specific information recording section formed in the first recording unit; a specific information recording area formed in the specific information recording section for recording the specific information; and a second recording unit Specific information recording means for recording the specific information in the current specific information recording area, and determining whether or not the number of times the specific information has been recorded in the current specific information recording area has reached the maximum number of rewrites When the number of recording times of the specific information in the current specific information recording area reaches the maximum number of times of rewriting as a result of the determination by the recording frequency determining means and the recording frequency determining means, the specific information recording section A specific information recording area forming means for forming a new specific information recording area in the screen, and recording the specific information recorded in the current specific information recording area in the new specific information recording area; As a result of determination by the means, when the number of times the specific information is recorded in the current specific information recording area reaches the maximum number of times of rewriting, the specific information recorded in the current specific information recording area is changed to the second specific information recording area. It is characterized by comprising specific information storage means for recording in the recording means.

  In the information management apparatus of the present invention described above, the specific information is preferably a count value.

  In order to solve the above problem, the information management method of the present invention is a nonvolatile rewritable memory in which a maximum number of rewrites, which is the maximum number of times that information can be normally recorded in the same area, is set. A recording unit; a specific information recording section formed in the first recording unit; a specific information recording area formed in the specific information recording section for recording the specific information; and a second recording unit An information management method in an apparatus comprising: a specific information recording step for recording the specific information in the current specific information recording area; and a recording count of the specific information in the current specific information recording area is the maximum. As a result of the determination in the recording number determination step for determining whether or not the number of rewriting times has been reached and the determination in the recording number determination step, the number of recording times of the specific information in the current specific information recording area Specific information for forming a new specific information recording area in the specific information recording section and recording the specific information recorded in the current specific information recording area in the new specific information recording area As a result of the determination in the recording area forming step and the recording number determination step, when the number of recording times of the specific information in the current specific information recording area reaches the maximum number of rewrites, recording is performed in the current specific information recording area And a specific information storing step of recording the specific information recorded in the second recording means.

  In the information management method of the present invention described above, the specific information is preferably a count value.

  According to the present invention described above, in the nonvolatile rewritable memory in which the maximum number of times of rewriting is set, when the recording area in which the number of times of recording of information reaches the maximum number of times of rewriting is used again, the past recorded in the recording area Can prevent information from disappearing.

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

  FIG. 1 shows the structure of an image forming apparatus which is an embodiment of the information management apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is a multi-function machine having an image reading function, a printing function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, a department management function, and the like. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 2 that controls the image forming apparatus 1, an information management unit 3 that manages the number of print sheets used, a communication unit 4 that communicates with a terminal device such as a personal computer, and a document image. Are provided with a scanner unit 5 for performing reading and the like, a printing unit 6 for performing processing for printing a document image on printing paper, and a facsimile transmission / reception unit 7 for performing facsimile transmission / reception.

  FIG. 2 shows a structure of a portion related to the management of the number of used printing sheets in the information management unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the information management unit 3 is configured to manage the number of print sheets used, and includes a count value recording unit 11, a recording count determination unit 12, a count value recording area forming unit 13, and a count value storage unit 14. And a nonvolatile rewritable memory (NVRAM) 15.

  The count value recording unit 11, the recording number judgment unit 12, the count value recording region forming unit 13, and the count value storage unit 14 are stored in a storage device (not shown) such as a ROM or a hard disk included in the image forming apparatus 1. This is realized by causing the arithmetic processing device (not shown) included in the image forming apparatus 1 to execute the program. Details of the count value recording unit 11, the recording count determination unit 12, the count value recording region forming unit 13, and the count value storage unit 14 will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

  The NVRAM 15 is a nonvolatile rewritable semiconductor memory such as a flash memory. In the NVRAM 15, a maximum number of rewrites (for example, several hundred thousand times), which is the maximum number of times that information can be normally recorded in the same area, is set. However, this maximum number of rewrites is the number of times that it is guaranteed that information is normally recorded in the NVRAM 15, and after the number of times of information recording in the same area reaches the maximum number of rewrites, the recording of information in that area is not always possible. It will not be possible.

  A count value recording section 16 is formed in the NVRAM 15. The count value recording section 16 has a recording capacity capable of forming a predetermined number of a plurality of count value recording areas 17, 17,. In the count value recording section 16, one count value recording area 17 is formed at the beginning of use of the image forming apparatus 1. The other count value recording areas 17, 17,... Are formed by the count value recording area forming unit 13 as the use of the image forming apparatus 1 proceeds. The count value is a value indicating the number of print sheets used, for example, a numerical value of about several bytes. The count value recording area 17 is an area for recording a count value, and has a recording capacity necessary for recording the count value.

  Further, the NVRAM 15 has a count value storage section 18 formed therein. When the count value storage section 18 uses the past count value recording area 17 in which the count value recording count reaches the maximum number of rewrites in the count value recording section 16 again as the current count value recording area 17, This is a recording area for storing past count values recorded in the value recording area 17. Each time the count value is stored, a count value storage area 19 is formed in the count value storage section 18, and the count value is stored in the count value storage area 19. The count value storage section 18 is managed so as not to be overwritten.

  FIG. 3 shows information management processing by the information management unit 3. In the information management process, the information management unit 3 records a new count value obtained by incrementing the current count value every time printing processing or the like is performed in the image forming apparatus 1 and printing paper is used. Record (rewrite or overwrite) in area 17. Further, the information management unit 3 forms a new count value recording area 17 in the count value recording section 16 when the number of times of recording the count value in the current count value recording area 17 reaches the maximum number of times of rewriting in the NVRAM 15. The count value recorded in the current count value recording area 17 is recorded in the new count value recording area 17. When the new count value recording area 17 cannot be formed in the count value recording section 16, the information management unit 3 records any past count value recording already formed in the count value recording section 16. The area 17 is selected, and the count value recorded in the current count value recording area 17 is recorded in the selected past count value recording area 17. Further, the information management unit 3 stores the count value recorded in the current count value recording area 17 as the count value when the recording count of the count value in the current count value recording area 17 reaches the maximum number of times of rewriting in the NVRAM 15. Record in section 18. Thereafter, the information management unit 3 uses the new count value recording area 17 or the selected past count value recording area 17 as the current count value recording area 17.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the count value recording unit 11 records the count value in the current count value recording area 17 (step S1).

  Subsequently, the recording count determination unit 12 determines whether or not the recording count of the count value in the current count value recording area 17 has reached the maximum number of rewrites of the NVRAM 15 (step S2). When the number of count values recorded in the current count value recording area 17 has not reached the maximum number of rewrites in the NVRAM 15 (step S2: NO), the processing is immediately terminated.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S2, when the number of count values recorded in the current count value recording area 17 reaches the maximum number of rewrites (step S2: YES), the count value recording area forming unit 13 counts the count value. It is determined whether or not a new count value recording area 17 can be formed in the section 16 (step S3).

  When there is a free space necessary for forming a new count value recording area 17 in the count value recording section 16, the count value recording area forming unit 13 creates a new count value recording area 17 in the count value recording section 16. (Step S3: YES). In this case, the count value recording area forming unit 13 forms a new count value recording area 17 in the count value recording section 16, and uses the count value recorded in the current count value recording area 17 as a new count value recording area. 17 (step S4).

  On the other hand, when there is no free space necessary for forming a new count value recording area 17 in the count value recording section 16, the count value recording area forming unit 13 records a new count value in the count value recording section 16. It is determined that the region 17 cannot be formed (step S3: NO). In this case, the count value recording area forming unit 13 selects any one of the past count value recording areas 17 already formed in the count value recording section 16, and the count recorded in the current count value recording area 17. The value is recorded in the selected past count value recording area 17 (step S5).

  Subsequently, the count value storage unit 14 stores the count value storage section 18 in the count value storage section 18 both when the new count value recording area 17 is formed and when the past count value recording area 17 is selected. The count value storage area 19 is formed, and the count value recorded in the current count value recording area 17 is recorded in the formed count value storage area 19 (step S6).

  As described above, in the information management unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1, the current count value recording area 17 is newly set because the number of times the count value is recorded in the current count value recording area 17 reaches the maximum number of times of rewriting in the NVRAM 15. When switching to the count value recording area 17 or the past count value recording area 17, the count value recorded in the current count value recording area 17 is recorded in the count value storage section 18. This prevents the past count value recorded in the past count value recording area 17 from being erased when the past count value recording area 17 that has reached the maximum number of times of rewriting in the NVRAM 15 is reused. it can.

  That is, when the current count value recording count in the count value recording area 17 reaches the maximum number of times of rewriting in the NVRAM 15 and a new count value recording area 17 cannot be formed in the count value recording section 16, the count value One of the past count value recording areas 17 already formed in the recording section 16 is selected, and the selected past count value recording area 17 is reused. At this time, the past count value recorded in the past count value recording area 17 selected for reuse is overwritten with the new count value and disappears. However, the past count value recorded in the past count value recording area 17 selected for reuse is recorded in the count value storage section 18 (see step S6 in FIG. 3). Since the count value storage section 18 is managed so as not to be overwritten, the count value recorded in the count value storage section 18 is not lost by overwriting.

  Therefore, when it becomes necessary to acquire the past count value recorded in the past count value recording area 17 in other processes in the image forming apparatus 1, the past count value is stored by referring to the count value storage section 18. It is possible to reliably acquire the count value.

  In the above-described embodiment, after the new count value is recorded in the current count value recording area 17, it is determined whether the number of times the count value is recorded in the current count value recording area 17 has reached the maximum number of rewrites. (Step S2 in FIG. 3), and according to the determination result, a new count value recording area 17 is formed (Step S4) or a past count value recording area 17 is selected (Step S5). Although the case where a series of processing such as recording the count value recorded in the count value recording area 17 is recorded in the count value storage section 18 (step S6) is taken as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. The series of processes in steps S2 to S6 may be performed immediately before recording a new count value in the current count value recording area 17.

  In the above-described embodiment, the process of recording the count value recorded in the current count value recording area 17 in the count value storage section 18 (step S6 in FIG. 3) is performed by forming a new count value recording area 17 or Although an example has been given of a case where it is performed immediately after selection of the past count value recording area 17, the present invention is not limited to this. When the past count value recording area 17 is selected for reuse (for example, immediately before the count value recorded in the current count value recording area 17 is recorded in the selected past count value recording area 17) The count value recorded in the selected past count value recording area 17 may be recorded in the count value storage section 18. Alternatively, when it is recognized that the count value recording section 16 is filled with the count value recording area 17, the count value recorded in each count value recording area 17 may be recorded in the count value storage section 18. Good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the count value recorded in the current count value recording area 17 is counted in the NVRAM 15 when the recording count of the count value in the current count value recording area 17 reaches the maximum number of rewrites. Although the case of storing in the value storage section 18 has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. This count value may be recorded and stored in a recording means different from the NVRAM 15.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the recording management of the count value indicating the number of print sheets used is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to record management of count values for other uses or specific information other than the count values.

  Further, the present invention can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and an information management apparatus and an information management method that involve such a change are also included in the present invention. It is included in the technical idea.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of an image forming apparatus that is an embodiment of an information management apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of an information management unit in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the information management process by the information management part in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming device (information management device)
3 Information management section 11 Count value recording section (specific information recording means)
12 Recording count judging section (Recording count judging means)
13 Count value recording area forming section (specific information recording area forming means)
14 Count value storage unit (specific information storage means)
15 Nonvolatile rewritable memory (NVRAM) (first recording means)
16 Count value recording section (specific information recording section)
17 Count value recording area (specific information recording area)
18 Count value storage section (second recording means)

Claims (4)

A first recording means that is a non-volatile rewritable memory in which a maximum number of rewrites, which is the maximum number of times that information can be normally recorded in the same area, is set;
A specific information recording section formed in the first recording means;
A specific information recording area formed in the specific information recording section for recording the specific information;
A second recording means;
Specific information recording means for recording the specific information in the current specific information recording area;
A recording count judging means for judging whether or not the number of recording times of the specific information in the current specific information recording area has reached the maximum number of rewrites;
As a result of the determination by the recording number determination means, when the number of recording times of the specific information in the current specific information recording area reaches the maximum number of times of rewriting, a new specific information recording area is formed in the specific information recording section. Specific information recording area forming means for recording the specific information recorded in the current specific information recording area in the new specific information recording area;
As a result of the determination by the recording number determination means, when the number of recording times of the specific information in the current specific information recording area reaches the maximum number of rewrites, the specific information recorded in the current specific information recording area is An information management apparatus comprising: specific information storage means for recording in the second recording means.   The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific information is a count value. A first recording means that is a non-volatile rewritable memory in which a maximum number of times of rewriting, which is the maximum number of times that information can be normally recorded in the same area, and a specific information formed in the first recording means; An information management method in an apparatus comprising an information recording section, a specific information recording area formed in the specific information recording section, for recording specific information, and a second recording means,
A specific information recording step for recording the specific information in the current specific information recording area;
A recording count determination step for determining whether or not the recording count of the specific information in the current specific information recording area has reached the maximum number of rewrites;
As a result of the determination in the recording count determination step, when the number of recordings of the specific information in the current specific information recording area reaches the maximum number of rewrites, a new specific information recording area is formed in the specific information recording section. A specific information recording area forming step of recording the specific information recorded in the current specific information recording area in the new specific information recording area;
As a result of the determination in the recording count determination step, when the number of recordings of the specific information in the current specific information recording area reaches the maximum number of rewrites, the specific information recorded in the current specific information recording area is An information management method comprising: a specific information storage step for recording in the second recording means.   The information management method according to claim 3, wherein the specific information is a count value.

Images