JP2018018321A - Electronic equipment and network interface devices - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device and a network interface device capable of suppressing a manufacturing cost for realizing a hardware check function. An MFP includes an optional network interface device connected to a network, and a main board that executes normal operation based on information received from the network via the optional network interface device. The device 40 is characterized by switching and executing a network communication function 41 a that controls communication for normal operation of the main board 30 and a hardware check function 41 b that controls communication for checking the main board 30. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having a hardware check function and a network interface device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a test apparatus that is connected to a device under test and a network and executes a hardware check function that controls communication for checking the device under test is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-009942 A

  However, since the conventional test apparatus is a dedicated device that executes the hardware check function, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is high.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an electronic apparatus and a network interface device that can reduce the manufacturing cost for realizing the hardware check function.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes a network interface device connected to a network, and hardware that performs normal operation based on information received from the network via the network interface device, the network interface device including the network interface device A network communication function for controlling communication for normal hardware operation and a hardware check function for controlling communication for hardware check are switched and executed.

  With this configuration, the electronic apparatus of the present invention includes not only a hardware check function but also a network interface device having a network communication function. Therefore, a network interface device not having a hardware check function and a device having a hardware check function As compared with the configuration including the above, the manufacturing cost for realizing the hardware check function can be reduced.

  In the electronic apparatus according to the present invention, the network interface device may be an optional removable device.

  With this configuration, in the electronic device of the present invention, the network interface device that switches between and executes the network communication function and the hardware check function is an optional device. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the hardware check function as a standard specification. The price in the configuration can be suppressed.

  The network interface device of the present invention is a network interface device connected to a network, and controls communication for normal operation of hardware that performs normal operation based on information received from the network via the network interface device. The network communication function for switching and the hardware check function for controlling the communication for checking the hardware are switched and executed.

  With this configuration, the network interface device of the present invention has not only a hardware check function but also a network communication function. Therefore, a network interface device that does not have a hardware check function and a device that has a hardware check function are electronically connected. Compared to the configuration of the device, the manufacturing cost for the electronic device to realize the hardware check function can be reduced.

  The electronic device and the network interface device of the present invention can reduce the manufacturing cost for realizing the hardware check function.

1 is a block diagram of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 in a standard specification configuration. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when switching a function to be executed among a network communication function and a hardware check function.

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

  First, the configuration of an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) as an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of MFP 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 includes a main body 20.

  The main body 20 includes an operation unit 21 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations, a display unit 22 that is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information, and an image from a document. A fax machine that performs fax communication via a communication line such as a public telephone line such as a scanner 23 that is a reading device, a printer 24 that is a printing device that prints an image on a recording medium such as paper, and an external facsimile apparatus that is not illustrated. A fax communication unit 25 as a device, a standard network interface device 26 connected to a network (not shown) such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet, and a main board 30 as hardware are provided.

  The standard network interface device 26 is fixed on the main board 30.

  The main board 30 includes a storage unit 31 that is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various types of information, and a control unit 32 that controls the entire main body 20.

  The storage unit 31 can store a plurality of software 31a executed by the control unit 32. The software 31a includes, for example, print software that executes printing by the printer 24 based on print data.

  The control unit 32 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a program and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. Yes. The CPU executes software stored in the ROM or software 31 a stored in the storage unit 31.

  The main board 30 includes a standard normal communication connection unit 33 to which the standard network interface device 26 is connected for input / output of information for normal operation of the main board 30, and input / output of information for normal operation of the main board 30. For the purpose of hardware check, the option network interface device 40 is connected to the option network interface device 40 to be described later, and the option network interface device 40 is connected to the main board 30 for input / output of information for checking. The connection part 35 is provided.

  The MFP 10 includes an optional network interface device 40 as a network interface device connected to a network (not shown) such as a LAN or the Internet. The MFP 10 can be connected to different networks by the standard network interface device 26 and the optional network interface device 40.

  The optional network interface device 40 is a detachable optional device. When the option network interface device 40 is removed from the main body 20, the MFP 10 is in a state of only the main body 20 as shown in FIG. 2. The MFP 10 enters the state shown in FIG. 1 by inserting the option network interface device 40 into the slot (not shown) of the main body 20 from the state shown in FIG.

  The option network interface device 40 includes a control unit 41 that controls the entire option network interface device 40.

  The control unit 41 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM that is used as a work area for the CPU. The CPU executes software stored in the ROM.

  The control unit 41 executes software stored in the ROM, thereby controlling a network communication function 41a for controlling communication for normal operation of the main board 30 and hardware for controlling communication for checking the main board 30. It functions as a check function 41b.

  The network communication function 41a inputs / outputs information to / from the main board 30 from / to the option normal communication connection unit 34, but does not input / output information from / to the hardware check dedicated connection unit 35.

  The hardware check function 41 b inputs / outputs information to / from the main board 30 from / to the hardware check dedicated connection unit 35, but does not input / output information from / to the option normal communication connection unit 34. Further, the hardware check function 41b is configured so that even if print data is inputted as information for normal operation of the main board 30 from a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer) to the option network interface device 40 via the network, the option network interface Print data input to the device 40 is not accepted.

  The control unit 41 functions as a switch function 41c that switches and executes the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b by executing software stored in the ROM.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 10 will be described.

  In the following, the printing software will be described as the software 31a.

  First, the operation of the MFP 10 when switching the function to be executed among the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 10 when switching the function to be executed among the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b.

  When an instruction to switch the function to be executed out of the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b is input from the computer such as a PC to the option network interface device 40 via the network, the switch function 41c performs the operation shown in FIG. Run.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the switch function 41c, is the instruction input to the option network interface device 40 an instruction to switch the function to be executed out of the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b to the network communication function 41a? It is determined whether or not (S101).

  When determining in S101 that the switch function 41c is an instruction to switch to the network communication function 41a, the switch function 41c determines whether the network communication function 41a is set as a function to be executed among the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b. (S102).

  If the switch function 41c determines in S102 that the network communication function 41a is set, the operation shown in FIG. 3 is terminated.

  When the switch function 41c determines in S102 that the network communication function 41a is not set, that is, the hardware check function 41b is set, the switch function 41c is a hardware function to be executed among the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b. The wear check function 41b is set (S103), and the operation shown in FIG.

  If it is determined in S101 that the switch function 41c is not an instruction to switch to the network communication function 41a, that is, an instruction to switch to the hardware check function 41b, the switch function 41c is a hardware function to be executed among the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b. It is determined whether or not the wear check function 41b is set (S104).

  If the switch function 41c determines in S104 that the hardware check function 41b is set, the operation shown in FIG. 3 is terminated.

  When the switch function 41c determines in S104 that the hardware check function 41b is not set, that is, the network communication function 41a is set, the network function as a function to be executed out of the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b. The communication function 41a is set (S105), and the operation shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 10 during normal operation of the main board 30, that is, during printing will be described.

  When print data is input as information for normal operation of the main board 30 from a computer such as a PC to the standard network interface device 26 via a network, the print data input from the network to the standard network interface device 26 is the standard normal data. Input to the communication connection unit 33. Therefore, the control unit 32 executes printing by the printer 24 based on the print data input to the standard normal communication connection unit 33.

  When the control unit 41 is set to execute the network communication function 41a among the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b, the print data is a computer such as a PC as information for normal operation of the main board 30. Is input to the option network interface device 40 via the network, the print data input from the network to the option network interface device 40 is input to the option normal communication connection unit 34 by the network communication function 41a. Therefore, the control unit 32 executes printing by the printer 24 based on the print data input to the option normal communication connection unit 34.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 10 when checking the main board 30 will be described.

  When the control unit 41 is set to execute the hardware check function 41b among the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b, information for checking the main board 30 is transmitted from a computer such as a PC via the network. When input to the option network interface device 40, the check information input from the network to the option network interface device 40 is input to the hardware check dedicated connection unit 35 by the hardware check function 41b. Accordingly, the main board 30 operates based on the information input from the option network interface device 40 to the hardware check dedicated connection unit 35 and inputs information indicating the operation result to the hardware check dedicated connection unit 35. Then, the hardware check function 41b of the option network interface device 40 transmits information input from the main board 30 to the hardware check dedicated connection unit 35 to the computer that is the input source of the check information.

  Therefore, a person who has confirmed the information input from the main board 30 to the dedicated hardware check connection unit 35 via a computer can check whether the main board 30 has any hardware defects, for example.

  For example, the check information includes information instructing to read data from all addresses of the RAM after 1 is written to all addresses of the RAM of the control unit 32 on the main board 30. The check information includes not only information for checking the RAM but also information for checking each ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) (not shown) on the main board 30 (not shown). There is information for checking (Integrated Circuit).

  As described above, since the MFP 10 includes the optional network interface device 40 including not only the hardware check function 41b but also the network communication function 41a, the network interface device not including the hardware check function, and the hardware check function The manufacturing cost for realizing the hardware check function can be suppressed as compared with the configuration including each of the devices including the device.

  In the MFP 10, since the optional network interface device 40 that switches between and executes the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b is an optional device, it is not necessary to have a hardware check function as a standard specification, and the standard specification shown in FIG. The price in the configuration of can be suppressed.

  In the MFP 10, the network interface device that switches and executes the network communication function and the hardware check function may be a standard device instead of an optional device. Also, in the MFP 10, when the network interface device that switches between the network communication function and the hardware check function is a standard device, the network interface device that cannot execute the hardware check function is not a standard device, but an option The device may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the option network interface device 40 switches between the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b in accordance with an instruction from a remote place. However, the option network interface device 40 may switch the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b by other methods. For example, the option network interface device 40 may be provided with a physical switch, and the network communication function 41a and the hardware check function 41b may be switched by this switch. Further, the option network interface device 40 switches from the network communication function 41a to the hardware check function 41b when connected to the hardware check dedicated connection unit 35, and when the option network interface device 40 is removed from the hardware check dedicated connection unit 35. The wear check function 41b may be switched to the network communication function 41a.

  Even if the main board 30 is in a state before being incorporated in the MFP 10 or removed from the MFP 10, the option network interface device 40 is connected to the hardware check dedicated connection unit 35, so that the option network interface device 40 It can be checked by 40 hardware check functions 41b.

  In the present embodiment, the hardware check function 41b inputs the check information input from the network to the optional network interface device 40 to the hardware check dedicated connection unit 35. However, the hardware check function 41b specifies information to be input to the hardware check dedicated connection unit 35 based on the information for check input from the network to the option network interface device 40, and the specified information is You may input into the wear check exclusive connection part 35. FIG.

  The electronic apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in this embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than an MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine, a fax dedicated machine, a scanner dedicated machine, a copy dedicated machine, or an image forming apparatus such as a PC. Other electronic devices may be used.

10 MFP (electronic equipment)
30 Main board (hardware)
40 Optional network interface device (network interface device)
41a Network communication function 41b Hardware check function

Claims (3)

A network interface device connected to the network;
Hardware that performs normal operations based on information received from the network via the network interface device, and
The network interface device is
A network communication function for controlling communication for normal operation of the hardware;
An electronic device characterized by switching and executing a hardware check function for controlling communication for checking the hardware.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network interface device is a detachable optional device. A network interface device connected to the network,
A network communication function for controlling communication for normal operation of hardware that performs normal operation based on information received from the network via the network interface device;
A network interface device that switches and executes a hardware check function that controls communication for checking the hardware.

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