Rebooting system for an image processing apparatus peripheral that extends a timer for rebooting to perform processing for a communication error between operation panel and main body

A rebooting method carried out by a computer system including a multi-function printer, the multi-function printer including a main body and an operation panel, the main body including a processing apparatus including a timer, first processing circuitry, and first power supply control circuitry, and the operation panel including second power supply control circuitry, the rebooting method comprising:

• in the first power supply control circuitry, starting the timer for a first desired period of time in response to receipt of a communication error signal indicating a communication error between the operation panel and the processing apparatus;
• in the first processing circuitry, requesting the timer to extend the first desired period of time by an extension period of time, the extension period of time set based on a time to be taken for processing performed by the processing apparatus and an initial time set by the timer;
• and
• in the first power supply control circuitry, in response to the extended first desired period of time expiring before the receipt of a first power-off signal for starting a rebooting operation from the second power supply control circuitry, forcibly powering off the processing apparatus, wherein
• in the first power supply control circuitry, setting as the extended first desired period of time, a sum of at least the initial time set by the timer, a time to be taken by the processing apparatus to store log information, and a time to be taken by the processing apparatus to unmount a hard disk drive, in the timer.

A multi-function printer comprising:

• a processing apparatus configured to perform at least one image processing function;
• a first power supply configured to provide power to the processing apparatus, the first power supply included in the processing apparatus;
• an operation panel configured to receive at least one operation associated with the processing apparatus;
• and
• a second power supply configured to provide power to the operation panel, the second power supply included in the operation panel,
• the processing apparatus including,
• first power supply control circuitry configured to control the first power supply in the processing apparatus,
• a timer,
• first processing circuitry, and
• a first communication interface configured to communicate with the operation panel, and
• the operation panel including,
• second power supply control circuitry configured to control the second power supply in the operation panel, and
• a second communication interface configured to communicate with the processing apparatus, wherein
• in response to receipt of a communication error signal indicating a communication error between the operation panel and the processing apparatus, the first power supply control circuitry is further configured to start the timer for a first desired period of time and notify the first processing circuitry of the communication error,
• the first processing circuitry is further configured to transmit a request to the timer to extend the first desired period of time by an extension period of time, the extension period of time set based on a time to be taken for processing performed by the processing apparatus,
• in response to receipt of a first power-off signal from the second power supply control circuitry, the first power supply control circuitry is further configured to power off the processing apparatus and to start a rebooting operation,
• the timer is configured to,
• set, as the extended first desired period of time, a sum of at least an initially set time to be taken by the operation panel to store log information, a time to be taken by the processing apparatus to store the log information, and a time to be taken by the processing apparatus to unmount a hard disk drive, and
• in the first power supply control circuitry, in response to the extended first desired period of time expiring before the receipt of the first power-off signal from the second power supply control circuitry, forcibly powering off the processing apparatus.