# US 2017/0286203 A1 · Image Forming Apparatus, and Recording Medium Therefor That Ensure Apparatus Operation without Separation of HDD When Partially Inoperable

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- Number: US 2017/0286203 A1
- Document ID: US20170286203A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/469,584
- Filed: 2017-03-27
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-03
- Assignees: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Applicants: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
- Inventors: Masahiro Suzuki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170286203A1

## CPC

- G06F 11/0736: {in functional embedded systems, i.e. in a data processing system designed as a combination of hardware and software dedicated to performing a certain function (testing or monitoring of automated control systems G05B23/02)}
- G06F 3/0619: {in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors}
- G06F 3/0634: {by changing the state or mode of one or more devices}
- G06F 3/0637: {Permissions}
- G06F 3/0644: {Management of space entities, e.g. partitions, extents, pools}
- G06F 3/0685: {Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays}
- G06F 11/0727: {in a storage system, e.g. in a DASD or network based storage system (drivers for digital recording or reproducing units G06F3/06; circuits for error detection or correction within digital recording or reproducing units G11B20/18; for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097)}
- G06F 11/0733: {in a data processing system embedded in an image processing device, e.g. printer, facsimile, scanner}
- G06K 15/408: {Handling exceptions, e.g. faults (computer driven error handling and recovery for a printer G06F3/1234)}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an HDD, an HDD confirming unit, a system control unit, and a non-volatile semiconductor storage device. The HDD confirming unit detects a failure of the HDD and, in situations where a failure is detected, executes a confirmation process of detecting any operable portion of the HDD. The non-volatile semiconductor storage device stores system data used for operation of the system control unit. In a failure of the HDD, when the HDD confirming unit does not detect any operable portion, the system control unit separates the HDD from the image forming apparatus and sets the image forming apparatus into a restriction mode. In a failure of the HDD, when the HDD confirming unit detects an operable portion, the system control unit does not separate the HDD from the image forming apparatus and sets the image forming apparatus into a small-capacity mode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an HDD that stores user data created by a user;
an HDD confirming unit that detects a failure of the HDD and, in situations where a failure is detected, executes a confirmation process of detecting any operable portion of the HDD;
a system control unit; and
a non-volatile semiconductor storage device that stores system data used for operation of the system control unit; wherein
in a failure of the HDD, when the HDD confirming unit does not detect any operable portion, the system control unit separates the HDD from the image forming apparatus and sets the image forming apparatus into a restriction mode, and
in a failure of the HDD, when the HDD confirming unit detects an operable portion, the system control unit does not separate the HDD from the image forming apparatus and sets the image forming apparatus into a small-capacity mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the HDD is partitioned into two or more partitions; and
in the confirmation process, the HDD confirming unit tests mounting of each of the partitions and detects a successfully mounted partition as an operable portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a job execution unit that executes jobs; wherein
in the restriction mode, the job execution unit executes jobs for which user data is storable in the non-volatile semiconductor storage device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a job execution unit that executes jobs; and
a volatile storage device; wherein
in the restriction mode, the job execution unit executes jobs for which user data is storable in the volatile storage device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in the small-capacity mode, the job execution unit stores user data in the operable portion of the HDD.

### Claim 6

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing an image forming program to control a computer of an image forming apparatus including an HDD and a non-volatile semiconductor storage device, the HDD storing user data created by a user, the non-volatile semiconductor storage device storing system data used for operation of the computer, the image forming program causing the computer to function as:
an HDD confirming unit that detects a failure of the HDD and, in situations where a failure is detected, executes a confirmation process of detecting any operable portion of the HDD; and
a system control unit; wherein
in a failure of the HDD, when the HDD confirming unit does not detect any operable portion, the system control unit separates the HDD from the computer and sets the image forming apparatus into a restriction mode, and
in a failure of the HDD, when the HDD confirming unit detects an operable portion, the system control unit does not separate the HDD from the computer and sets the image forming apparatus into a small-capacity mode.