# US 2018/0024491 A1 · Image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0024491 A1 - Document ID: US20180024491A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/651,468 - Filed: 2017-07-17 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Inventors: Yuji TOSHINAGA; Shigeki NOZAWA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180024491A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/70: {Detecting malfunctions relating to paper handling, e.g. jams} - G03G 15/5087: {for receiving image data} - G06F 12/0888: using selective caching, e.g. bypass - H04N 1/00915: {Assigning priority to, or interrupting, a particular operation} - H04N 1/00917: {Resuming after an intentional interruption, e.g. resetting parameters} - H04N 1/32443: {with asynchronous operation of the image input and output devices connected to the memory} - H04N 1/3263: {of reading apparatus or transmitter, e.g. original jam} - G06F 2212/1024: Latency reduction - G06F 2212/172: Non-portable consumer electronics - H04N 1/00485: {providing a hardcopy output to the user, e.g. print out} - H04N 1/00856: {Preventive measures} - H04N 1/00962: {Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software (program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34)} - H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception - H04N 2201/3297: Simultaneous use of a single memory for different image storage purposes - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image forming device that executes an image forming program for real-time mechanical control and another program, using a single cache memory for the image forming program and said another program. The image forming device includes: a cache lockdown unit that executes a cache lockdown to lock down a storage area of the cache memory that stores at least a portion of the image forming program necessary for image formation processing; and a print unit that executes the image formation processing while the storage area is locked down. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming device that executes an image forming program for real-time mechanical control and another program, using a single cache memory for the image forming program and said another program, the image forming device comprising: a cache lockdown unit that executes a cache lockdown to lock down a storage area of the cache memory that stores at least a portion of the image forming program necessary for image formation processing; and a print unit that executes the image formation processing while the storage area is locked down. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming device of claim 1, further comprising: a simulated execution unit that, prior to the cache lockdown, executes the image formation processing while suppressing access to and timing control of a target of the mechanical control, causing storing of the portion of the image forming program necessary for image formation processing in the cache memory, wherein the cache lockdown unit executes the cache lockdown after completion of execution of the image formation processing by the simulated execution unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming device of claim 2, further comprising: a print preparation unit that, prior to the image formation processing, executes preparation processing required for the image formation processing, wherein the simulated execution unit executes the image formation processing during the preparation processing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image forming device of claim 3, further comprising: a fixing unit that thermally fixes a toner image to a sheet at a time of the image formation processing, wherein the print preparation unit performs temperature control for the thermal fixing as the print preparation processing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The image forming device of claim 3, further comprising: a reception unit that receives a print instruction from a user, wherein upon reception of a print instruction, the print preparation unit executes the print preparation processing and the simulated execution unit executes the image formation processing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The image forming device of claim 2, further comprising: a suppression unit that suppresses use of the cache memory by at least a portion of said another program while the simulated execution unit executes the image formation processing and the cache lockdown unit executes the cache lockdown. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The image forming device of claim 2, further comprising: an interruption unit that interrupts execution of at least a portion of said another program while the simulated execution unit executes the image formation processing and the cache lockdown unit executes the cache lockdown. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming device of claim 1, further comprising: a write unit that, prior to the cache lockdown, executes image formation processing of a first page among pages to be printed, causing at least a portion of the image forming program to be stored in the cache memory, wherein the cache lockdown unit executes the cache lockdown after completion of the image formation processing of the first page by the write unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image forming device of claim 8, further comprising: a suppression unit that suppresses use of the cache memory by at least a portion of said another program while the print unit executes the image formation processing of the first page and the cache lockdown unit executes the cache lockdown. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The image forming device of claim 8, further comprising: an interruption unit that interrupts execution of at least a portion of said another program while the print unit executes the image formation processing of the first page and the cache lockdown unit executes the cache lockdown. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The image forming device of claim 6, wherein the suppression unit cancels the suppression after the execution of the cache lockdown. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The image forming device of claim 9, wherein the suppression unit cancels the suppression after the execution of the cache lockdown. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The image forming device of claim 7, wherein the interruption unit cancels the interruption after the execution of the cache lockdown. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The image forming device of claim 10, wherein the interruption unit cancels the interruption after the execution of the cache lockdown. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The image forming device of claim 1, further comprising: a cancel unit that cancels the cache lockdown after completion of the image formation processing during the cache lockdown. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The image forming device of claim 1, further comprising: a jam detection unit that detects a jam during execution of the image formation processing by the print unit during the cache lockdown; and a jam detection-linked cancel unit that cancels the cache lockdown upon detection of the jam. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The image forming device of claim 16, further comprising: a recovery detection unit that detects recovery from the jam; and a cache re-lockdown unit that, upon detection of recovery from the jam, executes a cache lockdown to lockdown the storage area of the cache memory. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The image forming device of claim 1, wherein the image forming program is executed on a real-time operating system (OS) or without an OS, and a portion of said another program that does not require real-time performance is executed on a general-purpose OS. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The image forming device of claim 18, further comprising: a single-core central processing unit (CPU), wherein the image forming program and said another program are executed on the single-core CPU. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The image forming device of claim 18, further comprising: a multi-core CPU, wherein the image forming program and said another program are executed on different cores of the multi-core CPU.