JP2006018848A - Detachable device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detachable device having excellent usability, and to provide a program starting method. <P>SOLUTION: A hub allocation part 31 easily obtains a plurality of functions by fulfilling action for allocating data exchange to/from the side of a computer 1 to a plurality of devices in a single composite device 2. A recognition control part 32 sends, to an inquiry signal of the type of an apparatus from the side of a host in a pseudo manner, a signal representing that it is a CD-ROM when connected to a USB. Even if a resident program for attachment detection is not previously installed on the computer side, desired processes such program execution described in a script are automatically executed in device attachment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a detachable device having excellent usability and a method for starting a program.

  In recent years, with the spread of semiconductor technology and the Internet, the spread of various computers has progressed, and the connection methods of peripheral devices have also diversified. As a result, a general-purpose peripheral device interface that can be applied regardless of the model of the computer is required, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface has been proposed as an example of a specific standard. In addition, with the reduction in size and weight of various computers and the expansion of carrying (mobile) applications, a removable external storage device is also required, and one of them is a USB memory that is a memory device that can be easily connected to a personal computer through the USB interface. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

).

  USB memories have various storage capacities, such as 32MB and 64MB. Specifically, a USB connector is provided at one end of a peripheral device that has a flash memory element inside and is about the size of a human thumb. When connected to a USB port (connection port) of a personal computer or the like, it is recognized as a removable (removable) disk drive or the like and can be accessed for reading and writing.

  In particular, today, the Internet has become widespread, and there are more opportunities to rent and use computers that are different from the ones you usually use. For example, you can borrow time in the city, such as Internet cafes, workplaces, business partners, family, friends, I often send and receive my emails on someone else's computer.

  Such a personal computer usually does not have the data and account information of its own sent / received mail, and the type and version of the mailer (e-mail software) are not always the same as those of their favorite ones. In addition, it is possible to send and receive emails by setting your own account information on such other person's computer, but in that case, forgetting to erase the account information and data of sent and received emails will cause privacy problems To do. Therefore, such account information, mailer, sent / received mail data, etc. are recorded in a USB memory and carried around.

In other words, not only data, but also software such as mailers and shortcuts to software can be placed in the USB memory, and in addition to storing and browsing data, starting such software using the USB memory Can do.
JP 2002-41247 A

  However, in order to use the target data and software stored in the USB memory, the operation to reach them is troublesome, and in particular, there is a problem that the more frequently the USB memory is used, the more complicated it becomes. .

  For example, in order to use the data in the USB memory, the user not only inserts the USB memory into the personal computer but also selects “My Computer” → “Removable Disk” → “Target” on the OS (Operating System: Basic Software) screen. For example, an operation such as “operation” in which the options are sequentially followed, or a file name is designated using the keyboard and executed.

  The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a detachable device and a program activation method which are excellent in usability.

  In order to achieve the above object, when a predetermined type of device is connected, the invention of claim 1 is attached to and detached from a general-purpose peripheral device interface of a computer that executes an automatic startup script stored in the device. A removable device having a ROM or a readable / writable storage device as a storage device, the device of the predetermined type in response to an inquiry signal of the device type from the computer when connected to the general-purpose peripheral device interface And a signal indicating that there is no media at least once in response to the inquiry signal for the presence / absence of media that is repeated via the general-purpose peripheral interface, and then a signal indicating that there is media. It is characterized by providing means for replying.

  In this aspect, even for other types of devices such as a USB memory, a signal indicating that the device is a target device for automatic start script execution such as a CD-ROM drive is returned in response to an inquiry from the host side. For this reason, even if a resident program for mounting detection is not installed on the computer side in advance, desired processing such as program execution described in the script is automatically executed when the device is mounted. As a result, various functions and usage of the device can be realized without manually installing the software dedicated to the device. In addition, automatic activation from a removable device is easily realized even on a computer on which software cannot be installed because the user does not have administrator authority. In addition, in this aspect, when a computer responds to a predetermined device (for example, a CD-ROM) that is a target of script execution, media insertion is not performed unlike an actual device. On the other hand, by artificially returning a signal having the same pattern as the insertion, the script can be smoothly and reliably executed even when the media insertion is a condition for executing the script.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined type of device is connected, it can be attached to and detached from the general-purpose peripheral device interface of the computer that executes the automatic startup script stored in the device, and can be read or written as ROM as a main storage device A detachable device having a storage device, which, when connected to the general-purpose peripheral device interface, returns a signal indicating that the device is of the predetermined type in response to a device type inquiry signal from the computer. Means, a plurality of unit devices, and hub means for allocating data exchange with the computer side to each unit device.

  In this aspect, even when data is to be stored in a device including a unit device that is pseudo-recognized as a CD-ROM, there is no need to consider a special file system of an actual CD-ROM, such as a removable disk or HDD. Data can be easily stored in another type of unit device that does not require data conversion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a detachable device having excellent usability and a program activation method.

  Next, a plurality of embodiments (hereinafter, referred to as “embodiments”) of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Each embodiment can be realized by wired logic, a program, or the like on a dedicated LSI. However, in this case, the implementation mode of the hardware and the program can be variously changed. Therefore, in the following description, the present invention and each embodiment are described. The virtual circuit block which implement | achieves each of these functions is used.

[1. Schematic configuration of the first embodiment]
First, FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the first embodiment. That is, the first embodiment is a detachable composite device (hereinafter referred to as “composite device”) 2 that is attached to and detached from the computer 1, and the computer 1 includes a USB as a general-purpose peripheral device interface. That is, the computer 1 includes a USB port 10, a USB host controller, and necessary device drivers for USB. The computer 1 is hereinafter also referred to as “host side” or “computer side” with respect to USB.

  The composite device 2 is detachable from the USB port 10 of the computer. In this example, the composite device 2 includes a readable / writable flash memory 4 as a main storage device, and a small hard disk drive or ROM is used as the main storage device. Also good. The composite device 2 includes a USB device side control unit 3.

  In the USB device side control unit 3, each component functioning as shown in FIG. 1 is realized by a wired logic of a custom chip such as an ASIC or a combination of a CPU and an embedded program or a microprogram. In the computer 1, each component that operates as shown in FIG. 1 is realized by the operation of a program such as an OS.

[2. Action and Effect of First Embodiment]
That is, the first embodiment has the following operations and effects.
[2-1. (Hub division)
The hub dividing unit 31 of the USB device side control unit 3 allocates data exchange with the computer 1 side to a plurality of devices (each referred to as “unit device”) in a single composite device 2 (hereinafter referred to as “hub division”). It is a hub means that easily realizes a plurality of functions. As a concrete aspect of the hub division,
(1) A USB general-purpose hub is reduced in size and provided inside the device.
(2) Have a single device USB controller manage multiple device components.
(3) Emulate each USB controller of the hub and each unit device by LSI such as custom chip such as ASIC, general-purpose CPU and embedded program.
These may be combined as appropriate, but here it is assumed that the emulator is a USB controller.

  By such a hub division, a CD-ROM area R3 and read / write areas R4 and R5 are set in the storage area of the flash memory 4. Each unit device is a CD-ROM drive (drive letter “H”) set on the CD-ROM area R3 and a removable disk drive (drive letter “D”) set on the readable / writable area R4. However, these regions themselves may be used as unit devices.

  In addition, three removable disk drives (drive letters “E”, “F”, and “G”) are set on the read / write area R5 by the action of the hub dividing unit 31, and these three removable disk drives “E” and “F” are set. "G" also constitutes one unit device. The removable disk drives “E”, “F”, and “G” may be individually set as unit devices.

  Further, the storage area of the flash memory 4 is a management area that can be directly managed and read / written only from the access unit 34 of the USB device-side control unit 3 separately from the above-mentioned unit device on the USB that can be accessed from the host side. R1 and restricted area R2 are set.

  Here, with respect to the areas R1 and R2, access such as normal recognition and writing / deleting from the OS is prohibited. For the restricted area R2, only automatic startup program P, which will be described later, is allowed access such as writing and deleting through the USB device-side control unit 3, and application software such as a mailer is placed. This protects the software from accidental erasure and illegal copying.

  Information to be protected on the device can be viewed as a unit device on the USB from the host side, for example, instead of the restricted area R2, but a write-protected area can be set and placed in such an area. Good.

  The readable / writable area R4 is freely accessible as a normal removable disk, and stores e-mail data used by the mailer, address book, word processor document, presentation material, and the like.

  A password can be set in order to access each area, and verification information for authenticating the password is placed in an area that cannot be accessed from the OS side, such as the areas R1 and R2.

  As described above, if a plurality of areas that are handled differently are set as unit devices by the hub dividing unit 31, if data is to be stored in a detachable device including a unit device that is handled as a CD-ROM by pseudo recognition, It is not necessary to consider a special file system of the CD-ROM, and data can be easily stored in another unit device of a type that does not require data conversion, such as a removable disk or HDD.

[2-2. (Pseudo-recognition)
By the way, depending on the OS (for example, Windows (registered trademark) series of Microsoft (registered trademark)), when a medium is inserted into a predetermined type of device (for example, CD-ROM), a predetermined value on the medium is determined. Run a script file (eg, “Autorun.inf”). The computer 1 is assumed to be a computer having such an OS.

  In addition, in USB, the host side repeatedly sends a device type inquiry signal to the USB line periodically for a device that may have been attached to the USB, and the device newly attached to the USB In response to this inquiry signal, the host side is made to recognize its own connection by answering the type of the corresponding device. Accordingly, when a predetermined type of device is connected to the computer 1, the script execution unit 11 executes the automatic startup script stored in the device.

  Therefore, the recognition control unit 32 of the USB device-side control unit 3 quasi-replies with a signal indicating that it is a CD-ROM in response to a device type inquiry signal from the host side when connected to the USB. . This pseudo reply is performed only for the CD-ROM region R3 among the plurality of unit devices. The CD-ROM drive H in the CD-ROM area R3 stores an automatic start program P that is started by the automatic start script S.

  That is, the detachable device 2, that is, the USB memory is a type of device that is not originally targeted for script execution, but in response to an inquiry from the host side, the recognition control unit 32 executes automatic startup script execution such as a CD-ROM drive. A signal indicating that the device is a target device is returned in a pseudo manner.

  For this reason, even if a resident program for mounting detection is not installed on the computer side in advance, desired processing such as program execution described in the script is automatically executed when the device is mounted. As a result, various functions and usage of the device can be realized without manually installing the software dedicated to the device. In addition, automatic activation of a desired program from the removable device can be easily realized even on a computer on which software cannot be installed because the user does not have administrator authority.

[2-3. (Insert media)
Further, the OS as described above repeatedly inquires of the device whether or not the medium is mounted and answers it. If something that does not exist at a certain point changes to an existing state after that, it recognizes that the medium has been inserted. There are also things.

  Then, as described above, when a predetermined device (for example, a CD-ROM) to be executed by a computer and a recognition control unit 32 are made to respond, media insertion is not performed unlike an actual device. However, in response to an inquiry about the presence / absence of media, the insertion simulation unit 33 returns a signal of the same pattern as that of the insertion in a pseudo manner so that the script can be smoothly and reliably executed even when the media insertion is a condition for executing the script. To be executed.

  In other words, the insertion simulation unit 33 returns a signal indicating that there is no media at least once in response to a media presence / absence inquiry signal that is repeated via the USB from the USB host controller. A signal indicating that there is media is returned.

  Then, the OS on the computer 1 recognizes that the medium has been inserted, and the script execution unit 11 of the computer 1 executes the automatic startup script S stored in the device. Here, the “predetermined type” device to be executed by the script is assumed to be “CD-ROM”, but the target can be freely changed or expanded to other types of devices. Further, the program execution unit 12 is means for executing an execution file having an extension “.exe”, for example. If a directory, name, parameter, and the like of the execution file are described in the script, the execution file is executed accordingly. Execute.

  In the first embodiment, execution of the automatic startup program P is specified in the automatic startup script S. It should be noted that other programs such as an application such as a mailer can be derived from the application activation function P1 of the automatic activation program P as a matter of course. Call it.

[2-4. (Delete data due to wrong password)
In the first embodiment, if the device is lost, the data is formatted or the password authentication program is terminated when the password is incorrect a predetermined number of times so that the data cannot be seen or misused by others. Make password analysis difficult.

  That is, the authentication function P2 of the automatic startup program P authenticates the password, and when an incorrect password is input a predetermined number of times, sends an instruction to the format unit 37 of the USB device side control unit 3 to thereby attach / detach the device 2 Format the entire predetermined area above and the data above it. Note that the processing when the password is incorrect a predetermined number of times may simply be the termination or deletion of the automatic startup program P.

  In this way, even when the composite device 2 is lost, misplaced, stolen, etc., if the password is incorrect a predetermined number of times, the data is protected from unauthorized reference by the data format or the like.

  Furthermore, if the allowable number of mistakes until the program is terminated is also made random, password analysis can be made more difficult. In addition, if a certain amount of time such as 0.1 to 0.5 seconds is taken for password authentication, it will not be a problem when the user uses it normally, but it is possible to use a brute force type input using a word dictionary etc. Password analysis is also difficult.

  Note that the automatic startup program P has a function of rewriting information in the management area R1, so that attributes such as the size and write prohibition of each area can be changed and a new area can be created. May be. Note that when changing the area, data may need to be moved. For example, when the size of each area is changed by moving the boundary between the two areas, the automatic startup program P Is temporarily stored in the free space of the memory or HDD on the composite device 2 or the computer 1, the area information of the area R1 is rewritten, and the data backed up in each area after the change is stored. return.

[2-5. (Association for extension)
Further, when software is installed in a device, it cannot be used easily unless it is associated with data by an extension. However, in the first embodiment, the automatic startup program P is in use of a removable device. Only when a file extension with a desired extension is opened, the application program to be executed to open the file is temporarily and pseudo-associated To do.

  For example, when the file having the extension “.doc” is double-clicked during the execution by the function of the association function P3 of the automatic startup program P, the event is detected by the action of the OS or the automatic startup program P, and the device Predetermined software such as “00 words” installed in the computer starts, and the file data is automatically opened.

  In this way, only when the device is in use, the automatic startup program P temporarily associates the file extension with the program. Therefore, while the file is being used, the file can be easily opened by the corresponding application program in the composite device 2. On the other hand, when the computer is a borrowed object, these automatic associations do not work when the automatic startup program P ends. It remains after use and does not bother the owner.

[2-6. Removable disk trash can
Depending on the OS, even if a file is deleted, it is not immediately deleted and is automatically saved in a dedicated area called “trash box”, but it is completely erased on a removable disk. In particular, removable disks are often used on the go, and if you delete them by mistake, you may be in trouble. Therefore, the function of the trash can is added to the removable disk.

  That is, with the operation of the trash box processing function P4 of the automatic startup program P, the data body or its management information is temporarily stored in a predetermined area for a file that has been deleted by the user on any unit device recognized as a removable disk. By moving or changing attribute settings such as flags, it is handled as a deletion candidate file in the trash box unique to the removable disk.

  Further, regarding these deletion candidate files, an operation for displaying what kind of file is included, an operation for restoring a desired file ("returning data to the original location"), and a part or all of the files The automatic startup program P has a function of accepting and executing a complete deletion (for example, “empty trash box”) operation.

  In this way, usability is improved by applying a unique so-called “trash box” to the deletion of files in the removable disk.

[3. Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment relates to a method for starting a program, and does not assume the requirements of the first embodiment. A detection program is executed in advance on a computer, and the detection program is connected to a general-purpose peripheral device interface of the computer. When a device is attached, a program corresponding to predetermined data in the device is started.

  Here, the program corresponding to the predetermined data may be one in which the data specifies the name or directory location of the program file, and the device is individually identified by the ID recorded in the device such as a USB memory. A program corresponding to the result may be started. Further, the program here may be a script such as “Autorun.inf” of Windows (registered trademark) series OS.

  In the second embodiment, a desired resident application program (hereinafter referred to as “a program”) that automatically expands and displays the contents of the removable disk with a program such as Explorer or starts the software as specified by the user, the manufacturer, or the like. The user executes the installer of the resident program only at the first introduction.

  In order to distribute the installer, for example, the installer is installed in a USB memory in advance, and only when the user uses the USB memory for the first time in a personal computer, the installer in the USB memory is executed, and the personal computer Have the resident program installed.

  Then, when the USB memory or a specific USB memory is inserted after the next time, the following automatic activation becomes effective. That is, when a USB memory is inserted into the USB port of the personal computer, the OS recognizes the USB memory, the resident program recognizes the USB memory, and the execution of a specific application program stored in the USB memory. The desired processing is performed. Therefore, the conventional complicated operation in which the user follows, for example, “My Computer” → “Removable Disk” → “Target Operation” becomes unnecessary.

  In this way, by having a detection program for detecting device attachment such as a USB memory resident in the computer in advance, even if the computer does not have a function such as script execution at the time of attachment or is stopped, the device When installing, it can automatically execute desired processing such as password authentication by executing a dedicated program and starting application software, so that compared with the case of OS and its standard driver only, control operation on the personal computer side that is suitable for the device is realized. The

[4. Third Embodiment]
By making the USB memory pseudo-recognized as a flexible (floppy (registered trademark)) disk drive, the device can be booted from the USB memory when the device is inserted in the PC that can boot from the drive and the PC is turned on. it can.

  That is, the third embodiment is a detachable device that is detachably attached to a general-purpose peripheral device interface of a computer and includes a ROM or a readable / writable storage device as a main storage device, and is a BIOS (basic input / output system) of the computer. In response to access via the general-purpose peripheral device interface (usually stored in the ROM), a reply indicating that the disk is a floppy disk drive and providing information for starting up the operating system A detachable device configured to boot up the computer.

  In the third embodiment, even a personal computer with a different set original OS can be easily used by attaching a detachable device and starting up a desired environment from the OS level. In particular, by installing an OS such as Windows (registered trademark) in a USB memory, it is possible to use the personal computer environment as it is even if it is a personal computer of another person.

The functional block diagram which shows the structure of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Computer 2 ... Device 3 ... USB device side control part 4 ... Flash memory 11 ... Script execution part 12 ... Program execution part 31 ... Hub division part 32 ... Recognition control part 33 ... Insertion simulation part 37 ... Format part S ... Automatic start-up Script P ... Automatic startup program R1-R5 ... Area

Claims (2)

A removable device having a ROM or a readable / writable storage device as a main storage device,
When a certain type of device is connected, it is attached to and detached from the general-purpose peripheral device interface of the computer that executes the automatic startup script stored in the device,
A medium that, when connected to the general-purpose peripheral device interface, returns a signal indicating that the device is the predetermined type in response to a device-type inquiry signal from the computer, and is repeated via the general-purpose peripheral device interface. A detachable device comprising means for returning a signal indicating that there is no media at least once in response to an inquiry signal for presence / absence of a media, and then returning a signal indicating that there is media. A removable device having a ROM or a readable / writable storage device as a main storage device,
When a certain type of device is connected, it is attached to and detached from the general-purpose peripheral device interface of the computer that executes the automatic startup script stored in the device,
Means for returning a signal indicating that the device is of the predetermined type in response to the device type inquiry signal from the computer when connected to the general-purpose peripheral device interface;
Multiple unit devices,
Hub means for allocating data exchange with the computer side to each unit device;
A detachable device characterized by comprising:

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