JP5241136B2 - Startup method, startup device, and startup program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for shortening a startup time required when a device having a plurality of functions that can be used by initialization is started.

  In an apparatus having a plurality of functions that can be used by being initialized, such as a computer, in order to make all functions usable immediately after startup, It needs to be initialized.

  However, with this method, as the number of functions increases, the time required for initialization and the start-up time become longer, and the usability may decrease.

  Therefore, there is a technique for initializing only necessary functions at the time of startup, instead of initializing all of the functions constituting the device at the time of startup.

For example, there is a method of shortening the startup time by setting a function to be initialized in advance after the apparatus is activated and reducing the number of functions to be initialized at the next apparatus activation. (Patent Document 1)
JP 08-286936 A

  However, in order to initially initialize a function desired by the user, it is necessary to make initialization settings in advance with the apparatus activated in the technique of Patent Document 1. Therefore, it is difficult to shorten the activation processing time (apparent activation time) until the user can operate a desired function at the first activation. In addition, the user needs to set the function to be used when the device is started up next time. However, if the user wants to use a function different from the set function, the user needs to reset and restart. .

  In particular, when a device is shared by a plurality of users, it is considered that another user often uses the device next time. In this case, there are many cases where the functions used for each user are different, and the use of functions different from the set functions increases compared to the case where the same user continues to use, so it is difficult to cope with the conventional startup time reduction method. It is.

  Therefore, in the present invention, during the device activation process, the function designated by the user is preferentially initialized, so that the activation process time (apparent value) from the start of the activation until the user can operate the function that the user wants to use. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for shortening the startup time.

Representative structure according to the present invention for solving the above problems is a method of starting device having a plurality of features that are usable state by being initialized, during the startup process of the device, a plurality a first reception step of receiving a plurality of designation information of the initialization function specified in the initialization order, and a second reception step of receiving an instruction to initialize the start of a plurality of initializer function received by said first reception step, in response to the instruction of the second reception step is accepted initialization start, a first initialization step for initializing a function corresponding to the initialization specified function to the initialization sequence, the function corresponding to the initializer function And a function that is not initialized in the first initialization process and the second initialization process based on a user instruction after completion of startup of the apparatus. Further comprising a third initialization step for initializing Te is characterized in.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to narrow down and initialize only the functions that the user wants to use, and there is an effect that the activation time from the start of activation until the functions that the user wants to use can be shortened can be obtained. It is done.

<Embodiment 1>
A schematic configuration of an apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  The device 100 is a device having a plurality of functions that require initialization. Here, the initialization is a process for making a function available to the user.

  In the present embodiment, a playback recorder with a DVD drive and a hard disk drive is described as an example of the apparatus 100.

  A central processing unit (CPU) 101 executes a program corresponding to a flow to be described later, and controls the entire apparatus 100. A Random Access Memory (RAM) 102 is a memory that temporarily stores programs and data supplied from an external device or the like. The Read Only Memory (ROM) 103 is a non-volatile memory that stores programs and parameters that do not need to be changed. The bus 104 is a system bus that connects the units so that they can communicate with each other.

  The input interface 105 is an interface with an input device such as a pointing device, a keyboard, or a remote controller that receives user operations and inputs data. The output interface 106 is an interface such as a monitor or a TV for displaying data held by the apparatus 100 and supplied data.

  The storage device 107 is a hard disk drive (HDD) or a memory card fixedly installed in the device 100. Hereinafter, a case where the storage device 107 is an HDD will be described in the present embodiment.

  The DVD drive 108 is an external storage device that writes data to a digital versatile disc (DVD) that is detachable from the device 100. Although a DVD drive has been described as an example, it may be an external storage device that reads / writes data from / to an optical disk such as a flexible disk (FD) or Compact Disk (CD), a magnetic or optical card, an IC card, or a memory card.

  The digital tuner 109 is a tuner capable of decoding digital broadcasting. A digital broadcast received through the digital tuner 109 can be stored in the HDD 107 or the DVD drive 108 or output to a monitor or TV through the output interface 106.

  The flash ROM 110 is a rewritable nonvolatile storage medium that is fixed to or removable from the device 100.

  During the activation process, a function (initialization candidate function) that is a candidate for the initialization process is determined for the user from among the functions that will be described later. A function that always needs to be initialized when the apparatus 100 is activated does not need to be designated by the user, and thus is out of the initialization candidate functions.

  A program corresponding to an embodiment to be described later is stored in at least one of the ROM 103 and the HDD 107. In the present embodiment, an OS (operating system) and application software necessary for controlling the apparatus 100 are assumed to be expanded and executed in the RAM 102 from at least one of the ROM 103 and the Flash ROM 110.

  In the description of this embodiment, the HDD 107 is a candidate (initialization candidate function) selected by the user. If the OS or user interface software is read from the HDD 107, it is necessary to initialize the HDD 107 before displaying the user interface to the user. Therefore, the HDD 107 is excluded from the initialization candidate functions.

  In recent years, there is a technique for executing software without deploying to a RAM, but the software may be executed using the technique.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for starting the apparatus 100 according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, the initialization candidate functions displayed to the user are the HDD 107, the DVD drive 108, and the digital tuner 109. For simplicity of explanation, it is assumed that there is no dependency between the functions.

  The initialization is a process for making each function available to the user at startup, and is different from, for example, a process (format) for setting the hard disk drive to a state at the time of product shipment.

  When the power of the device 100 is turned on or the device 100 receives a start signal from the remote controller, the start process is started.

  In step S101, first, a function related to the user interface is initialized in order for the user to specify a function desired to be used by the user (hereinafter referred to as an initialization specifying function) from the initialization candidate functions.

  Specifically, as the initialization process, the CPU 101 reads an initialization program from the ROM 103 or the Flash ROM 110 and initializes the input interface 105 and the output interface 106. When the option of the initialization candidate function is not displayed as a user interface to the user, the output interface 106 need not be initialized.

  However, in consideration of user convenience, it is preferable to display options for the initialization candidate function on the user interface. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that the options for the initialization candidate function are displayed on the user interface.

  In step S102, a user interface is displayed. In the accepting step in step S103, the user designates a function to be initialized from among the initialization candidate functions as an initialization designation function, and the apparatus 100 accepts information on the initialization designation function designated by the user. Two examples of step S102 and step S103 are shown using FIG. 3 and FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which, when the television 200 is connected to the output interface 106 of the apparatus 100, the initialization designation function options are displayed on the user interface of the television 200.

  The TV 200 displays a “DVD playback” icon 201, an “HDD playback” icon 202, and a “digital broadcast viewing” icon 203 as initialization candidate functions.

  When the user selects any of the icons 201, 202, and 203 with a remote controller or the like, the process proceeds to step S104.

  The output interface 106 explicitly indicates that the information selected by the user has been received by the device 100 by displaying the icon selected by the user, for example, by changing the color, making the character thicker, or blinking. Shown in In the present embodiment, when the user designates one function, the reception process is completed and the initialization process is started.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which the user interface is not displayed on the television 200 but is displayed on the display panel of the apparatus 100 itself.

  In FIG. 4, a “DVD playback” icon 121, an “HDD playback” icon 122, and a “digital broadcast viewing” icon 123 are displayed on the display panel of the apparatus 100. Icons 121, 122, and 123 indicate initialization candidate functions that can be designated by the user.

  A remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) 300 as an external controller is set with a “DVD playback” button 301, an “HDD playback” button 302, and a “digital broadcast viewing” button 303 as initialization candidate functions. When the user presses a button corresponding to the initialization designation function, information on the initialization designation function designated by the user is transmitted from the remote controller 300 to the apparatus 100.

  The apparatus 100 receives information on the initialization designation function from the remote controller 300, and transitions to step S104. When receiving the device 100, among the icons 121 to 123 displayed on the display panel, the icon corresponding to the initialization designation function received by the device 100 is explicitly displayed by changing the color, blinking, or the like. It is convenient to know that the user's designation was done normally.

  The form of the reception process illustrated with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 is an example. For example, when the initialization candidate function button is set on the remote controller as shown in FIG. 4, the user can designate a function to be initialized from the initialization candidate functions. When the user interface is not displayed, activation of the apparatus 100 may be started by pressing the buttons 301 to 303 of the remote controller 300. In this case, step S101 and step S102 are omitted, and the start of activation and the designation (or reception process) of the initialization designation function by the user are performed almost simultaneously.

  Here, the description will be continued assuming that the user designates “DVD playback” in the examples of FIGS. In step S104, the function designated by the user (initialization designation function) in step S103 and the function that needs to be initialized in order to use the initialization designation function are initialized. Since the user selects “DVD playback” in step S103, the DVD drive 108 built in the apparatus 100 is initialized. Specifically, initialization of the DVD drive 108 includes processing for initializing a setting value (register) of the device driver and positioning the pickup lens at the initial position.

  When the processing in step S104 is completed, the function corresponding to the function selected by the user (initialization specifying function) has been initialized, and the user can use the selected function. On the other hand, in the initialization process of step S104, initialization of functions that are not related to the initialization designation function among the initialization candidate functions is omitted, so the number of functions to be initialized before the user can operate is reduced. it can.

  In step S105, the function initialized in step S104 is executed. In the case of a function that does not require further selection from the user, such as “DVD playback”, since the activation time of the sensation can be shortened by executing it immediately, usability is improved. If it is not necessary to execute automatically in step S105, step S105 may be omitted and the process may be terminated.

  With the above configuration, there is an effect that the startup time until the user uses a function that the user wants to use (hereinafter, apparent startup time) is shortened. When the initialization candidate function is displayed on the user interface, the user can easily specify the initialization designation function.

  Furthermore, when a plurality of users share a device and the functions used for each user are different, there is an effect that the apparent activation time can be shortened according to the designation of each user.

<Embodiment 2>
In the first embodiment, the user can designate one function as the initialization designation function. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which a user can designate a plurality of functions as initialization designation functions.

  Members having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of those that are not structurally and functionally changed are omitted.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart in the present embodiment.
Steps S201 to S203 in FIG. 5 are the same processes as steps S101 to S103 in FIG.

  After the user designates one initialization designation function in step S203, the process proceeds to step S204. In step S204, it is determined whether the user has instructed the start of initialization. If instructed, the determination becomes YES, and the process proceeds to step S205. If not instructed, NO is returned, and the process returns to step S203. Returning to step S203, the user can select the initialization designation function again.

  An example of step S203 and step S204 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which the apparatus 100 is connected to the television 200 and a user interface is displayed on the television 200. The difference between FIG. 3 used in the first embodiment and FIG. 6 is an “initialization execution” icon 204. In FIG. 3, when any one of the icons 201, 202, and 203 is selected, the process proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, in FIG. 6, after selecting at least one of the icons 201, 202, and 203, the user selects the “initialization execution” icon 204, and the process proceeds to step S 205 for the first time.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the user selects a function and the initialization start action, the user can select and initialize a plurality of functions.

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which the user interface is displayed on the display panel of the apparatus 100 itself, as in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment.

The difference between FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 is the presence or absence of an “initialization execution” button 304.
As shown in FIG. 7, among the “DVD playback” button 301, “HDD playback” button 302, and “digital broadcast viewing” button 303 on the remote controller 300, the button to be initialized is pressed (multiple), and then “initialization execution” is performed. ”Button 304 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S205 to perform initialization processing.

  Here, it is assumed that “DVD playback” and “digital broadcast viewing” are designated using FIG. 6 or FIG.

  In step S205, the apparatus 100 initializes the initialization designation function designated by the user in step S203 and the functions that need to be initialized in order to use the initialization designation function.

  Since the user designates “DVD playback” and “digital broadcast viewing” in step S203, the DVD drive 108 and the digital tuner 109 built in the apparatus 100 are initialized. If necessary, the CPU 101 reads an initialization program from the ROM 103 or the Flash ROM 110 and initializes the input interface 105 and the output interface 106.

  When the process of step S205 is completed, the function selected by the user is initialized, and the user can immediately use the function specified in step S203. On the other hand, in the initialization process of step S205, initialization of functions that are not related to the initialization designation function among the initialization candidate functions is omitted, so that the number of functions to be initialized during the startup process can be reduced.

  In step S206, the designated function is executed. However, if it is not necessary to simultaneously execute a plurality of designated functions, step S206 may be omitted and the process may be terminated.

  Further, the order in which the initialization designation function is received is stored in steps S203 to S204, and initialization is performed in the order received in step S205, so that the startup time can be further shortened.

  The case where the user designates a plurality of initialization designation functions and preferentially initializes the functions has been described above. This makes it possible to initialize all functions that the user wants to use while the apparatus is activated, while reducing the apparent activation time.

<Other embodiments>
In the above description, the functions are described as one-to-one corresponding to each configuration of the device 100. However, for example, a function group using the digital tuner 109 and the HDD 107 as a digital broadcast recording function may be used. .

  Further, although a playback recorder with a DVD drive and a hard disk drive has been described as a specific example of the apparatus, the present invention is not limited to a playback recorder with a DVD drive and a hard disk drive.

  For example, the present invention can be applied to all devices having a plurality of functions such as a multifunction device or a copier having functions such as a printer, a scanner, a fax, and a copy, a digital camera having a printer function, and a TV having a printer function. Note that the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.).

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been made based on the configuration in which there is no dependency between the functions in order to simplify the description, but there is no problem even if there is a dependency between the functions. For example, when there is a function A and a function B, and it is necessary to initialize the function B when using (or initializing) the function A, the function B is automatically selected even if the user selects only the function A as the initialization designation function. To be initialized.

By automatically initializing dependent functions, an effect of reducing user operations can be obtained.
Moreover, the case where the reception process mentioned above is abbreviate | omitted or automated is also considered.

  Information on the function designated by the user to be initialized (initialization designation function) in the reception process (steps S103 and S203) of the above-described embodiment or the function initialized in the previous initialization process is updated and stored in the HDD 107. An initialization function storing step is provided. In the accepting step, when no initialization designation function is designated and initialization is performed, the function indicated by the information stored in the HDD 107 is initialized. For the sake of simplicity, the HDD 107 has been described as the storage means for updating and storing information on the initialization function that was initialized at the time of the previous activation. However, it is preferable to provide a non-volatile storage medium or the like as the storage means.

  Alternatively, the reception process may be set to be performed for a predetermined time, and when the predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) elapses, the reception process may be terminated and the process may be automatically transferred to the initialization process (step S104). However, when the predetermined time is provided, the predetermined time required for the user differs depending on the number of functions to be designated. Therefore, when the apparatus 100 is instructed to extend the reception, it is preferable to continue the reception process even after a predetermined time has elapsed. An instruction to extend the reception may be received before or after the apparatus 100 is activated.

  As a normal operation, the same initialization target as that of the previous time may be initialized, and selection may be accepted as required by the user. In this case, it is considered that the burden on the user is reduced by the automation of the reception process.

  When the user uses a function that has not been initialized in the initialization process after the start of the apparatus, the initialization is performed when the user instructs the use of the function.

  It is also conceivable that the CPU (or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code from a storage medium that stores computer-readable program code corresponding to the flow of the above-described embodiment.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Furthermore, the function expansion unit connected to the computer can read the program code from the storage medium, and the CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit can perform processing corresponding to the flow of the above-described embodiment.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, a DVD, or the like is used. it can.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the apparatus which this embodiment controls. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the starting process of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example which displays the choice of the initialization candidate function on an external display. It is a figure which shows the example which displays the choice of the initialization candidate function on an apparatus main body, and designates from an external controller. It is a flowchart in case a some initialization candidate is selectable. It is a figure which shows the example which displays a user interface on an external display, when a some initialization candidate function is selectable. It is a figure which shows the example operated from an external controller in case a some initialization candidate function is selectable.

Explanation of symbols

100 device 101 CPU
102 RAM
103 ROM
104 bus 105 input interface 106 output interface 107 HDD (storage device)
108 DVD drive 109 Digital tuner 110 FlashROM
200 TV (external display)
300 Remote control (external controller)

Claims (9)

A method for starting a device having a plurality of functions that become available by being initialized,
A first receiving step of receiving a plurality of designations of information of a plurality of initialization designation functions in an initialization order during the startup process of the device;
A second receiving step for receiving an instruction to start initialization for the plurality of initialization specifying functions received in the first receiving step;
In response to the instruction of the second reception step is accepted initialization start, a first initialization step for initializing a function corresponding to the initialization specified function to the initialization sequence,
A second initialization step of initializing a function depending on the function corresponding to the initialization designation function;
And a third initialization step of initializing a function that has not been initialized in the first initialization step and the second initialization step based on a user instruction after completion of startup of the device. starting method. The activation method further includes a display step of displaying the initialization candidate function on a display unit included in the device,
In the accepting step, a function designated from the initialization candidate functions is accepted as the initialization designation function,
2. The activation method according to claim 1, wherein in the first initialization step, initialization of a function that does not correspond to the initialization designation function among the initialization candidate functions is omitted. The accepting step accepts information on the initialization designation function designated from among the initialization candidate functions displayed on the external controller,
2. The activation method according to claim 1, wherein in the first initialization step, initialization of a function that does not correspond to the initialization designation function among the initialization candidate functions is omitted. 2. The start-up method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving step is performed for a predetermined time, and the receiving is terminated when the predetermined time elapses, and the process proceeds to the first initialization step. The reception process, if the reception extension is indicated, according to claim 4, characterized in that the after a predetermined time even without going to the first initialization process, continued acceptance of information of the initializer function Start method described in. The activation method further includes an initialization function storage step of updating and storing information on the initialization function initialized in the first initialization step in a storage unit included in the device,
In the first initialization step, when the initialization designation function information is newly received in the reception step, the initialization function information is updated and stored in the initialization function storage step, and in the reception step, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that initializing the said information initialization function stored in the storage means indicates function when not received information initializer function How to start. The activation method, activation method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it has an execution step of executing the initialization function specified in accordance with the completion of the initialization of the initializer function . A device having a plurality of functions that can be used by being initialized,
First accepting means for accepting a plurality of specified initialization designation function information in the order of initialization for accepting information of a plurality of designated initialization designation functions during the startup process of the device;
Second receiving means for receiving an instruction to start initialization for a plurality of initialization specifying functions received by the first receiving means;
First initialization means for initializing a function corresponding to the initialization designation function in the order of initialization in response to an instruction to start initialization received by the second reception means ;
A second initialization means for initializing a function depending on the initialization designation function;
An apparatus comprising: third initialization means for initializing a function that has not been initialized by the first initialization means based on a user instruction after completion of startup of the apparatus. A program for starting a device having a plurality of functions that can be used by being initialized,
A first receiving step that is performed during the startup process of the device, and that receives a plurality of pieces of specified initialization designation function information in the order of initialization ;
A second receiving step for receiving an instruction to start initialization for the plurality of initialization specifying functions received in the first receiving step;
In response to the instruction of the second reception step is accepted initialization start, a first initialization step for initializing a function corresponding to the initialization specified function to the initialization sequence,
A second initialization step that initializes a function that depends on a function corresponding to the initialization designation function, and a function that has not been initialized in the first initialization step and the second initialization step are completed to start up the device A computer-readable program that causes a computer to execute a third initialization step that is initialized based on a subsequent user instruction.

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