JP2001265598A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor where a time required for starting of an operating system is short when activating a personal computer. SOLUTION: The information processor has a means for invalidating at least one of devices connected to the operating system in the case of finishing the operation system and a means for validating the invalidated device after activating of an application program becomes possible on the operating system in the case of activating the operation system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as information processing apparatuses such as personal computers have been reduced in price, for example, personal computers can be easily introduced into offices and homes. When the computer is turned on or the computer is reset, an operating system (OS) is called from the storage device. The operating system checks whether the devices connected to the computer operate properly and then allows the user to use the computer. When the operating system starts up, instead of loading all the modules of the operating system at once,
First, only the modules necessary for starting the computer are read. Then, with the booted operating system module, the computer
Sends a signal to the peripheral device and waits for a response from the peripheral device. When a response is returned from the peripheral device, the computer determines that the peripheral device is operating normally. Wait for responses from all peripherals before reading the rest of the operating system.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional personal computer, the operating system reads the essential devices, checks the operation of the devices, and reads all the remaining devices. Permits the operation of application programs. A user activates an operating system on a personal computer for the purpose of using an application program. However, the operating system recognizes all designated devices and loads their device drivers, regardless of whether they are necessary to run the application program. Therefore, the user has to wait until the operating system loads the device drivers of all the specified devices in order to start using the application program.

As the size of the operating system has increased, the problem that the user has to wait for a long time after the power is turned on until the user can execute an application program (until the operating system starts up) has been increasing. . In addition, as described above, when using the application program immediately after the startup, the user needs to use a device which is hardly used.
There was a problem in that each time the operating system was booted, it had to wait more for the time to load the driver.

[0005] The present invention provides an information processing apparatus and a control method of the information processing apparatus in which the user waits for a short time after the power is turned on until the user can execute an application program (until the operating system is started). That is the purpose. In addition, the present invention has a problem in that when using an application program immediately after startup, it is necessary to wait further for each startup of the operating system for the time to load the device driver of a device that is rarely used. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus and a control method of the information processing apparatus which can finally use such a device.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a method for disabling a device when an operating system is terminated, and for disabling the disabled device after the operating system is substantially started. Activate. By confirming the operation of the device after the operating system is substantially started, the operation can be confirmed in parallel with another application program.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, wherein, when an operating system is started, the information is stored before an application program can be started on the operating system. A device connected to the information processing device after at least one of the devices connected to the processing device is operable and an application program can be started on the operating system; Wherein at least one other device is operable.

According to the present invention, the devices connected to the information processing apparatus are classified into at least two types, and the devices belonging to the first classification operate before the application program can be started on the operating system. And a device belonging to the second category operates after an application program can be started on the operating system. In this way, by classifying devices in consideration of the frequency of use immediately after the activation of the operating system, etc., it is possible to postpone the activation of devices with a low frequency of use immediately after the activation of the operating system. As a result, the startup time of the operating system can be reduced. The present invention has an effect that a waiting time until a user executes an application program after power-on is short, and finally, an information processing apparatus that can use all devices can be realized. .

[0009] The "information processing device" includes a computer, a portable information terminal, and other devices for processing information. More particularly, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that operates an application program on an operating system. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various information processing apparatuses, such as small portable information terminals and set-top boxes, are equipped with an operating system. The present invention is applicable to all of these information processing devices. The information includes digital video signals (including still images and moving images), digital audio signals, and the like, which are processed by software on an operating system, in addition to character data and numerical data.

An "operating system" is software that enables an application program to use the hardware of an information processing apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a multitasking operating system capable of running a plurality of applications simultaneously (or in parallel). “Application program” is a general term for a program that runs on an operating system. "Device" means an individual unit of hardware, and a CD-R
The hardware unit built in the information processing device such as the OM and the VGA board includes devices independent of the information processing device such as a server and a printer.

Preferably, the user can select or change whether to register at least one device in the first category or in the second category. Thereby, the system configuration of the information processing device of each user,
It becomes possible to classify devices according to usage and the like.

A device that can be operated after the application program can be started on the operating system is a device (for example, the audio board 11 in FIG. 1) connected to the internal bus of the information processing apparatus. Or a device connected to an external network of the information processing apparatus (for example, the PCs 22 and 25 in FIG. 1).
It may be. Each device (for example, the printer 23 in FIG. 1) may be operated after an application program can be started on the operating system, or the device group may be operated as a unit (for example, the printer 23 in FIG. 1). The printer (class) and all devices (for example, all printers) included in the class may be made operable after the application program can be started on the operating system. It would be more convenient if the unit of the device group and the unit of each device could be used as needed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a device connected to an information processing apparatus when an operating system is started and before an application program can be started on the operating system. Enabling at least one of the devices to operate, and after at least one of the devices connected to the information processing apparatus has been enabled to activate an application program on the operating system. An information recording medium storing a control program for an information processing apparatus, comprising: a step of enabling another device to operate.

When a control program for an information processing device recorded on an information recording medium according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing device, the control program for the information processing device reduces the number of devices connected to the information processing device to at least two. A device belonging to the first category is operated before an application program can be started on the operating system, and a device belonging to the second category is assigned to the application program on the operating system. -Operate after the program can be started. Thus, the operating system
By categorizing the devices in consideration of the frequency of use immediately after the system is started, it is possible to postpone the activation of devices with a low frequency of use immediately after the start of the operating system. As a result, the startup time of the operating system can be reduced. When the control program of the information processing device recorded on the information recording medium according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing device, the control program of the information processing device has a waiting time until the user executes the application program after the power is turned on. It has an effect that it is possible to realize a control method of an information processing apparatus that is short and ultimately available to all devices.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a device connected to an information processing apparatus when an operating system is started and before an application program can be started on the operating system. Enabling at least one of the devices to operate, and after at least one of the devices connected to the information processing apparatus has been enabled to activate an application program on the operating system. And a step of enabling another device to operate.

When the data sequence of the information processing program according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing apparatus, the control program for the information processing apparatus classifies at least two devices connected to the information processing apparatus, Devices belonging to the category are operated before the application program can be started on the operating system, and devices belonging to the second category allow the application program to be started on the operating system. To work after it becomes. In this way, by classifying devices in consideration of the frequency of use immediately after the operating system starts, etc.,
It is possible to postpone the activation of a device that is not frequently used immediately after the activation of the operating system. As a result, the startup time of the operating system can be reduced. When the data sequence of the information processing program according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing apparatus, the control program of the information processing apparatus has a short waiting time until the user executes the application program after the power is turned on, and the final processing time is short. To enable the control method of the information processing device that can be used by all devices,
It has the action of:

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the operating system is terminated, the means for invalidating at least one of the devices connected to the operating system; Means for activating the disabled device after the application program can be started on the operating system when the operating system is started. .

The present invention relates to an operating system which does not have a device classification in consideration of the frequency of use immediately after the operating system is started, and which uses an application program to execute the operating system.
Disable and enable devices that are used less frequently immediately after system startup. As a result, a device that is frequently used immediately after startup becomes operable immediately after startup, and a device that is used less frequently immediately after startup becomes operable slightly after startup. As a result, the waiting time until the user executes the application program after the power is turned on is reduced by the load time of the device driver of the device that becomes operable with the delay.
Moreover, in the present invention, in almost all cases immediately after the operating system is started, the user is required to
Does not hinder the execution of application programs. Furthermore, eventually all devices will be available. The present invention has an effect of realizing the information processing device as described above.

"Invalidating" means that the operating system
This means that the system does not recognize the presence of the device, or at least does not load the device driver for the device. Specifically, this means canceling the designation of the device in the registry. "Activate" means that the operating system recognizes the presence of the device and loads a device driver for the device. Specifically, this means specifying the device in the registry. The present invention is particularly effective in a multitasking type operating system. Multitasking operating system
This is because, in the system, the execution of the application program by the user and the operation of the enabled device can be performed simultaneously (in parallel).

[0020] Preferably, the user selects or modifies that at least one device is disabled at the end of the operating system and activated at startup, or remains disabled and does nothing. I can do it. As a result, devices can be classified according to the system configuration or usage of the information processing apparatus of each user.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a step of receiving an instruction to terminate the operating system and invalidating at least one of the devices connected to the operating system are provided. And an operating system termination step, and receiving an instruction to start the operating system; activating the operating system; and an application running on the operating system. Activating the deactivated device after the program has become bootable.

When the control program of the information processing device recorded on the information recording medium according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing device, the control program of the information processing device is a device that takes into account the frequency of use immediately after the operating system is started. In an operating system that does not have such a classification, at least one device (preferably, a device that is infrequently used immediately after the operating system is started) is disabled and enabled by using an application program. As a result, a device that is frequently used immediately after startup becomes operable immediately after startup, and a device that is used less frequently immediately after startup becomes operable slightly after startup. As a result, the waiting time until the user executes the application program after the power is turned on is reduced by the load time of the device driver of the device that becomes operable with the delay. Moreover, in the present invention, even in most cases immediately after the start of the operating system,
The user does not hinder execution of the application program. Furthermore, eventually all devices will be available. The present invention has an effect that the control method of the information processing device as described above can be realized.

[0023] The invention according to claim 6 of the present invention displays a device which can operate after the start of the operating system and before the application program can be started on the operating system. A first device display and the operating system
A video display of a list of devices connected to the information processing apparatus, identifying and displaying a second device display for displaying a device that becomes operable after the application program can be started on the system. An information processing device for outputting a signal.

According to the present invention, devices connected to the information processing apparatus are classified into at least two groups, and devices belonging to the first category operate before an application program can be started on an operating system. And a device belonging to the second category operates after an application program can be started on the operating system. As described above, according to the present invention, the classification of devices in consideration of the frequency of use immediately after activation of the operating system is displayed on the video display device so as to be easily visually identified. Thus, the user, the maintenance manager, and the like can easily know which device belongs to the first category and which device belongs to the second category. Also, by combining with the invention of claim 8 or the like, it is possible to easily change the classification of the device. According to the present invention, in the information processing apparatus in which the waiting time until the user executes the application program after the power is turned on, and finally all the devices can be used, the device classification status can be easily changed. An information processing apparatus capable of providing a visual display that can be known to the user can be realized.

The “video display signal of a list of devices” may not be a list including all devices. It may be preferable to display a list of all devices, or it may be preferable to display a list of devices of a specific type. When displaying all devices, it may be possible to divide all the devices into a first classification and a second classification, and when displaying a specific device (plural devices), the specific device may be displayed. May be able to be divided into the first classification and the second classification.

[0027] The invention according to claim 7 of the present invention displays a device which can operate after the start of the operating system and before the application program can be started on the operating system. A first device display and the operating system
A video display of a list of devices connected to the information processing apparatus, identifying and displaying a second device display for displaying a device that becomes operable after the application program can be started on the system. And a recording medium for recording an information processing program for generating a signal.

When the control program of the information processing device recorded on the information recording medium according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing device, the control program of the information processing device classifies the devices connected to the information processing device into at least two devices. And
Devices belonging to the first category operate before an application program can be started on the operating system, and devices belonging to the second category have an application program running on the operating system. Make it work after it becomes bootable. As described above, according to the present invention, the device classification in consideration of the usage frequency or the like immediately after the start of the operating system is displayed on the video display device so that it can be easily visually identified. Thus, the user, the maintenance manager, and the like can easily know which device belongs to the first category and which device belongs to the second category. Also, by combining with the invention of claim 9, etc., it is possible to easily change the device classification. According to the present invention, in the information processing apparatus in which the waiting time until the user executes the application program after the power is turned on, and finally all the devices can be used, the device classification status can be easily changed. Has a function of realizing a control method of an information processing apparatus capable of providing a visual display that can be known to a user.

According to the invention described in claim 8 of the present invention, the device connected to the information processing apparatus is displayed as an image as an icon, and the icon of the first device display is moved to the second device display. Causing the moved device to operate after the application program can be started on the operating system, or displaying the icon of the second device display on the first device display. Moving the device to an operating state after the operating system starts to boot and before an application program can be started on the operating system. Item 7. An information processing device according to item 6.

According to the present invention, the device icon of the first device display is dragged on the display screen and moved to the second device display, so that the device can be easily displayed on the operating system. Since it operates before the application program becomes bootable, it operates after the application program becomes bootable on the operating system.
Can be changed. Similarly, by dragging the icon of the device of the second device display on the display screen and moving it to the first device display, the device can be easily changed to the first device display.
It can be changed from operating after the application program can be started on the operating system to operating before the application program can be started on the operating system. As a result, the user, the maintenance manager, and the like can easily change the device classification without having the specialized knowledge of programming.

Further, for example, Windows (registered trademark)
In, making changes to the registry where devices are registered should be limited to software developers and software administrators with a high degree of expertise.
If a general user changes the registry, the system may be destroyed. W to prevent system destruction
This is understood from the fact that the operation of the registry is not described in the general description manual of Windows. Therefore, the present invention also has an effect of preventing the system from being destroyed due to a user's erroneous operation. The present invention provides a visual display of a device classification in an information processing apparatus in which the waiting time after power-on until a user executes an application program is short, and finally all devices are available. On the other hand, an information processing apparatus capable of easily changing the device classification can be realized.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the device connected to the information processing apparatus is displayed as an image as an icon, and the icon of the first device display is moved to the second device display. Causing the moved device to operate after the application program can be started on the operating system, or displaying the icon of the second device display on the first device display. Moving the device to the operating system after the operating system starts to boot and the operating system.
8. The recording medium for an information processing program according to claim 7, wherein an operation is enabled before an application program can be started on the system.

According to the present invention, the device icon of the first device display is dragged on the display screen and moved to the second device display, so that the device can be easily displayed on the operating system. Since it operates before the application program becomes bootable, it operates after the application program becomes bootable on the operating system.
Can be changed. Similarly, by dragging the icon of the device of the second device display on the display screen and moving it to the first device display, the device can be easily changed to the first device display.
It can be changed from operating after the application program can be started on the operating system to operating before the application program can be started on the operating system. As a result, the present invention makes it possible to realize a control method of an information processing apparatus in which a user, a maintenance manager, or the like can easily change the classification of a device without having programming expertise. It has an effect.

For example, in Windows, the change of the registry in which devices are registered should be limited only to software developers and software administrators having a high level of specialized knowledge. If a general user changes the registry, the system may be destroyed. Therefore, the present invention also has an effect of preventing the system from being destroyed due to a user's erroneous operation. The present invention
In the control method of the information processing apparatus in which the waiting time until the user executes the application program after the power is turned on and finally all the devices can be used, the visual display of the device classification is performed. Above, there is an effect that a control method of the information processing apparatus that can easily change the classification of the device can be realized.

[0034]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. << Embodiment 1 >> FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the invalidation device unit 20 of the present invention is added to a PC on which Windows, which is a conventional operating system, is mounted. Therefore, the part related to the invalidation device unit 20 is the main part of the present invention, and the part related to the invalidation device unit 20 is removed in the conventional example.

[Explanation of FIG. 1] Windows, an operating system used today around the world,
A first example applied to s is described below. However, the present invention is not limited to Windows, and U
The present invention is applicable to any multi-tasking operating system such as NIX (registered trademark) and Windows NT. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a PC (personal computer) according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the invalidation device setting unit 20 in the hard disk 13
This is the main part of the present invention. The configuration in which the invalidation device setting unit 20 is removed from FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a conventional PC. The PC 1 serving as an information processing device has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2. The CPU 2 has a ROM in which a BIOS (basic input / output system) 4 described later is recorded.
3 is connected. Further, the CPU 2 is connected to the RAM 5, the ROM 6, the CD-ROM 7, the VGA via the internal bus 12.
It is connected to the board 8, the audio board 11, the hard disk 13, and the like.

The VGA board 8 has a display memory (VRA).
M), and outputs a video signal including a control LSI for a VRAM. The output video signal is input to the video display device 9. The video display device 9 displays the video signal as a video. The audio board 11 outputs an audio signal and drives the speaker 10. The hard disk 13 is
Various software programs such as Windows 15, CD-ROM driver 16, VGA board driver 17, audio board driver 18, and network board driver 19 are stored.

The invalidation device unit 2 which is a main part of the present invention
0 is a device invalidation program 20a, a device activation program 20b, and a registry display program 2
0c and an invalidation device storage unit 20d. The invalidation device storage unit 20d stores a device to be invalidated among the devices in the registry.

Operating system Win
Dows is designed to allow arbitrary communication with various devices manufactured and sold by various manufacturers.
Only the standard device driver among the device drivers which are the software for individually driving each device is included. However, in general, the device driver is provided by being developed by the manufacturer of each device and sold together with the device in the form of a CD-ROM or FD. In general, the user downloads individual device drivers from the CD-ROM or FD to the hard disk 1.
Copy to 3.

The PC 1 is connected to an external network 26 via the network board 14. P
C1 is connected to a server 21, other PCs 22, 25, a printer 23, and the like via a network 26. The network 26 is not limited to the bus type as shown in FIG. 1, but may be a daisy chain type, a token link type,
And star types. The operating system of the PC 1 does not always recognize all devices connected to the network 26. Windows 9
No. 8 recognizes only devices registered in the registry. For example, in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the PC 1 recognizes only the server 21 and the printer 23. Server 21
The printer 23 transmits a device driver to the operating system of the PC 1. For example, the printer 23 passes the printer driver 24 to the PC 1.

[Explanation of FIG. 2] FIG.
8 shows the structure of Example 8. Windows has a significantly different internal structure depending on the version. The first embodiment is based on Wind
The present invention is applied to ows98, but the present invention is applicable to any version (however, a plug and play function is required). In the present invention, three programs, a device invalidation program 20a, a device activation program 20b, and a registry display program 20c, are present in the uppermost application layer in FIG. 2 (not shown). .). The shortcut of the device activation program 20b is stored in the [startup] folder of Windows.

In FIG. 2, Windows 31 includes a system service 32, a virtual machine manager 36, an installable file system 37, a virtual device driver 38, a registry 39, and a configuration manager 40. The virtual machine manager (VMM 32) 36 assembles and manages a plurality of virtual machines on one PC 1. System service 3
2 manages memories, processes, devices, and the like. The system service 32 includes Kernel16 and Kernel16.
el32 (33), User16 and User32 (3
4), GDI 16 and GDI 32 (35), and DLL files providing various services.

Kernel16 and Kernel32
Manages the system and ascertains the usage status and priority of the memory and the printer. Kernel16 is W
16-bit Kernel to support old programs before Windows95, Kernel
32 is a 32-bit Kernel. GDI
16 (graphical device interface) and GDI 32 (35)
Control colors, cursors, icons, fonts, graphical objects (lines, rectangles, curves, etc.). As described above, the GDI 16 has a 16-bit configuration,
32 has a 32-bit configuration. User16 and Use
r32 (34) manages the interaction between the user and the PC 1, such as button clicks, menu item selection, and icon dragging. As described above, User 16 has a 16-bit configuration, and User 32 has a 32-bit configuration.

The system service 32 is a Windows service.
Application as API (Windows Application Programming Interface)
Provides various services to the program. Therefore, Wi
An application program operating on Windows is written in accordance with the description defined in the Windows API, and is executed through the Windows API.
interface with ws. Windows API
Is a 16-bit interface, Win16
And Win32 which is a 32-bit interface.

As described above, the application programs 51, 52, 53, etc., receive Windows services by using the Windows API. Similarly, the user interface shell 50 is, similarly to the application program 51, a Windows AP.
Receive the service of I. The user interface shell 50 is, for example, a window such as a start menu.
ows, including programs that provide background.

An installable file system (IFS) 37 including a network redirector is connected to a hard disk 13, a CD-ROM 7, and the like via a virtual device driver (VxD) 38 and device drivers 41, 42, 43, and 44. Perform access to the device. The virtual device driver (VxD) 38
The actual device driver 41 and the like, the virtual machine manager 36 and the IFS 37 mediate. The virtual device driver 38 is a program for simulating a device for the virtual machine manager 36, and processes a request for a device driver from the virtual machine. This prevents the virtual machine from directly accessing the device driver. The virtual device driver allows a plurality of virtual machines (a plurality of DOS virtual machines; a system virtual machine) to share a device.

The device drivers 41, 42, 43 and 44 are hardware devices 45, 46 and 4
7 is driven. The devices 45, 46, and 47 are the CD-ROM 7, the hard disk 13, the printer 23, and the like in FIG. 1, and the device driver 41 and the like are typically
It is stored in the hard disk 13 of C1. The registry 39 includes Windows basic setting information and configuration data.

In a PC equipped with a plug-and-play operating system such as Windows 98,
Every time the PC is turned on, it is necessary to perform software installation to enable all hardware. In Windows, the configuration manager (CM) 40 starts the power supply every time the PC is turned on.
Find out what hardware your PC has. Non-plug and play operating systems
At startup, it recognizes the device connected to the PC and
Determines the hardware structure of C and does not accept subsequent changes. Therefore, after starting, a new unit is
, The operating system does not recognize the new unit. Therefore, after startup, PC
Could not be connected to a new unit. The plug-and-play device can connect a new unit at any time even after the operating system is started, and the operating system recognizes the new unit and displays a new unit on the operating system. It is possible to use.

[Explanation of FIG. 3] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of the startup of Windows 98 according to the present invention when the power is turned on. In FIG. 3, step 67 is a unique step of the present invention. From FIG. 3, the flowchart from which step 67 is removed is a conventional Windows window when the power is turned on.
It is a flowchart of start of ws98. Step 61
In, power is input. When power is input, W
Windows 98 starts automatically.

In step 62, the ROM chip 3
Is read. Thereby, C
The PU2 can exchange data with peripheral devices. BIO
A step S3 checks whether or not a lower memory of the system RAM is available. Further, the BIOS 3 on the ROM 3 checks whether there is another BIOS (for example, the VGA board 8), and if so, executes the other BIOS first (transfer of control). When another BIOS is executed normally and control is returned to the BIOS 3, the BIOS 3 checks a device to be controlled by itself, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) drive or the like. The BIOS typically stores the survey results in a setup chip. Thus, the loading of the BIOS is completed, the PC can recognize the basic hardware, and the PC can load a driver for using the hardware.

Next, in step 63, Wind
ows98 is CONFIG. SYS and AUTOEX
E. FIG. BAT and two boot programs are executed. This is to enable the execution of the MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System, a registered trademark) program in the past, and is considered to be insignificant in the future.

In step 64, WIN. CO
Load M. WIN. COM monitors the loading process. Next, in step 65, the real mode (MS-DOS) is changed to the protect mode (Wind
ows98). The protect mode is one of the functions of the processor of Intel Corporation. Even when two programs are executed on one PC, the other memory is prevented from being mutually destroyed (protected). .). The virtual device driver VxD allocates a virtual device different from the real device 45 or the like to the DOS virtual machine or the system virtual machine.

Virtual device driver VxD (38)
Includes, for example, a virtual display driver VdD, a virtual mouse driver VmD, a virtual keyboard driver VkD, and the like. The VxD (38) of Windows 98 includes a static VxD and a dynamic VxD. Static VxD is Wi
Windows is loaded at startup. VMM32. VX
D loads a static VxD in three steps: (1) The VMM 32 (36) loads all the specified drivers in the registry. (2) Next, the VMM 32 (36) uses the value name Stat.
If it finds the icVxD registry entry, it loads that device driver. (3) Finally, the VMM 32 transmits the SYSTEM. Load all drivers in device = line of INI [386enh].

As described above, the VMM 32 (36) loads all the specified drivers. The dynamic VxD is a device driver that enables a plug-and-play compatible device to operate, and is loaded by a dedicated device loader at the final stage of the startup process.

In step 66, the configuration manager (CM) 40 specifies the type of the loaded device. Plug and play BIO
In S (including Windows 98), the configuration manager (CM) 40 reads information on the loaded device. If the PC has a plug-and-play BIOS and a PnP card (a card that supports plug-and-play; PnP is a registered trademark), the configuration manager determines that there is no conflicting device Check. The dynamic VxD is loaded.

Thereafter, the last component of Windows is loaded in the following order. (1) KRNL386. EXE (EXE means an executable file) is changed to Kernel16 and Kerne.
Load l32 (33 in FIG. 2). (2) GDI. EXE is GDI16 and GDI32
(35 in FIG. 2) is loaded. (3) USER. EXE and USER32. EXE is
User16 and User32 including items such as [Network Computer] and [Explorer]
(34 in FIG. 2) is loaded. (4) Load resources used by Windows, such as fonts. (5) WIN. Check the INI item. (6) Load [Desktop] settings, such as colors and dialog fonts.

When the above processing is completed, software under the system service shown in FIG. 2 is activated (excluding device drivers and the like not loaded by the invalidation device setting unit 20 or the like). At this stage, the application program 51 and the like are executable. Therefore, the time from when the power switch is turned on until the user can start the application program 51 or the like is reduced by the amount that the device invalidated by the invalidation device setting unit 20 does not need to be loaded. .

After logon, the programs in the [startup] folder are executed. [Startup]
Folders are user-configurable operating
Stores shortcuts of programs that are executed when the system starts up.
Included in shell 50.

In the present invention, a shortcut of the device activation program 20b is incorporated in the [startup] folder. The device activation program 20b specifies (activates) the device stored in the invalidation device storage unit 20d in the registry. W
Since the Windows 98 has a plug-and-play function, the device specified by the device enablement program 20b is incorporated into a hardware configuration, and a device driver is loaded. On Windows, which is a multitasking operating system, at the same time (in parallel with) the programs (including the device enablement program 20b) in the [startup] folder are executed, the user selects the application desired to be executed.・ The program can be executed. Also, Win
The dows 98 performs the addition of the device to the hardware configuration and the loading of the device driver by the plug-and-play function simultaneously with (in parallel with) the execution of the application program. Therefore, during the process of incorporating the device specified by the device activation program 20b, the user can continue to operate the application
The program cannot be executed.

The registry is used for setting Windows, such as system settings, hardware settings such as devices, setting information of Win32-based applications, and basic user settings.
ws configuration information. However, device drivers are not included in the registry, and operating
The system needs to load the device driver for the device specified in the registry into memory.

The procedure for loading the device driver will be described below. When a device is specified in the registry, the configuration manager 40 loads a device driver to see if the specified device is operable. For example, assuming that the voice board 11 is specified in the registry, in FIG.
An inquiry is made as to whether the audio board 11 is operable. If the audio board 11 is operable, the operability is determined by the audio board driver 27 to be Win.
Notify dows. This completes the loading of the device driver.

Here, the voice board driver 27 is P
C is a command set for instructing the audio board to make settings (for example, selecting a volume) or outputting an audio signal (sounding a speaker) or terminating the output.

It is rare that a user needs audio output immediately after the operating system is started, and it is not preferable that the operating system start up later to incorporate the audio board 11. In this case, the user can operate the registry display program 20c described later to cancel the designation of the audio board 11 on the registry. Then, the device driver of the audio board 11 is not loaded until the operating system is substantially started and the application program can be started.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the activation of the operating system from being delayed by the time for loading the audio board device driver 27. And operating
Some time after the system is substantially started, when the user plays a computer game, for example, the device driver of the audio board 11 is loaded, so that the user can enjoy audio output.

Step 6 at the time of starting Windows
In some of the processes 5 and 66 (FIG. 3), data is processed with a 16-bit width, and there is a problem inherent in Windows that the processing speed is slow. The device activation program 20b in the [Startup] folder is
When a device is specified in the registry and a device driver of the device is loaded, Windows processes data with a 32-bit width because Windows has been started. Therefore, the process of loading the device driver activated by the device enabling program 20b is much faster than the loading process in step 65.

[Description of FIG. 5] FIG. 5 shows a display screen generated by the registry display program 20c. The registry display program 20c is a video display device (9 in FIG. 1).
A window 81 showing the device configuration of the registry is displayed on the display screen 80 of. The registry device configuration window 81 includes an area (hereinafter, referred to as an “effective area”) 82 for displaying an icon of a normal designated device that has not been disabled, and an area for displaying an icon of a disabled device. (Referred to as an “invalid area”). The device related to the icon displayed in the valid area 82 is loaded at the same time as the activation of the operating system. The device related to the icon displayed in the invalidation area 83 is loaded after the application program becomes executable after the operating system has substantially started up. The registry display program 20c displays the devices stored in the invalidation device storage unit 20d in the invalidation area 83 among the devices in the registry, and displays the devices in the registry that are not stored in the invalidation device storage unit 20d. , In the effective area 82.

The user drags the 3.5-inch FD icon 84 in the activation area 82 to drag the invalidation area 83
Operating system, since the handling of the 3.5-inch FD at the time of booting the operating system is easily and visually loaded at the same time as the booting of the operating system, the operating system is substantially stopped. After the startup is completed, the application program can be changed to be loaded after it becomes executable. After this change is introduced, the power is turned off, and the next time the power is turned on, the device driver of the 3.5-inch FD is substantially turned on after the operating system has completed booting. Loaded after the application program becomes executable. The registry display program 20c newly registers the 3.5-inch FD 84 in the invalidation device storage unit 20d.

Similarly, the user can easily and interactively and visually start the operating system by dragging the CD-ROM icon 85 in the invalidation area 83 and moving it to the effective area 82. CD-RO
The handling of M can be changed from loading after the application program becomes executable after the operating system has substantially completed booting, to loading at the same time as the operating system boots. After this change is introduced, the power is turned off, and the next time the power is turned on, the CD-ROM
Are loaded at the same time as the operating system starts. The registry display program 20c stores the CD-ROM from the invalidation device storage unit 20d.
Cancel the ROM 85.

As described above, the user can identify and set a device that needs to be used immediately after startup and a device that may be slightly delayed in startup after startup. The present invention disables (revokes) a device in the registry when the operating system shuts down.
In association with the activation of the device in the registry at the time of starting the operating system (new designation), the user can execute the application quickly after turning on the power switch, and In addition, there is a unique effect that hardware that is the same as the conventional one can be used. Registry display program 2
0c provides an image display that is easy to recognize and change the device classification, so that users can benefit from the present invention without having any software expertise. Also, changes to the registry should be limited to software developers and highly knowledgeable software administrators. Registry display program 20
c allows the user to visually recognize the classification of devices in the registry, rather than modify the registry directly,
In addition, a display or the like that can easily change the classification of the device is provided. Thereby, the registry display program 20c
Can also prevent the destruction of the system due to erroneous operation by the user.

[Explanation of FIG. 4] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the processing when an end command of the operating system is received. In FIG. 4, step 72 is a unique step of the present invention. The flowchart in which step 72 is removed from FIG. 4 is a conventional flowchart when an operating system termination command is received. In step 71, the PC receives an operating system termination command. In step 72, the device invalidation program 20a is executed, and before the operating system is terminated, of the devices in the registry, the device stored in the invalidation device storage unit 20d is canceled in the registry. In step 73, the operating device ends. In step 74, the PC is turned off.

[Explanation of FIG. 6] FIG. 6 shows a window 86 on the display screen 80 of the video display device (9 in FIG. 1) showing the device configuration of the registry according to the conventional example. In the conventional example, the display of the device in the registry is 1 because it does not have the concept of disabling or similar to the present invention.
And the device drivers for the indicated device are all loaded at the same time as the operating system boots and before the application program becomes executable.

In the first embodiment, the audio board 11, which is a device connected to the internal bus 12, is made operable after the application program becomes executable. Instead of the device connected to the internal bus 12,
A device connected to the external network 26 may be made operable after the application program becomes executable. The printer 23 will be described as an example.
Hereinafter, the loading procedure of the device driver will be described. When a device is specified in the registry, the configuration manager 40
Load the device driver to see if it is operational. Assuming that the printer 23 is specified in the registry, in FIG.
Inquire the printer driver 24 as to whether the printer is operable. Printer driver 24
Causes the network driver 28 to inquire whether the printer 23 can operate via the network board 14 and the network 26. Printer 2
If it is operable, 3 notifies Windows through the network driver 28 and the printer driver 24 that it is operable. This completes the loading of the device driver.

Here, the printer driver 24 is a PC
Is a command set for instructing the printer to make settings (for example, selecting paper in the upper tray) or for instructing printing (for printing pages 1 to 5). As described above, for example, it takes time to incorporate a device driver into a device connected via a network because communication via a bidirectional bus is required.

It is rare that a user needs a printer immediately after the operating system starts up, and it is not preferable that the operating system start-up is slow because the printer 23 is installed. If it is determined, the user can operate the registry display program 20c to be described later to cancel the designation of the printer on the registry. Then, the device driver of the printer is not loaded until the operating system substantially starts up and the application program can be started. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the activation of the operating system from being delayed by the time for loading the device driver of the printer by communication between the PC and the printer. Moreover, after the operating system is substantially booted, while the user is creating a document using, for example, a word processor application program,
At the same time, the printer's device driver is loaded so that whenever a user completes a document, the completed document can be printed out.

In the first embodiment, each device is used as a unit (for example, only the printer 23), and the device is made operable after the application program becomes executable. In another embodiment, the entire device group is made operable after the application program becomes executable in units of the device group (for example, class). For example, by defining a class of printers to be operable after an application program becomes executable, all printers connected to the PC (preferably, all plug-and-play printers). ) Becomes operational after the application program becomes executable.

Embodiment 2 Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the operating system registers devices in the registry in two categories. Before a device registered in the first category can start an application program on the operating system, a device driver of the device is loaded and the device becomes operable. A device registered in the second category is a device of the device after the application program can be started on the operating system.
The driver is loaded and the device becomes operational.

Accordingly, with reference to the flowchart of the processing at the time of turning on the power supply in FIG. 3, the device registered in the first classification can operate in step 65 or 66.
Devices registered in the second category are enabled in step 67.

In the second embodiment, the processing at the time of termination of the operating system in FIG. 4 is unnecessary. FIG.
Is applicable to the second embodiment as it is.

[0077]

According to the present invention, devices connected to the information processing apparatus are classified into at least two groups, and devices belonging to the first category operate before an application program can be started on an operating system. And a device belonging to the second category operates after an application program can be started on the operating system. In this way, by classifying devices in consideration of the frequency of use immediately after the operating system starts, etc.,
It is possible to postpone the activation of a device that is not frequently used immediately after the activation of the operating system. As a result, the startup time of the operating system can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned advantageous effects can be obtained by utilizing the characteristics of a multitasking type plug-and-play operating system. Further, by delaying the activation of a device that is not frequently used immediately after the activation, the user does not substantially feel the inconvenience caused by delaying the operation start of some devices. or,
Eventually, all devices can be operated. According to the present invention, after power-on, the waiting time until the user executes the application program is short,
Substantially, the user does not feel inconvenience of delay in starting operation of some devices, and finally realizes an information processing apparatus in which all devices can be used. The effect is obtained.

When the control program for the information processing device recorded on the information recording medium according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing device, or when the data sequence of the information processing program according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing device, The device control program classifies the devices connected to the information processing device into at least two types, and the devices belonging to the first category operate before the application program can be started on the operating system. And a device belonging to the second category operates after an application program can be started on the operating system.

As described above, by classifying devices in consideration of the frequency of use immediately after the operating system is started, it is possible to postpone the activation of devices with a low frequency of use immediately after the start of the operating system. . As a result, the startup time of the operating system can be reduced. When the control program of the information processing device recorded on the information recording medium according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing device, the control program of the information processing device has a waiting time until the user executes the application program after the power is turned on. Short,
And, finally, there is obtained an advantageous effect that a control method of the information processing apparatus that can be used by all devices can be realized.

The present invention relates to an operating system which does not have a device classification in consideration of the frequency of use immediately after the operating system is started, and which uses an application program to execute the operating system.
Disable and enable devices that are used less frequently immediately after system startup. As a result, a device that is frequently used immediately after startup becomes operable immediately after startup, and a device that is used less frequently immediately after startup becomes operable slightly after startup. The present invention reduces the waiting time until a user executes an application program after power-on, particularly in an operating system that does not have a device classification in consideration of the frequency of use immediately after the operating system is started. I do. Moreover, in the present invention, the user does not hinder the execution of the application program in almost all cases immediately after the activation of the operating system. Furthermore, eventually all devices will be available. According to the present invention, an advantageous effect that the information processing device as described above can be realized is obtained.

When the control program of the information processing apparatus recorded on the information recording medium according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing apparatus, the control program of the information processing apparatus is provided with a device that takes into account the frequency of use immediately after the operating system is started. In an operating system that does not have such a classification, at least one device (preferably, a device that is infrequently used immediately after the operating system is started) is disabled and enabled by using an application program. As a result, a device that is frequently used immediately after startup becomes operable immediately after startup, and a device that is used less frequently immediately after startup becomes operable slightly after startup.

When the control program of the information processing device recorded on the information recording medium according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing device, the control program of the information processing device takes into account, in particular, the frequency of use immediately after the activation of the operating system. In an operating system that does not have such a device classification, after the power is turned on, the waiting time until the user executes the application program is reduced. Moreover, in the present invention, the user does not hinder the execution of the application program in almost all cases immediately after the activation of the operating system. Furthermore, eventually all devices will be available. According to the present invention, an advantageous effect that the control method of the information processing apparatus as described above can be realized is obtained.

According to the present invention, the devices connected to the information processing apparatus are classified into at least two groups, and the devices belonging to the first category operate before the application program can be started on the operating system. And a device belonging to the second category operates after an application program can be started on the operating system. As described above, according to the present invention, the classification of devices in consideration of the frequency of use immediately after activation of the operating system is displayed on the video display device so as to be easily visually identified. According to the present invention, after power-on, the waiting time until the user executes the application program is short,
And, finally, in an information processing apparatus in which all devices can be used, an information processing apparatus capable of providing a visual display that allows the user to easily know the classification status of the device can be realized. Effects can be obtained.

When the control program of the information processing apparatus recorded on the information recording medium according to the present invention is loaded into the information processing apparatus, the control program of the information processing apparatus classifies the devices connected to the information processing apparatus into at least two devices. And
Devices belonging to the first category operate before an application program can be started on the operating system, and devices belonging to the second category have an application program running on the operating system. Make it work after it becomes bootable. As described above, according to the present invention, the classification of devices in consideration of the frequency of use immediately after activation of the operating system is displayed on the video display device so as to be easily visually identified.

Thus, the user, the maintenance manager, and the like can easily know which devices belong to the first category and which devices belong to the second category. According to the present invention, after power-on, the waiting time until the user executes the application program is short,
And, finally, in an information processing apparatus in which all devices can be used, it is possible to realize a control method of the information processing apparatus which can provide a visual display in which the classification status of the device can be easily known. The advantageous effect described above can be obtained.

According to the present invention, by dragging the icon of a device in the first device display on the display screen and moving it to the second device display, the device can be easily displayed on the operating system. Since it operates before the application program becomes bootable, it operates after the application program becomes bootable on the operating system.
Can be changed. Similarly, by dragging the icon of the device of the second device display on the display screen and moving it to the first device display, the device can be easily changed to the first device display.
It can be changed from operating after the application program can be started on the operating system to operating before the application program can be started on the operating system.

Thus, even if the user, the maintenance manager, etc. do not have the specialized knowledge of programming, the user, the maintenance manager, etc. can change the information processing apparatus according to the configuration or the usage thereof.
The classification of the device can be easily changed. According to the present invention, after power-on, the user
In the information processing apparatus in which the waiting time until the program is executed is short, and finally, all the devices can be used, the classification of the device can be easily changed on the visual display of the classification of the device. An advantageous effect that an information processing device can be realized is obtained. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent system destruction due to user's erroneous operation.
An advantageous effect is obtained.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an information processing apparatus in which a waiting time until a user executes an application program after power-on is short, and finally, all devices can be used. On the visual display of the device classification, an advantageous effect of realizing a control method of the information processing apparatus that can easily change the device classification can be obtained. According to the present invention, an advantageous effect of preventing the system from being destroyed due to a user's erroneous operation can be obtained.

According to the present invention, when the operating system is terminated, the device in the registry is invalidated (designation is canceled), and when the operating system is activated, the device in the registry is validated (new designation). In this manner, the user can execute the application quickly after turning on the power switch, and can use substantially the same hardware as before. Can be

When the present invention is applied to Windows, the virtual device driver of the specified device partially processes data with a 16-bit width.
Loaded at 5 and 66 (FIG. 3), processing speed is slow. On the other hand, in the present invention, the invalidated device
The driver is loaded in a startup process in which data is processed in a 32-bit width. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is an advantageous effect that the loading of the device driver can be executed much faster.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of Windows, an application program, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a process at the time of power-on according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flowchart of processing at the time of termination of the operating system according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a display of a configuration of a device in a registry according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display of a configuration of a device in a registry according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer (PC) 2 CPU 3 ROM 4 BIOS 5 RAM 6 ROM 7 CD-ROM 8 VGA board 9 Video display device 10 Speaker 11 Audio board 12 Internal bus 13 Hard disk 14 Network board 15 Windows 16 CD-ROM driver 17 VGA Board driver 18 Voice board driver 19 Network board driver 20 Invalidation device setting unit 21 Server 22, 25 PC 23 Printer 24 Printer driver 26 Network 31 Windows 98 32 System service 33 Kernel16 and Kernel32 34 User16 and User32 35 GDI16 and GDI32 36 Virtual Machine Manager (VMM32) 37 Installable files Le system (IF
S) 38 Virtual device driver (VxD) 39 Registry 40 Configuration manager (CM) 41, 42, 43, 44 Device driver 45, 46, 47, 48 device

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus, wherein when an operating system is started, before an application program can be started on the operating system, a device connected to the information processing apparatus may be used. At least one of the devices connected to the information processing apparatus after the at least one device of the information processing apparatus has been enabled and the application program has become executable on the operating system. An information processing apparatus characterized in that it is operable. 2. When an operating system is started, at least one of the devices connected to the information processing apparatus is operated before an application program can be started on the operating system. Enabling, after enabling an application program on the operating system, enabling at least one other device among the devices connected to the information processing apparatus; An information recording medium recording a control program for an information processing apparatus, comprising: 3. When the operating system is started, at least one of the devices connected to the information processing apparatus is operated before an application program can be started on the operating system. Enabling, after enabling an application program on the operating system, enabling at least one other device among the devices connected to the information processing apparatus; A data sequence of an information processing program, comprising: 4. A means for disabling at least one of the devices connected to the operating system when the operating system terminates, and operating when the operating system starts. Means for activating the deactivated device after the application program can be started on the system. 5. An operating system termination command is received, at least one of the devices connected to the operating system is disabled, and the operating system is terminated. And receiving an instruction to start the operating system; activating the operating system; and after an application program can be activated on the operating system, Activating the deactivated device; and a recording medium for an information processing program, comprising: 6. A first device display for displaying a device that becomes operable after the start of operating system startup and before an application program can be started on the operating system; A second device display for displaying a device that becomes operable after the application program can be started on the system; and a video display of a list of devices connected to the information processing device, identifying and displaying the second device display. An information processing device for outputting a signal. 7. A first device display for displaying a device that becomes operable after the start of operating system startup and before an application program can be started on the operating system; A second device display for displaying a device that becomes operable after the application program can be started on the system; and a video display of a list of devices connected to the information processing device, identifying and displaying the second device display. A recording medium for recording an information processing program for generating a signal. 8. The device connected to the information processing apparatus is displayed as an image as an icon, and the icon of the first device display is moved to the second device display, so that the moved device is displayed. Operable after an application program can be started on the operating system, or by moving an icon of the second device display to the first device display, 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the device can operate after the activation of the operating system is started and before an application program can be activated on the operating system. 9. The image display of the device connected to the information processing apparatus as an icon, and the moving of the device by moving the icon of the first device display to the second device display. Operable after an application program can be started on the operating system, or by moving an icon of the second device display to the first device display, The recording of the information processing program according to claim 7, wherein the device is enabled to operate after the start of operating system startup and before an application program can be started on the operating system. Medium.