JP2002041247A - Computer system and universal serial bus memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide at low cost a recording medium having a great data capacity and a computer capable of easily inputting or outputting data in the medium. SOLUTION: A universal serial bus(USB) memory 4 is connected to a computer body 1 through a USB terminal 41 and controls a USB interface by a USB interface control block 42. By means of a memory control block 43 the USB memory 4 stores into a memory 44 data inputted from the computer proper 1 through the USB terminal 41 and the USB interface control block 42, and reads data stored in the memory 44 and outputs the data into the computer body 1 through the USB interface control block 42 and the USB terminal 41.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a computer system, and more particularly, to a computer system having a USB interface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a computer such as a personal computer, a recording medium typified by a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD) is used for storing a file or moving the file to another computer. In recent years, various recording media having a larger data capacity than the FD have been seen.

As an example of a recording medium having a large data capacity,
MO, ZIP, super disk, PCMCIA memory, smart memory, and the like.

In order to exchange data between a computer and these recording media, a dedicated drive built in or external to the computer and having a slot for inserting these recording media is required. In particular,
The PCMCIA slot and the like are often built into a notebook personal computer from the beginning, and a ZIP drive or the like can be easily used by being built into the personal computer.

Further, with the spread of mobile terminals and digital cameras, a function for transferring data between the mobile terminal or the like and another computer such as a personal computer is required. However, a mobile terminal usually does not have an FD drive due to the size limitation of the terminal itself. Therefore, data exchange with other computers has been performed by communication via a LAN, infrared communication, or data exchange by a smart memory or the like.

[0006]

Recording media having a large data capacity, such as MO and ZIP, are generally expensive. Therefore, it does not reach the situation where it is used as a recording medium common to many personal computers with the same ease as the FD. It is generally considered that any of these dedicated drive devices will not be expected to spread to all personal computers as much as FD drives.

[0007] This is because the F
In the development of D-compatible drive devices, this is the background to the competition for de facto standards.

As data transfer means used between a mobile terminal or digital camera and another computer, there are communication via a LAN, infrared communication, and data exchange using a smart memory or the like. It does not have a possible environment, and many computers do not have an environment in which data can be easily transferred between mobile terminals.

An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium having a large data capacity and a computer capable of easily inputting and outputting data from and to the recording medium at low cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of inexpensively realizing data transfer between an apparatus such as a mobile terminal having no FD drive and another computer.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a computer system according to the present invention executes a desired process by operating an input device, and displays a processing result on an output device. The first US for inputting / outputting data from / to the outside with the USB interface
A computer having a B terminal, data stored in the computer through a second USB terminal connectable to the first USB terminal, stored in a non-volatile memory, and data read from the memory stored in the computer through the second terminal. USB memory device that outputs the data to the USB memory device.

Even if a computer does not have a drive unit for a new storage medium or a dedicated slot for a memory device, the USB
Data can be input / output to / from the memory device, and a USB memory device, which is a recording medium having a large data capacity, can be composed of a memory and a simple control circuit.

Another computer system according to the present invention is a computer system that executes a desired process by operating an input device and displays a processing result on an output device.
A computer having a first USB terminal for inputting / outputting data to / from an external device through an SB interface;
Among the data input through the second USB terminal connectable to the SB terminal, the data addressed to the own device is stored in a non-volatile memory, and the data not addressed to the own device is saved to the second USB terminal of another USB memory device. It has a USB memory device that outputs from a connectable third USB terminal and outputs data read from a memory and data input from the third USB terminal to a computer from the second terminal.

A plurality of recording media can be provided in a computer system using a plurality of USB memory devices as separate recording media. Alternatively, the data capacity can be made variable by recognizing a plurality of USB memory devices as an integrated device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the USB memory device, the memory is a flash memory.

A USB memory device according to the present invention is a USB memory device that stores data input from a computer and outputs the stored data to a computer.
A USB terminal connectable to a computer via an interface, a USB interface control unit for controlling the USB interface, a memory for storing data input from the computer, and data input from the computer via the USB terminal and the USB interface control unit Is stored in a memory, the data stored in the memory is read out, and a USB interface control unit and a memory control unit that outputs the data to a computer via a USB terminal are provided.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the USB interface control unit, the memory, and the memory control unit are constituted by a one-chip LSI.

Another USB memory device of the present invention is a USB memory device that stores data input from a computer to its own device and outputs the stored data to the computer. The USB memory device can be connected to the computer via a USB interface. A first USB terminal, a second USB terminal connectable to a first USB terminal of another USB memory device via a USB interface,
A USB interface control unit that controls the SB interface, outputs data addressed to the own device input from the first terminal to the USB interface control unit, outputs other data to the second USB terminal, and outputs the data from the USB interface control unit. A USB hub that outputs data from the second USB terminal and data from the second USB terminal from the first terminal, a memory that stores data input to the own device, and a USB hub that outputs data from the USB interface control unit to the own device. A memory control unit stores data in the memory, reads the data stored in the memory, and outputs the data to the interface control unit.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the USB interface control section, the USB hub circuit, the memory, and the memory control section are constituted by a one-chip LSI.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the memory is a flash memory.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The computer system of this embodiment is a computer system and a recording medium realized at low cost. Referring to FIG. 1, the computer system includes a computer body 1, an input device 2, an output device 3, and a USB memory device 4. ing.

Further, the USB memory device 4 can be mounted on a mobile terminal 7 configured so as to be portable with a processing device (not shown) and an input / output device (not shown). In this case, the mobile device 7 has the same functions as a computer system including the computer main body 1, the input device 2, and the output device 3.

The computer main body 1 has a CPU (not shown) and an internal memory (not shown), and records an OS, a device driver, and an application program in the internal memory. Then, an application program recorded in the internal memory is executed to realize various functions. Further, the application program read out from the USB memory device 4 is stored in an internal memory or the like, and then executed. Further, the computer main body 1 is provided with a female USB port for connecting the USB memory device 4.
It has a B terminal 11 and inputs and outputs data to and from the connected USB memory device 4.

The internal memory has a USB memory device 4
The control software for controlling is recorded.
The computer main body 1 recognizes the USB memory device 4 by executing the control software, and thereafter controls the USB memory device 4.

The format of the control software may be a device driver format, may be incorporated as a part of the OS, or may be a dedicated application.

A typical example of the control software is a dedicated device driver that cooperates with a USB device driver incorporated in the OS. Alternatively, a dedicated application that does not require a USB device driver and can be operated by control software alone may be used.

The input device 2 is a keyboard or the like for an operator to operate the computer system of the present embodiment.

The output device 3 is a display or the like for displaying the operation and status of the application program to the operator.

The USB memory device 4 is a recording medium connectable to the USB terminal 11 of the computer main body 1. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the USB memory device 4 has a USB terminal 41, a USB interface control unit 42, a memory control unit 43, and a memory 44, and the USB terminal 41 and the USB interface control unit 42 are connected by the data bus 6. Have been.

The memory 44 is a nonvolatile data storage area that can be accessed at random, such as a flash memory or a DRAM in which data is held by the power of a button battery.

The USB terminal 41 is a male terminal, and can be connected to the female USB terminal 11 of the computer main body 1.

The USB interface control unit 42 is a USB
When the memory device 4 is connected to the computer main body 1 via the USB terminal 41, the connection is recognized. Also, it controls data communication with the computer main body 1 using the USB protocol.

The memory control unit 43 reads out data written to or transmitted from the computer main unit 1 under the control of the USB interface control unit 42 or writes data to the memory 44.

The USB interface control unit 42
And the memory control unit 43 may be configured by one chip. The USB interface control unit 42 and the memory control unit 4
2 and the memory 43 may be integrated into one chip.

Referring to FIG. 3, the USB memory device 4
Has a shape in which a USB terminal 41 protrudes from the housing 40 to the outside. In the housing 40, a USB interface control unit 42, a memory control unit 43, and a memory 44 are stored. The function of a part of the control software (for example, the format processing of the storage area) may be separated and implemented as firmware in the memory control unit 43 or the USB interface control unit 42.

Next, the operation of the computer system according to the present embodiment when the USB memory device 4 is connected to the computer main body 1 until the computer system recognizes and incorporates the USB memory device 4 will be described.

With reference to FIG.
The B memory device 4 is a USB terminal 1 of the computer body 1
When the USB memory device 4 is inserted into the USB memory device 4, the computer main body 1 recognizes the USB memory device 4 by the processing of the control program in step 102. In step 103, the computer main body 1 executes a process for treating the USB memory device 4 as a storage device by the control program and adds the process to the drive tree. As a result, the USB memory device 4 can be handled in the same manner as a hard disk device or the like.

In a typical specific example in which the control program is configured in the form of a dedicated device driver that cooperates with a general-purpose USB device driver incorporated in the OS,
B memory device 4 is connected to USB terminal 11 of computer body 1
When the USB memory device 4 is inserted into the USB memory device 4, the computer main body 1 first executes a process according to the USB standard using a general-purpose USB device driver and recognizes what kind of USB device the inserted USB memory device 4 is. Here, it is recognized as a storage device. Next, a process for treating the USB memory device 4 as a storage device is executed by the dedicated device driver.

Next, the operation of the computer system of this embodiment when the USB memory device 4 is removed from the computer main body 1 will be described.

With reference to FIG.
When the B memory device 4 is removed from the computer main body 1, in step 202, the computer main body 1 recognizes that the USB memory device 4 has disappeared by the processing of the control program. In step 203, the computer main body 1 executes a process for deleting the USB memory device 4 by the control program and deletes the USB memory device 4 from the drive tree.

When copying files between computer systems using the USB memory device 4, first,
The SB memory device 4 is inserted into the computer body 1 from which a file is copied. When the copy source computer system recognizes the USB memory device 4, the USB memory device 4
Copy the desired file to Thereafter, the USB memory device 4 is extracted from the copy source computer main unit 1 and inserted into the copy destination computer main unit 1. When the copy destination computer system recognizes the USB memory device 4, the file is copied from the USB memory device 4 to a hard disk or the like. Thus, a file having a large data size that cannot be copied by the FD can be easily copied.

Since many personal computers support a USB interface, according to the present embodiment, a new drive section is not required in the computer main body 1 and it is inexpensive. Further, the USB memory device 4 as a recording medium is non-volatile. And a simple control circuit, so that the size and cost can be reduced. Therefore, both the computer body 1 and the USB memory device 4 can be provided at low cost,
It is possible to provide a computer system having a recording medium with a large data capacity that can be easily read and is portable.

Next, a USB memory device according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a USB memory device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows two USB memory devices according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a USB memory device 5 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a male USB terminal 41 and a USB terminal 41.
It has a B interface controller 42, a memory controller 43, a memory 44, a USB hub 51, and a female USB terminal 52.

The USB terminal 41, USB interface control unit 42, memory control unit 43, and memory 44 are the same as those in FIG.

The USB terminal 52 is connected to another USB memory device 5.
The USB terminal 41 is a female terminal that can be connected to the USB terminal 41, so that a plurality of USB memory devices 5 can be connected in series.

The USB hub 51 converges the signal from the other USB memory device 5 via the USB terminal 52 and the signal of the own device, and via the USB terminal 41 the computer main unit 1
Alternatively, it transmits and receives signals to and from a USB terminal 52 of another USB device 5.

The control program may be a process for recognizing a plurality of serially connected USB memory devices 5 as different devices.
May be recognized as an integrated device. Further, any one of them may be selectable by the user.

When recognizing a plurality of USB memory devices 5 as different devices, for example, copying a file between two USB memory devices 5 does not require insertion and removal of the USB memory device 5 from the computer main unit 1 and is easy. .

If the plurality of USB memory devices 5 are recognized as an integrated device, the data capacity can be selected by the number of memory devices 5 connected in series.

[0053]

The operation at the time of writing and reading is easy,
A computer system having a larger data capacity than the FD and having a portable recording medium can be provided at low cost.

Further, it is easy to copy files between USB memory devices. Alternatively, the data capacity of the USB memo device can be selected.

Further, a file can be easily copied between serially connected USB memory devices (storage media).

Further, by connecting the USB memory devices in series, the data capacity as a storage medium can be selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the USB memory device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the shape of the USB memory device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation performed when the computer system of FIG. 2 recognizes and incorporates the USB memory device when the USB memory device is connected to the computer main body.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the computer system when the USB memory device is removed from the computer main body.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a USB memory device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer main body 11 USB terminal 2 Input device 3 Output device 4 USB memory device 40 Housing 41 USB terminal 42 USB interface control unit 43 Memory control unit 44 Memory 5 USB memory device 51 USB hub 52 USB terminal 6 Data bus 7 Mobile terminal 101 〜１０103, 201１〜203 steps

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A computer system for executing a desired process by operating an input device and displaying a process result on an output device, wherein a first USB terminal for inputting and outputting data to and from an external device via a USB interface is provided. A computer having the second USB terminal connectable to the first USB terminal, storing the data input from the computer in a non-volatile memory, and storing the data read from the memory in the second USB terminal. A computer system having a USB memory device for outputting to the computer from a terminal. 2. A computer system for executing a desired process by operating an input device and displaying a process result on an output device, wherein a first USB terminal for inputting / outputting data to / from an external device via a USB interface is provided. A computer having the same, and among the data input through the second USB terminal connectable to the first USB terminal, storing the data destined for the own device in a non-volatile memory, and storing the data not destined for the own device in another memory. Output from a third USB terminal connectable to the second USB terminal of the USB memory device, and the data read from the memory and the third USB terminal.
A computer system having a USB memory device that outputs the data input from a terminal to the computer from the second terminal. 3. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said USB memory device is a flash memory. 4. A USB memory device for storing data input from a computer and outputting the stored data to the computer, wherein the USB interface is connectable to the computer via a USB interface, and controls the USB interface. A USB interface control unit, a memory for storing the data input from the computer, and storing the data input from the computer via the USB terminal and the USB interface control unit in the memory, and storing the data in the memory. A USB memory device having a memory control unit that reads out the stored data and outputs the data to the computer via the USB interface control unit and the USB terminal. 5. The USB memory device according to claim 4, wherein said USB interface control unit, said memory, and said memory control unit are constituted by a one-chip LSI. 6. A USB memory device for storing data input from a computer to its own device and outputting the stored data to the computer, a first USB terminal connectable to the computer via a USB interface. And the first USB terminal of another USB memory device and the U
A second USB terminal connectable by an SB interface, a USB interface control unit that controls the USB interface between the computer and the own device, and the data addressed to the own device input from the first terminal. Output to the USB interface control unit, output the other data to the second USB terminal, and output the data from the USB interface control unit and the second U
A USB hub for outputting the data from the SB terminal from the first terminal; a memory for storing the data input to the own device; and the data to the own device input from the USB interface control unit A USB memory device having a memory control unit that stores the data in the memory, reads the data stored in the memory, and outputs the data to the interface control unit. 7. The USB memory device according to claim 6, wherein said USB interface control section, said USB hub circuit, said memory and said memory control section are constituted by a one-chip LSI. 8. The memory according to claim 1, wherein the memory is a flash memory.
The USB memory device according to claim 4.