JP2003131880A - Information processing apparatus, program activation method and activation control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide information processing apparatus capable of rapidly and normally activating a program. SOLUTION: The information processing apparatus is provided with a flash memory 16 and a RAM 17, wherein a program including an OS is stored in the flash memory 16 and loaded to the RAM 17 to be executed at the time of activating. It is checked whether or not the program is loaded to the RAM 17 at the time of activating. When it is loaded, it is checked whether the program can be normally activated on the RAM 17, and when it is normal, the program is executed. Due to this, an activation time can be made short by omitting load processing of the program at activating, and a normal program operation is always possible by reloading from the flash memory 6 in the case the program on the RAM 17 is abnormal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to, for example, a portable P
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including a C or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), and particularly to an information processing apparatus that loads a program including an OS (Operating System) from a non-volatile memory to a volatile memory and executes the program, and is used for the same apparatus. The present invention relates to a program starting method and a start control program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information processing device such as a portable PC or PDA is provided with a flash memory as a main body memory, an OS is stored in the flash memory, and the flash memory is loaded into the RAM at the time of startup. There is something to do. In this case, the program additionally installed by the user is also placed on the flash memory and RA
It is loaded into M and used.

[0003]

Since a special command is required for rewriting the flash memory, each program including the OS is less likely to be rewritten by electrical noise. However, on the other hand, F
Since the access speed to the flash memory is slower than that of the RAM, the performance of program execution is lower than that when the program is operated on the RAM.

Therefore, as described above, in this type of device, a program is generally stored in a flash memory, and once loaded, the program is loaded into the RAM at the time of startup and then used. However, since the program must be loaded into the RAM every time the device is started up, it takes time to start up, and if the contents of the RAM are destroyed by electrical noise after loading, it becomes inoperable. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing apparatus, a program starting method, and a start control program capable of quickly and normally starting a program.

[0006]

An information processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a first non-volatile memory and a second volatile memory, and stores a program stored in the first memory. An information processing apparatus for loading and executing the program in a second memory, the first checking means for checking whether or not a program is already loaded in the second memory at the time of startup, and the first checking means. By the second
Second checking means for checking whether or not the program is normal when it is confirmed that the program has been loaded in the second memory, and the program on the second memory by the second checking means. Is confirmed to be normal, the program is executed, and if it is confirmed that the program on the second memory is abnormal, or the second check is performed by the first checking means.
Startup control means for loading the program from the first memory to the second memory and executing the program when it is confirmed that the program is not loaded in the second memory.

With such a configuration, when the program is loaded from the non-volatile first memory to the volatile second memory and executed, the program is already loaded into the second memory at startup. And also the second
If the program in the memory is normal, the load process from the first memory to the second memory is omitted and the program is executed. If the program on the second memory is abnormal or if the program is not loaded on the second memory, the program is loaded from the first memory and executed.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This device is composed of, for example, a portable PC or PDA, and as shown in FIG. 1, a CPU 11 and a system bus 10 connected to the CPU 11.
A key interface 12, a display device 15, a flash memory 16, a RAM 17 and the like which are connected via the.

The CPU 11 controls the entire apparatus, and by reading a program, executes a predetermined process according to the procedure described in the program. The key interface 12 performs interface processing of an input device including an ON key 13 for turning on a power source, a reset key 14 for resetting the apparatus, and the like. The display device 15 is a display device for displaying data. In this device, the display device 15 is an LCD.
(Liquid Crystal Display) is used, and a transparent touch panel is placed on the screen so that data can be directly input on the screen.

The flash memory 16 and the RAM 17 constitute a memory device of this apparatus.
Programs such as an OS (hereinafter referred to as a core OS) and a loader are stored in the sh memory 16 in advance, and data created by a user and an added program (A
DD-IN application) and the like are appropriately stored.
The programs and data stored in the flash memory 16 are loaded into the RAM 17 and used. Also, R
The AM 17 stores a program including the core OS loaded from the flash memory 16, user data, and the like, and also stores a checksum value of the core OS, a check pattern of the RAM 17, a load completion flag f1, a start flag f2, and the like. It Load completion flag f1 is core O
It indicates whether or not the loading of S is completed, and the activation flag f2 indicates whether or not the core OS on the RAM 17 is normal.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the present apparatus is provided with a flash memory 16 which is a non-volatile memory in addition to the RAM 17, and the core OS is put in the flash memory 16 at the time of starting. Flash
The core OS is RA by the loader prepared in the memory 16.
It is loaded into M17 and used. When the core OS is loaded into the RAM 17, thereafter, under the control of the core OS, Fl
User data and applications stored in the ash memory 16 are expanded in a predetermined area of the RAM 17 and a predetermined process is executed.

The reason why the program and data such as the core OS are stored in the flash memory 16 is that the RAM 17 is a volatile memory and the program may be destroyed by electrical noise or the like. Also, the Fl
The reason why the flash memory 16 is once loaded into the RAM 17 and then used is that the access speed to the flash memory 16 is slower than that of the RAM 17 and the performance is deteriorated. However, the core OS is run every time
If loaded in the AM 17, it will take a long time to start up, and the core OS loaded in the RAM 17 may be destroyed by electrical noise. Therefore,
In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned problem is solved by incorporating a startup control program having the following check function in the core OS.

(1) Core OS Load Check It is checked whether the core OS is loaded from the flash memory 16 to the RAM 17, and if the core OS is not loaded, it is loaded from the flash memory 16.

(2) Core OS Boot Check It is checked whether the core OS loaded from the flash memory 16 to the RAM 17 can be normally booted on the RAM 17, and if it cannot be booted normally, the core OS is flashed.
Reload from memory 16.

(3) Check by the checksum of the core OS It is checked by the checksum of the core OS whether or not the core OS on the RAM 17 is destroyed by electrical noise. If the checksum value is not correct, there is an abnormality. From flash memory 16 to R
Reload the core OS into AM17. In this case, if the core OS is checked every time it is started, it takes a long time to start the core OS. Therefore, the check is performed only at the time of reset.

(4) Checking RAM state by data pattern In the above (3), in order to increase the speed at startup, the check by the checksum of the core OS is limited to the reset. Since the core OS is operated without checking, the pattern data is written in a partial area of the RAM 17 and the pattern data is checked to check the RAM 1 when the power is turned on.
Check condition 7.

The operation of the present apparatus having the above-mentioned check function will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the program starting process of this apparatus.

When the power of the apparatus is turned on by pressing the ON key 13 or when the apparatus is reset by pressing the reset key 14, the loader is first activated (step S1), and The following processing is performed.

That is, the loader first checks the states of the load completion flag f1 and the activation flag f2 provided in a predetermined area of the RAM 17 (step S).
2). If these flags f1 and f2 are set (for example, "1"), it is determined that the core OS has already been loaded in the RAM 17, and in that case, the loading process of the core OS is omitted and the core OS on the RAM 17 is omitted. To take over processing.

On the other hand, if the load completion flag f1 is in the reset state (for example, "0"), it means that the core OS is not loaded in the RAM 17, and in that case, the Flas is set.
The core OS is loaded from the memory 16 to the RAM 17 (step S3). Further, if the activation flag f2 is in the reset state (for example, “0”), it means that the core OS is not normally activated even if it is loaded in the RAM 17. In such a case, the flash memory 16 causes R
The core OS is reloaded in the AM 17 (step S3).

After loading the core OS, the load completion flag f
1 is set to indicate that the loading of the core OS is completed (step S4), and thereafter, the following processing is executed under the core OS (step S5).

That is, the core OS first checks the load completion flag f1 (step S6), and if the load completion flag f1 is not set, clears the load completion flag f1 (step S7) and instructs the loader. To load the core OS. If the load completion flag f1 is set, the core OS is RAM17.
It is checked whether or not the device itself has been properly started up (step S8), and if it cannot be started up for some reason, that is, if the core OS is in a state where it cannot function normally on the RAM 17, the load completion flag f1 is cleared ( Step S8
→ S7), causing the loader to load the core OS.

When the core OS can be properly booted on the RAM 17, after setting the boot flag f2 (step S9), it is judged whether or not it is the first boot (step S1).
0). The first startup here means that the power is turned on for the first time in a state where all the data in the RAM 17 has been erased, for example, by leaving the battery without being used.
In such a case, the core OS calculates its own checksum and stores the value in the RAM 17 (step S11). In addition, the RAM 17 is provided in a predetermined area of the RAM 17.
The specific pattern data for checking is written (step S12). After such processing, for example, the processing of a so-called OS such as reading user data and executing an application is started (step S13).

On the other hand, if the reset key 14 is pressed (step S14), the core OS performs its own checksum and compares the value at that time with the value held in the RAM 17. It is determined whether or not it is correct (step S15). Further, it is determined whether or not the check pattern of the RAM 17 has changed (step S16). If the checksum value of the core OS is different, or R
If the check pattern of the AM 17 has changed, it is determined that there is an abnormality, the load completion flag f1 is cleared (steps S15, S16 → S7), and the loader is made to perform the load processing of the core OS. If both steps S15 and S16 pass the check, the process of the OS is started (step S13).

If it is neither the first boot in step S10 nor the reset boot in step S14, it means that the power is turned on normally by pressing the ON key 13, and the core OS is RAM.
After inspecting 17 check patterns (step S1
7) The process of the OS starts (step S13). Also in this case, if an abnormality is detected in the check pattern of the RAM 17, the loading completion flag f1 is cleared (step S1).
7 → S7), the loader is made to load the core OS.

As described above, the flash memory 16 is read from the R
When the core OS is loaded into the AM 17 and executed, if there is no problem with the core OS on the RAM 17 at startup, the loading process can be omitted and the core OS can be executed.
The start-up time can be shortened, and if the core OS on the RAM 17 is abnormal, reloading from the flash memory 16 always uses the normal core OS to execute the predetermined functions provided in the apparatus. Can be executed.

In the above embodiment, in order to prevent the performance at the time of startup from being deteriorated, the core O on the RAM 17 is
The check of S is not performed every time of starting, but only at the time of resetting (step S15 in FIG. 3).
The pattern data is written in a part of the AM 17 and it is checked whether the pattern data is correct (step S17 in FIG. 3).
I can't judge exactly whether or not is really destroyed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, if the checksum is taken while sequentially changing the place where the core OS is checked at the time of startup, the checksum of the entire core OS will be obtained within several times. Will be the same. In the example of FIG.
It is shown that the part for checking the core OS is divided into blocks A to F and the blocks are checked in order.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the core OS is automatically loaded from the flash memory 16 to the RAM 17, but the function to allow the user to explicitly load the core OS is added. Is also good. As shown in FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not a specific button is pressed by the user (step S21), and if the specific button is pressed, the load completion flag f1 is cleared (step S22). ), Jump to loader activation in step S1 of FIG. 3, and if the specific button is not pressed,
This can be realized by adding the processing of jumping to the core OS start in step S5 of the above step to the beginning of FIG.

If such a function is added, the user can arbitrarily load and use the core OS in the RAM 17, so that, for example, the check function for the core OS on the RAM 17 does not work normally and cannot operate. Flash memory 1 according to the user's instructions
The core OS can be loaded from 6 to the RAM 17 and restarted.

In the above embodiment, the core OS (system program) has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other programs such as applications can be started in the same manner as described above. be able to.

Further, the method described in the above-described embodiment is applied as a program that can be executed by a computer to an external recording medium such as a CF (Compact Flash) card and applied to various devices, or the program itself. Can also be applied to various devices by transmitting with a transmission medium such as a network. A computer that realizes the present apparatus reads the program recorded in the recording medium or the program provided via the transmission medium, and the operation is controlled by the program to execute the above-described processing.

[0034]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when a program is loaded from the non-volatile first memory to the volatile second memory and executed, the second Checks whether the program has been loaded into the memory. If it has been loaded, checks whether the program can be started normally on the second memory. If it is normal, executes the program. As a result, the loading process at startup can be omitted to shorten the startup time, and if the program on the second memory is abnormal, reloading from the first memory ensures normal program operation. Is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a flash memory of the information processing apparatus and RA.
The figure for demonstrating the loading process to M.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a program starting process in the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining another method of checking the core OS in the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a core OS loading process by pressing a specific button in the information processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... CPU 12 ... Key interface 13 ... ON key 14 ... Reset key 15 ... Display device 16 ... Flash memory 17 ... RAM

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information processing system comprising: a first memory having a non-volatile property and a second memory having a volatile property, wherein a program stored in the first memory is loaded into the second memory and executed. A first check means for checking whether or not a program is already loaded in the second memory at the time of starting, and the program is already loaded in the second memory by the first check means. When it is confirmed that the program is normal, a second check unit is provided, and the second check unit confirms that the program on the second memory is normal. If the program is executed and it is confirmed that the program on the second memory is abnormal, or if the first check means causes the second memo to be executed. And a startup control means for loading the program from the first memory to the second memory and executing the program when it is confirmed that the program has not been loaded. . 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program is an OS. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first memory is a flash memory and the second memory is a RAM. 4. An information processing system, comprising: a non-volatile first memory and a volatile second memory; and a program stored in the first memory is loaded into the second memory and executed. A method for activating a program used in a device, wherein when starting, it is checked whether or not the program is already loaded in the second memory, and it is confirmed that the program is already loaded in the second memory. Check whether the program is normal, and if it is confirmed that the program on the second memory is normal, execute the program and check if the program on the second memory is abnormal. If it is confirmed that the program is loaded in the second memory, or if it is confirmed that the program is not loaded in the second memory, the first memory is transferred to the second memory. A method for starting a program, which controls starting the program so that the program is loaded and executed. 5. A computer having a first memory having a non-volatile property and a second memory having a volatile property, and loading a program stored in the first memory into the second memory to execute the program. , A function to check whether the program is already loaded in the second memory at the time of startup, and whether the program is normal if it is confirmed that the program is loaded in the second memory A function to check whether or not the program on the second memory is confirmed to be normal, and the program is executed, and it is confirmed that the program on the second memory is abnormal. In the case or when it is confirmed by the first checking means that the program is not loaded in the second memory, the second memory is read from the second memory. A startup control program that realizes the function of loading and executing the program.