JP2005141774A - Installation diagnostic apparatus, installation diagnostic method, and installation diagnostic program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To diagnose whether or not an external device like a PC card has been normally installed into a host device like a personal computer. <P>SOLUTION: CIS information (device attribute information) is read out from the external device being a diagnostic object (step S101), information congruent with the read CIS information is retrieved from registered information of the installed external device, which is held in the host device, and it is informed that the external device being the diagnostic object has been normally installed, in the case of successful retrieval, however it is informed that the external device being the diagnostic object has been not normally installed, in the case of unsuccessful retrieval (steps S103, S104, and S105). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an installation diagnostic apparatus, an installation diagnostic method, and an installation diagnostic program for realizing the installation diagnostic apparatus using a computer.

Conventionally, there is a card type electronic device called a PC card, and a device having various functions for function expansion such as a portable personal computer has been realized. For example, there are communication cards such as modems, LANs, wireless telephones, and memory cards. In order to use those PC cards, it is necessary to install them on a host device (for example, a portable personal computer). In this installation, first, device attribute information called CIS (Card Information Structure) information (information such as manufacturer, product name, product number, and what function it has) from a PC card whose host device is an external device. To recognize the PC card. After this recognition, an individual device information file is read into the PC card corresponding to the device attribute information and registered as own management target device information. A card diagnosis method is known that detects a failure factor when a PC card recognition failure occurs during installation (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-287195 (page 3-5, FIG. 1)

  However, in the conventional card diagnosis method described above, the PC card has been successfully recognized, but there is a problem that it is impossible to cope with the case where the registration of the individual device information file to the PC card is unsuccessful. Conventionally, in a host device, for example, a portable personal computer, the operating system (OS) has standard device information, and if an individual device information file cannot be detected on the PC card at the time of installation, the device read from the PC card The standard device information of the corresponding function is registered based on the attribute information, and apparently the installation ends normally.

  Such a situation occurs, for example, when the user forgets to set a recording medium (such as a flexible disk) in which individual device information files are stored in the PC card in the host device when the PC card is installed. As described above, since the installation of the PC card appears to end normally, the user uses it as it is. However, the PC card cannot actually be used, or even if it can be used, the function is limited. This is because the standard device information registered in the host device is different from the contents of the individual device information file on the PC card. You will be in trouble if you do.

  Another problem is that the PC card can be successfully recognized but cannot be dealt with when hardware resources are not normally assigned to the PC card. Conventionally, in a host device, for example, a portable personal computer, the OS manages hardware resources (memory, IO port, etc.) and registers designation information of hardware resources to be allocated for the external device when the external device is installed. . At the time of this registration, the same resource as other devices may be specified as hardware resource specification information, or a resource that does not exist may be specified. Even in such a case, although the installation seems to end normally, in reality, a malfunction occurs when the specified hardware resource is used, and the external device cannot be used. However, since it seems that the installation has been normally completed for the user, the user cannot know why the external device cannot be used, and cannot deal with it.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to install whether or not an external device such as a PC card is normally installed in a host device such as a personal computer. A diagnostic device and an installation diagnostic method are provided.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an installation diagnosis program for realizing the installation diagnosis apparatus of the present invention using a computer.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the installation diagnosis apparatus of the present invention is a host that registers individual device information or standard device information in the external device based on the device attribute information of the external device when installing the external device. An installation diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing the normality of installation in an apparatus, device attribute information reading means for reading apparatus attribute information from an external device to be diagnosed, and an installed external device held in the host device Search means for searching whether the registered information matches the read device attribute information, and if the search is successful, the external device to be diagnosed is normally installed. On the other hand, if the search is unsuccessful, the external device to be diagnosed is successfully installed. It is characterized in that and a notification means for notifying that no.
According to this configuration, it is possible to detect and notify the user of an installation failure caused by the fact that an individual device information file has not been provided to the external device. As a result, the user can recognize that the installation is defective.

The installation diagnosis apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that it includes guidance means for guiding re-installation when the search is unsuccessful.
According to this configuration, the re-installation guidance can be given to the user, so that the re-installation can be executed smoothly.

The installation diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is an installation diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing the normality of the installation in a host apparatus that registers designation information of hardware resources allocated for the external apparatus when installing the external apparatus, Hardware resource designation information reading means for reading out hardware resource designation information for an external device to be diagnosed from registration information of installed external devices held in the host device, and the read hardware resources An access control means for accessing the diagnosis target external device via the hardware resource corresponding to the specified information, and if the access is successful, informs that the diagnosis target external device is normally installed. On the other hand, if the access is unsuccessful It is characterized in that and a notification unit external device of the diagnostic object is notified that it has not been installed correctly.
According to this configuration, it is possible to detect and notify the user of an installation failure caused by a hardware resource allocation failure for an external device. As a result, the user can recognize that the installation is defective.

Further, in the installation diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, when the access is unsuccessful, the investigation means refers to the registration information and investigates the usage status of the hardware resource allocated to the external apparatus to be diagnosed The notification means notifies the investigation result.
According to this configuration, since it is possible to notify the contents of the trouble related to the hardware resource allocation, the user can perform the installation trouble by releasing the hardware resources by performing the uninstallation or the use stop setting of other external devices. Can handle smoothly.

  The installation diagnosis method of the present invention determines the normality of the installation in a host device that registers individual device information or standard device information in the external device based on device attribute information of the external device when installing the external device. An installation diagnosis method for diagnosing a process of reading device attribute information from an external device to be diagnosed, and the read device attribute information in registration information of an installed external device held in the host device If there is a process that searches for a match, and if the search is successful, the fact that the external device to be diagnosed is installed normally is reported, while the search is unsuccessful Including a step of notifying that the external device to be diagnosed is not normally installed. That.

  In addition, the installation diagnosis method of the present invention further includes a step of guiding re-installation when the search is unsuccessful.

  The installation diagnosis method of the present invention is an installation diagnosis method for diagnosing the normality of the installation in a host device that registers designation information of hardware resources to be allocated for the external device when the external device is installed, The process of reading the hardware resource designation information for the external device to be diagnosed from the registered information of the installed external device held in the host device, and the hardware corresponding to the read hardware resource designation information A process of accessing the external device to be diagnosed via a hardware resource, and if the access is successful, notifies that the external device to be diagnosed is normally installed, while the access is not successful. If successful, the external device to be diagnosed is installed successfully. It is characterized in that it comprises the steps of notifying that no.

  Further, in the installation diagnosis method of the present invention, when the access is unsuccessful, a process of referring to the registration information and investigating the usage status of the hardware resource allocated to the external device to be diagnosed. And a step of notifying the investigation result.

  The installation diagnosis program according to the present invention determines the normality of the installation in the host device that registers individual device information or standard device information in the external device based on the device attribute information of the external device when the external device is installed. A computer program for performing an installation diagnosis process for diagnosing, in a function of reading device attribute information from an external device to be diagnosed, and registration information of an installed external device held in the host device, A function for searching whether there is a match with the read device attribute information, and if the search is successful, informs that the external device to be diagnosed is installed normally, while the search is If unsuccessful, the external device to be diagnosed has not been installed correctly It is characterized in that to realize a function for notifying, to the computer.

In the installation diagnosis program of the present invention, when the search is unsuccessful, the computer is further realized with a function of guiding re-installation.
As a result, the above-described installation diagnosis apparatus can be realized using a computer.

  An installation diagnosis program of the present invention is a computer for performing an installation diagnosis process for diagnosing the normality of installation in a host device that registers hardware resource designation information to be assigned to the external device when the external device is installed A function of reading out designation information of hardware resources for an external device to be diagnosed from registration information of an installed external device held in the host device, and the read hardware resource A function for accessing the external device to be diagnosed via the hardware resource corresponding to the specified information, and if the access is successful, informs that the external device to be diagnosed is normally installed, On the other hand, if the access is unsuccessful, It is characterized in that to realize the function of notifying that the cross-target external device is not installed correctly, to the computer.

Further, in the installation diagnostic program of the present invention, when the access is unsuccessful, a function of referring to the registration information and investigating the usage status of hardware resources allocated to the external device to be diagnosed; The computer is further provided with a function of notifying the investigation result.
As a result, the above-described installation diagnosis apparatus can be realized using a computer.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to diagnose whether or not an external device such as a PC card is normally installed in a host device such as a personal computer, and since this diagnosis result is notified, there is a problem in installation. In this case, the user can recognize that the external device to be diagnosed is not actually installed normally and there is a problem in installation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a portable personal computer will be described as a specific example of the host device, and a PC card will be described as a specific example of the external device.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view of the computer system. The computer system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a portable personal computer 1 and a PC card 2. In the present embodiment, the host device (portable personal computer 1) is configured to realize the function of a self-diagnosis device that diagnoses its own external device installation.

  In the portable personal computer 1, a CPU (central processing unit) 11 controls the entire apparatus. The storage unit 12 includes a memory, a hard disk device, and the like, and stores programs executed by the CPU 11 and various data. The operation unit 13 includes input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and outputs input data input by the operation to the CPU 13. The display unit 14 includes a liquid crystal display panel, a display control circuit, and the like, and displays display data input from the CPU 11 on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel. A flexible disk drive device (hereinafter simply referred to as FDD) 15 outputs data read from the set flexible disk to the CPU 13 and writes data input from the CPU 13 to the set flexible disk.

The IO port unit 16 has a plurality (finite number) of IO ports used when the CPU 11 inputs / outputs data to / from an external device. Each IO port is associated with an external device designated by the control of the CPU 11. In the example of FIG. 1, an interface (PC card I / F) 17 for a PC card, which is one of external devices, is shown. When the PC card 2 is installed, one of the IO ports is associated with the PC card I / F 17 in accordance with the designation from the CPU 11.
The PC card I / F 17 is an interface conforming to the PC card standard, and includes a PC card connector and the like. The PC card 2 can be attached to and detached from the connector of the PC card I / F 17.

The PC card 2 includes a CIS information storage unit 21 that stores CIS information unique to the card. In FIG. 1, blocks other than the CIS information storage unit 21 are omitted. The CIS information is a kind of device attribute information, and includes information such as manufacturer, product name (device name), product number, and what functions the user has. The CIS information can be read from the host device (portable personal computer 1) side via the PC card I / F 17.
As the PC card 2, for example, various cards such as a communication card such as a modem, a LAN, a wireless telephone, and a memory card can be used.

  The storage unit 12 of the portable personal computer 1 is provided with a program storage unit 12a for storing the OS and various application programs. An installation diagnostic program is stored as one of the application programs. When this installation diagnostic program is executed on the CPU 11, the portable personal computer 1 functions as an installation diagnostic device for diagnosing its own external device installation.

The storage unit 12 is provided with a registration information storage unit 12b and a standard device information storage unit 12c.
The registration information storage unit 12b stores registration information related to the installed external device. The external device registered in the registration information storage unit 12 b is included in the management target device of the portable personal computer 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the registration information storage unit 12b. As shown in FIG. 3, the registration information includes a device name, function information, software driver information, hardware resource information (IO port address information, etc.) and the like for each external device. The registration information is stored in the registration information storage unit 12b when the external device is installed.

  In the standard device information storage unit 12c, a standard device name, standard function information, standard software driver information, and the like are stored in advance for each representative function of the external device.

Next, the operation at the time of installing the external device (PC card 2) in the computer system of FIG. 1 described above will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 2, the user attaches the PC card 2 to the portable personal computer 1, operates the portable personal computer 1 to activate the installation function of the OS, and installs the PC card 2. Execute. As a result, the OS reads the CIS information from the PC card 2 and recognizes the PC card 2. Here, if the user sets a recording medium (in this embodiment, a flexible disk) in which individual device information files are stored in the PC card 2 in the portable personal computer 1, the OS detects the device information file. Then, the information of the device information file is copied to the registration information storage unit 12b, and the installation is normally terminated. There is no problem in this case.

  Note that the device name, function overview, software driver information, and the like of the PC card 2 are set in the individual device information file of the PC card 2 as contents to be notified to the OS. Then, the OS detects the corresponding device information file based on the device name included in the CIS information read from the PC card 2.

  On the other hand, when the user forgets to set the flexible disk in which the individual device information file is stored in the PC card 2 in the portable personal computer 1 or sets an irrelevant flexible disk, the OS is in the PC card 2. When the individual device information file cannot be detected, the OS copies the corresponding standard device information in the standard device information storage unit 12c to the registration information storage unit 12b, and normally ends the installation. In this case, as in the example shown in FIG. 3, corresponding information included in the standard device information is copied to each item of the registration information. For example, “standard BBB” included in the standard device information is copied to the device name of the registration information. However, when the standard device information is copied to the registration information, it seems that the installation has only been completed normally, and there is a problem in using the actual PC card 2.

  Further, the OS allocates hardware resources (memory, IO port, etc.) to the PC card 2 when the PC card 2 is installed. Then, the designation information of the assigned hardware resource is stored in the registration information storage unit 12b. Here, due to a resource shortage or the like, the same resource as that of another device may be specified as hardware resource specification information, or a resource that does not exist may be specified. Even in such a case, although the installation seems to end normally, in reality, a problem occurs when the designated hardware resource is used, and the PC card 2 cannot be used.

Next, an operation related to installation diagnosis in the computer system of FIG. 1 described above will be described.
First, with reference to FIG. 4, an operation of installation diagnosis according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of installation diagnosis processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention performed by the CPU 11 shown in FIG.
First, when the CPU 11 of the portable personal computer 1 activates the installation diagnostic program of the program storage unit 12a, the process of FIG. 4 is started. The installation diagnostic program may be activated by a user operation, or may be automatically activated, for example, automatically after the above-described installation is completed.

  In FIG. 4, the CPU 11 first reads CIS information from the PC card 2 to be diagnosed (step S101). Next, the registration information storage unit 12b is referred to search for registration information that matches the device name included in the read CIS information (step S102). If the search is successful (YES in step S103), the display unit 14 displays a message indicating that the installation is normal, and notifies the user that there is no problem in installing the PC card 2 (step S104).

  On the other hand, if the search in step S102 is unsuccessful (NO in step S103), the display unit 14 is displayed to indicate that the installation is abnormal, and informs the user that there is a problem with the installation of the PC card 2. (Step S105). In addition, guidance for reinstallation is displayed. The contents of this guidance include, for example, “Set the flexible disk for installing this PC card and re-execute the installation” or “Set the flexible disk storing the device information file of this PC card. For example, “Please re-execute installation”) to prompt the PC card 2 to provide an individual device information file.

  According to the first embodiment described above, it is possible to detect a failure in installation caused by the fact that an individual device information file has not been provided in the PC card 2 and notify the user of it. As a result, the user can recognize that the installation is defective.

Furthermore, since the user can be given guidance for reinstallation, the reinstallation can be performed smoothly.
The notification of the diagnosis result and the guidance for re-installation may be performed by voice.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the operation of installation diagnosis according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of installation diagnosis processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention performed by the CPU 11 shown in FIG.
First, when the CPU 11 of the portable personal computer 1 activates the installation diagnostic program of the program storage unit 12a, the process of FIG. 5 is started.

  In FIG. 5, the CPU 11 first reads out the hardware resource information related to the PC card 2 that is the diagnosis target from the registered information storage unit 12b (step S201). Next, an attempt is made to access the PC card 2 to be diagnosed via the hardware resource specified by the read hardware resource information (step S202). When there is a normal response to this access and the access is successful (YES in step S203), the display unit 14 displays that the installation is normal, and there is no problem in installing the PC card 2 for the user. Is notified (step S204).

  On the other hand, if there is no normal response to the access in step S202 and the access has failed (NO in step S203), the display unit 14 displays an abnormal installation, and the user is prompted to install the PC card 2. It is notified that there is a problem (step S205). Furthermore, the usage status of the hardware resource allocated to the PC card 2 to be diagnosed is checked with reference to the registration information storage unit 12b. Then, the survey result is notified to the user.

  Specifically, in step S206, the registration information storage unit 12b is referred to and it is searched whether the hardware resource is allocated to a device other than the PC card 2 to be diagnosed. As a result of this search, if there is a corresponding registration (YES in step S207), it is displayed that the hardware resource allocated to the PC card 2 to be diagnosed is in use, and the resource conflict to the user Is generated (step S208).

  On the other hand, if there is no corresponding registration as a result of the search in step S206 (NO in step S207), the fact that the hardware resources allocated to the PC card 2 to be diagnosed is insufficient is displayed, and the resource is displayed to the user. It is notified that the shortage has occurred (step S209).

  According to the second embodiment described above, it is possible to detect and notify the user of an installation failure caused by a hardware resource allocation failure for the PC card 2. As a result, the user can recognize that the installation is defective.

  In addition, since it is possible to report the details of problems related to hardware resource allocation, the user can smoothly deal with installation problems by releasing hardware resources by uninstalling other external devices or setting them to stop using them. .

  Note that the processing of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 described above and the processing of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 may be combined and executed.

Further, the program for realizing each step shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into the computer system and executed to perform installation diagnosis. Processing may be performed. Here, the “computer system” may include an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.
Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.
The “computer-readable recording medium” means a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a writable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, a portable medium such as a CD-ROM, a hard disk built in a computer system, etc. This is a storage device.

Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” means a volatile memory (for example, DRAM (Dynamic DRAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. Random Access Memory)), etc., which hold programs for a certain period of time.
The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.
The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design changes and the like within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, the host device and the installation diagnosis device may be configured as separate devices.
In addition to the portable personal computer described above, a stationary personal computer, a portable terminal called PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), and the like can be applied as the host device.
In addition to the card-type electronic device such as the PC card described above, an external storage device such as a hard disk device or an MO device, a printer device, an electronic scanner device, an electronic camera, or the like is applicable as the external device.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the computer system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an external view of the computer system shown in FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a registration information storage unit 12. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the installation diagnostic process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the installation diagnostic process which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Portable personal computer (host device), 2 ... PC card (external device), 11 ... CPU, 12 ... Storage unit, 12a ... Program storage unit, 12b ... Registration information storage unit, 12c ... Standard device information storage unit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 ... Operation part, 14 ... Display part, 15 ... FDD, 16 ... IO port part, 17 ... PC card I / F, 21 ... CIS information (apparatus attribute information) storage part.

Claims (3)

An installation diagnostic device for diagnosing the normality of the installation in a host device for registering designation information of hardware resources allocated for the external device when installing the external device,
Hardware resource designation information reading means for reading out hardware resource designation information for an external device to be diagnosed from registration information of installed external devices held in the host device;
Access control means for accessing the external device to be diagnosed via the hardware resource corresponding to the read hardware resource designation information;
When the access is successful, it is detected that the external device to be diagnosed is normally installed. On the other hand, when the access is unsuccessful, the registration information is referred to and the diagnosis target is The hardware resource assigned to the external device is searched for whether it is assigned to a device other than the external device to be diagnosed to detect whether the hardware resource has been registered, and registered as a result of the search If not, an investigation means for detecting that the hardware resource is insufficient;
An installation diagnosis apparatus comprising: an informing means for informing a detection result by the investigation means. An installation diagnosis method for diagnosing the normality of the installation in a host device for registering designation information of hardware resources allocated for the external device when installing the external device,
A step of reading out hardware resource designation information for an external device to be diagnosed from registration information of an installed external device held in the host device;
Accessing the external device to be diagnosed via the hardware resource corresponding to the read hardware resource designation information;
When the access is successful, it is detected that the external device to be diagnosed is normally installed. On the other hand, when the access is unsuccessful, the registration information is referred to and the diagnosis target is The hardware resource assigned to the external device is searched for whether it is assigned to a device other than the external device to be diagnosed to detect whether the hardware resource has been registered, and registered as a result of the search If not, the process of investigating the lack of hardware resources;
An installation diagnosis method comprising: a step of notifying the investigation result. A computer program for performing an installation diagnosis process for diagnosing the normality of the installation in a host device for registering designation information of hardware resources allocated for the external device when installing the external device,
A function to read out hardware resource designation information for an external device to be diagnosed from registration information of an installed external device held in the host device;
A function of accessing the external device to be diagnosed via a hardware resource corresponding to the read hardware resource designation information;
When the access is successful, it is detected that the external device to be diagnosed is normally installed. On the other hand, when the access is unsuccessful, the registration information is referred to and the diagnosis target is The hardware resource assigned to the external device is searched for whether it is assigned to a device other than the external device to be diagnosed to detect whether the hardware resource has been registered, and registered as a result of the search A function to detect that the hardware resource is insufficient when not completed,
A function of notifying the detection result;
An installation diagnosis program characterized by causing a computer to realize the above.

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