JP2005216116A - Information processing system and method, information processor and method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save the power of an information processor in installation of an extension device. <P>SOLUTION: When a USB peripheral device 2 as the extension device is installed to a portable information processor 3 (step S21 (YES)), a command for transferring the operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 from a general mode to a low power mode for operating the peripheral device 2 with a power consumption lower than the power consumption in operating in the general mode, or a Set_power command is transmitted from the information processor 3 to the peripheral device (step S25). Consequently, the operation mode of the peripheral device 2 is transferred from the general mode to the low power mode (step S45), and a predetermined processing is executed in the low power mode by the peripheral device 2 (step S49). This invention is applicable to an information processing system performing data communication by USB. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system and method, an information processing device and method, and a program, and in particular, an information processing system and method, information processing capable of reducing power consumption of an information processing device to which an expansion device is attached. The present invention relates to an apparatus and method, and a program.

  Recent information processing apparatuses are often configured so that various expansion apparatuses can be attached thereto.

  As such an expansion device, for example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 disclose flash memory cards.

  As one of such expansion devices, an expansion device (hereinafter referred to as a USB peripheral device) that performs communication using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) has also become widespread.

  The power used by such an expansion device is often supplied from an information processing device to which the expansion device is connected. At this time, the voltage of power supplied to the USB peripheral device is often determined in advance according to the type (standard) of the expansion device.

  Therefore, the power consumption of the information processing device depends on the type (standard) of the expansion device connected thereto.

JP 2002-110911 A JP 2001-290498 A

  For this reason, an expansion device that operates at a higher voltage than other types (standards) of expansion devices (for example, the above-described flash memory card, etc.) (for example, a USB peripheral device that defines 5 [V] as the operating voltage) ) Is attached to the information processing apparatus, there is a problem that the power consumption of the information processing apparatus increases. To be precise, the operating voltage specified in the USB standard is a voltage range of 4.5 to 5.5 [V] (hereinafter, specifically referred to as a USB voltage range in order to be distinguished from other voltage ranges).

  This problem becomes more prominent when a USB peripheral device is attached to a portable information processing terminal. That is, the power source of the portable information processing terminal is often a battery, and as a result of the occurrence of this problem, there arises a problem that the life of the battery is shortened. However, in the case of a rechargeable battery such as a battery, the life of the battery refers to the time when the output voltage drops below the specified voltage after recharging.

  In addition, although the USB peripheral device itself is disclosed in Patent Document 1, the power supply method for the USB peripheral device is not disclosed as a matter of course. In Patent Literature 2, even the USB peripheral device itself is not disclosed or suggested. Therefore, both of the inventions of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have the above-described problems as they are, and as a result, even if these inventions are combined, the above-described problems are solved. It is difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and is intended to reduce power consumption of an information processing apparatus to which an expansion device (in particular, a USB peripheral device) is attached.

  An information processing system according to the present invention is an information processing system including a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus that operates by power supplied from the first information processing apparatus, and includes first information The processing device includes: a first connection unit to which the second information processing device is connected; a power supply unit that supplies power to the second information processing device connected to the first connection unit; When the second information processing apparatus is connected to the connection means, the operation mode of the second information processing apparatus is set from the normal mode to lower than the power consumption when the second information processing apparatus operates in the normal mode. Transmission control means for controlling transmission of a command for switching to a low power mode operating with power consumption to the second information processing apparatus via the first connection means, and the second information processing apparatus comprises: First of the first information processing apparatus When the second connection means connected to the connection means and the command transmitted from the first information processing apparatus are received via the second connection means, the operation mode is changed from the normal mode to the low mode based on the command. It is characterized by comprising transition means for making a transition to the power mode and execution means for executing a predetermined process in the low power mode that has been transited by the transition means.

  An information processing method for an information processing system according to the present invention is an information processing method for an information processing system that includes a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus that operates by power supplied from the first information processing apparatus. When the second information processing apparatus is connected to itself, the first information processing apparatus changes the operation mode of the second information processing apparatus from the normal mode to the second information processing apparatus. A command for shifting to a low power mode that operates with lower power consumption than when operating in the mode is transmitted to the second information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus receives the command from the first information processing apparatus. When a transmitted command is received, the operation mode is changed from the normal mode to the low power mode based on the command, and predetermined processing is executed in the low power mode.

  In the information processing system and the information processing method of the present invention, when the second information processing device is connected to the first information processing device, the first information processing device performs the second processing on the second information processing device. Electric power necessary for the operation of the two information processing apparatuses is supplied. Further, when the second information processing apparatus is connected to the first information processing apparatus, the operation mode of the second information processing apparatus is changed from the normal mode to the second information processing apparatus operating in the normal mode. A command for switching to a low power mode that operates with power consumption lower than power consumption is transmitted from the first information processing apparatus to the second information processing apparatus. As a result, the operation mode of the second information processing apparatus is changed from the normal mode to the low power mode, and a predetermined process is executed by the second information processing apparatus in the low power mode.

  A first information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a connection unit to which another information processing apparatus is connected, a power supply unit that supplies power to another information processing apparatus connected to the connection unit, and a connection unit. When other information processing devices are connected, the operation mode of the other information processing devices is changed from the normal mode to low power that operates with lower power consumption than when other information processing devices operate in the normal mode. Transmission control means for controlling transmission of a first command to be changed to a mode to another information processing apparatus via connection means is provided.

  After controlling the transmission of the first command, the transmission control means further sends a second command for requesting notification of the current operation mode of the other information processing apparatus to the other information processing apparatus via the connection means. The transmission can be controlled.

  The connection means may be a USB interface, and the other information processing device may be a USB peripheral device connected to the USB interface.

  In the first information processing apparatus of the present invention, power is supplied to other information processing apparatuses connected thereto. Also, when another information processing apparatus is connected, the operation mode of the other information processing apparatus operates from the normal mode with lower power consumption than when the other information processing apparatus operates in the normal mode. A command for switching to the low power mode is transmitted to another information processing apparatus.

  An information processing method according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a connection unit to which another information processing apparatus is connected, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the other information processing apparatus connected to the connection unit. An information processing method for a device, wherein when another information processing device is connected to the connection means, the operation mode of the other information processing device is changed from the normal mode to the other information processing device operating in the normal mode. It includes a transmission control step for controlling transmission of a first command for switching to a low power mode that operates with power consumption lower than power consumption to another information processing apparatus via the connection means.

  A first program of the present invention is a program that is executed by a computer that controls a main device including a connection unit to which an expansion device is connected and a power supply unit that supplies power to the expansion device connected to the connection unit. When the expansion device is connected to the connection means, the operation mode of the expansion device is changed from the normal mode to the low power mode in which the power consumption is lower than the power consumption when the expansion device operates in the normal mode. It includes a transmission control step for controlling transmission of the first command to be changed from the connection unit of the main apparatus to the expansion apparatus.

  In the first information processing method and the first program of the present invention, a connection unit to which another information processing device (or expansion device) is connected, and another information processing device (or expansion device) connected to the connection unit ) Is controlled by an information processing apparatus (or a main apparatus) that includes power supply means for supplying power to the apparatus. That is, when another information processing device is connected to the connection means, the power consumption of the other information processing device is changed from the normal mode to the power consumption lower than the power consumption when the other information processing device operates in the normal mode. It is controlled that the first command for transitioning to the low power mode that operates in is transmitted from the connecting means to another information processing apparatus.

  The second information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that is connected to another information processing apparatus and that is operated by power supplied from the other information processing apparatus, and is connected to the other information processing apparatus. And the operation mode of the information processing apparatus itself transmitted from the other information processing apparatus is changed from the normal mode to a low-power operation that is lower than the power consumption when the information processing apparatus itself operates in the normal mode. When the first command for transitioning to the power mode is received via the connection means, predetermined processing is performed in the transition means for transitioning the operation mode from the normal mode to the low power mode and the low power mode transitioned by the transition means. And executing means for executing.

  When the second command transmitted from the other information processing apparatus and requesting notification of the current operation mode of the information processing apparatus itself is received via the connection unit, information indicating the operation mode at that time is received. Transmission control means for controlling transmission to another information processing apparatus via the connection means can be further provided.

  The connection means may be a USB interface, and the information processing device may be an expansion device for other information processing devices connected to the USB interface.

  The second information processing apparatus of the present invention is connected to another information processing apparatus, and operates using power supplied from the other information processing apparatus. At this time, the operation mode of the second information processing apparatus transmitted from another information processing apparatus is changed from the normal mode to the power consumption lower than the power consumption when the second information processing apparatus operates in the normal mode. When the command for changing to the low power mode operating in (1) is received, the operation mode is changed from the normal mode to the low power mode, and predetermined processing is executed in the low power mode.

  A second information processing method of the present invention is an information processing method of an information processing apparatus that is connected to another information processing apparatus and operates by power supplied from the other information processing apparatus. A reception step of receiving the transmitted command for changing the operation mode of the information processing apparatus from the normal mode to the low power mode in which the information processing apparatus operates with lower power consumption than when the information processing apparatus operates in the normal mode. Based on the command received in the process of the receiving step, the predetermined process is executed in the transition step for transitioning the operation mode from the normal mode to the low power mode and the low power mode transitioned by the process of the transition step. An execution step.

  A second program of the present invention is a program that is executed by a computer that controls an expansion device that is connected to the main device and operates by power supplied from the main device, and is transmitted from the main device. A reception control step for controlling the expansion device to receive a command for transitioning the operation mode from the normal mode to a low power mode that operates with lower power consumption than when the expansion device operates in the normal mode; Based on the command whose reception is controlled in the processing of the reception control step, the expansion device includes a transition step for transitioning the operation mode of the expansion device from the normal mode to the low power mode, and the low power mode that is shifted by the processing of the transition step. And a process control step for controlling execution of a predetermined process.

  In the second information processing method and the second program of the present invention, information that is connected to another information processing apparatus (or main apparatus) and operates with electric power supplied from the other information processing apparatus (or main apparatus). A processing device (or expansion device) is controlled. That is, when the information processing device (or expansion device) operates in the normal mode from the normal mode, the operation mode of the information processing device (or expansion device) transmitted from another information processing device (or main device). It is controlled to cause the expansion device to receive a command for switching to a low power mode that operates at a power consumption lower than the power consumption of the extension device. Then, based on the command whose reception is controlled, the operation mode of the expansion device is changed from the normal mode to the low power mode, and the expansion device is controlled to execute a predetermined process in the low power mode.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an information processing apparatus that can be connected to an expansion device (for example, a USB peripheral device) can be provided. In particular, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the information processing apparatus when an expansion device is connected to the information processing apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between constituent elements described in the claims and specific examples in the embodiments of the present invention are exemplified as follows. This description is to confirm that specific examples supporting the invention described in the claims are described in the embodiments of the invention. Therefore, even if there are specific examples that are described in the embodiment of the invention but are not described here as corresponding to the configuration requirements, the specific examples are not included in the configuration. It does not mean that it does not correspond to a requirement. On the contrary, even if a specific example is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, this means that the specific example does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. not.

  Further, this description does not mean that all the inventions corresponding to the specific examples described in the embodiments of the invention are described in the claims. In other words, this description is an invention corresponding to the specific example described in the embodiment of the invention, and the existence of an invention not described in the claims of this application, that is, in the future, a divisional application will be made. Nor does it deny the existence of an invention added by amendment.

  According to the present invention, an information processing system is provided. This information processing system (for example, the information processing system in FIG. 1) is supplied from a first information processing apparatus (for example, the portable information processing apparatus 3 in FIGS. 1 and 5) and the first information processing apparatus. An information processing system including a second information processing device (for example, the USB peripheral device 2 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3) that operates with electric power, and the first information processing device includes the second information processing device. First connection means to which the device is connected (for example, the USB interface 31 in FIG. 5), and power supply means for supplying power to the second information processing apparatus connected to the first connection means ( For example, when the second information processing apparatus is connected to the power supply unit 109) in FIG. 5 and the first connection unit, the operation mode of the second information processing apparatus is set to the normal mode (for example, FIG. 4 normal mode), the second information A command (for example, the command of FIG. 8 in which the logical device is switched to the low power mode (for example, the low power mode of FIG. 4) that operates with lower power consumption than the power consumption when operating in the normal mode. In the specification, as will be described later, a transmission control unit (for example, FIG. 5) that controls transmission of a Set_power command to the second information processing apparatus via the first connection unit. USB communication control unit 101 and main control unit 102), and the second information processing device is connected to the first connection unit of the first information processing device (for example, a second connection unit). , When the command transmitted from the USB interface 21) and the first information processing apparatus is received via the second connection means, the operation mode is set to the normal mode based on the command. A transition unit (for example, the control unit 81 in FIG. 3 that executes the process of step S44 in FIG. 11) and a low power mode that has been transitioned by the transition unit. And executing means (for example, the control unit 81 in FIG. 3 that executes the process of step S49 in FIG. 11).

  According to the present invention, an information processing method corresponding to the information processing system described above is provided.

  According to the present invention, a first information processing apparatus is provided. This first information processing apparatus (for example, the portable information processing apparatus 3 in FIGS. 1 and 5) is connected to other information processing apparatuses (for example, the USB peripheral device 2 in FIG. 1) (for example, 5), power supply means for supplying power to the other information processing apparatus connected to the connection means (for example, the power supply unit 109 in FIG. 5), and the connection means When another information processing device is connected, the operation mode of the other information processing device is changed from the normal mode to a power consumption lower than that when the other information processing device operates in the normal mode. Transmission control means for controlling transmission of the first command for transition to the low power mode to the other information processing apparatus via the connection means (for example, the USB communication control part 101 and the main control part in FIG. 5) 102) And wherein the Rukoto.

  In the first information processing apparatus, the transmission control unit controls the transmission of the first command, and then further transmits a second command that requests notification of the current operation mode of the other information processing apparatus ( For example, for example, the command shown in FIG. 9 is referred to as “Get_power_mode command” in this specification, and is transmitted to the other information processing apparatus via the connection unit. Can be.

  According to the present invention, a first information processing method is provided. This first information processing method (for example, a method corresponding to the process of the flowchart of FIG. 7) includes a connection unit to which another information processing device (for example, the USB peripheral device 2 of FIG. 1) is connected (for example, An information processing apparatus (including a USB interface 31 in FIG. 5) and a power supply unit (for example, the power supply unit 109 in FIG. 5) that supplies power to the other information processing apparatus connected to the connection unit. For example, in the information processing method of the portable information processing device 3) of FIGS. 1 and 5, when the other information processing device is connected to the connection unit, the operation mode of the other information processing device is A command for switching from the normal mode to the low power mode in which the other information processing apparatus operates with power consumption lower than the power consumption when the other information processing apparatus operates in the normal mode via the connection unit. In Transmission control step for controlling to Shin (for example, step S27 in FIG. 7) characterized in that it comprises a.

  According to the present invention, a first program is provided. The first program includes connection means to which an expansion device (for example, the USB peripheral device 2 in FIG. 1) is connected, (for example, the USB interface 31 in FIG. 5), and the expansion device connected to the connection means. A computer (for example, FIG. 5) that controls a main apparatus (for example, the portable information processing apparatus 3 in FIGS. 1 and 5) having power supply means (for example, the power supply unit 109 in FIG. 5) for supplying power to the And a program corresponding to the above-described first information processing method of the present invention. This first program is stored in, for example, the built-in memory 110 of the main control unit 102 in FIG.

  According to the present invention, a second information processing apparatus is provided. This second information processing device (for example, the USB peripheral device 2 in FIGS. 1 and 3) is connected to another information processing device (for example, the portable information processing device 3 in FIGS. 1 and 5), and the other An information processing apparatus that operates with power supplied from the other information processing apparatus, and is connected to the other information processing apparatus (for example, the USB interface 21 in FIG. 3) and the other information processing apparatus. The transmitted operation mode of the information processing device itself is changed from the normal mode to the low power mode in which the information processing device itself operates with lower power consumption than when the information processing device itself operates in the normal mode. When the command 1 is received via the connection means, the transition means for changing the operation mode from the normal mode to the low power mode (for example, the process of step S44 in FIG. 11 is executed) 3) and execution means for executing a predetermined process in the low power mode shifted by the transition means (for example, the control section 81 of FIG. 3 for executing the process of step S49 of FIG. 11). ).

  The second information processing apparatus receives the second command transmitted from the other information processing apparatus for requesting notification of the current operation mode of the information processing apparatus itself via the connection unit. In this case, transmission control means (for example, FIG. 11) that controls transmission of information indicating the operation mode at that time (for example, information of the configuration in FIG. 10) to the other information processing apparatus via the connection means. It is possible to further provide a control unit 81) of FIG. 3 for executing the process of step S47.

  According to the present invention, a second information processing method is provided. This second information processing method (for example, a method corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. 11) is connected to another information processing device (for example, the portable information processing device 3 of FIGS. 1 and 5), and the other information An information processing method of an information processing apparatus (for example, the USB peripheral device 2 in FIGS. 1 and 3) that operates by power supplied from a processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus transmitted from the other information processing apparatus A reception step of receiving a command for changing the operation mode of the apparatus from the normal mode to the low power mode in which the information processing apparatus operates with power consumption lower than that when the information processing apparatus operates in the normal mode (for example, FIG. 11). The operation mode is changed from the normal mode to the low power mode based on the command received in the process of step S42 (YES)) and the command received in the process of the reception step. A transition step (for example, the process of step S44 of FIG. 11) to be transferred, and an execution step (for example, the process of step S49 of FIG. ).

  According to the present invention, a second program is provided. The second program is connected to the main device (for example, the portable information processing device 3 in FIGS. 1 and 5), and is operated by the power supplied from the main device (for example, FIGS. 1 and 3). A computer program for controlling a USB peripheral device 2) (for example, a computer (not shown) included in the control unit 81 of FIG. 3), which corresponds to the above-described second information processing method of the present invention. It is. This second program is stored in, for example, a built-in memory (not shown) of the control unit 81 in FIG.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied, that is, an information processing system including an information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

  In FIG. 1, white dotted arrows indicate the flow of power, and dotted arrows indicate the flow of information.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an information processing system to which the present invention is applied includes an arbitrary number (one in the example of FIG. 1) of stationary information processing apparatuses 1 and an arbitrary number (in the example of FIG. One USB peripheral device 2 and an arbitrary number of portable information processing devices 3 (one in the example of FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 1, each of the stationary information processing device 1, the USB peripheral device 2, and the portable information processing device 3 is provided with a USB interface 11, a USB interface 21, and a USB interface 31. It has been.

  That is, the USB peripheral device 2 and the stationary information processing device 1 can be connected to each other via the USB interface 21 and the USB interface 11. In this case, the power used by the USB peripheral device 2 is supplied from the stationary information processing device 1.

  The USB peripheral device 2 and the portable information processing device 3 can be connected to each other via the USB interface 21 and the USB interface 31. In this case, the power used by the USB peripheral device 2 is supplied from the portable information processing device 3.

  Furthermore, when the USB peripheral device 2 and the portable information processing device 3 are connected via the USB interface 21 and the USB interface 31, in this embodiment, the operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 is set to the normal mode. From the portable information processing device 3, the portable information processing device 3 transmits to the USB peripheral device 2 a command for switching to the low power mode in which the USB peripheral device 2 operates with lower power consumption than when the USB peripheral device 2 operates in the normal mode. As a result, the operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 is changed from the normal mode to the low power mode, and predetermined processing is executed by the USB peripheral device 2 in the low power mode.

  Therefore, at this time, the power supplied from the portable information processing device 3 to the USB peripheral device 2 is smaller than the conventional power (power when the USB peripheral device 2 operates in the normal mode). That is, it is possible to achieve an effect of reducing power consumption on the portable information processing device 3 side.

  The details of such a series of processing and various information related to the processing (operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2, commands transmitted from the portable information processing device 3 to the USB peripheral device 2, etc.) will be described later. To do.

  A configuration example of each of the stationary information processing device 1, the USB peripheral device 2, and the portable information processing device 3 constituting such an information processing system is shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. It is shown. Therefore, referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5, respectively, one configuration example of each of the stationary information processing device 1, the USB peripheral device 2, and the portable information processing device 3 will be described in that order. I will explain.

  First, a configuration example of the stationary information processing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example when the stationary information processing apparatus 1 is configured as a personal computer.

  In the stationary information processing apparatus 1 of FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51 is loaded into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 53 from a program recorded in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 52 or a storage unit 58. Various processes are executed according to the program. The RAM 53 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 51 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 51, ROM 52, and RAM 53 are connected to each other via a bus 54. An input / output interface 55 is also connected to the bus 54.

  The input / output interface 55 includes an input unit 56 such as a keyboard and a mouse, an output unit 57 composed of a display, a storage unit 58 composed of a hard disk, and a communication unit 59 composed of a modem, a terminal adapter, etc. It is connected.

  The communication unit 59 performs communication processing with other information processing apparatuses (not shown) via a network (not shown) including the Internet. For example, when content data is distributed from a content (music etc.) distribution server existing on the Internet, the communication unit 59 can receive the content data and provide it to the storage unit 58 or the like. That is, the stationary information processing apparatus 1 can download content data distributed from the content distribution server and store it in the storage unit 58 or the like.

  A drive 60 is connected to the input / output interface 55 as necessary, and a removable recording medium 61 made of a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like is appropriately installed, and a computer program read from them is read. Are installed in the storage unit 58 as necessary.

  The above-described USB interface 11 is further connected to the input / output interface 55. That is, the stationary information processing apparatus 1 has a USB host function and can communicate with the USB peripheral device 2 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 described later) connected to the USB interface 11. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 described above, the stationary information processing apparatus 1 can supply power to the USB peripheral device 2 connected to the USB interface 11.

  In FIG. 2, the stationary information processing apparatus 1 is configured as a personal computer, but the form is not limited to the example of FIG. 2 as long as the form has a USB host function. Specifically, for example, the stationary information processing apparatus 1 can be configured as a stationary audio device, a stationary television receiver, a stationary hard disk recorder, or the like.

  Next, a configuration example of the USB peripheral device 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example when the USB peripheral device 2 is configured as a USB semiconductor storage device (so-called semiconductor memory).

  In FIG. 3, white arrows indicate the flow of power, and solid arrows indicate the flow of information.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the USB peripheral device 2 includes, in addition to the USB interface 21 described above, an information processing device that is a connection destination (in the example of FIG. 1, the stationary information processing device 1 or the portable information processing device 3). The control part 81 and the memory | storage part 82 which operate | move with the electric power supplied from are provided.

  The control unit 81 controls the entire USB peripheral device 2. That is, the control unit 81 controls, for example, communication with a connection destination information processing apparatus.

  Specifically, for example, when the connection destination is the stationary information processing apparatus 1 (when the USB peripheral device 2 is attached to the stationary information processing apparatus 1), the control unit 81 The data (such as music content data) supplied from is received via the USB interface 21 and stored in the storage unit 82.

  Thereafter, for example, when the USB peripheral device 2 is attached to the portable information processing device 3 (when the connection destination is the portable information processing device 3), the control unit 81 includes the data stored in the storage unit 82. The predetermined data is read out from the computer and transmitted to the portable information processing device 3 via the USB interface 21.

  Further, for example, the control unit 81 is held by itself or the storage unit 82 based on an instruction from the information processing apparatus (the stationary information processing apparatus 1 or the portable information processing apparatus 3) as a connection destination. Control is performed to transmit information (self-profile information, which will be described later) to the information processing apparatus of the connection destination via the USB interface 21.

  Further, for example, the control unit 81 controls (manages) the operation mode (state) of the USB peripheral device 2.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 4, the operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 of this Embodiment is demonstrated. That is, FIG. 4 shows an example of the state (operation mode) transition of the USB peripheral device 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a normal mode and a low power mode are provided as operation modes of the USB peripheral device 2. However, as will be described later, the normal mode is further divided into a full speed mode and a high speed mode.

  The normal mode is an operation mode for operating the USB peripheral device 2 with normal power consumption. In the example of FIG. 1, the operation mode selected when the USB peripheral device 2 is mounted on the stationary information processing device 1. It is.

  On the other hand, the low power mode is an operation mode in which the USB peripheral device 2 is operated with lower power consumption than in the normal mode. In the example of FIG. This is an operation mode that is selected when it is attached to the camera.

  The transition from the normal mode to the low power mode and the transition from the low power mode to the normal mode are executed when predetermined conditions (hereinafter referred to as transition conditions) are satisfied.

  In FIG. 4, such a transition condition is represented by adding numbers 91 and 92 to an arrow indicating a transition from one of the normal mode and the low power mode to the other.

  Specifically, for example, here, when the power supply state of the USB peripheral device 2 is turned on, that is, the information processing device to which the USB peripheral device 2 is connected (in the example of FIG. 1, stationary information processing). When power supply from the device 1 or the portable information processing device 3) is started, the initial state is changed to the normal mode (including the transition from the normal mode to the normal mode, that is, the normal mode is maintained). .

  Further, here, when the power supply state of the USB peripheral device 2 is turned off, that is, when the power supply from the information processing apparatus connected to the USB peripheral device 2 is stopped, the control unit 81 holds the operation mode at that time. And

  Therefore, for example, when the operation mode at the time when the power supply state of the USB peripheral device 2 is turned off is the low power mode, the low power mode is maintained. Thereafter, when the power supply state of the USB peripheral device 2 is turned on, the control unit 81 determines that the transition condition 92 is satisfied, and makes a transition from the low power mode to the normal mode.

  On the other hand, for example, when the operation mode at the time when the power supply state of the USB peripheral device 2 is turned off is the normal mode, the normal mode is maintained. Thereafter, when the power supply state of the USB peripheral device 2 is turned on, the arrow indicating the transition condition is not shown, but the control unit 81 makes a transition from the normal mode to the normal mode (holds the normal mode).

  At this point, that is, when the power supply state of the USB peripheral device 2 is turned on and the operation mode becomes the normal mode, it will be described later that the USB peripheral device 2 is attached to the portable information processing device 3. As described above, the portable information processing device 3 transmits a command (dedicated command) for changing the operation mode to the low power mode to the USB peripheral device 2.

  When the control unit 81 obtains (receives) the dedicated command via the USB interface 21, the control unit 81 determines that the transition condition 91 is satisfied, and makes a transition from the normal mode to the low power mode.

  Of course, the transition condition 91 and the transition condition 92 are not limited to the above-described example, and various conditions are conceivable. In particular, regarding the transition condition 92, in the above-described example, “the power supply state is turned on”, but in this case, when the connection destination remains the portable information processing device 3, the portable information The processing device 3 needs to retransmit a command (dedicated command) for changing the operation mode to the low power mode to the USB peripheral device 2 every time the power supply state of the USB peripheral device 2 changes from the off state to the on state. is there. Therefore, in such a case, for example, a command (dedicated command) for changing the operation mode to the normal mode is transmitted as the transition condition 92, so that the low power mode is maintained, and the portable information processing device The retransmission of the dedicated command from 3 (command for changing the operation mode to the low power mode) becomes unnecessary.

  Such a dedicated command will be described later with reference to FIG. Details of the series of processes described above will be described later with reference to flowcharts and arrow charts in FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 3, various other commands (for example, commands shown in FIG. 9 described later) may be transmitted from the portable information processing apparatus 3, and the control unit 81 transmits these commands to the USB. Acquired (received) via the interface 21 and executes processing corresponding to the acquired command. Details of such processing will also be described later with reference to flowcharts and arrow charts in FIG.

  The storage unit 82 is configured as, for example, a semiconductor memory element, and stores data provided from a connection information processing apparatus (for example, the stationary information processing apparatus 1 in the above-described example). Specifically, for example, when the portable information processing device 3 is configured as a portable audio playback device as shown in FIG. 5 to be described later, voice and music data provided from the stationary information processing device 1 or the like Is stored in the storage unit 82. It should be noted that such voice and music data may be data (compressed data) encoded by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method or the like so that a large number of such data can be stored in the storage unit 82.

  In FIG. 3, the USB peripheral device 2 is configured as a USB semiconductor storage device, but the form is not limited to the example in FIG. 3, and can take various forms. However, in order to enjoy the effect of the present invention (power saving effect on the portable information processing device 3 side), it is necessary to provide the low power mode as shown in FIG. 4 as the operation mode.

  In other words, the USB peripheral device 2 to which the present invention is applied has a low power mode as its operation mode in order to save power on the information processing device (portable information processing device 3 in the present embodiment) of the connection destination. It is characterized by providing. Therefore, hereinafter, when it is necessary to distinguish the USB peripheral device 2 to which the present invention is applied from other USB peripheral devices (conventional USB peripheral devices), the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function is particularly referred to.

  Next, a configuration example of the portable information processing device 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration when the portable information processing device 3 is configured as a portable audio playback device.

  Similar to FIG. 3 described above, also in FIG. 5, white arrows indicate the flow of power, and solid arrows indicate the flow of information.

  In the portable information processing device 3 of FIG. 5, the USB communication control unit 101 has a USB host function. That is, the USB communication control unit 101 controls communication with the USB peripheral device 2 (FIGS. 1 and 3) connected to the USB interface 31 based on the control of the main control unit 102.

  More specifically, for example, the USB peripheral device 2 is configured as a USB semiconductor storage device as shown in FIG. 3 described above, and a plurality of (songs of music and music data encoded in MPEG format) ) I remember it.

  In this case, for example, when the USB peripheral device 2 is connected (attached) to a predetermined one (not shown) of the hubs of the USB interface 31, the USB communication control unit 101 recognizes the hub.

  Then, the USB communication control unit 101 recognizes the USB peripheral device 2 connected to the hub (since it is still unclear what the USB peripheral device 2 is), the USB peripheral device 2 Self-profile information, that is, an acquisition request such as PID (product ID) and VID (vendor ID) is transmitted to the USB peripheral device 2 via the USB interface 31.

  Then, since the self-profile information is transmitted from the USB peripheral device 2, the USB communication control unit 101 acquires (receives) the self-profile information via the USB interface 31 and recognizes the USB peripheral device 2.

  The series of recognition processes of the USB communication control unit 101 as described above will be appropriately referred to as enumeration processes hereinafter.

  Further, the USB communication control unit 101, for example, when a user gives an instruction to play a predetermined song (a block for inputting an instruction from the user is not shown), Then, the data of the music instructed to be reproduced, the data of the related information of the music, etc. are acquired (received) via the USB interface 31 and provided to the main control unit 102.

  The USB communication control unit 101 further supplies (relays) the power supplied from the power supply unit 109 to the USB peripheral device 2 via the USB interface 31.

  The main control unit 102 controls the entire portable information processing device 3. That is, the main control unit 102 is provided with a built-in memory 110 composed of ROM, RAM, etc., and the main control unit 102 (a CPU (not shown) provided therein) is recorded in the built-in memory 110. Various processes are executed according to the program.

  For example, when the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function is attached, the main control unit 102 executes processing according to the flowchart of FIG.

  The main control unit 102 is connected to the USB communication control unit 101 described above, an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) 103, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) 104, a decoding unit 105, a voltage setting unit. 108 and a power supply unit 109 are connected.

  The SRAM 103 stores voice and music data (data encoded by the MPEG system) provided from the USB peripheral device 2. On the other hand, the EEPROM 104 stores information (data) indicating the state (playback state) of the portable information processing apparatus 3, for example, information on the currently played music (data), information on the output volume (volume), and the like. Remember. As will be described later, the EEPROM 104 may store a setting value of the output voltage of the power supply unit 109 (a voltage setting value for the USB peripheral device 2 set by the voltage setting unit 108).

  The decoding unit 105 decodes audio and music data (data encoded by the MPEG system) supplied from the SRAM 103 via the main control unit 102, and converts it into an A / D conversion unit (Analog / Digital conversion) as a digital audio signal. Part) 106.

  The A / D conversion unit 106 converts the digital audio signal supplied from the decoding unit 105 into an analog audio signal and supplies the analog audio signal to the audio output unit 107.

  The audio output unit 107 is configured as a speaker, a headphone terminal, or the like (or configured as a combination thereof). When the audio output unit 107 is configured as a speaker, the audio output unit 107 converts the analog audio signal supplied from the A / D conversion unit 106 into audio and outputs the audio to the outside. On the other hand, when the audio output unit 107 is configured as a headphone terminal, the audio output unit 107 outputs an analog audio signal supplied from the A / D conversion unit 106 to headphones connected thereto.

  The voltage setting unit 108 sets the voltage of the power supplied from the power supply unit 109 and supplies the setting result (voltage setting value) to the main control unit 102. The main control unit 102 supplies the voltage setting value supplied from the voltage setting unit 108 to the power supply unit 109.

  Then, the power supply unit 109 uses the battery 111 attached to the portable information processing device 3 as an input power supply, and the voltage (voltage) set by the voltage setting unit 108 for each part of the portable information processing device 3. Power is supplied at a voltage of a voltage setting value supplied from the setting unit 108 via the main control unit 102. The battery 111 referred to here refers to a broad battery including a so-called dry battery and a rechargeable battery.

  At this time, as described above, the operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 is shifted to the low power mode under the control of the main control unit 102 (by the command transmission process of FIG. 8 described later), and as a result, the power supply unit The power supplied from 109 to the USB peripheral device 2 is smaller than the conventional power (power supplied when the operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 is the normal mode). In this way, it is possible to achieve the effect of reducing the power consumption of the portable information processing device 3.

  In FIG. 5, the portable information processing device 3 is configured as a portable audio playback device. However, the portable information processing device 3 has a USB host function and can execute processing when a USB peripheral device described later is mounted. If it is a processing device (terminal), the form is not limited to the example of FIG. Specifically, for example, the portable information processing apparatus 3 can be configured as a portable audio recording / playback apparatus capable of recording, or can be configured as a portable video playback apparatus or recording / playback apparatus. Alternatively, the portable information processing device 3 can be configured by a portable telephone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), or the like.

  The information processing system according to the present embodiment has been described above with reference to FIGS.

  Next, referring to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6, 7, and 11, and the arrow charts of FIGS. 12 and 13, the USB peripheral device in the operation of the information processing system (FIG. 1) of the present embodiment. The operation when 2 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is attached to the stationary information processing apparatus 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) or the portable information processing apparatus 3 (FIGS. 1 and 5) will be described.

  FIG. 6 shows processing when the peripheral information processing apparatus 1 is mounted with a USB peripheral device (such as the USB peripheral device 2 with a low power mode function). FIG. 7 shows processing when the portable information processing device 3 is mounted with a USB peripheral device (such as the USB peripheral device 2 with a low power mode function). FIG. 11 shows processing of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function (processing on the USB peripheral device 2 side corresponding to the processing in FIGS. 6 and 7).

  Therefore, referring to the flowcharts of FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 11, hereinafter, each of the stationary information processing device 1, the portable information processing device 3, and the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function will be described. The processing will be described individually in that order. Note that the mutual processing relationship of these devices can be easily understood by referring to the corresponding steps in the arrow chart of FIG. 12 or FIG.

  First, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, a process when the stationary information processing apparatus 1 is mounted with a USB peripheral device will be described.

  First, in step S1, the CPU 51 in FIG. 2 determines whether or not a USB peripheral device is attached (to the USB interface 11).

  If it is determined in step S1 that the USB peripheral device is not attached, the process returns to step S1, and it is determined again whether or not the USB peripheral device is attached. That is, the CPU 51 constantly monitors whether a USB peripheral device is connected (attached) to the USB interface 11.

  For example, assume that the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power function shown in FIG. 3 is connected (attached) to the USB interface 11 of the stationary information processing apparatus 1.

  In this case, the CPU 51 determines in step S1 that the USB peripheral device is attached, and advances the process to step S2.

  Although not shown in FIG. 6, at this time, the stationary information processing apparatus 1 starts to supply power to the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function.

  In step S2, the CPU 51 executes an enumeration process with its own USB interface 11 (hub unit not shown) (acquires self profile information of the hub unit).

  In step S3, the CPU 51 executes an enumeration process with the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function. That is, at this time, as will be described later, since the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function transmits the self profile information (step S41 in FIGS. 11 and 12), the CPU 51 transfers the self profile information to the USB. Obtained via the interface 11.

  In step S4, the CPU 51 executes a normal operation (for example, a process of writing data to the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function).

  At this time, as will be described later, the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function determines that the Set_power command (see FIG. 8 described later) has not been received, and executes processing in the normal mode (FIG. 11). And steps S42 (NO) and S43 in FIG.

  With the above processing, the processing of the stationary information processing apparatus 1 when the USB peripheral device is mounted is completed.

  Thus, the process of the flowchart of FIG. 6 is basically the same process as the process of the conventional information processing apparatus. Therefore, when the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function is mounted on the stationary information processing device 1 (which executes the process of the flowchart of FIG. 6), it operates in the normal mode as in the conventional case. .

  On the other hand, the process of the flowchart of FIG. 7 to be described next is a process to which the present invention is applied. Therefore, as described below, the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function operates in the low power mode when mounted on the portable information processing device 3 (which executes the process of the flowchart of FIG. 7). As a result, the power consumption of the portable information processing device 3 can be reduced as compared with the conventional one (power consumption of the stationary information processing device 1).

  Hereinafter, the process of the flowchart of FIG. 7 to which the present invention is applied, that is, the process when the portable information processing apparatus 3 to which the present invention is applied when the USB peripheral device is mounted will be described.

  When a USB peripheral device other than the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function is attached to the portable information processing device 3, the above-described processing of the stationary information processing device 1 when the USB peripheral device is attached (FIG. 6). ) Is basically executed in the same manner as).

  That is, first, as the processes of steps S21 to S23, basically the same processes as the processes of steps 1 to S3 (FIG. 6) described above are executed.

  In step S24, it is determined that the USB peripheral device 2 is not equipped with the low power mode function, and the processing in steps S25 to S28 described later is not executed (omitted), but the processing proceeds to step S29. That is, in step S29, the normal operation is executed, and the processing when the portable information processing device 3 is mounted with the USB peripheral device is ended.

  However, the normal operation in step S29 (normal operation of the portable information processing device 3) is often different from the normal operation in step S4 (FIG. 6) (normal operation of the stationary information processing device 1). Specifically, for example, as a normal operation in step S29, a process of reading data stored in the USB peripheral device and decoding and reproducing the data is executed.

  On the other hand, when the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function (the USB peripheral device 2 to which the present invention is applied) is attached to the portable information processing device 3, the following processing is executed. Is done.

  That is, first, the main control unit 102 in FIG. 5 determines that the USB peripheral device 2 has the low power mode function in step S24 after executing the above-described steps S21 to S23, and performs the processing. Proceed to step S25.

  In step S <b> 25, the main control unit 102 sends a command (dedicated command) for changing the operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function to the low power mode via the USB communication control unit 101 and the USB interface 31. Send to USB peripheral device 2 with low power mode function.

  Then, the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function receives this dedicated command and switches the operation mode to the low power mode as described later (steps S42 (YES) and S44 in FIGS. 11 and 13).

  Then, the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function transmits “operation ready” to the portable information processing device 3 (step S45 in FIGS. 11 and 13).

  During this time, the main control unit 102 repeatedly determines whether or not there is a response from the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function in step S26. That is, until “operation ready” is transmitted, the main control unit 102 determines in step S26 that there is no response from the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function, and repeats the process of returning the process to step S26. Running. In other words, the main control unit 102 constantly monitors that “operation ready” is transmitted.

  When “operation ready” is transmitted, the main control unit 102 receives (acquires) via the USB interface 31 and the USB communication control unit 101, and receives a response from the USB peripheral device in step S26. The process proceeds to step S27.

  By the way, the dedicated command transmitted in the process of step S25 is performed by the portable information processing device 3 and the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function attached to the above-described series of processes (steps S25 and S26, and The command is not particularly limited as long as the command can execute steps S42 to S45) in FIGS.

  However, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the dedicated command transmitted in step S25 is a command having the configuration shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of a command (dedicated command) for transitioning the operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function to the low power mode.

  Hereinafter, the command having the configuration shown in FIG. 8 is referred to as a Set_power command in order to distinguish it from other commands (commands shown in FIG. 9 to be described later). That is, in the process of step S25, the Set_power command is transmitted from the portable information processing device 3 to the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the Set_power command is 6-byte (BYTE) data.

  In the first 1-byte (0th byte) area, information (code) indicating the type of command, called Operation Code, is described. Therefore, in the 0th byte area of the Set_power command in FIG. 8, the code corresponding to the command for setting the operation mode (Power mode) of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function is set as the Operation Code (in the example of FIG. 8). , C4h (hexa)) will be described.

  A command called PWR Mode is described in the 0th bit area of the next 1 byte (1st byte). When “0” is described as the PWR Mode, the “0” is a command for setting the operation mode (Power mode) of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function to the normal mode. On the other hand, when “1” is described as the PWR Mode, the “1” is a command for setting the operation mode (Power mode) of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function to the low power mode. .

  Accordingly, the Set_poer command transmitted in the process of step S25 is a command (dedicated command) for shifting the operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function to the low power mode, so “1” is set as the PWR Mode. Will be described.

  In the second and third byte areas, a bit string indicating the VID of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function (shown as USB VID (MSB / LSB) in FIG. 8) is provided. Described. That is, the VID acquired by the enumeration process in step S23 described above is described.

  Note that the 1st to 7th bit areas of the first byte, the 4th byte area, and the 5th byte area are reserved areas.

  Returning to FIG. 7, the main control unit 102 transmits the Set_poer command as described above to the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function, and when the response is returned from the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function, If it is determined in step S26 that there is a response from the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function, the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S27, the main control unit 102 sends a dedicated command for requesting notification of the current operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function via the USB communication control unit 101 and the USB interface 31. Send to USB peripheral device 2 with function.

  Then, as described later, the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function receives this dedicated command, and displays information indicating the current operation mode (that is, the low power mode) and “operation ready”. In this order, the information is transmitted to the portable information processing device 3 (steps S46 (YES), S47, S48 in FIGS. 11 and 13).

  During this time, the main control unit 102 repeatedly determines whether or not there is a response from the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function in step S28. That is, until the information indicating the current operation mode (that is, the low power mode) and “operation ready” are transmitted together, the main control unit 102 in step S28, the USB peripheral device with the low power mode function. It is determined that there is no response from 2, and the process of returning the process to step S28 is repeatedly executed. In other words, the main control unit 102 constantly monitors that information indicating the current operation mode (that is, the low power mode) and “operation ready” are transmitted.

  Then, when information indicating the current operation mode (that is, the low power mode) is transmitted and then “operation ready” is transmitted, the main control unit 102 switches the USB interface 31 and the USB communication control unit 101 to each other. Then, they are sequentially received (acquired) in that order, and in step S28, it is determined that there is a response from the USB peripheral device, and in step S29, normal operation is executed.

  At this time, as will be described later, the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function executes processing in the low power mode (step S49 in FIGS. 11 and 13).

  Therefore, at this time (at the time of the process of step S29 executed after the processes of the above steps S25 to S28 are executed), the power supplied from the power supply unit 109 to the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function is the conventional one. Power (the power at the time of the processing of step S29 executed after it is determined that the USB peripheral device 2 is attached and, as a result, is not the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function in the processing of step S24). Compared to less. That is, it is possible to achieve the effect of reducing the power consumption of the portable information processing device 3.

  With the above processing, the processing of the portable information processing device 3 when the USB peripheral device is mounted is completed.

  By the way, the dedicated command transmitted in the process of step S27 is performed by the portable information processing device 3 and the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function attached to the above-described series of processes (steps S27 and S28, and There is no particular limitation as long as it is a command that enables execution of steps S46 to S48) in FIGS.

  However, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the dedicated command transmitted in step S25 is a command having the configuration shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of a command (dedicated command) for requesting notification of the current operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function.

  Hereinafter, the command having the configuration shown in FIG. 9 is referred to as a Get_power_mode command in order to distinguish it from other commands (such as the command shown in FIG. 8 described above). That is, in step S27, the Get_power_mode command is transmitted from the portable information processing device 3 to the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the Get_poer_mode command is 6-byte (BYTE) data, similar to the Set_power command (FIG. 8).

  Similar to the Set_power command, the operation code is described in the first 1 byte (0th byte) area. However, in the area of the 0th byte in the Get_power_mode command in FIG. 9, a code corresponding to a command requesting notification of the current operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function is provided as the Operation Code (in the example of FIG. 9). , C5h (hexa)) will be described.

  The VID of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function (shown as USB VID (MSB / LSB) in FIG. 9) is shown in the second and third byte areas, as with the Set_power command. A bit string is described. That is, the VID acquired by the enumeration process in step S23 described above is described.

  Note that the second, fourth, and fifth byte areas are reserved areas.

  Also, information indicating the current operation mode transmitted from the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function in response to such a Get_poer_mode command (transmitted in step S47 in FIGS. 11 and 13) is also portable information. Any information that can be recognized by the processing device 3 is not particularly limited.

  However, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the information indicating the current operation mode is information of the configuration shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of information indicating the current operation mode transmitted from the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function in response to the Get_poer_mode command (transmitted in step S47 in FIGS. 11 and 13). Show.

  Information called PWR Mode is described in the 0th to 2nd bit areas of the first 1 byte (0th byte). When “001” is described as the PWR Mode, the “001” is information indicating that the current operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function is the low power mode. On the other hand, when “010” or “100” is described, “010” or “100” indicates that the current operation mode of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function is the normal mode. It becomes information to show. Specifically, “010” is information indicating the full speed mode in the normal mode. Further, “100” is information indicating the high speed mode in the normal mode.

  Therefore, in response to the Get_poer_mode command, transmitted from the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function (transmitted in step S47 in FIGS. 11 and 13), the configuration information in FIG. Since the information needs to indicate the power mode, “001” is described as the PWR Mode.

  Note that the first to third byte areas are reserved areas.

  In the above, the process (process of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) at the time of USB peripheral device mounting | wearing of the stationary information processing apparatus 1 and the portable information processing apparatus 3 was demonstrated.

  Next, processing of the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function corresponding to these processing (the processing of FIG. 6 or FIG. 7) will be described with reference to FIG.

  Here, the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function is already connected to the information processing device (in the example of FIG. 1, the stationary information processing device 1 or the portable information processing device 3) (power feeding has already started). In the following description, it is assumed that the operation mode has already shifted to the normal mode which is the initial state.

  First, in step S41, the control unit 81 executes an enumeration process with the connection information processing apparatus (transmits self profile information to the connection information processing apparatus).

  In step S42, the control unit 81 determines whether a Set_power command (FIG. 8) has been received.

  For example, when the information processing apparatus as the connection destination is the stationary information processing apparatus 1, as described above, the Set_power command is not particularly transmitted (or even if it is transmitted, the PWR Mode in FIG. 8 is set). Since “0” is described), the control unit 81 determines in step S42 that the Set_power command has not been received, and executes processing in the normal mode in step S43.

  On the other hand, for example, when the information processing apparatus of the connection destination is the portable information processing apparatus 3, as described above, the Set_power command is transmitted in the process of step S25 (FIGS. 7 and 13). (Because “1” is described in PWR Mode in FIG. 8), the control unit 81 receives it via the USB interface 21 (determines that the Set_power command has been received in step S42), In S44, the operation mode is switched to the low power mode.

  In step S45, the control unit 81 transmits “operation ready” to the portable information processing device 3 (that is, responds to the portable information processing device 3).

  As described above, when the portable information processing device 3 receives this “operation ready”, this time, the Get_power_mode command (FIG. 9) is transmitted in the process of step S27 (FIGS. 7 and 13). .

  During this time, the control unit 81 repeatedly determines whether or not the Get_power_mode command has been received in step S46. That is, until the Get_power_mode command is transmitted, the control unit 81 determines in step S46 that the Get_power_mode command has not been received, and repeatedly executes the process of returning the process to step S46. In other words, the control unit 81 constantly monitors the transmission of the Get_power_mode command.

  When the Get_power_mode command is transmitted, the control unit 81 receives it via the USB interface 21 (determines that the Get_power_mode command has been received in step S46), and advances the processing to step S47.

  In step S47, the control unit 81 obtains information indicating the current operation mode (that is, the low power mode) (in this case, information in FIG. 10 and information in which “001” is described in PWR Mode). The data is transmitted to the portable information processing device 3 via the USB interface 21.

  Subsequent to step S47, in step S48, the control unit 81 transmits “operation ready” to the portable information processing device 3 (that is, responds to the portable information processing device 3).

  In step S49, the control unit 81 executes processing in the low power mode.

  Therefore, at this time, the power supplied from the portable information processing device 3 to the USB peripheral device 2 with the low power mode function is smaller than the conventional power (power when operating in the normal mode). Yes. That is, it is possible to achieve an effect of reducing power consumption on the portable information processing device 3 side.

  The information processing system shown in FIG. 1 has been described above as an example, but the information processing system to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the form of FIG. 1 and can take various forms.

  In other words, an information processing system to which the present invention is applied is an information processing system including a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus that operates by power supplied from the first information processing apparatus. The first information processing apparatus supplies power to the first connection means to which the second information processing apparatus is connected and the second information processing apparatus connected to the first connection means. And when the second information processing apparatus is connected to the first connection means, the operation mode of the second information processing apparatus is changed from the normal mode to the second information processing apparatus operating in the normal mode. Transmission control means for controlling transmission of a command for transitioning to a low power mode that operates at power consumption lower than power consumption to the second information processing apparatus via the first connection means; and The second information processing apparatus When the second connection means connected to the first connection means of one information processing apparatus and the command transmitted from the first information processing apparatus are received via the second connection means, As long as there is provided a transition means for transitioning the operation mode from the normal mode to the low power mode based on the above and an execution means for executing a predetermined process in the low power mode shifted by the transition means, the form is not particularly limited. .

  In other words, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the first connection unit and the second connection unit are the USB interface 31 and the USB interface 21, respectively, and the first information processing apparatus and the second connection unit are connected. One embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied when each of the information processing devices is a portable information processing device 3 and a USB peripheral device 2 is the information processing shown in FIG. System.

  Accordingly, although not shown in the drawings, for example, by using a Memory Stick (trademark) as the second information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus uses the data stored in the memory stick. It can be configured as a device.

  A memory stick is a type of flash memory card developed by Sony Corporation, the applicant of the present application. This memory stick stores a flash memory device, a type of EEPROM that is a nonvolatile memory that can be electrically rewritten and erased, in a small, thin plastic case measuring 21.5 x 50 x 2.8 mm. It is possible to write and read various data such as images, sounds and music via a 10-pin terminal. The memory stick also stores a data control controller.

  By the way, when the above-described series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software is installed from a network or a recording medium.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the recording medium is distributed to distribute the program to the user separately from the apparatus main body, and includes a magnetic disk (including a floppy disk) on which the program is recorded. ), Optical disk (including compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), DVD (digital versatile disk)), magneto-optical disk (including MD (mini-disk)), or semiconductor memory 61 (FIG. 2), as well as a ROM 52 (FIG. 2) in which a program is recorded and a built-in memory (built-in memory 110 in FIG. 3 and a hard disk included in the storage unit 58 (FIG. 5) or the like.

  The series of processes described above may be executed by hardware as needed.

  Further, in the present specification, the step of describing the program recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but may be performed in parallel or It also includes processes that are executed individually.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the information processing system to which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the stationary information processing apparatus of the information processing system of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the USB peripheral device of the information processing system of FIG. FIG. 4 is a state transition diagram illustrating an example of an operation mode of the USB peripheral device of FIG. 3. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the portable information processing apparatus of the information processing system of FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example when the USB peripheral device is mounted in the stationary information processing apparatus (FIG. 2) of the information processing system in FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example when the USB peripheral device is mounted in the portable information processing device (FIG. 5) of the information processing system of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a Set_Power command transmitted from the portable information processing device (FIG. 5) to the USB peripheral device 2 (FIG. 3) in the process of step S25 of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a Get_power_mode command transmitted from the portable information processing device (FIG. 5) to the USB peripheral device 2 (FIG. 3) in the process of step S27 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information transmitted from the USB peripheral device 2 as a response with respect to a Get_power_mode command, ie, the information which shows the present operation mode. In the information processing system of FIG. 1, a USB peripheral device corresponding to the processing of the stationary information processing device (FIG. 2) (the processing of FIG. 6) and the processing of the portable information processing device (FIG. 5) (the processing of FIG. 7). 6 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example of 2. It is an arrow chart explaining the relationship of the process of a stationary information processing apparatus (FIG. 2) and the USB peripheral device 2 (FIG. 3). 6 is an arrow chart for explaining a processing relationship between the portable information processing device (FIG. 5) and the USB peripheral device 2 (FIG. 3).

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Stationary information processing apparatus, 2 USB peripheral device, 3 Portable information processing apparatus, 11, 21, 31 USB interface, 81 Control part 81 Memory | storage part, 101 USB communication control part, 102 Main control part, 103 SRAM, 104 EEPROM , 105 decoding unit, 106 A / D conversion unit, 107 audio output unit, 108 voltage setting unit, 109 power supply unit, 110 built-in memory

Claims (12)

In an information processing system comprising a first information processing device and a second information processing device that operates by power supplied from the first information processing device,
The first information processing apparatus includes:
First connection means to which the second information processing apparatus is connected;
Power supply means for supplying power to the second information processing apparatus connected to the first connection means;
When the second information processing apparatus is connected to the first connection means, the operation mode of the second information processing apparatus is changed from the normal mode, and the second information processing apparatus operates in the normal mode. Transmission control means for controlling transmission of a command for transitioning to a low power mode that operates with lower power consumption than the current power consumption to the second information processing apparatus via the first connection means. ,
The second information processing apparatus
Second connection means connected to the first connection means of the first information processing apparatus;
Transition means for transitioning the operation mode from the normal mode to the low power mode based on the command when the command transmitted from the first information processing apparatus is received via the second connection means; ,
An information processing system comprising: execution means for executing predetermined processing in the low power mode shifted by the transition means. In an information processing method of an information processing system including a first information processing device and a second information processing device that operates by power supplied from the first information processing device,
When the second information processing apparatus is connected to itself, the first information processing apparatus changes the operation mode of the second information processing apparatus from the normal mode to the second information processing apparatus. A command to make a transition to a low power mode that operates with lower power consumption than when operating in the normal mode is sent to the second information processing apparatus;
When the second information processing apparatus receives the command transmitted from the first information processing apparatus, the second information processing apparatus changes the operation mode from the normal mode to the low power mode based on the command, and An information processing method characterized by executing predetermined processing in a power mode. A connection means to which another information processing apparatus is connected;
Power supply means for supplying power to the other information processing apparatus connected to the connection means;
When the other information processing apparatus is connected to the connection means, the operation mode of the other information processing apparatus is changed from the normal mode to the power consumption when the other information processing apparatus operates in the normal mode. Transmission control means for controlling transmission of the first command for transitioning to the low power mode that operates with low power consumption to the other information processing apparatus via the connection means. apparatus. The transmission control means, after controlling the transmission of the first command, further sends a second command for requesting notification of a current operation mode of the other information processing apparatus via the connection means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein transmission to the information processing apparatus is controlled. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connection means is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, and the other information processing apparatus is a USB peripheral device connected to the USB interface. In an information processing method for an information processing apparatus, comprising: connection means to which another information processing apparatus is connected; and power supply means for supplying power to the other information processing apparatus connected to the connection means.
When the other information processing apparatus is connected to the connection means, the operation mode of the other information processing apparatus is changed from the normal mode to the power consumption when the other information processing apparatus operates in the normal mode. An information processing method comprising: a transmission control step of controlling transmission of a command for transitioning to a low power mode that operates with low power consumption to the other information processing apparatus via the connection unit. A program that causes a computer that controls a main apparatus to include a connection unit to which an expansion device is connected and a power supply unit that supplies power to the expansion device connected to the connection unit.
When the expansion device is connected to the connection means, the operation mode of the expansion device is changed from a normal mode to a low power mode in which the power consumption is lower than the power consumption when the expansion device operates in the normal mode. A transmission control step for controlling transmission of a command to make a transition to the extension device from the connection unit of the main device. In an information processing apparatus that is connected to another information processing apparatus and that operates with electric power supplied from the other information processing apparatus,
Connection means connected to the other information processing apparatus;
The operation mode of the information processing apparatus itself transmitted from the other information processing apparatus operates from the normal mode with power consumption lower than the power consumption when the information processing apparatus itself operates in the normal mode. Transition means for transitioning the operation mode from the normal mode to the low power mode when the first command for transition to the low power mode is received via the connection means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: execution means for executing predetermined processing in the low power mode that has been changed by the transition means. When the second command transmitted from the other information processing apparatus and requesting the notification of the current operation mode of the information processing apparatus itself is received via the connection means, the current operation mode is indicated. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a transmission control unit that controls transmission of information to the other information processing apparatus via the connection unit. 9. The connection unit is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, and the information processing apparatus is an expansion apparatus for the other information processing apparatus connected to the USB interface. Information processing equipment. In an information processing method of an information processing apparatus that is connected to another information processing apparatus and that operates by power supplied from the other information processing apparatus,
Low power that is transmitted from the other information processing apparatus and that operates with the power consumption lower than the power consumption when the information processing apparatus operates in the normal mode from the normal mode. A receiving step for receiving a command to transition to a mode;
Based on the command received in the processing of the reception step, a transition step of transitioning the operation mode from the normal mode to the low power mode;
An execution step of executing a predetermined process in the low power mode that has been changed by the process of the transition step. A program that is executed by a computer that controls an expansion device that is connected to a main device and operates by power supplied from the main device,
A command for changing the operation mode of the expansion device transmitted from the main device from the normal mode to the low power mode in which the power consumption when the expansion device operates in the normal mode is lower than that in the normal mode. Receiving control step for controlling the expansion device to receive,
Based on the command whose reception is controlled in the processing of the reception control step, a transition step of transitioning the operation mode of the expansion device from the normal mode to the low power mode;
And a process control step for controlling the expansion device to execute a predetermined process in the low power mode that has been transitioned by the process of the transition step.

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