JP2005267047A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce costs and a processing load, and to realize portability and miniaturization or the like in an information processor capable of controlling processes and operation of a device body part by remote control. <P>SOLUTION: The information processor has a composition using both an interface for operation signal processing of a key operation means 3 provided in the device body part 2, and an interface for operation signal processing of a remote control means 4 for outputting commands from the outside concerning the process and operation to be carried out by the device body part 2. An operated state of an operation button or a switch 4a provided on the remote control means 4 is detected by a control means 5, and operation information is specified by using predefined key information with respect to a specific operated state of the operation button or switch. Processing of a remote control signal can be carried out by using the interface for operation signal processing of the key operation means 3 without using a special method using bus connection of USBs or the like, or SMI or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for realizing cost reduction and improvement in convenience in application to an information processing apparatus using a remote control means.

  As an operation input means such as a computer, an infrared communication device or the like is used in addition to a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse. In portable devices and the like, there is known a configuration in which a remote operation means is connected to a computer main unit so that a user can give an operation instruction and the like. Examples include the following forms.

(1) Form by USB (Universal Serial Bus) port connection USB is a hardware specification that makes it easy to add a serial device, etc., and connect the device to a USB port provided on the computer. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

(2) Form by bus connection such as PS / 2 (trademark) bus Used for remote control using infrared communication.

  (3) A form in which a keyboard controller is connected by a special method For example, a keyboard operation signal is processed by the keyboard controller and notified to the upper software, etc., but the interface ( Since an I / O port at a specific address is dedicated to the keyboard, it cannot be used for information notification from a remote control means such as a remote controller. Therefore, the interface is shared between the keyboard input processing system and the remote operation input processing system by exclusively controlling the keyboard interface using SMI (System Management Interrupt). “SMI” is an interrupt prepared for system power management and the like.

JP 2001-005595 A

  However, the conventional apparatus has individual problems in terms of cost, processing burden, portability and downsizing.

  The above form (1) has the following problems, for example.

・ The cost of control means (microcomputer) that can be connected to USB is high. ・ The communication method between remote control means and software (operating system, application, BIOS, etc.) using the means is standard. A dedicated driver or application is required when it is not standardized or standardized.

  In consideration of portability and the like, it is conceivable to use a USB connectable keyboard for remote operation, but problems remain in terms of size and cost.

  In the said form (2), the following problems are mentioned, for example.

  -When a unique function is given to the remote control means, an operation instruction corresponding to the function cannot be notified to the system.

  ・ Since the notification of basic operations including operations such as playing and stopping music information, it is realized by sending the corresponding key commands to the system (higher layer software), so it is not for dedicated applications. There is a risk of malfunction.

  ・ Operating devices that are connected to a specific bus are not fully considered for portability, are inconvenient to carry, cannot withstand remote operation, and downsize the computer main unit. (For example, it is difficult to attach a PS / 2 port or the like to a notebook computer).

  In the said form (3), the following problems are mentioned, for example.

  -When performing exclusive control using SMI, the processing load of the system increases (the processing becomes heavy and the operation becomes slow, etc.).

・ Problems associated with exclusive control (such as abnormal noise caused by noise during music playback)
When it is desired to display information from the system (for example, the remaining battery level or performance music) on the display unit provided in the remote control means, it is difficult to realize the display control.

  As described above, with the conventional approach, it is difficult to realize a simple system configuration without adversely affecting user convenience.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus configured to be able to control the processing and operation of the apparatus main body using a remote control means, thereby reducing the cost and reducing the processing burden, thereby reducing portability and size. It is an object to provide a suitable device.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an operation signal processing interface of key operation means attached to or connected to the apparatus main body of the information processing apparatus, and processes or operations performed in the apparatus main body. The operation signal processing interface of the remote operation means for issuing remote operation instructions from the remote control means is shared, and the operation state of the operation button or switch provided on the remote operation means is detected by the control means and specified. The operation information is specified using key information defined in advance for the operation state of the operation button or switch.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the remote operation signal can be processed using the operation signal processing interface of the key operation means without using a special method such as USB connection or SMI.

  According to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus provided with a remote control means, it is effective in realizing portability, downsizing, etc., while solving the problem of cost increase associated with remote control signal processing and processing burden on the system. is there.

  For example, in a configuration having a keyboard controller that processes an operation signal from a keyboard, when an operation state of a specific operation button or switch provided on the remote operation means is detected, key information is input using an input interface of the keyboard. Is issued to control the processing or operation executed in the apparatus main body, and the existing keyboard input interface can be used to remotely operate the apparatus main body.

  In addition, when an operation button or switch provided in the remote operation means is operated, the type of the operation button or switch is determined by the control means, and this is processed using a predefined scan code. When it is determined that it does not belong to a switch, a control means is adopted in which processing or operation is controlled by notifying the apparatus main body using an input interface prepared for the operation state of the operation button or switch. Special notifications can be made, and it becomes easy to deal with extensibility.

  The control means discriminates the operating system installed in the main body of the device and regulates the permission or disapproval of the issuance of key information accompanying remote operation, so that it can be used for operating systems that do not support such notification. Since no key information notification is issued, malfunctions and the like can be prevented.

  In the configuration in which the control means is provided with an analog-digital conversion means for receiving the operation signal from the remote operation means and converting the signal (analog signal) into a digital signal, the analog- During the sampling of the remote control signal by the digital conversion means, the operation of the control means components (CPU core, peripheral devices, etc.) excluding the conversion means is paused, and the operation of those components is resumed after the sampling is completed. It is preferable.

  Furthermore, when the remote operation means has a display means, an interface for sending display information to the display means is provided in the control means, thereby displaying information transmitted from the apparatus main body to the remote operation means. This is effective for enhancing the convenience of the user. For example, the control means acquires information indicating the power supply state related to the battery or the external power supply, and displays the information indicating the current power supply state on the display means of the remote control means, so that the application or the like is not activated. However, it is possible to display useful information for the user.

  For miniaturization and space saving, it is desirable to use a single controller having a plurality of input / output ports including a keyboard port as the control means.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a basic configuration of a system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external configuration.

  The information processing device 1 can be applied to, for example, a portable computer, a PDA (personal information terminal), a video device, an imaging device, and the like, and key operations used for an input interface relating to processing and operations in the device main body 2 Means 3 are provided. For example, a mode in which the key operation means 3 such as a keyboard is attached to the apparatus main body 2 and a mode in which the key operation means 3 is connected to the apparatus main body 2 are used.

  The remote operation means 4 is provided separately from the key operation means 3 in order to issue an instruction by remote operation from the outside with respect to the processing or operation performed in the apparatus main body 2, and is wired or wireless (infrared communication system) Etc.) is used. For example, operation buttons or switches 4a, 4a,... And display means 4b such as a liquid crystal display panel are provided.

  The control means 5 provided in the apparatus main body 2 receives an operation signal from the key operation means 3 and the remote operation means 4 and detects and notifies an operation status related to information processing and control by executing a program. Is provided.

  The processing main body 6 includes, for example, arithmetic means such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and various programs executed using the arithmetic means, such as an operating system (OS), applications, libraries, BIOS (Basic Input / Output System). ) And the like, and control of processes and operations by program execution in response to notification of operation information from the control means 5 is performed.

  Information is transmitted from the control means 5 to the processing entity 6 using an interface for processing an operation signal from the key operation means 3 (for example, a key matrix of a keyboard).

  Further, when the operation button or switch 4a of the remote operation means 4 is operated, information is transmitted from the control means 5 to the processing main body 6 using an interface for processing the operation signal. An operation signal processing interface related to the key operation means 3 is shared for part or all of the operation signals by the remote operation means 4. That is, in the case of a configuration in which the key operation unit 3 and the remote operation unit 4 are completely independent input processing systems, a driver or application (program) used depending on each processing system is required. Therefore, in the present invention, when the control means 5 receives an operation signal of an operation button or switch 4a provided on the remote operation means 4, the control means 5 detects the operation state, and a specific operation button or switch is detected. The operation information is specified using key information (key code) defined in advance for the operation state. As a result, the operation signal of a specific operation button or switch in the remote operation means 4 can be processed by diverting the interface of the key operation means 3, so that a dedicated driver, application, or the like is incorporated in the apparatus for the processing. There is no need.

  Further, the control means 5 has an interface for sending display information to the display means 4b of the remote control means 4, and for certain kinds of display information, it does not depend on the processing of the operating system or application. The requested information can be displayed in response to an operation instruction from the remote operation means 4 (details will be described later).

  Regarding the operation buttons and switches provided in the remote operation means 4, an operation button group (hereinafter referred to as “first operation button group”) processed using a scan code of a keyboard defined as a standard, and an addition are added. Categorized into operation button groups (hereinafter referred to as “second operation button group”) processed using notifications (special notifications) for realizing specific functions and special functions, and different controls corresponding to the respective operation buttons. Processing is performed.

  Below, it demonstrates according to the embodiment shown below.

(I) Form in which the remote operation means 4 has only the first operation button group (II) Form in which the remote operation means 4 has the first and second operation button groups (III) In the above (I) or (II) A form in which the display control of the remote control means 4 is combined.

  First, in the form (I), when the operation button or switch 4a of the remote control means 4 processed using the defined scan code is operated, key information is issued using the input interface related to the keyboard. It is possible to control processing or operations executed in the apparatus main body 2.

  FIG. 3 to FIG. 9 show an example of a configuration form, and an example of application to a computer device or the like that can be remotely operated will be described below.

  FIG. 3 shows a main part of a hardware configuration example of the apparatus, and the information processing apparatus 1A has the following elements (numbers in parentheses indicate symbols attached to the respective parts).

CPU (7)
・ First control unit (8)
・ Main memory (9)
・ Second control unit (10)
Third control unit (11)
・ Keyboard (12)
・ Remote control device (13)
・ Power supply (14)
For simplification of description, the display device (liquid crystal display, cathode ray tube (CRT), etc.) of the apparatus main body 2 and other illustrations are omitted.

  The first to third control units (8, 10, 11) are distinguished from each other by assigning numbers in order from the closest to the CPU 7.

  The first control unit (MCH: Memory Control Hub) 7 serves as a memory control, a link to the system bus, etc., and is called “north bridge” in an AT compatible machine. The CPU 7 and the main memory 9 and graphic (not shown) Cards and various buses (PCI, AGP, etc.) are connected.

  The second control unit (ICH: I / O Control Hub) 10 performs device bus link and the like, and is called “south bridge” (also called “PCI to ISA bridge”) in an AT compatible machine, It serves to bridge the bus (PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect bus) connected to the North Bridge to a low-speed bus (ISA: Industry Standard Architecture bus, etc.), and functions such as ISA controller and IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) controller It has a built-in circuit part.

  The third control unit 11 has the main function of the control means 5. In this example, “EC” (Embedded Controller) is used to control keyboard controller functions, system power supply control, system additional functions, and so on. A computer is installed.

  The keyboard 12 corresponds to the key operation means 3, and when a key arranged on the keyboard is operated, a key code assigned to the key is sent to an EC keyboard interface, and an internal keyboard control is performed. Processed in the department.

  The remote control device 13 is connected to the device body 2 using a connection cord. For example, the kanji used in portable disk devices (such as optical disk and magneto-optical disk players) and magnetic tape devices. A display-compatible remote control device can be used.

  The power supply unit 14 performs commercial power supply from an AC adapter, or direct current power supply from a battery pack using a secondary battery or the like. The EC has a role of detecting and grasping a connection or mounting state of an AC adapter or a battery pack (not shown), and holds various management information including, for example, a remaining battery level.

  The auxiliary storage device 15 such as a magnetic disk drive device such as a hard disk or an optical disk drive device (optical read disk drive device such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk) is, for example, an ICH (second control unit). 10) or connected to the ICH using a controller of the “IEEE 1394” standard (defining hardware specifications for adding a serial device to a computer).

  FIG. 4 shows the keyboard 12, the remote control device 13, EC, and ICH.

  An operation signal by the key matrix of the keyboard 12 is sent to the EC using a general-purpose input / output port called GPIO (General Purpose Input / Output), for example.

  For example, an operating device 16 such as a mouse or a touch panel can be connected to a bus (PS / 2 or the like) prepared for the EC. Indicates that it is an optional device in parentheses.) Etc. can also be connected.

An operation signal from the operation button provided in the remote operation device 13 is sent to the EC for processing. In this example, an analog-digital conversion means (hereinafter referred to as “analog-digital conversion means”) that receives the operation signal and converts it from an analog signal to a digital signal. (Abbreviated as “ADC”). That is, the operation signal from the operation button is subjected to voltage detection using a voltage dividing resistor or the like (not shown), and an analog encoded voltage (indicating zero volt when no input is input) is input to the ADC 17 for sampling processing. The operation button is identified and the state can be specified by checking the voltage value. Accordingly, it is not necessary to use an output port, a bus, or the like, and communication using a single signal line is possible (“KEY” in the figure indicates an output signal from the operation button). In the case where the ADC is not built in the EC, there is a configuration form in which an external ADC is provided on the bus. In the figure, “Vcc” indicates the power supply voltage from the apparatus main body 2 and “GND” indicates the ground. “DATA” represents a signal used when information is sent and displayed on a display unit (LCD: liquid crystal display device or the like) provided in the remote control device 13. In this example, serial communication is performed using a single signal line connecting between the EC GPIO and the remote control device 13, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various embodiments using I ² C or the like are possible. (Display control is not performed in the above forms (I) and (II), and will be described in detail in the description of form (III) described later).

  FIG. 5 exemplifies a hierarchical structure for remote control signal processing according to mode (I).

  As for the hardware hierarchy, the remote control device 13 shown at the bottom and the EC (the keyboard control unit here) at the upper level are shown, and “KBD PORT” in the figure indicates a keyboard port.

  The upper software layer is shown in the order of the keyboard driver 18, the operating system (OS) message processing unit 19, and the application 20 in the upper layer of the EC.

  In the remote operation device 13, when an operation button belonging to the first operation button group is operated, this is sent to the EC via the “KEY” signal line. As described above, the EC is in charge of the process of receiving the operation signal from the remote operation device 13, and the analog signal output of the remote operation device 13 is input to the ADC 17. Then, detection of pressing or release of the operation button is performed, and the keyboard driver 18 is notified from EC “KBD PORT”.

  The keyboard driver 18 notifies the message processing unit 19 of the notification contents, and converts the format into a message interpretable by the application 20 and notifies the message. As a result, the application 20 (for example, software for playing back music data or the like) can perform information processing according to the remote operation signal. In other words, the basic processing flow is the same as when performing key operations on the keyboard 12.

  The processing of the remote operation signal in the EC is the following (1) to (3).

(1) Button operation (2) Button pressing / unpressing detection (3) Notification of operation status (issuance of scan code)
(4) Return to (1).

  In the following, the processing examples (2) and (3) will be described, taking as an example the case where playback control of content data (music data, video data, etc.) is performed by remote control. As operation buttons, buttons such as play, stop, fast forward, reverse return, and volume adjustment are provided on the remote operation device 13, and the operation button to be processed i-th is denoted as “Xi”.

  6 and 7 are flowcharts showing an example of operation button detection processing.

  In FIG. 6, it is detected whether each operation button “Xi” has been pressed or released. That is, when the i-th step is “SSi”, the operation state detection process is repeated in order for i = 1 to n.

  In the form using the flag value indicating the operation state of Xi in the i-th step SSi, for example, the flag may be set when Xi is pressed, and the flag may be cleared when Xi is released.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, in step S11, the analog input (operation signal) by Xi is sampled by the ADC 17, and the process proceeds to the next step S12, where the A / D converted voltage value is defined in advance for Xi. Compare the voltage range. That is, whether or not the operation button is pressed is detected as a voltage value. If the detected voltage is within the predetermined voltage range of the ADC 17 determined for each Xi, the process proceeds to step S13. Proceed to S14.

  In step S13, since Xi is pressed, a flag corresponding to Xi is set (Xi flag setting). In step S14, since Xi is not pressed, the flag corresponding to Xi is cleared (Xi flag clear).

  In this way, the operation state relating to the n operation buttons can be reflected in the flag value prepared for each.

  FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are flowcharts illustrating an example of notification processing of an operation state using a scan code defined as a standard.

  In each step STi shown in FIG. 8, for each operation button Xi, notification of key information indicating that Xi has been pressed or released using the flag is sent from the EC to its upper layer (see FIG. 4). Against. That is, the operation state notification process is repeated in order in steps STi (i = 1 to n).

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, it is determined in step S21 whether or not the value has changed to the value of the Xi flag. That is, since the previous value and the current value are held for the flag value, a change in the flag value can be grasped by comparing the two values. If the flag value has changed, the process proceeds to step S22. If the flag value has not changed, nothing is done.

  In step S22, it is determined whether or not the current Xi flag is set. If the flag is set, the process proceeds to step S23. If the flag is cleared, the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S23, a scan code (or key data code) indicating that Xi is pressed is issued (Make).

  In step S24, a scan code indicating that Xi is released is issued (Break).

  In this way, notification of the operation state relating to the n operation buttons is performed for each, but the issue of the scan code is not a process in which the code is directly read by the IRQ (interrupt) from the EC to the upper layer, This is done by putting data in a buffer or the like (when the key information is notified from the EC to the upper layer of the system, the code value is written in the keyboard data port (KBD PORT) and the keyboard IRQ is issued) The code value is read.)

  In the case of an OS corresponding to such a process (for example, “Windows XP” manufactured by Microsoft Corporation), basically the transmission process using the scan code is performed by the keyboard driver 18 of FIG. After the conversion up to a message (Window message) “WM_APPCOMMAND”, a notification service to the application 20 (content reproduction software or the like) is performed.

  In the case of an unsupported OS, there is no special mechanism for processing of the OS itself, so nothing can be done. For example, when a code that is not defined as a scan code of a keyboard of an AT compatible machine is used to notify when the operation button of the remote control device is pressed, it is simply ignored.

  In order to avoid the occurrence of malfunction or the like, as described in detail later, the installed OS can be identified so that the validity or invalidity of the scan code issuance can be defined according to the identification result. It is preferable to do. For this purpose, in the case of an unsupported OS, a mechanism for hooking scan code notification may be prepared and processed in, for example, a driver hierarchy or an application hierarchy.

  Next, a configuration example of the above-described form (II) will be described.

  Since the processing of the first operation button group is the same as that in the above-described form (I), the following description will focus on the processing of the second operation button group. In addition, for parts having the same functions as the parts described in the form (I), the same reference numerals as those given to the parts are used (this also applies to the form (III) described later). .)

  When an operation button or switch provided on the remote operation means is operated, if it is determined that the operation button or switch type does not belong to the first operation button group, A notification process to the apparatus main body is performed using an input interface prepared in advance for the operation state of the button or switch, and a program execution process and an operation control are performed.

  As the configuration shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, an example of application to a remotely operable computer device will be described.

  About embodiment, the example shown below is given.

(II-1) Form using I / O port added to EC and Interrupt (Interrupt) (II-2) Form using I / O port of SCI (System Control Interrupt) and ACPI compatible EC.

  First, regarding the form (II-1), the basic configuration related to hardware is the same as that in FIG. 3, but is different in the following points.

・ In addition to the keyboard port, the third control unit (EC) has another port for processing remote operation signals. ・ An input processing system corresponding to remote operation signals is prepared and programs such as drivers are provided. The system must be configured so that notifications (special notifications) can be sent to the upper layer of the system.

  That is, the operation information of the first operation button group is processed by the keyboard interface in the same manner as described above, but the operation information of the second operation button group is used by using a special notification interface. It is processed.

  FIG. 10 illustrates a hierarchical structure for remote control signal processing according to mode (II-1).

  The difference from FIG. 5 is that the EC has the functions of a keyboard controller and an I / O controller, and a port indicated by “Remotecom PORT” is used for notification of a remote operation signal.

  As for the upper software layer, the driver 21 for remote operation signal processing, the library 22 (shown in parentheses in the figure in consideration of unnecessary cases), and special notification (Special Notify) are supported above the EC. The applications 23 for realizing the functions are sequentially shown.

  When an operation button belonging to the second operation button group is operated in the remote operation device 13, this is sent to the EC via the “KEY” signal line. As described above, the EC is in charge of the process of receiving the operation signal from the remote operation device 13, and the analog output of the remote operation device 13 is input to the ADC 17. Then, detection of depression or release of the operation button is performed, and notification is sent to the driver 21 from “Remocom PORT” of EC.

  Since the notification content of the driver 21 is notified to the application 23 via the library 22 or directly, the application can perform information processing according to the remote operation signal.

  In this way, the EC shown in this example identifies the type of remote operation signal and distributes the processing for each port. For functions that cannot be supported by the keyboard interface or newly added or expanded functions, Information processing and operation of the main body can be controlled.

  The processing of the second operation button group in the EC is the same as the processing of the first operation button group described above, and is button operation, detection of pressing or non-pressing of the button, and repetition of operation state notification. A case where content data reproduction control is performed by remote operation will be described as an example. As the operation buttons, the remote operation device 13 is provided with buttons for setting and changing the reproduction mode, reproduction repeat, selection confirmation, selection of number and bass enhancement, forward and backward of the set value, and the like. The operation button to be processed i-th is denoted as “Yi”.

  First, with respect to the flowchart showing the processing example of the operation button detection, “Xi” may be replaced with “Yi” in FIG. That is, for each operation button “Yi”, step SSi for detecting whether it is pressed or released is repeated in order for i = 1 to n.

  In the form using the flag value indicating the operation state of Yi in the i-th step SSi, for example, the flag is set when Yi is pressed, and the flag is cleared when Yi is released.

  Further, after “Xi” is replaced with “Yi” in FIG. 7, processing is performed according to the following steps.

-Step S11: Sampling of analog input (operation signal) by Yi-Step S12: Comparison between A / D converted voltage value and voltage range defined in advance for Yi-Step S13: Yi is pressed Flag set (Yi flag set)
Step S14: Clear flag when Yi is not pressed (Yi flag clear).

  In this way, the operation state relating to the n operation buttons Yi can be reflected in the flag value prepared for each.

Regarding the notification processing of the operation state related to the second operation button group, “Xi” in FIG. 8 may be replaced with “Yi”. That is, in each step STi, for each operation button “Yi”, notification of key information indicating that Yi has been pressed or released using the above flag is sent from the EC to the driver 21 and library 22 which are the upper layers. Then, the processing is performed on the application 23 (see FIG. 10). After replacing “Xi” with “Yi” in FIG. 9, processing is performed according to the following steps.

  Step S21: It is determined whether or not the value has changed to the value of the Yi flag.

  Step S22: It is determined whether or not the current Yi flag is set. If it is set, the process proceeds to step S23, and if it is cleared, the process proceeds to step S24.

  Step S23: The EC is notified to the upper layer program (process) that Y is pressed (Make).

  Step S24: The EC notifies the upper layer program (process) that Yi has been released (Break).

  The reason why the notification process is performed by distinguishing between the pressed state and the non-pressed state of the operation button is to enable determination of a state where the operation button is kept pressed. A notification indicating that a change has occurred in the operation state of the button and a command for reading the operation state of the button are prepared in advance so that when a change in the operation state is detected, it is possible to determine the state of the operation state. The embodiment described above may be used.

  In this example, processing for selecting and notifying the interface used for notification to the system (upper layer part) according to the type of operation button of the remote operation device 13 is performed. Information is transmitted by the special notification.

  In this way, notification of operation states related to all operation buttons is performed, and information processing and operation control in the apparatus main body are performed in accordance with operation instructions.

  Next, form (II-2) is demonstrated.

  FIG. 11 shows a main part of a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus 1B. The basic configuration is the same as that of FIG. 3, but is different in the following points.

・ In addition to the keyboard port, the third control unit (EC) has another port (ACPI EC PORT) for processing remote operation signals. ・ An input processing system corresponding to remote operation signals is provided. , It must be configured so that notifications (special notifications) can be sent to the upper layer of the system using drivers, control programs, etc.-Use SCI (System Control Interrupt).

  The ACPI specification (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface Specification) is a specification for centrally managing the power management of the computer by the OS. The ACPI defines the following system states of S0 to S5.

-"S0" (operating state): The system is turned on and the OS is running and the software is running.-"S5" (off state): The software is finished running and the system is turned off. "S1 to S4": Standby state such as standby state or suspend state, or power is off, but work contents (RAM data) etc. are saved on hard disk etc., so data loss etc. does not occur State (hibernation state).

  The SCI is an interrupt that can be used by an OS having the ACPI specification, and can transfer control to an AML control program to be described later.

  FIG. 12 illustrates a hierarchical structure for remote operation signal processing.

  The difference from FIG. 10 is that a port indicated by “ACPI EC PORT” is used for notification of a remote operation signal related to the second operation button group.

  As for the upper software layer, a driver 24 related to the ACPI mechanism is provided on the EC, and a driver 25 is positioned on the upper level. A library 26 (shown in parentheses in the figure in consideration of a case where it is not necessary) and an application 27 for realizing a function corresponding to the special notification are positioned in that order.

  “AML” in the figure indicates a control program 28 in an intermediate language called “ACPI Machine Language”, which is included as part of the system BIOS and stored in the BIOS-ROM (see FIG. 11). The AML itself is a language for describing a program that operates on the ACPI mechanism. By compiling a source file of a system description language ASL (ACPI Source Language), an AML code (intermediate code) is created. The main part of the ACPI mechanism that interprets and executes this is prepared by the OS (for example, driver “acpi.sys”, etc.). The use of AML is preferable from the viewpoint of hardware abstraction from the viewpoint of the OS (the device configuration can be hidden).

  When an operation button belonging to the second operation button group is operated in the remote operation device 13, this is sent to the EC via the “KEY” signal line. The EC is in charge of processing for receiving an operation signal from the remote operation device 13, and an analog output of the remote operation device 13 is input to the ADC 17. Then, detection of pressing or release of the operation button is performed, notification is sent from the “ACPI EC PORT” of EC to the driver 24, and the control right is transferred to the control program 28 of AML by SCI.

  The notification content of the driver 24 is further notified to the uppermost layer application 27 via the driver 25 or the driver 25 and the library 26, so that the application performs information processing and operation control according to a remote operation signal. Can do.

  As described above, in the EC shown in this example, the type of the remote operation signal is identified and the processing is assigned to each port, and information on the device main body about special functions or newly added or expanded functions is provided. Control of processing and operation can be performed.

  Next, in Embodiments (I) and (II), an explanation will be given of the control for determining the OS installed in the apparatus main body, and enabling or disabling the notification by issuing the scan code according to the determination result. To do.

  In general, the control means such as EC cannot grasp what the OS is running on the system, and therefore, some ingenuity in mounting is necessary. In other words, it is necessary to detect what OS is currently installed and operating in the apparatus main body and determine whether or not the OS is compatible with the notification process from the remote control device. .

  Therefore, for example, processing is performed according to the following specifications.

  -When the target OS is not an ACPI specification (non-ACPI OS), notification using a scan code by a remote control button or the like should not be performed.

  -If the target OS is an ACPI specification OS and can be handled (for example, an OS after "Windows Me" manufactured by Microsoft Corporation), notification using a scan code by a remote control button or the like is performed.

  In order to realize this, a flag (hereinafter referred to as an “issue permission / non-permission flag”) for specifying permission or non-permission of scan code is prepared in the EC, and the flag is set. Only the operation information is notified from the remote operation device to the host system (application, etc.).

  Then, the EC clears the issue permission / non-permission flag in the following cases.

(1) System state transition related to the power supply state ・ At the transition from S5 to S0
・ When restarting (S0 → S0)
(2) When a request for clearing the issue permission / non-permission flag is received from the host system.

  Further, the EC sets the flag when, for example, a request for setting an issue permission / non-permission flag is received from the host system.

  Then, in addition to the above-described processing by EC, the processing described below is combined to perform control so that the system consistency is maintained.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of processing immediately after the power is turned on. After issuing a request for clearing the issuance permission / non-permission flag during the POST processing of the system BIOS, the boot OS is identified, and according to the identification result. The flag is set or cleared.

  When the apparatus main body 2 is powered on, first, a BIOS (program) is operated, and in step S31, POST (Power On Self Test) processing therein is started. In step S32, an issuance permission / non-permission flag clear request relating to scan code issuance is issued to the EC during the POST process (no problem if the control in (1) above is included).

  After loading the OS in the next step S33, in step S34, the AML code is executed by the OS, and the process proceeds to the OS discrimination process in step S35.

  It is determined whether or not the current OS loaded in step S33 is an ACPI specification OS and is a compatible OS. Specifically, an AML method such as _OS or _OSI can be used in an ACPI specification OS.

  If a compatible OS is activated, the process proceeds to step S36 to issue a request for setting the above-mentioned issue permission / non-permission flag to the EC. As a result, the application running on the compatible OS performs processing according to the notification from the remote operation device 13. If the target OS is not a compatible OS, the process proceeds to step S37, and a request for clearing the issue permission / non-permission flag is issued to the EC. That is, by notifying the EC that an unsupported OS is operating, control is performed so that notification by issuing a scan code is not performed from the EC to the host system. The scan code is issued using a queue (LIFO: Last In, First Out), and notification or non-notification to the host system is controlled by the command state of enable (disable) or disable (disable). The

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of termination processing. When the OS is terminated, an AML code is executed, and a request for clearing the issuance permission / non-permission flag is issued.

  When an instruction to turn off the power of the apparatus main body 2 is issued, an AML code is executed by the OS in step S41, and a request for clearing an issue permission / non-permission flag is issued at an appropriate location in step S42. Then, after the remaining part of the AML code is continuously executed in step S43, the power supply is finally cut off and the system is turned off.

  Next, noise reduction measures at the time of sampling the remote operation signal input to the EC will be described.

  For example, a microcomputer is used for EC, and there are many cases in which peripheral devices such as a CPU core and an A / D converter are incorporated. In the above configuration example, sampling is performed by inputting an analog signal from the remote control device 13 to the ADC 17, but at that time, the clock supply to the parts (CPU core and others) other than the ADC 17 is stopped. Operating the ADC 17 in this state is effective in improving the S / N (signal-to-noise) ratio (preventing malfunction and detection). That is, during the sampling of the operation signal by the ADC (analog-digital conversion means), the operation of the portion excluding the conversion means is suspended and the operation of the control means is resumed after the sampling is completed.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of sampling processing in EC, and steps S51 to S57 shown below are repeated.

S51: Various processes S52: Remote control signal (KEY) determination process S53: Debounce process related to the determination result of the previous step (chattering prevention)
S54: Key code storage determination (scan code stored in queue, etc.)
S55: Other processing S56: Trigger of ADC 17 S57: Sleep processing (and return to S51).

  In the debounce process in step S53, when the same operation button is pressed for a predetermined time (for example, about 20 msec) or more, it is determined that the button is actually pressed, If the operation state of the operation button changes within the time, it is determined that the operation button has not been pressed yet. That is, a flag for determining whether the operation button is actually pressed or released, a flag indicating the pressed state of the current operation button, and the pressed state of the current operation button Judgment processing is performed using a counter variable for counting continuations. A stable determination can be made by performing the process of S53 after the key determination process of S52. For example, a method of filtering the measured potential by the ADC is conceivable. However, since a delay in response speed or induction of an erroneous input is a problem, the digitization by the ADC is performed once as in this example. It is preferable to debounce the result.

  In step S57, the clock supply to the CPU core and the like (other than the ADC 17) is stopped by issuing a sleep command. In step S56 immediately before that, the ADC 17 is triggered. That is, the ADC starts a sampling start request.

  After S57, the CPU core is activated by a timer, an interrupt, or the like (for example, periodic activation by polling processing, etc.), and the processing is restarted from the first step S51. Note that the polling time interval and the like are adjusted so that the sampling is completed during S57.

  By cutting off the clock supply to the CPU core and unnecessary peripheral devices during sampling, it is possible to reliably prevent noise from entering the ADC 17 (that is, noise is reduced by stopping the clock during sleep). .) In order to take a more complete noise countermeasure, there is a method in which a delay pulse is generated using an external circuit and sampling is performed by applying an external trigger to the ADC after sleep.

  A configuration in which the clock supply to the CPU core or the like is temporarily stopped immediately before the sampling process as described above is performed, and the sleep is released (awake) at the end of sampling is desirable.

  Next, the structure of the said form (III) is demonstrated according to embodiment shown below.

(III-1) A configuration in which the display control of the remote control device is combined with the configuration example of the mode (II-2). (III-2) The display control of the remote control device is combined with the configuration example of the mode (II-1). Form FIG. 16 to FIG. 19 illustrate a configuration example of the form (III-1).

  FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration according to the information processing apparatus 1 </ b> C, and the difference from FIG. 11 is as follows.

  Display information or the like is transmitted via a communication path (see “DATA” in the figure) that connects the display unit (LCD) 13a of the remote control device 13 and the GP GPIO.

  For example, the remote control device 13 and the EC are connected by a small number (about 1 or 2) of signal lines so that bidirectional serial communication can be performed. FIG. 17 shows a connection example.

  In the figure, “PORT” indicates a GPIO port, “AVcc” indicates an analog power supply voltage, and “AVref” indicates a reference voltage. “ADin” indicates an input voltage to the ADC 17 and “AVss” indicates an analog GND (ground).

  A resistor “R” is inserted between the signal line connecting “DATA” and “PORT” and the power supply line connecting “Vcc” and “AVcc”, etc., and the cathode of the diode D1 is connected to the power supply line The anode of the diode is connected to a signal line connecting “KEY” and “ADin”. The cathode of the diode D2 is connected to a signal line connecting “KEY” and “ADin”, and the anode of the diode is grounded. The capacitor C1 is interposed between “AVcc” and “AVref” and “AVss”, and the capacitor C2 is interposed between “ADin” and “AVss”.

  In this example, the remote control device 13 and the EC are connected using four connection lines, and are electrically connected using a connector or the like. For example, various connection forms are possible, such as providing a receiving-side connector in the apparatus main body and providing a terminal portion of a connection line on the connector. In addition, a configuration in which an audio signal line from the device main body (audio information reproduction unit) is added, a connection terminal is provided in the remote operation device 13, and audio output means such as headphones and earphones can be connected thereto, Furthermore, various embodiments such as a configuration in which a video signal line is added and a connection terminal is provided in the remote control device 13 and a video output means such as a head-mounted display or a spectacle-type display can be connected thereto are possible. .

  Since the processing related to the remote operation signal is as described above, display control of the remote operation device 13 will be described below with reference to FIG.

  In the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 18, the hardware hierarchy is composed of the remote control device 13 and the EC shown above it, and both are connected via a signal line indicated by “DATA”.

  In EC, “ACPI EC PORT” is used, and a driver 24 and an AML control program 28 related to the ACPI mechanism are located in the upper software layer.

  A driver 25 and a utility library (dynamic link library) 26 are positioned in the upper layer, and a service application 29 and an application 27 are positioned in the upper layer. Note that the exclusive control service application 29 provides an API (Application Programming Interface) for remote operation processing, and the utility library 26 below the service library 29 includes service programs (subroutine groups) for various functions. However, it is indicated in parentheses that they are used as necessary in practice (arbitrary) (for example, a configuration in which only the driver 25 is mounted may be used).

  Information notified from the application 27 is transmitted to the lower layer and notified from the driver 24 to the EC. Then, the information to be displayed is transmitted from the EC to the remote control device 13 via the “DATA” signal line. For example, data such as a piece of music during music playback is notified from the application 27 to the EC via an intermediate layer (middleware such as a driver or AML control program) and displayed on the display unit 13a of the remote operation device 13. The

  As described above, the EC “ACPI EC PORT” is used for both remote notification processing and display control.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating the transmission processing to the remote control device. In this example, a selection buffer is provided in the EC memory space, and a flag indicating the validity / invalidity (hereinafter referred to as “validity flag”). The input / output of the selection buffer is controlled in the memory space. The structure of the selection buffer is basically a link structure using a next pointer, but it is unique in that the validity flag defines whether or not the buffer state is valid. Has a structure.

  First, in step S61, it is determined whether or not the validity flag of the selected buffer is set. The process proceeds to step S62 when set (valid), and proceeds to step S64 when cleared (invalid).

  In step S62, after the data in the selection buffer is transmitted to the remote controller 13, the process proceeds to step S63 to clear the validity flag of the selection buffer, and then proceeds to step S64.

  In step S64, the buffer pointer is advanced to designate the next buffer as the selected buffer, and the process returns to step S61.

  Since the transmission data can be managed using the validity flag prepared for each buffer, for example, even when the data in the selected buffer is transmitted to the remote control device 13 and displayed, the new data is valid. You can write to a buffer with the sex flag cleared.

  In addition, access from the AML control program is facilitated, various displays from the BIOS are simplified, and any OS with ACPI specifications can be supported.

  Next, about the said form (III-2), the following structural example is mentioned.

(III-2a) Form using 3 ports of EC, “KBD PORT”, “ACPI EC PORT”, “Remocom PORT” (III-2b) Form using 2 ports of EC, “KBD PORT”, “Remocom PORT” .

  First, as a configuration example of the form (III-2a), “Remote COM PORT” is used for the special notification related to the second operation button group, and “ACPI EC PORT” is used for the display control related to the remote operation device.

  That is, the hardware configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. Further, the notification process related to the remote operation signal is as described in FIG. 10, and is transmitted to the host system using the EC “Remocom PORT” and reaches the application 23.

  The display control of the remote operation device 13 is as described with reference to FIG.

  Therefore, in this example, the port used for remote operation notification processing is different from the port used for display control, and each processing system is independent. Note that if the EC has a plurality of I / O ports including a keyboard port, it is suitable for one-chip or smaller size compared to a configuration in which each port is provided in a separate IC.

  Next, a configuration example of the form (III-2b) will be described.

  In the special notification related to the second operation button group and the display control related to the remote control device, “Remote COM PORT” is used and “ACPI EC PORT” is not used, so SCI is unnecessary.

  That is, as a hardware configuration, it is not necessary to use the “SCI” interrupt line in the configuration shown in FIG. 16, and it is not necessary that the EC is ACPI-compliant. In addition, since the notification process related to the remote operation signal is as described in FIG. 10, the display control of the remote operation device 13 will be described below with reference to FIG.

  In the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 20, the hardware hierarchy is composed of the remote control device 13 and the EC shown above it, and both are connected via a signal line indicated by “DATA”.

  In the EC, “Remocom PORT” is used, a driver 25 and a utility library (dynamic link library) 26 are located in the upper software layer, and a service application 29 and an application 27 are located further above. Note that the service application 29 and the utility library 26 below the service application 29 indicate in parentheses that they are used as necessary in practice (for example, only the driver 25 may be mounted).

  Information notified from the application 27 is transmitted to the lower layer and notified from the driver 25 to the EC. Then, the information to be displayed is transmitted from the EC to the remote control device 13 via the “DATA” signal line. For example, data such as music numbers during music playback is notified from the application 27 to the EC via the middle layer (middleware) and displayed on the display unit 13a of the remote operation device 13.

  In the above description, the route through which the notification from the software located in the upper layer is transmitted to the remote control device 13 via the EC has been described. For example, the EC manages the remaining battery level, the connection status of the AC adapter, and the like. The information can be transmitted directly from the EC to the remote control device 13.

  Therefore, hereinafter, monitoring and control examples performed mainly by the EC will be described.

  It should be noted that even if the system state is other than S0, it is assumed that power is supplied to the EC and the remote control device, and the EC acquires data such as the remaining battery level and displays it according to the data (remaining battery capacity and icons). In the following, an example in which the remote control device 13 is displayed will be described.

  FIG. 21 shows a hardware hierarchy, and shows a remote control device 13, a battery device 30, an AC adapter 31, and EC (ACPI EC) on them.

  The remote control device 13 and EC are connected by a “DATA” signal line, and the battery device 30 and EC are connected by a serial bus (SMBus or the like). Also, the presence or absence of connection of the AC adapter 31 is monitored by EC using the GPIO input port (for the connection status of the AC adapter, the power supply voltage from the adapter is divided by the circuit and input to the GPI. ).

  For example, the battery device 30 has a built-in microcomputer as control means for detecting the remaining capacity and state and notifying the EC, and has information processing and communication functions. The cells used in the battery device include primary batteries and secondary batteries (lithium ion batteries, lithium ion polymer batteries, etc.), but also include fuel cell (direct methanol type, etc.) power generators. It is.

  FIG. 22 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of the relationship between the battery device 30 and the AC adapter 31, the EC, and the remote control device 13.

  First, the connection status of the AC adapter 31 is monitored by the EC, a notification from the GPIO is sent from the EC to the remote control device 13, and an icon is displayed. That is, the user confirms that the AC adapter 31 is connected and is receiving power supply or that the AC adapter 31 is not connected to the apparatus main body by viewing the display unit 13a of the remote operation device 13. be able to.

  As for management of the battery device 30, the remaining battery level is monitored by the EC, and the battery device notifies the EC of battery information via a serial bus or the like. Then, a remaining amount display (icon display or the like) is performed on the display unit 13a of the device by a signal transmitted from the EC to the remote control device 13. When a plurality of battery devices are used, the sum of the remaining amount of the battery and the like may be calculated and the relative ratio to the maximum usable amount may be displayed as a numerical value or a graph. Further, in a form in which a microcomputer or the like is not mounted on the battery device (so-called “dum battery”), the remaining amount is calculated from the detection voltage of the battery cell in the EC, and a signal based on the result is transmitted from the EC to the remote control device 13. Just send it to.

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of display processing.

  First, in step S71, it is determined whether or not the AC adapter 31 is connected and supplied with a commercial power supply voltage. The process proceeds to step S72 when connected and supplied with power, and the process proceeds to step S77 when disconnected or not supplied.

  In step S72, the connection status of the battery device 30 is determined. When the battery device is mounted and connected to the apparatus main body, the process proceeds to step S73, and when not mounted or not connected, the process proceeds to step S76.

  In step S73, it is determined whether or not the remaining battery level is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. If it is equal to or less than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S74. If the threshold value is exceeded, the process proceeds to step S75.

  In step S74, a display indicating that the battery device 30 is being charged is displayed by a signal transmitted from the EC to the remote control device 13 (flashing display using an animation icon or the like).

  In step S75, a display indicating that the AC adapter 31 is connected and a display indicating that the remaining battery level is sufficient are performed by a signal transmitted from the EC to the remote control device 13.

  In step S76, only a display indicating that the AC adapter 31 is connected is performed by a signal transmitted from the EC to the remote control device 13.

  When the AC adapter 31 is not connected, that is, when the apparatus is not driven by receiving the supply of commercial AC power (the apparatus is driven by only the battery), the process proceeds to step S77 and the remaining battery level is displayed. Do.

  Thus, even if the OS or application is not activated, the remaining capacity of the battery device and the connection status of the AC adapter can be notified from the EC to the remote control device 13 and displayed. For example, when the EC is monitoring the remaining battery level, if the remaining battery level falls below the threshold, the display unit 13a of the remote operation device 13 displays a message to the user in addition to the icon display ("Battery remaining "Large amount", "Low Battery" and other text information) can be notified, so the user can immediately grasp the situation.

  Next, monitoring and control examples performed mainly by EC and AML control programs will be described.

  FIG. 24 illustrates the main part of the hardware layer and the software layer, and the differences from FIG. 21 are as follows.

  The driver 24 and the AML control program 28 related to the ACPI mechanism are located above the EC, and the EC “ACPI EC PORT” is used.

  25 and 26 are explanatory diagrams conceptually showing the relationship between the OS, AML, EC, the battery device 30 and the AC adapter 31, and the remote control device 13. FIG.

  First, regarding the monitoring of the connection status of the AC adapter 31 shown in FIG. 25, information is transmitted and received between the OS, AML control program, EC, and remote control device as follows.

(1) Connection status acquisition request (OS → AML)
(2) Connection status acquisition request (AML → EC)
(3) Acquisition of connection status (EC)
(4) Connection status response (EC → AML)
(5) Acquisition of connection status (AML)
(6) Display request to the remote control device in the connected state (AML → EC).

  And the display of the connection state concerning AC power supply is processed as follows.

(7a) Acquisition of connection status display request (EC)
(8a) Display request to remote control device (EC → remote control device)
(9) Connection status display (remote control device).

  Further, the notification of the AC connection state to the OS is processed as follows from (6) onward.

(7b) Connection status response (AML → OS)
(8b) Acquisition of connection status (OS).

  Regarding the monitoring of the remaining battery level shown in FIG. 26, information is transmitted and received between the OS, AML control program, EC, battery device, and remote control device as described below.

(1) Remaining amount acquisition request (OS → AML)
(2) Remaining amount acquisition request (AML → EC)
(3) Remaining amount acquisition request (EC → battery device)
(4) Acquisition of remaining amount (battery device)
(5) Residual amount response (battery device → EC)
(6) Acquisition of remaining amount (EC)
(7) Residual amount response (EC → AML)
(8) Acquisition of remaining amount (AML)
(9) A request to display the remaining battery level on the remote control device (AML → EC).

  The battery remaining amount display is processed as follows.

(10a) Acquisition of remaining amount display request (EC)
(11a) Display request to remote control device (EC → remote control device)
(12) Remaining amount display (display unit of remote control device).

  In the above (12), the remaining amount is displayed with an icon or the like, but when the remaining amount of the battery falls below the threshold value as in the above case, the display unit 13a of the remote control device 13 may notify the user of a message. it can.

  Information transmission between EC and AML is performed using LPC (Low Pin Count: serial bus) or parallel bus (X-bus compatible, etc.) of ICH (see second control unit 10 in FIG. 16). Information such as the remaining battery level is transmitted using a serial bus (SMBus) or the like.

  The notification of the remaining battery level to the OS is processed as follows.

(10b) Residual amount response (AML → OS)
(11b) Acquisition of remaining amount (OS).

  In the case of a control mode mainly composed of EC and AML control programs as in this example, it is possible to determine whether this is a compatible OS while the OS is starting up. For example, a logon screen is displayed. (In contrast, in the case of a normal application, the process waits until the application is started after the logon process.) In addition, if the ACPI method used by the OS to acquire the remaining battery power is loaded with a code for displaying the remaining battery power on the remote control device, the remaining battery power displayed by the OS and the display on the remote control device display There is no difference between the remaining battery power. Furthermore, for compatibility with various OSs such as Linux, a porting operation of a driver or the like is required, but in the case of AML, it is independent of the OS and can be realized only by a response by an application.

  As described above, the display of information on the power supply state managed by the EC has been described. As a function that can be realized only by using a remote control device, EC, or AML control program without requiring application processing, for example, a specific Return from the system state (S3 / S4 / S5) (state transition to S0).

  Further, as a function that can be realized when application processing is required, for example, cooperation with a PIM (schedule application) can be mentioned, and a schedule or the like can be notified to the display unit of the remote control device at a set time. . In addition, when a function for controlling the power state or system state transition by remote operation is provided, for example, when the user presses a predetermined operation button attached to the remote control device during system suspend. Can be realized by generating an interrupt for wakeup (standby release), and the transition to suspend is not only a method using a timer using the function of the OS (state transition after a set time has elapsed), but also a remote control device A method of displaying a menu on the display unit and having the user select it can be used.

  According to the configuration described above, the following advantages can be obtained.

  -The cost is low (it is only necessary to add a connector etc. for connecting a remote control device to the main unit of the device, and it is not necessary to mount a new device).

  -Scan code can be used to notify applications for basic operations with remote control devices, so no special drivers or applications are required (standard initial installation environment, ie no additional software installation required) It can be used immediately in a so-called clean installation environment.) Remote control of applications is possible.

  -Since SMI is not used, the performance is good, the processing burden is reduced, and no abnormal noise is generated during music playback.

  -Since the display control interface of the remote control device is provided in "ACPI EC", it is easy to access from the system BIOS and OS, and various applications are possible. For example, system state transition status display ("Transitioning to standby" etc.), OS status display ("OS is starting up" message display), battery level display ("Battery is low Message can be displayed even if the application is not activated (in contrast, in conventional systems, no indication is displayed unless the corresponding OS is activated).

  -Even when the system state is other than S0 (normal operation), the remote controller can be used to operate the application.

  -The user can grasp the battery remaining amount, time information, etc. by looking at the information displayed on the display unit of the remote control device, and does not need to open the display panel of the device main unit.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the basic composition of this invention. It is the perspective view which illustrated the appearance composition of the device. It is a figure which shows the principal part of the hardware structural example. It is a figure which shows a keyboard, a remote control device, EC, and ICH. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the hierarchical structure about remote operation signal processing. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of operation button detection processing together with FIG. 7, and this figure is a diagram showing the overall flow. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of each operation button detection. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation state notification process using a scan code together with FIG. 9, and this figure shows the overall flow. It is explanatory drawing of the example of a notification process which concerns on the state of each operation button. It is the figure which illustrated the hierarchical structure about the remote control signal processing which concerns on another structure form. It is a figure which shows the principal part of the hardware structural example. It is the figure which illustrated the hierarchical structure about remote control signal processing. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process example immediately after power activation. It is a flowchart figure which shows the example of an end process. It is a flowchart figure which shows the example of a sampling process in EC. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example which concerns on another apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example comprised so that bi-directional serial communication can be performed between a remote control apparatus and EC. It is the figure which illustrated the hierarchical structure regarding the display control of a remote control device. It is the flowchart figure which illustrated the transmission process to a remote control device. It is the figure which showed another example of the hierarchical structure regarding the display control of a remote control device. It is the figure which illustrated the principal part of the hardware hierarchy. It is explanatory drawing about the relationship between a battery apparatus, AC adapter, EC, and a remote control apparatus. It is a flowchart figure which shows the example of a display process. It is the figure which illustrated the principal part of the hardware hierarchy and the software hierarchy. FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining the relationship among the OS, AML, EC, battery device, AC adapter, and remote control device, and FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram for monitoring the connection status of the AC adapter. It is explanatory drawing regarding monitoring of a battery remaining charge.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A, 1B, 1C ... Information processing apparatus, 2 ... Main part of apparatus, 3 ... Key operation means, 4 ... Remote operation means, 4a ... Operation button or switch, 4b ... Display means, 5 ... Control means, 17 ... Analog -Digital conversion means

Claims (8)

A key operation means attached to or connected to the apparatus main body, and a remote operation means provided separately from the key operation means for issuing an instruction by remote operation from the outside with respect to a process or operation performed in the apparatus main body. In an information processing apparatus provided with a control means for receiving an operation signal from the key operation means and the remote operation means and detecting and notifying an operation status related to information processing and control,
The operation signal processing interface of the key operation means and the operation signal processing interface of the remote operation means are shared,
The operation state of an operation button or switch provided in the remote operation means is detected by the control means, and operation information is specified using key information predefined for the operation state of a specific operation button or switch. An information processing apparatus characterized by that. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
When the control means includes a keyboard controller that processes an operation signal from a keyboard and detects the operation state of a specific operation button or switch provided on the remote operation means, key information is input using an input interface of the keyboard. Is issued to control processing or operations executed in the apparatus main body. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
When an operation button or switch provided on the remote operation means is operated, the type of the operation button or switch is determined by the control means, and an operation button group processed using a predefined scan code or Information that controls the processing or operation by notifying the device main body using the input interface prepared for the operation state of the operation button or switch when it is determined that it does not belong to the switch group Processing equipment. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
An information processing apparatus characterized in that the control means discriminates an operating system installed in the apparatus main body and defines whether or not to issue a notification related to the key information according to the discrimination result. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
An analog-digital conversion means for receiving an operation signal from the remote operation means and converting it into a digital signal is provided in the control means,
During the sampling of the operation signal by the analog-digital conversion means, the operation of the control means excluding the conversion means is paused, and the operation of the control means is resumed after the sampling is completed. apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The information processing apparatus characterized in that the remote control means has display means, and the control means has an interface for sending display information to the display means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,
Information indicating the current power supply state on the display means of the remote control means by using the interface for the control means to acquire information indicating the power supply state related to the battery or the external power supply and to send the display information An information processing apparatus characterized by displaying. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
An information processing apparatus, wherein the controller constituting the control means has a plurality of input / output ports including a keyboard port.

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