JP2007018258A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor which can perform interrupt processing to interruption from devices additionally installed under an appropriate operating system (OS). <P>SOLUTION: The information processor stores interruption execution information which indicates an OS which performs interrupt processing for every interruption number beforehand in a management information storage section 56. Number information which indicates interruption numbers from a plurality of devices is acquired by a device information acquisition section 60. When the OS for the interruption number indicated by acquired number information is not being registered in interruption execution information, a registration instruction screen prompting input of an OS which performs interrupt processing to the interruption number which is not registered in a display device 30 is displayed. If specification information which indicates the OS which performs interrupt processing to non-registered interruption number is input from an operation input device 34, a CPU 22 registers it to the interrupt execution information as an OS which performs the interrupt processing to the non-registered interruption number. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus in which a plurality of preinstalled operating systems are apparently executed simultaneously.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image processing apparatuses such as digital copying machines and printers have received image data read by an image reading unit or image data received by a communication interface unit (hereinafter referred to as “communication I / F unit”) from an external terminal via a network. An operating system executed by a control unit that performs predetermined image correction processing on the image, records an image on a recording sheet by an image output unit based on the corrected image data, and controls the operation of the entire apparatus (Hereinafter also referred to as “OS”) controls the operation of each device such as an image input unit, an image output unit, and a communication I / F unit.

  By the way, some devices provided in the image processing apparatus define a control procedure and an operation time by a control unit from the start to the end of the operation. For example, when the image output unit starts recording an image on a recording sheet, the control unit needs to sequentially output image data to the image output unit at a timing synchronized with the operation of the image output unit.

  On the other hand, the communication I / F unit receives image data transmitted from an external terminal asynchronously with the operation of each device.

  For this reason, the control unit needs to control communication with the external terminal when the image data is received by the communication I / F unit even during the control of the image output unit. Since real-time control is required, a real-time OS suitable for real-time processing is adopted as the installed OS.

  This type of real-time OS improves the real-time performance by simplifying, for example, a virtual address and a memory protection function provided in a general-purpose OS. However, the real-time OS has simplified functions and thus has lower reliability than a general-purpose OS, and it is necessary to develop software in consideration of the effects of simplified functions (for example, virtual address and memory protection functions). There was a problem that software productivity was low.

  Therefore, as a technique that can be applied to solve this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses that a plurality of OSs are installed (installed) in a computer, and interrupt processing is performed for an interrupt request from a device connected to the computer. The OS to be executed is predetermined and stored in the interrupt identification table, and a plurality of OSs are apparently executed at the same time, and when an interrupt request is received from a device, the OS for executing the interrupt process is determined from the interrupt identification table. A technique for executing an interrupt process for an interrupt request from a device using the OS is disclosed.

This technique is applied to the above-described image processing apparatus. For example, a general-purpose OS is installed in addition to a real-time OS, and interrupt processing for an interrupt request from a device that requires real-time control is executed by the real-time OS. By executing interrupt processing in response to an interrupt request from a device using a general-purpose OS, it is possible to suppress a decrease in software productivity while maintaining real-time performance. In addition, since the software developed for the general-purpose OS can be executed, the compatibility is excellent.
JP-A-11-149385

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, an OS for executing an interrupt process for an interrupt request is fixed in advance in the interrupt identification table, and a device can be connected later to the image processing apparatus. It was not considered. For this reason, there is a problem that when an additional device is connected later, an interrupt request from the connected device cannot be handled by an appropriate OS.

  That is, the interface standards applicable to the image processing apparatus include, for example, USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394 (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394), Plug and Play, and hot plug (hot plug). ), A device can be dynamically added while the image processing apparatus is being driven. When a device is added in this device, an appropriate OS is made to respond to an interrupt from the added device. I could not.

  The above-described problem is not limited to the image processing apparatus, and a case where a plurality of OSs are installed in an information processing apparatus such as a computer, and the plurality of OSs are apparently executed simultaneously to perform control. The same problem occurs.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an information processing apparatus capable of executing an interrupt process for an interrupt from an additionally connected device with an appropriate operating system. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of preinstalled operating systems are apparently executed simultaneously and connected to a plurality of devices each outputting a predetermined interrupt signal. An information processing apparatus that executes an interrupt process corresponding to an interrupt number indicated by an interrupt signal in any one of the operating systems when the interrupt signal is input from any one of the devices, A storage unit that stores in advance interrupt execution information indicating an operating system that executes interrupt processing for each number, and obtains number information indicating an interrupt number indicated by the interrupt signal output from each of the plurality of devices. An interruption number indicated by the acquisition unit and the number information acquired by the acquisition unit Display means for displaying an input screen for prompting an operating system for executing interrupt processing for an unregistered interrupt number when an operating system for executing interrupt processing for the interrupt execution information is not registered in the interrupt execution information; and An input unit that inputs designation information indicating an operating system that executes interrupt processing for an unregistered interrupt number, and an operating system that is indicated by the designation information that is input from the input unit is assigned to the unregistered interrupt number. Registering means for registering in the interrupt execution information stored in the storage means as an operating system for executing interrupt processing.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the interrupt execution information indicating the operating system that executes the interrupt processing for each interrupt number is stored in advance in the storage means, and is output from each of the plurality of devices by the acquisition means. Number information indicating the interrupt number indicated by the interrupt signal is acquired, and an operating system that executes interrupt processing for the interrupt number indicated by the number information acquired by the acquiring means is not registered in the interrupt execution information by the display means. In this case, an input screen prompting the input of the operating system for executing the interrupt processing for the unregistered interrupt number is displayed. The display means includes a display such as a CRT display, a plasma display, an organic EL display, and a liquid crystal display.

  According to the present invention, the designation information indicating the operating system for executing the interrupt processing for the unregistered interrupt number is input from the input means, and the operating means indicated by the designation information input from the input means by the registration means. The system is registered in the interrupt execution information stored in the storage means as an operating system that executes interrupt processing for the unregistered interrupt number. The input by the input means includes input from a keyboard, a pointing device, or the like.

  Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, interrupt execution information indicating an operating system that executes interrupt processing for each interrupt number is stored in advance in the storage means, and interrupts output from a plurality of devices are respectively stored. The number information indicating the interrupt number indicated by the signal is acquired, and when the operating system that executes the interrupt processing for the interrupt number indicated by the acquired number information is not registered in the interrupt execution information, it corresponds to the unregistered interrupt number. An input screen prompting an input of an operating system for executing interrupt processing is displayed on the display means, and the operating system indicated by the designation information input from the input means is displayed as an operating system for executing interrupt processing for an unregistered interrupt number. Stored in the storage means as a system Since registered write execution information, it may be able to execute the interrupt processing for the interrupt from additional connected devices in the appropriate operating system.

  In the present invention, as in the invention described in claim 2, the acquisition means may acquire the number information at a timing when the information processing apparatus is turned on.

  Further, according to the present invention, the acquisition unit may acquire the number information at a timing when a new device is newly connected.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the display means displays the input screen on which the names of the plurality of operating systems are displayed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, interrupt execution information indicating an operating system that executes interrupt processing for each interrupt number is stored in advance in a storage means, and interrupt signals output from a plurality of devices are provided. If the operating system that executes interrupt processing for the interrupt number indicated by the acquired number information is not registered in the interrupt execution information, the interrupt for the unregistered interrupt number is acquired. An operating system that displays an input screen for prompting an input of an operating system for executing processing on the display means, and executes an interrupt processing for an unregistered interrupt number by the operating system indicated by the designation information input from the input means Stored in the storage means as Since registered in the execution information, it has an excellent effect that can be able to execute the interrupt processing for the interrupt from additional connected devices in the appropriate operating system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of the information processing apparatus 10.

  As shown in the figure, the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment stores a CPU (central processing unit) 22 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, and a first OS 44 and a second OS 46 that control the information processing apparatus 10. A hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) 24, a ROM 26 in which various programs and various parameters including an interrupt processing OS registration program to be described later are stored in advance, and a RAM 28 in which various data are temporarily stored. A display control unit 32 connected to the display device 30 for displaying various operation screens and controlling the display device 30; an operation input device 34 such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting various instructions from the user; Data transmission / reception between the communication I / F unit 36 connected to the external terminal that is not connected via the network and the device connected to the information processing apparatus 10 Input and output ports 38 to interface includes an interrupt controller 40 for controlling interrupt requests to CPU22 from each device, the.

  Note that a load program (so-called loader) is stored in advance in the ROM 26 according to the present embodiment, and the CPU 22 executes the load program at startup to read the first OS 44 and the second OS 46 from the HDD 24 into the RAM 28, and Both the 1OS 44 and the second OS 46 are executed. Therefore, the operation of the information processing apparatus 10 is controlled by the first OS 44 and the second OS 46.

  In addition, the input / output port 38 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of (in the present embodiment, two) connectors 48, and is a USB that can dynamically connect devices while the power of the apparatus main body is on. It is configured as an interface. Therefore, the user can connect devices such as a scanner and a printer as necessary. In the present embodiment, two devices are connected to each other as device A50 and device B51.

  The CPU 22, HDD 24, ROM 26, RAM 28, display control unit 32, operation input device 34, communication I / F unit 36, input / output port 38, and interrupt control unit 40 are connected to each other via a bus BUS. Therefore, the CPU 22 accesses the HDD 24, the ROM 26, and the RAM 28, displays various information on the display device 30 by controlling the display control unit 32, grasps the content of instructions by the user's operation on the operation input device 34, Control of the transmission / reception of data with an external terminal by controlling the communication I / F unit 36 and control of the operation of the device A50 and the device B51 can be performed via the input / output port 38, respectively.

  Incidentally, as described above, the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment controls operations by the first OS 44 and the second OS 46. Therefore, which OS is used to control an interrupt request generated from the device A50 and the device B51 connected via the operation input device 34, the communication I / F unit 36, the operation input device 34, and the input / output port 38. It becomes a problem.

  Therefore, in the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the interrupt control unit 40 performs control to distribute the generated interrupt request to the first OS 44 and the second OS 46.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the interrupt control unit 40.

  The interrupt control unit 40 detects an interrupt signal for requesting an interrupt from the device, and an IRQ identification that identifies an interrupt number (IRQ (Interrupt ReQuest)) indicated by the interrupt signal detected by the interrupt detection unit 52 Unit 54, a management information storage unit 56 that stores an interrupt management table (see FIG. 3) in which interrupt execution information indicating an OS that executes interrupt processing for each interrupt number is registered, and a management information storage unit 56. A control transfer unit 58 that reads the interrupt execution information corresponding to the interrupt number identified by the IRQ identification unit 54 from the interrupt management table and transfers control to the OS indicated by the interrupt execution information.

  The management information storage unit 56 according to the present embodiment is configured by a non-volatile and rewritable memory such as a flash memory, and holds interrupt execution information even when the apparatus main body is turned off. Is possible.

  Further, the control transfer unit 58 according to the present embodiment obtains an OS corresponding to the interrupt number identified by the IRQ identification unit 54 from the interrupt management table, and refers to the interrupt vector of the OS to determine a predetermined corresponding to the interrupt number. The address of the interrupt processing (so-called interrupt handler) is obtained and transmitted to the CPU 22, and the CPU 22 is requested to shift to the processing of the address. The interrupt vector is determined in advance for each of the first OS 44 and the second OS 46, loaded by a load program at startup, and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 28 in advance.

  The CPU 22 temporarily saves the information of the process being executed under the control of the OS to the RAM 28 and executes the interrupt process indicated by the received address.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the data structure of the interrupt management table.

  As shown in the figure, in the interrupt management table, an OS that performs interrupt processing for each interrupt number is registered as interrupt execution information, and if no device corresponding to the interrupt number is connected, there is no OS registration. Is stored. In the interrupt management table shown in FIG. 3, the OS is not registered when IRQ = 11, 13.

  On the other hand, the interrupt control unit 40 (see FIG. 2) includes a device information acquisition unit 60 that acquires device information such as a model number and model name of a device connected at a predetermined timing and number information indicating an interrupt number of the device. It is determined whether or not the OS corresponding to the interrupt number indicated by the number information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 60 is registered in the interrupt management table stored in the management information storage unit 56. A registration control unit 62 for storing the device information and number information acquired in this case in a predetermined area of the RAM 28 and requesting the CPU 22 to execute the interrupt processing OS registration program stored in the ROM 26.

  FIG. 4 shows a registration instruction screen 70 displayed on the display device 30 when the interrupt processing OS registration program is executed by the CPU 22.

  As shown in the figure, the registration instruction screen 70 is mounted on the information processing apparatus 10 and a device information display area 72 that displays a model name indicated by the device information stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 28. An OS name display area 74 for displaying the name of the OS, a number input area 76 for inputting the number for specifying the OS for executing the interrupt processing, an OK button 78 for specifying the execution of registration, and no registration. And a cancel button 80 for designating.

  On the registration instruction screen 70, the user inputs the OS number designated in the number input area 76 and designates the OK button 78, thereby registering information indicating the OS in the interrupt number indicated by the number information in the interrupt management table. It is possible. If the cancel button 80 is designated, the registration instruction screen 70 is terminated without registering the OS corresponding to the interrupt number of the device.

  Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, as an example, an operation flow of the interrupt control unit 40 when communication data is received from an external terminal via the communication I / F unit 36 will be briefly described.

  The CPU 22 of the information processing apparatus 10 executes processes under the control of the first OS 44 and the second OS 46, and the communication I / F unit 36 requests an interrupt to the interrupt control unit 40 when receiving communication data via the network. Output an interrupt signal.

  In the interrupt control unit 40, when the interrupt detection unit 52 detects the interrupt signal, the IRQ identification unit 54 identifies the interrupt number of the interrupt signal, and the control transfer unit 58 stores the interrupt management table in the management information storage unit 56. An OS corresponding to the interrupt number identified based on the interrupt number is obtained, an interrupt vector corresponding to the interrupt number is obtained by referring to the interrupt vector of the OS, and the CPU 22 is requested to shift to the processing of the address. .

  The CPU 22 temporarily saves the information of the processing that has been performed in the RAM 28 and executes the processing from the requested address.

  As described above, in the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the interrupt processing by the OS indicated by the interrupt execution information registered in the interrupt management table is performed for each connected device.

  Next, the flow of additional device registration processing when a device is added to the input / output port 38 of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the device information acquisition unit 60 performs the additional device registration process at the timing when the power of the apparatus main body is turned on.

  In step 100 of the figure, the device information acquisition unit 60 transmits inquiry information for inquiring device information of the device concerned and number information indicating an interrupt number to each device connected via the bus BUS. A response to the information is received to obtain device information and number information of each device.

  In the next step 102, the OS corresponding to the interrupt number indicated by the number information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 60 is registered in the interrupt execution information of the interrupt management table stored in the management information storage unit 56 by the registration control unit 62. It is determined whether or not a new device has been added by determining whether or not a new device has been added. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 104. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to the end. For example, in the interrupt management table shown in FIG. 3, when a device that outputs an interrupt signal with an interrupt number “11” is connected, it is determined that a new device is connected.

  In the process of step 102, when the OS corresponding to the interrupt number is registered in the interrupt execution information of the interrupt management table and the device that generates the interrupt with the interrupt number is not connected, the OS It is preferable to update to information indicating no registration. As a result, when the device connected to the information processing apparatus 10 is removed, the interrupt number can be newly used by another device, so that the interrupt number can be used effectively.

  In step 104, the acquired device information and number information are stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 28, and the address of the interrupt processing OS registration program stored in the ROM 26 is transmitted to the CPU 22, so that the first OS 44 and the second OS 46 by the load program are transmitted. Is interrupted to request execution of the interrupt processing OS registration program.

  In step 106, the CPU 22 executes an interrupt processing OS registration program, reads device information and number information from a predetermined area of the RAM 28, and displays a registration instruction screen 70 (see FIG. 4) on the display device 30.

  When registering, the user inputs a number for designating an OS for executing interrupt processing from the operation input device 34 to the number input area 76 and designates the OK button 78. On the other hand, if registration is not performed, the cancel button 80 is designated.

  In step 108, it is determined whether or not the OK button 78 is designated. If the OK button 78 is designated, the process proceeds to step 112. If not designated, the process proceeds to step 110. In step 110, it is determined whether or not the cancel button 80 is designated. If the cancel button 80 is designated, the process proceeds to step 114, and if not designated, the process proceeds to step 108 again, and the OK button. 78, waits for designation of any of the cancel buttons 80.

  In step 112, the OS specified in the number input area 76 is registered in the interrupt number indicated by the number information of the device in the interrupt management table stored in the management information storage unit 56 under the control of the CPU 22.

  In step 114, the display of the registration instruction screen 70 on the display device 30 is terminated, the reading of the first OS 44 and the second OS 46 by the load program is resumed, and the process proceeds to the end.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of preinstalled operating systems are apparently executed simultaneously and connected to a plurality of devices each outputting a predetermined interrupt signal, and any one of the plurality of devices is connected. An operating system that executes interrupt processing for each interrupt number in an information processing apparatus that executes interrupt processing corresponding to the interrupt number indicated by the interrupt signal in any one operating system when the interrupt signal is input from one Interrupt execution information indicating the system is stored in advance in storage means (here, the management information storage unit 56), and is output from each of a plurality of devices by the acquisition means (here, the device information acquisition unit 60). Number information indicating the interrupt number indicated by the interrupt signal is acquired, and the number information acquired by the acquisition means is acquired. When the operating system that executes the interrupt processing for the interrupt number indicated by is not registered in the interrupt execution information, the operating system that executes the interrupt processing for the interrupt number that is not registered in the display means (here, the display device 30). Designation information indicating an operating system that displays an input screen for prompting system input (here, the registration instruction screen 70) and executes interrupt processing for an unregistered interrupt number from the input means (here, the operation input device 34) Is input, the registration means (here, the CPU 22) stores the operating system indicated by the designation information input from the input means in the storage means as an operating system for executing an interrupt process for an unregistered interrupt number. Registered interrupt execution information Since it has, and it may be able to execute the interrupt processing for the interrupt from additional connected devices in the appropriate operating system.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the acquisition unit acquires the number information at the timing when the information processing apparatus is turned on, a new device is connected while the information processing apparatus is turned off. In this case, when the power is turned on, an interrupt request from the new device can be promptly associated with an appropriate OS at startup.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the display means displays the input screen displaying the names of the plurality of operating systems, so that the operating system to be supported by the user can be easily specified. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, the case has been described where the number information of the connected device is acquired when the information processing apparatus is turned on. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, The timing when a new device is newly connected may be used. Moreover, it is good also as what acquires the apparatus information and number information of the apparatus connected with the timing of every fixed period (for example, every 1 minute). Further, it may be checked whether or not it is registered in the interrupt management table at the timing of receiving the interrupt signal from the device. As a result, even when a device is dynamically connected to the information processing apparatus, the device can be promptly associated with an appropriate OS.

  In addition, the configuration of the information processing apparatus 10 described in the present embodiment (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is an example, and it is needless to say that the configuration can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  Further, the data structure of the interrupt management table (see FIG. 3) and the screen configuration of the registration instruction screen 70 (see FIG. 4) described in the present embodiment are examples, and are within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, it can be changed as appropriate.

  Furthermore, the flow of the additional device registration process (see FIG. 5) described in the present embodiment is also an example, and it goes without saying that it can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the whole information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the interruption control part which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the interruption management table which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the display form of the registration instruction | indication screen which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the additional apparatus registration process which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Information processing device 22 CPU
30 Display Device 34 Operation Input Device 36 Communication I / F Unit 38 Input / Output Port 40 Interrupt Control Unit 56 Management Information Storage Unit 60 Device Information Acquisition Unit 62 Registration Control Unit 70 Registration Instruction Screen

Claims (4)

When a plurality of preinstalled operating systems are apparently executed simultaneously, connected to a plurality of devices each outputting a predetermined interrupt signal, and the interrupt signal is input from any one of the plurality of devices An information processing apparatus that executes interrupt processing according to an interrupt number indicated by the interrupt signal in any one of the operating systems,
Storage means for pre-stored interrupt execution information indicating an operating system that executes interrupt processing for each interrupt number;
Obtaining means for obtaining number information indicating an interrupt number indicated by the interrupt signal output from each of the plurality of devices;
An operating system that executes interrupt processing for an unregistered interrupt number when an operating system that executes interrupt processing for the interrupt number indicated by the number information acquired by the acquisition means is unregistered in the interrupt execution information. Display means for displaying an input screen for prompting the system;
Input means for inputting designation information indicating an operating system that executes interrupt processing for the unregistered interrupt number;
The operating system indicated by the designation information input from the input unit is registered in the interrupt execution information stored in the storage unit as an operating system that executes interrupt processing for the unregistered interrupt number. Registration means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the number information at a timing when the information processing apparatus is powered on. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the number information at a timing when a new device is newly connected. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display unit displays the input screen on which names of the plurality of operating systems are displayed.

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