JP2008282137A - Information processor and data saving method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of reducing the number of data to be saved during power supply stop process and of quickly performing the power supply stop process. <P>SOLUTION: This information processor 1 comprises a device 12 which performs a predetermined process, a saving memory 18 which stores the data to be saved, a bus monitoring table 22 which stores the address of a register 14 to be saved, and a bus monitoring part 20 which monitors the data flowing through the bus connected to a processing part and which writes the data to the saving memory 18 when the transmission destination or transmission origin of the data is the address indicated on the bus monitoring table 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including a semiconductor element incorporating a processor. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for saving the processing state at the time of stopping when stopping the operation of the semiconductor element and restoring the saved processing state when restarting the operation of the semiconductor element to restart the processing.

  A portable information processing device driven by a battery, such as a cellular phone, a portable music player, and a portable video player, is desired to have a longer driving time. When the music or video is not being played back, the power supply can be prevented from being wasted by frequently shutting off the power supply, and the drive time of the information processing apparatus can be extended. On the other hand, in order to improve the convenience for the user, it is desirable that when the power is turned on, it can be resumed from the state before the power is stopped.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a control method is known that reproduces a state before power is stopped when resuming use of an information processing apparatus. When the power is stopped, the data indicating the processing state of the processor of the information processing apparatus is saved in the nonvolatile memory, and then the power supply to the processor of the information processing apparatus is shut off. When the use of the information processing apparatus is resumed, the processor of the information processing apparatus reads data indicating the processing state saved in the nonvolatile memory, and the process is resumed from the state when the use is suspended.

Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional method for starting an information processing apparatus. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151561 describes a technique for determining which data should be saved when the power is stopped, and saving only data that needs to be saved to a nonvolatile area. This eliminates the need to write data that has not been updated to the non-volatile area, so that the time required for saving can be shortened and the power stop process can be performed at high speed.
JP 2005-293456 A

  However, in the configuration of the above-described Patent Document 1, the updated data is saved when the power is stopped. Accordingly, when a large amount of data has been updated, it may take a long time to stop the power supply.

  In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that can reduce the number of data to be saved at the time of a power stop process and can quickly perform the power stop process.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a processing unit that executes predetermined processing, a save memory that stores data to be saved, and an address of the data to be saved among data flowing through a bus connected to the processing unit. The bus monitoring table to be stored and the data flowing through the bus are monitored. When the transmission destination or transmission source of the data is the address indicated in the bus monitoring table, the bus monitoring is performed to write the data to the save memory. A part.

  In this way, the data flowing through the bus is monitored, and when the data transmission destination or transmission source is the address indicated in the bus monitoring table, the data to be saved is written to the save memory to perform normal operation. Can be saved in the save memory. Therefore, the time required for the data saving process when the power is stopped can be reduced.

  In the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the processing unit stores information indicating a location where data to be saved and stored in the processing unit is stored and is different from the address indicated in the bus monitoring table. A save target table and a save processing unit that writes data in a location indicated by the save target table to the save memory at a predetermined timing before an instruction to stop power supply is input may be provided.

  In this way, the data flowing through the bus is monitored, and when the data transmission destination or transmission source is the address indicated in the bus monitoring table, the process of writing the data to the save memory and before the power stop instruction is input By performing the process of writing the data at the location indicated in the save target table to the save memory at a predetermined timing, the data to be saved can be saved in the save memory during the normal operation. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time required for the data saving process when the power is stopped. Also, the simple configuration of bus monitoring allows data to be efficiently saved even when there are a plurality of processing units, while data that does not flow through the bus is saved by the save processing unit. In this way, the bus monitoring unit and the save processing unit complement each other, and data can be efficiently saved during normal operation.

  The information processing apparatus of the present invention may include a save arbitration unit that adjusts a write timing to the save memory by the bus monitoring unit and a write timing to the save memory by the save processing unit.

  With this configuration, even when the write timing to the save memory by the bus monitoring unit and the save processing unit conflicts, data can be reliably written to the save memory without canceling either write.

  An information processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a processing unit that executes a predetermined process and a save memory that stores the data to be saved, and the processing unit is saved in the processing unit. The save target table for storing information indicating the location where the data to be stored is stored, and the data at the location indicated in the save target table at the predetermined timing before the instruction to stop power supply is input. And an evacuation processing unit that writes data to.

  Thus, by writing the data at the location indicated in the save target table to the save memory at a predetermined timing before the power stop instruction is input, the data to be saved is saved in the save memory during normal operation. It can be evacuated. Therefore, the time required for the data saving process when the power is stopped can be reduced.

  In the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the save processing unit may write the updated data into the save memory at a timing when the data at the location indicated in the save target table is updated.

  With this configuration, changed data can be quickly saved, so that the latest data can be saved in the save memory.

  In the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the save processing unit may write data in a location indicated by the save target table to the save memory every time a certain time elapses.

  With this configuration, the device can be realized with a simple configuration because it is only necessary to save to the save memory at regular time intervals.

  In the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the save processing unit may write data in a location indicated in the save target table to the save memory at a timing when a specific process is completed.

  With this configuration, by resetting the data saved when the use is resumed, the process can be resumed from the completion of the specific process.

  The information processing apparatus of the present invention may use a non-volatile memory as the save memory.

  With this configuration, the save memory can be realized with a simple configuration.

  The information processing apparatus of the present invention may have a power saving mode in which power supply to a portion other than the save memory is cut off.

  With this configuration, it is possible to employ a volatile memory as the save memory.

  The data saving method according to the present invention is a method for saving data to a saving memory in an information processing apparatus having a processing unit for executing a predetermined process, and should be saved among data flowing through a bus connected to the processing unit. Preparing a bus monitoring table for storing data addresses; monitoring data flowing through the bus; and whether the data transmission destination or transmission source is the address indicated in the bus monitoring table And a step of writing the data to the save memory when the transmission destination or transmission source address of the data flowing on the bus matches the address indicated in the bus monitoring table.

  In this way, the data flowing through the bus is monitored, and when the data transmission destination or transmission source is the address indicated in the bus monitoring table, the data to be saved is written to the save memory to perform normal operation. Can be saved in the save memory. Various configurations of the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied to the data saving method of the present invention.

  According to the data saving method of the present invention, a step of preparing a save target table in the processing unit for storing information indicating a location where data to be saved held in the processing unit is stored, and an instruction to stop power supply are input. And a step of writing the data in the location indicated by the save target table into the save memory at a predetermined timing before the save unit.

  In this way, the data flowing through the bus is monitored, and when the data transmission destination or transmission source is the address indicated in the bus monitoring table, the process of writing the data to the save memory and before the power stop instruction is input By performing the process of writing the data at the location indicated in the save target table to the save memory at a predetermined timing, the data to be saved can be saved in the save memory during the normal operation. Various configurations of the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied to the data saving method of the present invention.

  A data evacuation method according to another aspect of the present invention is a method of evacuating data to a evacuation memory in an information processing apparatus having a processing unit that executes a predetermined process, the data to be evacuated held in the processing unit The processing unit is indicated in the saving target table at a predetermined timing before a save target table storing information indicating the location where the information is stored in the processing unit and before a power-off instruction is input. And writing data in the saved location to the save memory.

  Thus, by writing the data at the location indicated in the save target table to the save memory at a predetermined timing before the power stop instruction is input, the data to be saved is saved in the save memory during normal operation. It can be evacuated. Various configurations of the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied to the data saving method of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, data flowing through the bus is monitored, and when the data transmission destination or transmission source is the address indicated in the bus monitoring table, the data to be saved is normally written by writing the data in the saving memory. Can be saved in the save memory during the operation, and the time required for the data saving process can be reduced when the power is stopped.

Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The information processing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of devices 12 connected by a bus 10 and a bus master 16 that issues instructions such as data transmission to the bus 10. An example of the information processing apparatus 1 is a system LSI. Each device 12 has a register 14 in which various register values are stored. In the present embodiment, the register value held in the register 14 of each device 12 will be described as data to be saved.

  The bus master 16 is, for example, a CPU that controls the behavior of the information processing apparatus 1, a DSP that performs data processing, a DMA controller that performs data transfer, and the like, but is not limited thereto. The device 12 is, for example, a functional block that performs a specific functional operation such as a memory or a data input / output interface, but is not limited thereto. In FIG. 1, one bus master 16 and two devices 12 are illustrated, but the number of bus masters 16 and devices 12 is not limited to the example illustrated in FIG. 1 and may be any number.

  The information processing apparatus 1 saves the register value saved in the device 12 in the save memory 18 when the power is stopped. As a result, when the power is input, the information processing apparatus 1 resets the register values saved in the save memory 18 in each device 12 to reproduce the state before the power is stopped.

  The save memory 18 that saves the register value may be a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, or may be a volatile memory that always supplies a backup power source even when the information processing apparatus 1 is stopped. .

  The information processing apparatus 1 includes a bus monitoring unit 20 that monitors data flowing through the bus 10. A bus monitoring table 22 is connected to the bus monitoring unit 20. The bus monitoring table 22 is a table for determining data to be saved in the save memory 18 from data flowing through the bus 10.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the bus monitoring table 22. In the present embodiment, the data to be saved is the register value of the register 14, so the address of the register 14 of each device 12 is stored in the bus monitoring table 22. When data addressed to the address stored in the bus monitoring table 22 or data having the address as the transmission source is transmitted on the bus 10, the bus monitoring unit 20 saves the data in the save memory 18.

  In the information processing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the bus monitoring unit 20 monitors data transmitted on the bus 10 during a normal operation period, and the data addressed to the address stored in the bus monitoring table 22 Data having the address as a transmission source is saved in the save memory 18. As a result, data written to the address stored in the bus monitoring table 22 or data read from the bus monitoring table 22 can be saved in the save memory 18. The information processing apparatus 1 does not need to save data when the power is stopped, and can quickly perform the power stop process.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the effect of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment in comparison with the conventional information processing apparatus. As shown in the lower part of FIG. 3, conventionally, data to be saved is written in the save memory 18 after a power supply stop instruction is given. Therefore, at least before the power supply stop process is actually performed after the power supply stop instruction, Processing time T was required. In the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 3, the bus monitoring unit 20 writes the data to the save memory 18 whenever the save target data flows on the bus 10. The memory 18 stores the latest data. Therefore, it is not necessary to save the register value when the power is stopped. As a result, the time T required for evacuation can be omitted and the information processing apparatus 1 can be brought into a stopped state, and a great power saving effect can be obtained.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the information processing apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment. The information processing apparatus 2 includes a device 12, a bus master 16, and a save memory 18 as in the information processing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the device 12 includes a save processing unit 24 and a save target table 26. Also in this embodiment, the register value held in the register 14 of the device 12 will be described as data to be saved.

  The save target table 26 is a table for determining data to be saved in the save memory 18 among the registers 14 held in the device 12. Specifically, the address information of the register 14 to be saved is stored as in the first embodiment. The information stored in the save target table 26 may be information indicating the storage location of the register 14, and may be information indicating the storage location of the register 14 by a bit, for example.

  The save processing unit 24 refers to the save target table 26 and writes the data to the save memory 18 when the data at the address indicated in the save target table 26 is updated. The output of the save processing unit 24 of each of the two devices 12 is input to the inter-device arbitration unit 28.

  When the save data is output from the two save processing units 24 at the same timing, the inter-device arbitration unit 28 performs a process of preferentially writing one save data to the save memory. The inter-device arbitration unit 28 writes the other saved data after writing one saved data.

  In the information processing apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment, the save processing unit 24 provided in the device 12 saves data to the save memory 18 during the normal operation period. Data is stored. Therefore, it is not necessary to save data when the power is stopped, and it is possible to omit the time required for saving so far and to put the information processing apparatus 2 in a stopped state, thereby obtaining a great power saving effect. .

  In the above description, the example in which the save processing unit 24 writes the data to the save memory 18 when the data at the address stored in the save target table 26 is updated has been described. Is written in the save memory 18 is not limited to the timing when the data is updated. For example, writing to the save memory 18 may be performed when data is updated a predetermined number of times. Further, for example, the data of the address stored in the save target table 26 may be written into the save memory 18 at regular time intervals, or when the processing unit in the device 12 is completed, for example, processing of one image or Alternatively, writing may be performed when processing for one frame of moving image or processing for one packet of communication data is completed.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the information processing device 3 according to the third embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the information processing apparatus 3 includes a device 12, a bus master 16, a save memory 18, and a bus monitoring unit 20. In the present embodiment, the register 14 held by the device 12 will be described as data to be saved.

  As in the first embodiment, the bus monitoring unit 20 is connected to a bus monitoring table 22 for determining whether the data is to be saved. The device 12 includes a save processing unit 24 and a save target table 26 as in the second embodiment.

  The bus monitoring table 22 connected to the bus monitoring unit 20 stores the address of the register 14 that holds the register value flowing on the bus 10 among the registers 14 of the device 12. For example, when the register value of the device 12 is set from the outside, the register value to be set flows through the bus 10. When the register value is referred to by the CPU, the register value is read from the register 14 and the register value flows through the bus 10. By monitoring the bus 10 using the bus monitoring table 22, the bus monitoring unit 20 can acquire the register value.

  On the other hand, the save target table 26 provided in the device 12 stores the address of the register 14 that holds a register value that does not flow on the bus 10 among the registers 14 of the device 12. The register value generated and referred to in the device 12 cannot be obtained even when the bus 10 is monitored. Accordingly, the save processing unit 24 saves register values managed only within the device 12 by processing using the save target table 26.

  In this way, the bus monitoring unit 20 saves the register value flowing through the bus 10, and the save processing unit 24 saves the register value used in the device 12. By sharing the functions of the bus monitoring unit 20 and the save processing unit 24, register values can be saved efficiently. That is, the bus monitoring unit 20 saves the register values held in the registers 14 of the plurality of devices 12 with a simple configuration of monitoring data flowing through the bus 10. Since the save processing unit 24 of each device 12 only needs to save register values that cannot be captured by the bus monitoring unit 20 by the save processing unit 24, the chance that the original processing of the device 12 is hindered during normal operation is reduced. it can.

  Further, the information processing apparatus 3 according to the present embodiment includes a save processing arbitration unit 30 that adjusts data writing to the save memory 18 by the bus monitoring unit 20 and the save processing unit 24. The save process arbitration unit 30 is connected to the bus monitoring unit 20 and the save processing unit 24 on the input side, and to the save memory 18 on the output side. The save process arbitration unit 30 preferentially writes the data from the bus monitoring unit 20 to the save memory 18 when write data is input simultaneously from both the bus monitoring unit 20 and the save processing unit 24, and the bus monitoring unit The data from the save processing unit 24 is written into the save memory 18 between the writing of data from 20.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating data write timing by the save process arbitration unit 30. The case where the write timing of the data D1 by the save processing unit 24 and the write timing of the data D2 by the bus monitoring unit 20 collide will be described with reference to FIG.

  The save processing arbitration unit 30 writes the data D1 by the save processing unit 24 until the writing of the data D2 by the bus monitoring unit 20 occurs. That is, the data D1a is written into the save memory 18. If writing of the data D2 by the bus monitoring unit 20 occurs during the writing of the data D1, the writing of the data D1 from the save processing unit 24 is temporarily interrupted and the data D2 from the bus monitoring unit 20 is written to the save memory 18. Then, after the writing of the data D2 is completed, the writing of the data D1 from the save processing unit 24 is resumed. That is, the save process arbitration unit 30 writes the data D1b to the save memory 18.

  In the information processing apparatus 3 according to the third embodiment, the bus monitoring unit 20 monitors data transmitted on the bus 10 during a normal operation period, and data addressed to an address stored in the bus monitoring table 22; The data having the address as the transmission source is saved in the save memory 18. Further, the save processing unit 24 provided in the device 12 saves data in the save memory 18 during the normal operation period. Therefore, the latest data is stored in the save memory 18, and it is not necessary to save the data when the power is stopped. Therefore, it is possible to omit the time required for evacuation and put the information processing apparatus 3 in a stopped state, and a large power saving effect can be obtained.

  The present invention has an effect that the time required for evacuation can be reduced and power supply stop processing can be performed quickly, and is useful as, for example, a mobile phone, a portable music player, a portable video player, a portable voice recorder, a digital camera, and the like.

The figure which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment The figure which shows the example of the data memorize | stored in the save object table The figure which shows the effect of the information processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment The figure which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment The figure which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus of 3rd Embodiment The figure which shows the timing of data writing by the evacuation processing arbitration unit

Explanation of symbols

1-3 Information processing apparatus 10 Bus 12 Device 14 Register 16 Bus master 18 Saved memory 20 Bus monitoring unit 22 Bus monitoring table 24 Save processing unit 26 Save target table 28 Inter-device arbitration unit 30 Save processing arbitration unit

Claims (12)

A processing unit for executing a predetermined process;
A save memory for storing data to be saved;
A bus monitoring table for storing the address of the data to be saved among the data flowing through the bus connected to the processing unit;
A bus monitoring unit that monitors data flowing through the bus and writes the data to the save memory when the transmission destination or transmission source of the data is the address indicated in the bus monitoring table;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The processor is
A evacuation target table for storing information indicating a location where data to be evacuated held in the processing unit is stored and different from an address indicated in the bus monitoring table;
A save processing unit that writes data at a location indicated in the save target table to the save memory at a predetermined timing before an instruction to stop power supply is input;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a save arbitration unit that adjusts a write timing to the save memory by the bus monitoring unit and a write timing to the save memory by the save processing unit. A processing unit for executing a predetermined process;
A save memory for storing the data to be saved;
With
The processor is
A save target table that stores information indicating a location where data to be saved held in the processing unit is stored;
A save processing unit that writes data at a location indicated in the save target table to the save memory at a predetermined timing before an instruction to stop power supply is input;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the save processing unit writes the updated data to the save memory at a timing when the data in the location indicated in the save target table is updated.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the save processing unit writes data in a location indicated by the save target table to the save memory every time a predetermined time elapses.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the save processing unit writes data in a location indicated by the save target table to the save memory at a timing when specific processing is completed.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the save memory is a nonvolatile memory.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a power saving mode that cuts off power supply to a portion other than the save memory. A method of saving data in a save memory in an information processing apparatus having a processing unit that executes predetermined processing,
Preparing a bus monitoring table for storing an address of data to be saved among data flowing through a bus connected to the processing unit;
Monitoring data flowing through the bus, and monitoring whether the transmission destination or transmission source of the data is an address indicated in the bus monitoring table;
A step of writing the data to the save memory when the transmission destination or transmission source address of the data flowing through the bus matches the address indicated in the bus monitoring table;
A data saving method comprising: Preparing a save target table in the processing unit for storing information indicating a location where data to be saved held in the processing unit is stored;
Writing the data in the location indicated by the save target table to the save memory at a predetermined timing before the instruction to stop the power is input;
The data saving method according to claim 10, further comprising: A method of saving data in a save memory in an information processing apparatus having a processing unit that executes predetermined processing,
Preparing a save target table in the processing unit for storing information indicating a location where data to be saved held in the processing unit is stored;
Writing the data in the location indicated by the save target table to the save memory at a predetermined timing before the instruction to stop the power is input;
A data saving method comprising:

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