JP2012037956A - Thin client computer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thin client computer device capable of facilitating switching between an OS used as a thin client terminal and a general-purpose OS.SOLUTION: A thin client computer device 10 comprises: a first storage device 14 which stores a first OS14a for making the thin client computer device 10 operate as a general-purpose computer; a second storage device 15, which is provided physically independently of the first storage device 14, and which stores a second OS15a for making the thin client computer device 10 operate as a thin client terminal; and OS switching means (BIOS12) for selectively switching between the first OS14a or the second OS15a.

Description

  The present invention relates to a computer device having a plurality of OSs (operating systems), and in particular, an OS for using a computer device as a client device for a thin client system and a general-purpose general OS are physically used. The present invention relates to a thin client computer device which is stored in a separate storage device and only one of the OSs is enabled when the computer device is initially started.

  Usually, various electronic devices controlled by a computer device or a microcomputer are preinstalled with one OS (operating system), and operation control of each unit is performed by the OS. Incidentally, several different OSs are provided for computer devices such as personal computers. Some users have a request to mount a plurality of different OSs on their computer devices and arbitrarily switch OSs. In addition, when the OS is upgraded and newly provided, some users have a request to add a new version of the OS while the old version of the OS is installed.

  An electronic device equipped with a plurality of different OSs is disclosed in, for example, the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-135528). The electronic device stores boot OS selection information for selecting one of the plurality of OSs at boot time in the non-destructive storage unit, and the program control unit stores the non-destructive memory when the device is booted. The OS is selected based on the boot OS selection information read from the means, and the selected OS is initially programmed (IPL) from the storage means.

  Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-262419) below discloses an information processing apparatus that can execute a plurality of operating systems OS1 and OS2 in parallel. This information processing apparatus stores AP characteristic information of application programs AP1 and AP2 executed on a plurality of operating systems, measures the load situation of each operating system, and based on the load situation and AP characteristic information. The operating system for executing the application program is selected.

  On the other hand, with the spread of small and lightweight personal computers, there is an increasing need to take personal computers to remote locations away from the company. Along with this, in order to prevent leakage of confidential information outside the company, the data is stored only on the server at the head office, and there is no storage device such as a hard disk in the personal computer. There is known a thin client personal computer that transmits and receives only screen information for displaying calculation results and calculation results using a communication with a server.

  For example, in the following Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-228227), an operation on a GUI (graphic user interface) displayed on a thin client terminal is transmitted to an application executed on the server, and this operation is performed. A technique is disclosed in which an application is executed based on the above, an execution result is transmitted to a thin client terminal, and is reflected on a GUI displayed on the thin client terminal.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-269210 discloses a removable memory unit and a computer device that store and provide an OS used for a thin client computer in a removable memory unit. In the removable memory unit and the computer apparatus, the removable (USB) memory unit includes a CD-ROM storage area in which a master boot record (MBR) and an OS main body are stored, and CD-ROM device information in which CD-ROM device information is stored. And a BIOS in which a master boot record stored in the CD-ROM storage area is mounted on the computer device, and is configured to be recognized as a CD-ROM from the computer device based on the CD-ROM device information. And the OS main body is configured to boot on the removable memory unit based on the master boot record.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-135528 JP 2008-262419 A JP 2005-228227 A JP 2008-269210 A

  When providing a thin client computer device that is a client device in a thin client system, the simplest method is to install and provide only the OS corresponding to the thin client system in the computer device. However, in this method, the computer device can only be used as a client device of a thin client system.

  On the other hand, as in the system disclosed in Patent Document 4, an OS for supporting a thin client system is stored in a portable storage medium such as a USB memory, and is stored in the USB from a computer device. It is also possible to start a running OS and operate the OS on the USB memory. With this method, a computer device on which a normal OS is installed can be used as a thin client computer device at a desired time.

  FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of the thin client computer device disclosed in Patent Document 4. The computer apparatus 200 includes a power switch 211, a BIOS (basic input / output system) 212, and a hardware unit 216. The hardware unit 216 includes a CPU 217 such as a microprocessor, a memory 218 such as a RAM, an input / output device 219 for inputting and outputting to a printer, a display device, or a network. An OS 310 and an application program 312 for causing the computer apparatus 200 to operate as a thin client computer apparatus are stored in a portable storage medium such as the USB memory 300. The USB memory 300 is connected to the computer apparatus 200, and the USB 212 is connected to the BIOS 212. The OS 310 is configured to start on the memory 300. In such a configuration, the computer device 200 does not necessarily include the storage device 213 such as a hard disk.

  In addition to the configuration in which the OS 310 is operated on the USB memory, the OS 310 stored in the USB memory 300 (the storage device 213 such as the hard disk of the computer device 200 is temporarily read and expanded, and the OS 310 is started on the storage device 213. It is also possible to adopt a configuration to

  When the computer device 200 includes the storage device 213, in addition to the OS 310 (second OS) that operates as a thin client computer device stored in the USB memory 300, the storage device 213 includes an OS (first OS) as a general general-purpose computer device. It can also be configured to install and select one of the OSs for use. In this case, the BIOS 212 first reads the master boot record (MBR) stored in a predetermined area (for example, an area having a predetermined number of bytes at the beginning) of the OS (first OS) of the storage device 213 and selects the first OS. Alternatively, it is switched whether to select the OS 310 (second OS) stored in the USB memory 300.

  However, in this method, when used as a thin client computer, a USB memory in which an OS corresponding to the thin client system is stored is required, and the user has to manage the USB memory.

  Therefore, it is considered to adopt a configuration like a computer device having a multi-OS disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above. In other words, an OS for supporting a thin client system can be installed on a computer device in which a general general-purpose OS is installed to make a multi-OS. However, a general computer device includes a single hard disk as a storage medium, divides the hard disk into a plurality of partitions, installs a first OS in one partition, and stores a second hard disk in another partition. OS will be installed. The method disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 can be applied to the method of switching and selecting which of the first OS and the second OS to start when the computer apparatus is powered on and started up.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the computer apparatus 100 as described above in which a plurality of OSs are installed on a hard disk. The computer device 100 includes a power switch 111, a BIOS (basic input / output system) 112, a storage device 113 such as a hard disk, and a hardware unit 116. The hardware unit 116 includes a CPU 117 such as a microprocessor, a memory 118 such as a RAM, an input / output device 119 that inputs and outputs to a printer, a display device, or a network.

  The storage device 113 is divided into a first partition 114 and a second partition 115. The first partition 114 is installed with an application program group 114b used by the first OS 114a and the first OS 114a, and the second partition 115 is installed. Are installed a second OS 115a and an application program group 115b used by the second OS 115a. Here, one of the OSs, for example, the second OS is an OS for operating the computer device 100 as a thin client computer device, and the computer device 100 is a general-purpose computer device 100 when any OS is selected and started. Alternatively, it can be used as a thin client computer device.

  OS switching selection in the computer apparatus 100 configured as shown in FIG. 6 is performed as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the BIOS 112 first stores the first OS stored in a predetermined area (for example, an area having a predetermined number of bytes at the beginning) of the first OS 114a stored in the first section 114 of the storage device 113. The master boot record (MBR) is read and the first OS boot loader screen 122 is displayed. On this display screen, the user selects whether to select the first OS or the second OS stored in the second partition. The OS is switched at.

  However, when one of the installed OSs is an OS for supporting a thin client system (second OS) and the other is a general OS (first OS), these two OSs are divided into partitions. Although installed in the same hard disk device, when the first OS is started, the second OS (corresponding to the thin client system) is used by using the hard disk reference function of the first OS. OS) can view the stored second partition 115, and there is a possibility that a person with specialized knowledge may intentionally operate it, which causes a problem in terms of security.

  In addition, when a plurality of OSs are usually installed in different partitions of one hard disk, as described with reference to FIG. 7, when the computer apparatus is turned on, one OS is automatically started by the BIOS. When switching to the other OS, an operation to switch to the other OS using the function of the activated OS is required, and there is a problem that the OS selection operation is complicated.

  Therefore, the present invention has an object to solve the above-described problems, and an OS corresponding to a thin client system and a general-purpose OS are installed, and security is achieved by completely separating the two OSs. It is an object to provide an enhanced thin client computer device. It is another object of the present invention to provide a thin client computer device that can easily switch between an OS for use as a client device for a thin client system and a general-purpose general OS. .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is
A first storage device storing a first OS for operating the thin client computer device as a general-purpose computer and the first storage device are provided physically independently, and the thin client computer device is configured as a thin client computer device. A second storage device storing a second OS for operating as a client terminal; and OS switching means for selecting and switching between the first OS and the second OS. It is characterized by that.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the invention according to claim 1,
The OS switching means is incorporated in the BIOS that is executed when the thin client computer device is powered on, and reads the MBR of the OS selected on the OS selection screen displayed on the display means to switch the OS. It is structured.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 2, the BIOS controls the power supply of the storage device storing the unselected OS to a disabled state.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is the invention according to claim 1,
The OS switching means includes a first power switch that supplies power to the first storage device and a second power switch that supplies power to the second storage device, and the BIOS includes the first power switch. The present invention is characterized in that the OS is switched by reading the MBR installed in the storage device supplied with power according to the operation of the first power switch or the second power switch.

In the invention according to claim 1,
A first storage device storing a first OS for operating the thin client computer device as a general-purpose computer and the first storage device are provided physically independently, and the thin client computer device is configured as a thin client computer device. A second storage device storing a second OS for operating as a client terminal; and OS switching means for selecting and switching between the first OS and the second OS. . Accordingly, since the second storage device in which the second OS is installed is physically separated from the first storage device in which the first OS is installed, the first OS cannot refer to the second storage device. Therefore, the security of the thin client computer device can be improved.

  In the invention according to claim 2, in the invention according to claim 1, the OS switching means is incorporated in the BIOS executed when the thin client computer device is turned on, and is displayed on the display means. It is configured to switch the OS by reading the MBR of the OS selected above. Therefore, the user can easily select and switch between the first OS and the second OS.

  In the invention according to claim 3, in the invention according to claim 2, the BIOS controls the power supply of the storage device storing the unselected OS to a disabled state. That is, since the power supply of the OS that is not started, for example, the second storage device in which the second OS is stored, is controlled to the disabled state, the storage device in which the second OS is stored from the started OS, for example, the first OS. Since the information cannot be completely referred to, the security of the thin client computer device can be completely maintained.

  In the invention according to claim 4, in the invention according to claim 1, the OS switching means includes a first power switch that supplies power to the first storage device, and supplies power to the second storage device. The BIOS is configured by a second power switch to be supplied, and the BIOS reads the MBR installed in the storage device supplied with power according to the operation of the first power switch or the second power switch, and switches the OS. Configured. Therefore, the user can easily select and switch between the first OS and the second OS.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the thin client computer apparatus concerning Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen for OS selection in the thin client computer apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the thin client computer apparatus concerning Example 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the OS selection means in the thin client computer apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional thin client computer apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional general multi-OS computer apparatus. It is a figure which shows the OS selection screen in the computer apparatus shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiments shown below exemplify a thin client computer device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and are not intended to specify the present invention as this thin client computer device. The present invention is equally applicable to the thin client computer devices of other embodiments included in the scope of the claims.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the thin client computer apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the thin client computer device 10 according to the first embodiment includes a power switch 11, a BIOS (basic input / output system) 12, a first storage device 14, a first OS 14a, an application program group 14b, and a second storage. A device 15, a second OS 15 a, an application program group 15 b, and a hardware unit 16 are provided. The hardware unit 16 includes a CPU 17 such as a microprocessor, a memory 18 such as a RAM, an input / output device 19 that performs input / output to a printer, a display device, or a network.

  A first OS is installed in the first storage device 14. Here, the first OS 14a is an OS for operating the thin client computer device 10 as a general general-purpose computer device. For example, a general-purpose computer OS such as Windows (registered trademark) is installed on the first OS 14a. . In addition, various application program groups 14b that operate under the first OS 14a are installed in the first storage device 14. The first storage device 14 may be a storage device such as a hard disk provided in a normal computer device for installing a general-purpose OS.

  A second OS is installed in the second storage device 15. Here, the second OS 15a is installed with an OS for operating the thin client computer device 10 as a thin client computer device. In addition, various application program groups 15b that operate under the second OS 15a are installed in the second storage device 15. The second storage device 15 is installed with an OS that operates as a thin client computer device, and may be a storage device such as a semiconductor memory. It is also possible to configure the OS stored in the semiconductor memory to operate on the RAM when the OS is activated.

  The power switch 11 is a power switch of the thin client computer device 10. When the power switch 11 is turned on, power is supplied to each unit. When the power switch 11 is turned on, a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) 12 is started.

  In a conventional general multi-OS computer device, a storage device on which a plurality of OSs are installed is divided into a single hard disk into a plurality of partitions as described with reference to FIG. And its application program are installed, and another OS and its application program group are installed in another partition.

  On the other hand, in the thin client computer device 10 according to the present invention, the storage device storing either the first OS or the second OS is composed of a physically separate first storage device 14 and second storage device 15. Is different. Therefore, the first storage device 14 is the only storage device that can be referred to by the first OS 14a when the first OS 14a is activated, the second storage device 15 cannot be referenced, and the user has a high degree of knowledge about the computer device. Even so, the contents of the second OS 15a and the application program group 15b stored in the second storage device 15 cannot be referred to. For this reason, the security of the thin client computer apparatus 10 can be improved.

  Further, in the thin client computer apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, as described below, the thin client computer apparatus 10 is activated from the activated OS by controlling the power supply of the storage device storing the OS in which the BIOS 12 is not activated. The thin client computer device 10 is configured to maintain the security by configuring the storage device in which the unoperated OS is stored so that it cannot be completely referred to.

  Further, in the conventional multi-OS type computer device, when the power is turned on and the BIOS is activated, as described with reference to FIG. 7, the BIOS first stores the predetermined OS stored in the first partition of the storage device. Whether to read the master boot record (MBR) of the first OS stored in the area and display the OS boot loader screen, and select the first OS on this display screen, or select the second OS stored in the second partition This is done by letting the user select.

  On the other hand, in the thin client computer device 10 according to the present invention, an OS switching means is incorporated in the BIOS 12, and when the BIOS 12 is activated, the OS selection screen 22 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the desktop screen of the computer. Is done. When the user selects one of the OSs on this screen, the BIOS 12 reads out the master boot record (MBR) of the selected OS, starts the selected OS, and displays the desktop screen. For example, when the second OS 15a is selected, the BIOS 12 activates the second OS 15a stored in the second storage device 15, reads the master boot record from the head area, and displays the desktop screen of the second OS 15a. As a result, the thin client computer device 10 operates as a client terminal of the thin client system.

  On the other hand, when the first OS 14a is selected, the BIOS 12 activates the first OS 14a stored in the first storage device 14, reads the master boot record from the head area, and displays the desktop screen of the first OS 14a. As a result, the thin client computer device 10 operates as a normal general-purpose computer. In this state, the second storage device 15 in which the second OS 15a is installed is physically separated from the first storage device in which the first OS 14a is installed, so the first OS 14a refers to the second storage device 15. Therefore, the security of the thin client computer device 10 can be increased.

  Further, as described above, in the thin client computer device 10, since the power supply of the second storage device 15 in which the second OS 15a that is not activated is stored is controlled to be in a disabled state, the second OS 15a is activated from the activated first OS 14a. Is completely inaccessible. Therefore, the security of the thin client computer device 10 can be maintained completely.

  Here, the operation of the thin client computer apparatus 10 by the second OS 15a is based on a GUI (graphic user interface) operation displayed on the thin client computer apparatus 10 being transmitted to an application executed on the server. The application is executed, and the execution result is transmitted to the thin client computer apparatus 10 and reflected on the GUI displayed on the thin client computer apparatus 10.

  Therefore, all data processing performed in the thin client computer device 10 is performed on the server, and no data is stored in the thin client computer device 10. In the thin client system, various access authorities can be set for the user. For example, various authority levels can be set for each user, such as permission only for reference, permission for rewriting, permission for printing, and the like for each data type. Such processing is the same as that of a general thin client terminal device and thin client system (for example, Patent Document 3 above), and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, the thin client computer device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention physically partitions the storage device in which the OS is installed, and the OS switching unit is incorporated in the BIOS, and is displayed by the BIOS. Since one of the OSs is selected by the user on the OS selection screen to be selected, when the OS stored in one storage device is selected and activated, the other OS is installed by the activated OS. Other storage devices cannot be referred to, and the security of the thin client computer device 10 can be increased.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the thin client computer apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment of the invention. In the thin client computer device 10 according to the second embodiment, the power switch is divided into a power switch A (12a) and a power switch B (12b), and each power switch is stored in a storage device in which each OS is stored. Unlike the thin client computer device 10 according to the first embodiment in that the power supply to the storage device is independent so as to supply power to the storage device, and also in that the BIOS 13 does not have an OS switching unit. . Needless to say, power is supplied to the hardware unit 16 regardless of which of the power switch A (12a) and the power switch B (12b) is turned on.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the thin client computer device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes power switches 12a and 12b, a BIOS (basic input / output system) 13, a first storage device 14, a first OS 14a, and an application program group 14b. , A second storage device 15, a second OS 15a, an application program group 15b, and a hardware unit 16. The hardware unit 16 includes a CPU 17 such as a microprocessor, a memory 18 such as a RAM, an input / output device 19 that performs input / output to a printer, a display device, or a network.

  A first OS is installed in the first storage device 14. Here, the first OS 14a is an OS for operating the thin client computer device 10 as a general general-purpose computer device. For example, a general-purpose computer OS such as Windows (registered trademark) is installed on the first OS 14a. . In addition, various application program groups 14b that operate under the first OS 14a are installed in the first storage device 14. The first storage device 14 may be a hard disk as in the first embodiment.

  A second OS is installed in the second storage device 15. Here, the second OS 15a is installed with an OS for operating the thin client computer device 10 as a thin client computer device. In addition, various application program groups 15b that operate under the second OS 15a are installed in the second storage device 15. The second storage device 15 may be a semiconductor memory as in the first embodiment.

  Each of the power switches 12a and 12b is a power switch of the thin client computer device 10. When the power switch 12a is turned on, power is supplied to the first storage device 14 and other components. When the power switch 12b is turned on, power is supplied to the first storage device 14 and other units. When any one of the power switches 12a or 12b is turned on, a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) 13 is started. When the storage device to which the power is supplied, for example, the power switch 12a is turned on, the BIOS 13 reads the master boot record of the first OS 14a from the storage device 14, displays the desktop screen of the first OS 14a, and starts the first OS 14a. . Thus, the thin client computer device 10 operates as a general general-purpose computer device.

  On the other hand, when the power switch 12b is turned on, the master boot record of the second OS 15a is read from the storage device 15, the desktop screen of the second OS 15a is displayed, and the second OS 14b is activated. As a result, the thin client computer device 10 operates as a client terminal of the thin client system. As a result, the thin client computer device 10 operates as a client terminal of the thin client system.

  Therefore, when the thin client computer device 10 in which the power switch 12a is turned on and the first OS 14a is activated operates as a general general-purpose computer, the second storage device 15 in which the second OS 15a is installed has no power supply. Is not supplied, and the first OS 14a cannot refer to the second storage device 15, so that the security of the thin client computer device 10 can be improved.

  As described above, the thin client computer device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention physically divides the storage device in which the OS is installed and installs a plurality of power switches to install each OS. By supplying power to the storage device, the power switch functions as an OS selection means, and the user selects and operates one of the power switches, so the OS stored in one storage device is selected, When activated, the activated OS cannot refer to another storage device in which another OS is installed, and the security of the thin client computer device 10 can be improved.

10 ... Thin client computer 11 ... Power switch 12 ... BIOS (basic input / output system)
14... First storage device 14a... First OS
14b ... application program group 15 ... second storage device 15a ... second OS
15b ... application program group 16 ... hardware part 17 ... CPU
18 ... Memory 19 ... I / O device

Claims (4)

  A first storage device storing a first OS for operating the thin client computer device as a general-purpose computer and the first storage device are provided physically independently, and the thin client computer device is configured as a thin client computer device. A second storage device storing a second OS for operating as a client terminal; and OS switching means for selecting and switching between the first OS and the second OS. A thin client computer device.   The OS switching means is incorporated in the BIOS that is executed when the thin client computer device is powered on, and reads the MBR of the OS selected on the OS selection screen displayed on the display means to switch the OS. The thin client computer device according to claim 1, wherein the thin client computer device is configured.   3. The thin client computer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the BIOS controls the power supply of the storage device in which the unselected OS is stored to a disabled state.   The OS switching means includes a first power switch that supplies power to the first storage device and a second power switch that supplies power to the second storage device, and the BIOS includes the first power switch. 2. The thin client according to claim 1, wherein the OS is switched by reading out an MBR installed in a storage device to which power is supplied in accordance with an operation of the power switch or the second power switch. Computer device.

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