JP2013196352A - Information processing apparatus, system environment setting method, control program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently reduce power consumption according to the use method of a user.SOLUTION: A tablet terminal 1 includes plural shrink modes for setting a memory use amount, and a setting unit 12 that, if there occurs an unused memory at the time of startup of each shrink mode, stops an information storage function of the unused memory in order to reduce the power consumption of the unused memory.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a portable terminal device capable of setting a plurality of system environments, a system environment setting method, a control program, and a recording medium.

  In recent years, high-function mobile terminals having a communication function including a telephone, an information processing function, and various other functions, so-called high-function mobile phones, smartphones, information terminals, and the like are on the market.

  There are various operating systems (hereinafter referred to as “OS”) installed in smartphones. For example, Android (trademark) is well known as an OS of a smartphone. Such an OS generally provides an open application execution environment.

  In such an open application execution environment, specifically, a large number of developers can develop an application (often abbreviated as “app”) that can be freely executed on a smartphone. In addition, by registering the developed application in the application distribution system, the user can easily download and install it on the smartphone through the application distribution system. As such an application distribution system, for example, Android Market (trademark) is known as an Android platform.

  By the way, in the above-described high-function mobile terminal, when a system using a plurality of memory chips is used, when the memory usage is small, unused memory chips can be placed in a deep power down mode. Operation with reduced current consumption becomes possible.

  Generally, a semiconductor memory (for example, DRAM) constituting a memory chip stores data by outputting each stored circuit to the outside by operating each peripheral circuit in an activated state. The power consumption is minimized by disabling unnecessary peripheral circuits in the standby state.

  When the semiconductor memory is not accessed for a long time, the semiconductor memory is placed in a deep power down mode, and all the input buffers except the clock and the clock enable are stopped to reduce power consumption. Power consumption can be minimized by stopping the clock generator in the semiconductor memory and not performing refresh.

  It can be said that such a deep power-down or refresh stop temporarily stops the information storage function of the semiconductor memory. That is, the information storage function of the memory is stopped.

  As a technique related to the reduction in power consumption of such a memory, for example, techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 can be cited. Patent Document 1 describes an integrated circuit that controls a memory including a plurality of memory banks. This integrated circuit has a memory management unit and a control unit. The memory management unit includes a storage unit that stores a virtual address associated with a physical address of the memory, and the virtual address of the access destination exists by sequentially referring to the storage unit in response to an access request to the virtual address to the memory. Determine whether or not. If it is determined that the information does not exist, information obtained by updating the contents of the physical address corresponding to the virtual address of the storage unit is output. The control unit controls the memory bank including the physical address included in the information output from the memory management unit.

  According to the integrated circuit described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to send information to the control unit without spending an extra number of cycles. As a result, the memory can be accessed quickly and the power consumption of the memory can be reduced.

  Patent Document 2 describes an information processing apparatus having a simple user switching function. In this information processing apparatus, by notifying the user of the setting change of the shared resource, the user can grasp the change in the situation caused by another user. In the information processing apparatus, when the setting or state of a shared resource used across all users in the logon state is changed, the setting or state is changed for a user who was not active at the time of the change. Notify that. When a user is switched to another user using the simple user switching function, a setting change notification is sent to a user who is not active at that time even if a setting change or the like for the shared resource is performed by the user's operation Is done.

  According to the information processing apparatus described in Patent Document 2, for example, even when a power supply setting (power saving setting, etc.) or a profile related to management (so-called power profile) is switched in order to reduce the power consumption of the memory. A switch notification is sent to a user who is not active at that time. Therefore, the user can immediately recognize that the state of the device that is currently used is different from the state of the device that was used last time.

  Patent Document 3 describes a memory power control method for reducing power consumption of a memory using a computer having a memory having a power saving mode. In this memory power control method, a garbage collection that collects objects that are no longer needed is operated, and an object is allocated to a memory block obtained by dividing a memory address space by a predetermined fixed size. Further, the heap area on the memory is divided and managed into a plurality of sub heap areas, and the number of sub heap areas is dynamically changed based on the magnitude relationship between the garbage collection time and a predetermined target value.

  According to the memory power control method described in Patent Document 3, since the number of sub-heap areas is dynamically changed, the power saving mode is executed without causing a performance degradation even in a computer on which garbage collection operates. be able to.

JP 2010-108381 A (published on May 13, 2010) JP 2003-91346 A (published March 28, 2003) JP 2010-123059 A (released on June 3, 2010)

  However, in Patent Document 1, the power control instruction circuit generates a power control instruction based on the TLB entry update information, and the power control circuit controls the power supply of the memory bank included in the power control instruction. For this reason, it is not possible to flexibly control the power supply of the memory bank according to the usage method of the user, and there is room for more efficient reduction of the power consumption of the memory.

  Further, Patent Document 2 does not describe that the user changes the system himself. For this reason, similarly to Patent Document 1, it is not possible to flexibly control the power supply of the memory bank according to the usage method of the user, and there is room for more efficient reduction of the power consumption of the memory.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, it is not possible to apply a method for effectively reducing the power consumption of the semiconductor memory, such as the above-described deep power down and refresh stop. This is because the memory block of Patent Document 3 is obtained by dividing the address space of the memory, and is not divided by a chip unit or a bank unit that can operate independently in the memory.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, a system environment setting method, a control program, and a recording medium that can efficiently reduce power consumption in accordance with a user's usage method.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention provides:
Multiple shrink modes to set memory usage,
And setting means for stopping an information storage function of the unused memory in order to reduce power consumption of the unused memory when unused memory is generated at the time of starting each shrink mode.

  According to the above configuration, for example, in a portable terminal equipped with a plurality of memory chips, when the amount of memory used is small, the current consumption is achieved by starting in the shrink mode and setting the unused memory chips to the deep power down mode. Can be suppressed. A chip that is not used does not need a function of recording information, and the power consumption can be reduced by setting the deep power down mode.

  Further, when the memory chip is divided into a plurality of banks, current consumption can be suppressed by stopping refreshing of unused banks. A bank that is not used does not need a function of recording information, and the power consumption can be reduced by stopping the refresh.

In the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus further includes a plurality of memory chips,
When any of the plurality of memory chips is unused, the setting means preferably places the unused memory chip in a deep power down mode.

  Deep power down mode cuts power supply to the memory significantly and lowers power consumption during standby.

  According to the above configuration, by shifting some of the plurality of memory chips to the deep power down mode, power consumption can be reduced accordingly.

The information processing apparatus further includes at least one memory chip divided into a plurality of banks which are partial blocks,
The setting means preferably stops refreshing the unused bank when any of the plurality of banks is unused.

  According to the above configuration, by stopping refreshing of some of the plurality of banks, power consumption can be reduced by that amount.

The information processing apparatus further includes a plurality of memory chips,
Each of the plurality of memory chips is divided into a plurality of banks which are partial blocks.
The setting means is
If any of the plurality of memory chips is unused, the unused memory chip is placed in a deep power down mode,
When any of the banks of the memory chips is unused, it is preferable to stop refreshing the unused banks.

  According to the above configuration, by shifting some of the plurality of memory chips to the deep power down mode, power consumption can be reduced accordingly. Further, by stopping refreshing of some of the plurality of banks, power consumption can be reduced accordingly.

In the information processing apparatus,
The memory chip is preferably a dynamic random access memory.

In the information processing apparatus,
The setting means is
A comparison means for comparing a first usage amount that is a memory usage amount used by the system with a second usage amount that is a memory usage amount set by one shrink mode;
A determination means for determining which operation should be stopped among a plurality of applications included in the system when the first usage amount exceeds the second usage amount according to a comparison result of the comparison means;
It is preferable to have verification means for verifying the operation of the system excluding the stopped application based on the result of the determination means.

In the information processing apparatus,
The setting means further includes:
When the first usage amount exceeds the second usage amount according to the comparison result of the comparison means, there is an extraction means for extracting an application that is a candidate to stop the operation from among a plurality of applications included in the system. And
Preferably, the determining means determines an application whose operation should be stopped based on the extraction result of the extracting means.

A system environment setting method according to the present invention includes:
When unused memory is generated at the time of starting the shrink mode for setting the memory usage, the information storage function of the unused memory is stopped in order to reduce the power consumption of the unused memory.

  The information processing apparatus may be realized by a computer. In this case, an information processing apparatus control program for causing the information processing apparatus to be realized by the computer by causing the computer to operate as the respective means, and A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded also falls within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of shrink modes for setting the memory usage, and when unused memory is generated at the start of each shrink mode, Setting means for stopping the information storage function of the unused memory in order to reduce power consumption.

  Therefore, there is an effect that the power consumption can be efficiently reduced while depending on the usage method of the user.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the setting part for implement | achieving the system environment setting function of the said tablet terminal in the processor of the tablet terminal which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the said tablet terminal. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the control part for implement | achieving the system environment control function of the said tablet terminal in the processor of the said tablet terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the system environment setting by the said setting part. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the flow of the system environment setting by the said setting part.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  In the embodiment described below, a case where the information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a tablet terminal will be described as an example. In the present embodiment, as an example, the tablet terminal is realized by a small smartphone that can be operated with one hand and is excellent in portability. However, the information processing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above example, and is an information processing apparatus of a size that can be operated with one hand (for example, a portable music player or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant, equipped with a touch panel). The information processing apparatus of the present invention may be applied to an electronic notebook).

[Hardware configuration of tablet terminal 1]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the tablet terminal 1 in the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the tablet terminal 1 includes a processor 10, a fixed storage device 20, a touch panel 31, a wireless communication unit 32, a communication unit 33, a voice input / output unit 34, an external storage device 35, and an operation A unit 36, a first memory 37, a second memory 38, and a memory controller 39 are provided.

  When the tablet terminal 1 is a multi-function mobile communication terminal, although omitted here, the tablet terminal 1 includes a call processing unit, an imaging unit (such as a lens / imaging element) that performs imaging, and a broadcast image receiving unit (tuner). In addition to the GPS and the sensors (acceleration sensor, tilt sensor, etc.), various parts that are normally provided in the smartphone may be provided.

  The touch panel 31 includes an input unit 311 and a display unit 312. The input unit 311 is for inputting an instruction signal for the user to operate the tablet terminal 1 via the touch panel 31. The input unit 311 is a touch surface that accepts contact of an indicator (which indicates the screen position of the display unit 312, for example, a user's finger), and contact / non-contact (approach / non-contact) between the indicator and the touch surface. And a touch sensor for detecting the contact (approach) position. The touch sensor may be realized by any sensor as long as it can detect contact / non-contact between the indicator and the touch surface. For example, it is realized by a pressure sensor, a capacitance sensor, an optical sensor, or the like.

  The display unit 312 displays an object (any display object such as an icon) processed by the tablet terminal 1 and a processing result, or displays a display screen for a user to operate the tablet terminal 1 using a GUI (Graphical (User Interface) screen. The display unit 312 is realized by a display device such as an LCD (liquid crystal display).

  In the present embodiment, the input unit 311 and the display unit 312 are integrally formed, and these constitute the touch panel 31. Therefore, in such an embodiment, an object that the user moves (manipulates) to indicate a screen position, that is, an operation tool (here, a user's finger) simultaneously determines the position of the display unit 312 on the screen. It is also an indicator to instruct.

  For example, when the touch panel 31 of the tablet terminal 1 of the present invention is realized by a projected capacitive touch panel, specifically, the touch sensor has a matrix-like transparent electrode pattern made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or the like. It is formed on a transparent substrate such as glass or plastic. When the indicator (user's finger) comes into contact with or approaches the touch sensor, the electrostatic capacity of a plurality of transparent electrode patterns in the vicinity changes. Therefore, the processor 10 can detect the position where the indicator has contacted or approached by detecting a change in the current or voltage of the transparent electrode pattern.

  The operation unit 36 is for a user to directly input an instruction signal to the tablet terminal 1. For example, the operation unit 36 is realized by an appropriate input mechanism such as a button, switch, key, or jog dial. For example, the operation unit 36 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the tablet terminal 1.

  As the external storage device 35, for example, an EEPROM, a flash memory, or an HDD can be used. Instead of the external storage device 35, an interface for connecting an external device to the tablet terminal 1 can be provided. For example, a socket for inserting an external recording medium (memory card or the like), an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) terminal, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal, or the like. In this case, the processor 10 of the tablet terminal 1 can transmit / receive data to / from an external device via the external interface.

  The communication unit 33 communicates with an external device via a communication network. The communication unit 33 is connected to various communication terminals via a communication network, and realizes data transmission / reception between the tablet terminal 1 and the communication terminal. Further, when the tablet terminal 1 is a mobile communication terminal such as a smartphone, the communication unit 33 transmits / receives voice call data, e-mail data, and the like to / from other devices via the mobile phone network. To do.

  The wireless communication unit 32 communicates with an external device wirelessly. The wireless communication unit 32 is not particularly limited, but may realize any wireless communication means such as infrared communication such as IrDA and IrSS, Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, WiFi communication, and a non-contact type IC card. However, a plurality of these means may be realized. The processor 10 of the tablet terminal 1 can communicate with devices in the vicinity of the tablet terminal 1 via the wireless communication unit 32, and can exchange data with these devices.

  The voice input / output unit 34 includes a voice output unit 341 and a voice input unit 342. The audio output unit 341 outputs audio data processed by the tablet terminal 1 as audio, and is realized by a speaker, a headphone terminal, headphones, and the like. The voice input unit 342 receives voice input generated outside the tablet terminal 1 and is realized by a microphone or the like.

  The fixed storage device 20 includes (1) a control program executed by the processor 10 of the tablet terminal 1, (2) an OS program, and (3) an application program for the processor 10 to execute various functions of the tablet terminal 1. Etc. are memorized. For example, the data (1) to (3) are read-only, and are stored in a storage device in which stored data and information cannot be rewritten. The above (1) to (3) may be stored in the external storage device 35.

  The processor 10 performs overall control of each unit included in the tablet terminal 1. The functions of the tablet terminal 1 (for example, the system environment control function by the control unit 11 and the system environment setting function by the setting unit 12) are executed by the processor 10 by reading a program stored in the ROM or the like into the RAM or the like. This is realized. For example, the processor 10 sequentially fetches and decodes the instructions of the application program, and executes the contents, calculation, data transfer, control, and the like. Various functions implemented by the processor 10 (particularly, the system environment setting function of the present invention) will be described later with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The first memory 37 and the second memory 38 are (4) various data read when the processor 10 executes application programs for executing various functions of the tablet terminal 1, and (5) the processor 10 Data to be used for calculation and calculation results in the course of executing the function are stored. For example, the data (4) and (5) are stored in a volatile storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). Which data is stored in which storage device is appropriately determined from the purpose of use, convenience, cost, physical restrictions, and the like of the tablet terminal 1.

  The first memory 37 and the second memory 38 are work areas of the processor 10 and are used between the processor 10 and the fixed storage device 20. For example, when transferring data (instructions or programs) from the fixed storage device 20, the processor 10 can perform high-speed processing if it is transferred to the first memory 37 and the second memory in advance. For the first memory 37 and the second memory 38, for example, a DRAM can be used.

  The first memory 37 and the second memory 38 are each divided into a plurality of partial blocks called banks (bank 1, bank 2, bank 3, bank 4). In each of the first memory 37 and the second memory 38, an access port is provided in each bank, and parallel address data can be accessed in parallel across the banks. Each bank is a set of memories having a certain capacity as a unit for managing each of the first memory and the second memory.

  The memory controller 39 controls the interface of the memory, such as reading, writing, and refreshing data in the first memory 37 and the second memory. The processor 10 uses the memory controller 39 to read and write the first memory 37 and the second memory 38, start and stop the deep power down mode of the first memory 37 and the second memory 38, and the first memory 37. The refresh of each bank of the second memory 38 is controlled.

  For example, for each of the first memory 37 and the second memory 38, each of the first memory 37 and the second memory 38 is set by setting a deep power down mode and stopping all input buffers except the clock and the clock enable. Power consumption can be reduced.

  Further, with respect to each of the first memory 37 and the second memory 38, the power consumption of each of the first memory 37 and the second memory 38 is reduced by the amount of the bank that is not refreshed by not performing the refresh of each bank individually. Can be reduced.

[Functions of tablet terminal 1]
Next, the functional configuration of the tablet terminal 1 will be described. As described above, the processor 10 of the tablet terminal 1 according to the present embodiment includes at least the control unit 11 for realizing the system environment control function of the tablet terminal 1 and the system environment setting function of the tablet terminal 1. And a setting unit 12.

(System environment control function)
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the control unit 11. The system area 111 and the system area 112 are areas including a control function and an execution environment provided by a system such as an OS, an API (Application Programming Interface), and an execution library. In FIG. 3, the system area 111 includes an OS 111a and an application area 111c, and the system area 112 includes an OS 112a and an application area 112c. The application area 111c and the application area 112c are areas including applications downloaded and installed from the application distribution system. The application area 111c and the application area 112c may include applications installed by a method other than installation through an application distribution system, for example, preinstalled applications.

  In the system area 111, “program A” and “program B” in the OS 111a and “program C”, “program D”, and “program E” in the application area 111c correspond to the resident program 111b. “Program A” and “Program B” of the OS 111a are automatically started when the OS is started, and “Program C”, “Program D”, and “Program E” of the application area 111c are set by user settings, for example. It will be activated.

  On the other hand, in the case of the system area 112, “program A” in the OS 112a and “program E” in the application area 111c correspond to the resident program 112b. The “program A” of the OS 112a is automatically started when the OS is started, and the “program E” of the application area 112c is started by user setting, for example.

  Here, the control unit 11 is a shrink mode (shrink mode <a>, shrink mode <b>, shrink mode <c>, A plurality of shrink modes <d>) are held, and the plurality of shrink modes are collectively managed as a shrink profile 113. The shrink mode is defined by a combination of the number of memory chips and the number of banks. The tablet terminal 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first memory 37 and a second memory 38, and each of the first memory 37 and the second memory 38 is divided into four banks. Therefore, in this embodiment, the shrink mode is defined by a combination of the number of memory chips “2” and the number of banks “4”. For example, the shrink mode described above corresponds to a mode that uses only one chip, a mode that uses only one to three banks of any chip, and the like. Unused chips are set to deep power down mode, and refreshing unused banks is stopped.

  For example, in the case of FIG. 3, the system area 111 corresponds to the shrink mode <d> of the shrink profile 113. In the shrink mode <d>, the first memory 37 is used, while the second memory 38 uses the banks 1 to 3. That is, the bank 4 of the second memory 38 is not used. In this case, the refresh of the bank 4 of the second memory 38 is stopped, and the power consumption for the bank 4 is reduced.

  On the other hand, the system area 112 corresponds to the shrink mode <a> of the shrink profile 113. In the shrink mode <a>, the first memory 37 is used, but the second memory 38 is not used. In this case, the second memory 38 is set to the deep power down mode, and the power consumption for the second memory 38 is reduced.

  If the setting is changed from the system area 111 to the system area 112, power consumption is reduced by the memory size of the shrink mode <d> from the memory size of the shrink mode <d>. Become.

  The tablet terminal 1 has a plurality of such shrink modes and has a mechanism for setting a system environment corresponding to these, thereby reducing the power consumption of the first memory 37 and the second memory 38. It is characterized by. Hereinafter, this point will be described in detail.

(System environment setting function)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the setting unit 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the setting unit 12 includes a shrink mode setting unit 121, a memory size comparison unit 122, a kill candidate extraction unit 123, a kill candidate determination unit 124, a shrink mode operation verification unit 125, and a display screen. And a processing unit 126.

  Further, the fixed storage device 20 is specifically a shrink mode setting information storage unit 21 as a storage unit for reading or writing data when the above-described units of the processor 10 execute the system environment setting function. And a process / application information storage unit 22 and a shrink mode operation verification information storage unit 23.

  The shrink mode setting unit 121 processes a signal input from the input unit 311 or the operation unit 36 and starts setting the shrink mode. When the shrink mode to be set is instructed from the input unit 311 or the operation unit 36, the shrink mode setting unit 121 sets the memory size (memory amount) usable in the instructed shrink mode to the shrink mode setting information storage unit. 21.

  The shrink mode setting information storage unit 21 stores information on a plurality of shrink modes (shrink mode <a>, shrink mode <b>, shrink mode <c>, shrink mode <d>) held by the control unit 11 of the processor 10. It is something to remember. In the present embodiment, the shrink mode setting information storage unit 21 includes at least information indicating each memory size of the above-described shrink mode. Note that the shrink mode <a> in FIG. 3 is a mode that uses only the first memory 37 in FIG. 2, and the shrink mode <b> uses only the bank 1 of the second memory in addition to the first memory 37. It is a mode to do. The shrink mode <c> is a mode that uses only the banks 1 and 2 of the second memory in addition to the first memory 37. The shrink mode <d> is a mode in which only the bank 1, the bank 2 and the bank 3 of the second memory are used in addition to the first memory 37.

  The memory size comparison unit 122 acquires the memory size used by the current system area (for example, the system area 111 and the system area 112 in FIG. 3) from the control unit 11. Further, the memory size comparison unit 122 acquires the memory size of the shrink mode to be set from the shrink mode setting unit 121. The memory size comparison unit 122 compares the memory sizes acquired from each of the control unit 11 and the shrink mode setting unit 121. The memory size comparison unit 122 outputs the comparison result to the kill candidate determination unit 124 and the display screen processing unit 126.

  Upon receiving the comparison result of the memory size comparison unit 122, the display screen processing unit 126 generates a display screen representing the comparison result and displays it on the display unit 312.

  The kill candidate extraction unit 123 acquires the comparison result of the memory size comparison unit 122, and if the memory size of the current system area exceeds the memory size of the shrink mode to be set, the process included in the current system area And candidates (hereinafter also simply referred to as “process etc.”) are extracted as candidates for killing, that is, candidates for processes and applications whose operation is to be stopped.

  When extracting the kill candidates, the kill candidate extracting unit 123 acquires process / application information related to processes and the like included in the current system area from the process / application information storage unit 22, and refers to this information while killing the kills. Extract candidates. The kill candidate extraction unit 123 outputs the extraction result to the kill candidate determination unit 124 and the display screen processing unit 126.

  The process / application information storage unit 22 stores process / application information related to processes included in the system area of the control unit 11. In this embodiment, the process / application information storage unit 22 relates to each process included in the system area of the control unit 11 (a) whether it is essential for operation, (b) size, and (c) use frequency. It includes information representing. For example, the above (a) indicates whether or not the process is indispensable for operating the system, and the above (b) indicates the RAM usage amount for each program (the program size after being loaded on the memory) , And the sum of the work RAM used by the program), and (c) above is the length of the startup time of the process based on the past history (log etc.).

  Upon receiving the extraction result of the kill candidate extraction unit 123, the display screen processing unit 126 generates a display screen representing the extraction result and displays it on the display unit 312.

  The kill candidate determination unit 124 determines a Kill candidate based on the extraction result of the kill candidate extraction unit 123. When determining a kill candidate, the kill candidate determination unit 124 acquires the above-described process / application information from the process / application information storage unit 22 as in the case of the kill candidate extraction unit 123, and refers to this information while acquiring the kill. Determine candidates.

  Further, the kill candidate determination unit 124 may determine a kill candidate according to an instruction from the user, instead of determining the kill candidate itself. As described above, the extraction result of the kill candidate extraction unit 123 is displayed on the display unit 312 by the display screen processing unit 126. The user only has to select a kill candidate by looking at the extraction result displayed on the display unit 312. The user may indicate his / her selection result to the kill candidate determination unit 124 using the input unit 311 or the operation unit 36.

  The kill candidate determining unit 124 subtracts the amount of memory necessary for operation of the current system and the like, and determines an application (that is, a kill candidate) whose operation is to be stopped from the current application area for the excess amount. The system configuration that fits into the shrink mode memory size to be set is determined.

  The kill candidate determination unit 124 outputs the determination result to the shrink mode operation verification unit 125 and the display screen processing unit 126.

  Upon receiving the determination result of the kill candidate determination unit 124, the display screen processing unit 126 generates a display screen representing the determination result and displays it on the display unit 312.

  Based on the determination result of the kill candidate determination unit 124, the shrink mode operation verification unit 125 can operate the system with respect to a new system region that is a shrink mode in which the operation of the kill candidate is stopped from the current system region. To verify. When the operation of the shrink mode system is verified, the shrink mode operation verification unit 125 acquires information used for the operation verification from the shrink mode operation verification information storage unit 23, and refers to this information while referring to the shrink mode. Verify system operation.

  The shrink mode operation verification information storage unit 23 stores, for example, a simulation program as to whether a plurality of applications can be activated in a multiplexed manner. The shrink mode operation verification unit 125 may verify the operation of the shrink mode system using, for example, the above-described simulation program. The shrink mode operation verification unit 125 takes into account the size of an application that is frequently used (of the type to be loaded), and verifies whether or not the application operates in the shrink mode. As the verification result, for example, a list of applications in the shrink mode and a check result of whether or not they can be used, whether or not comfortable operation is possible (whether or not there is a certain amount of free memory) is output.

  In this way, the shrink mode operation verification unit 125 verifies whether or not free memory can be secured for the entire system after setting the shrink mode.

(System environment setting flow)
Next, the flow of processing when the setting unit 12 of the processor 10 executes the system environment setting function will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of system environment setting by the setting unit 12. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the flow of system environment setting by the setting unit 12.

  In FIG. 4, when the setting of the shrink mode is started by the input unit 311 or the operation unit 36 (step S <b> 101), the shrink mode setting unit 121 reads the shrink profile 113 of the control unit 11 from the shrink mode setting information storage unit 21. Each memory size of a plurality of shrink modes managed as is acquired. The display screen processing unit 126 displays the memory size of each shrink mode received from the shrink mode setting unit 121 on the display unit 312. For example, as the display screen 201 in FIG. 5, “512 MB”, “640 MB”, “768 MB”, “896 MB”, and “1 GB” are displayed as the memory size (memory amount) in each shrink mode.

  When one of the shrink modes is selected by the input unit 311 or the operation unit 36, the memory size comparison unit 122 compares the memory size of the current system area with the memory size of the selected shrink mode. . If the memory size of the current system area exceeds the memory size of the selected shrink mode (NO in step S102), the process proceeds to step S103 described later.

  The display screen processing unit 126 displays the comparison result received from the memory size comparison unit 122 on the display unit 312. For example, as shown in the display screen 202 in FIG. 5, display contents representing a comparison result such as “the current system does not fit in the selected memory amount” are displayed. Further, it is displayed to the user that either “1) reselect the memory amount” or “2) adjust the system configuration” is possible. If “2) Adjust system configuration”, the process proceeds to step S103, which will be described later. If “1) Reselect memory amount”, the process proceeds to step S103, which will be described later. Thus, the shrink mode having a memory size larger than that of the shrink mode is reselected (“reselect memory amount”).

  If “2) adjust system configuration”, the display screen processing unit 126 “stops some applications and services in order to reduce memory usage, as in the display screen 203 of FIG. The display content indicating the start of extraction of the above-described kill candidates is displayed. Further, it is displayed to the user that either “1) automatic setting” or “2) user setting” is possible.

  The kill candidate extraction unit 123 extracts a kill candidate, and the kill candidate determination unit 124 determines a kill candidate (step S103). In this step S103, if it is the above-mentioned ““ 1) Automatic setting ”, the kill candidate determination unit 124 determines a kill candidate from among the kill candidates extracted by the kill candidate extraction unit 123. On the other hand, in the case of ““ 2) User setting ”described above, the user may use the input unit 311 or the operation unit 36 to indicate a kill candidate to the kill candidate determination unit 124.

  For example, in the case of “1) automatic setting” described above, the determination result of the kill candidate determination unit 124 is displayed as in the display screen 205 of FIG. On the other hand, in the case of “2) User setting” described above, the extraction result of the kill candidate extraction unit 123 (here, a list of applications at startup) is displayed as in the display screen 204 of FIG. The user looks at this display screen 204 and decides which application (in this case, application 1, application 2,...) Is to be stopped. As a result, similar to the display screen 205 described above, a new system area in which the operation of the kill candidate is stopped from the current system area is displayed.

  If the memory size of the new system area where the operation of the kill candidate is stopped in this way still exceeds the memory size of the shrink mode (NO in step S104), a kill candidate that can further stop the operation can be selected. If so (YES in step S105), the process returns to step S103 described above. On the other hand, if a kill candidate that can further stop operation cannot be selected (NO in step S105), the display screen processing unit 126 informs the display unit 312 that the shrink mode set in step S101 described above cannot be used. Display (step S107), and the setting of the shrink mode ends.

  On the other hand, when the memory size of the new system area in which the operation of the kill candidate is stopped fits in the memory size of the shrink mode (step S104 YES), the shrink mode operation verification unit 125 relates to the above new system area. It is verified whether the system is operable (step S106).

  In this step S106, for example, if there is a free memory size in the shrink mode as in the display screen 206 of FIG. 5, a new application such as “Displays an application that operates in the system after the change” is displayed. In addition to the display content that guarantees the operation of the system area, the applications that operate in the new system area (here, application 1, application 2,...) Are displayed. On the other hand, as shown in the display screen 207 of FIG. 5, if there is no free memory size in the shrink mode, “There is almost no free space in the memory. The application may be forcibly terminated or the system may become unstable. The display content warning that the operation of the new system area is unstable is displayed.

  If the operation in the new system area is possible as a result of the verification by the shrink mode operation verification unit 125 (YES in step S106), the process proceeds to step S108 described later. On the other hand, if the operation in the new system area is not possible (NO in step S106), the display screen processing unit 126 displays on the display unit 312 that the use of the shrink mode set in step S101 is impossible. (Step S107), the setting of the shrink mode is completed.

  In step S102 described above, when the memory size of the current system area falls within the memory size of the selected shrink mode (YES in step S102), or in the above step S106, operation in the new system area described above is possible. If so (YES in step S106), the display screen processing unit 126 outputs to the display unit 312 that it can operate in the system area of the shrink mode set in step S101 described above.

  For example, as shown in the display screen 208 in FIG. 5, a display content indicating that the operation in the above-described system area is possible after the restart is displayed, such as “the shrink mode will be effective from the next startup”. .

  Then, the processor 10 stores the shrink mode application flag and a series of settings in an area that can be referred to from the boot portion (step S109), and restarts the tablet terminal 1 (step S110).

  When the tablet terminal 1 is restarted, the processor 10 checks the shrink mode application flag in the boot portion (step S111). If the application flag is OFF (step S111 NO), the processor 10 shifts to normal activation.

  On the other hand, when the application flag is ON (YES in step S111), the setting of the deep power down mode and the stop of the refresh are performed on the first memory 37 and the second memory 38 according to the set shrink mode when the memory is initialized. Run. At this time, the processor 10 adjusts the OS settings (kernel parameters, boot process) and boots in the shrink mode.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the memory size of the system area after shrinking is adjusted so that the system can operate even when the shrink mode is set. If the current memory size exceeds the memory size in shrink mode, after subtracting the amount of memory that is essential for the operation of the system, etc., detect the application that stops the operation for the excess, or Let them choose. As a result, the system configuration that fits in the memory size after shrinking is determined.

  Then, at the time of restart, the setting information of the shrink mode is passed to the boot process, and the contents of the memory initialization process are changed. For example, when moving with only one chip, one chip is set to the deep power down mode. As a result, the terminal can be used with substantially the same current consumption as when operating at 512 MB * 1. If there is an unused bank, the refresh operation is stopped for the bank.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to efficiently reduce power consumption while complying with the user's usage method.

[Example of software implementation]
Finally, each block of the setting unit 12 of the processor 10 of the tablet terminal 1 may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

  That is, the setting unit 12 includes a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, a RAM (random access memory) that expands the program, A storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium in which a program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a control program of the setting unit 12 which is software that realizes the above-described functions is recorded in a computer-readable manner This can also be achieved by supplying to the setting unit 12 and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  The setting unit 12 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Further, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The present invention can also be expressed as follows. That is, according to the present invention, in a portable terminal equipped with a plurality of memory chips, when the memory usage is low, the memory current is suppressed by starting in the shrink mode and setting the unused memory chips to the deep power down mode. It is a portable terminal that operates.

  The shrink mode is a state in which the memory size is reduced to a unit where a power saving effect can be expected in terms of hardware. In this mode, only one chip is used depending on the combination of the number of memory chips and the number of banks. If it is a bank configuration, it is to operate a mode using only 1 to 3 banks.

  Deep power down mode cuts the power supply to the memory significantly and lowers the power consumption during standby, and some of the memory chips are shifted to the deep power down mode. It is.

  The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a portable terminal device capable of setting a plurality of system environments.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tablet terminal 10 Processor 11 Control part 12 Setting part (setting means)
20 fixed storage unit 21 shrink mode setting information storage unit 22 process / application information storage unit 23 shrink mode operation verification information storage unit 31 touch panel 32 wireless communication unit 33 communication unit 34 voice input / output unit 35 external storage device 36 operation unit 37 1 memory 38 second memory 121 shrink mode setting unit 122 memory size comparison unit (comparison means)
123 kill candidate extraction unit (extraction means)
124 kill candidate determination unit (determination means)
125 Shrink mode operation verification unit (verification means)
126 Display screen processing unit 311 Input unit 312 Display unit

Claims (10)

Multiple shrink modes to set memory usage,
And setting means for stopping an information storage function of the unused memory in order to reduce power consumption of the unused memory when unused memory is generated at the time of starting each shrink mode. Information processing device. The information processing apparatus further includes a plurality of memory chips,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when any of the plurality of memory chips is unused, the setting unit sets the unused memory chip to a deep power down mode. The information processing apparatus further includes at least one memory chip divided into a plurality of banks which are partial blocks,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when any of the plurality of banks is unused, the setting unit stops refreshing the unused bank. The information processing apparatus further includes a plurality of memory chips,
Each of the plurality of memory chips is divided into a plurality of banks which are partial blocks.
The setting means is
If any of the plurality of memory chips is unused, the unused memory chip is placed in a deep power down mode,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when any of the banks of the memory chips is unused, refreshing of the unused bank is stopped.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the memory chip is a dynamic random access memory. The setting means is
A comparison means for comparing a first usage amount that is a memory usage amount used by the system with a second usage amount that is a memory usage amount set by one shrink mode;
A determination means for determining which operation should be stopped among a plurality of applications included in the system when the first usage amount exceeds the second usage amount according to a comparison result of the comparison means;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a verification unit that verifies the operation of the system excluding the application whose operation has been stopped based on the result of the determination unit. The setting means further includes:
When the first usage amount exceeds the second usage amount according to the comparison result of the comparison means, there is an extraction means for extracting an application that is a candidate to stop the operation from among a plurality of applications included in the system. And
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the determining unit determines an application whose operation should be stopped based on an extraction result of the extracting unit.   The control program for functioning a computer as each means of the information processing apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-7.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the control program according to claim 8 is recorded.   When unused memory is generated at the start of the shrink mode for setting the memory usage, the information storage function of the unused memory is stopped in order to reduce the power consumption of the unused memory. System environment setting method.

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