JP2898616B2 - Computer with suspend / resume function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer having a suspend / resume function and capable of selectively setting a suspend mode in accordance with a storage destination of data in a main memory, and more particularly to a suspending method adapted to the use form of the computer. The present invention relates to a computer capable of setting a mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of so-called mobile computing, a mode in which a portable terminal is used intermittently while moving is increasing. In order to support this usage, most of the current portable terminals have a suspend / resume function. This function is used to temporarily save the data in the main memory when the power is turned off during the execution of a certain process (suspend process) and to save the saved data when the power is turned on again. (Resume processing).
By exerting this function, the user can return the portable terminal to the state immediately before turning off the power, so that the operability and convenience can be improved without having to restart the system.

[0003] As a method of storing data in the main memory,
There is a method of saving data as it is on the main memory and a method of saving data in a non-volatile disk.
That is, as the suspend mode that can be set in the computer, there are a memory mode in which a data storage destination in the main memory is a main memory and a disk mode in which a disk is used as a disk.

In the memory mode, there is no need to transfer data at the time of transition to the suspend state, so the suspend / resume processing is executed instantaneously, which is very convenient. However, in order to retain data, power is always supplied to the memory. Must. For this reason, there is a problem that the battery life of the mounted battery-powered computer is reduced.

[0005] On the other hand, in the disk mode, it is not necessary to supply power to the main memory during the suspend state, so that the effect on the battery duration is avoided. Therefore, operability and convenience are deteriorated as compared with the memory mode.

Conventionally, when the suspend function is enabled /
Some models can selectively switch the suspend mode as well as the disabled mode. In this case, the user must select one of the suspend modes and set it to the mobile terminal in consideration of the usage form of the mobile terminal. Become.

Next, a method of implementing a suspend function in a conventional computer will be described.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a computer system for realizing a conventional suspend / resume function, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a suspend process. The computer system is roughly composed of hardware (H / W), an operating system (OS) which is the core of each processing control, and B which cooperates with the H / W and the OS.
It is composed of an IOS (basic I / O system), but the suspend / resume function is
/ W, BIOS, and various functions provided by the OS. FIG. 6 shows a suspend information storage unit 1 for storing control information of a suspend function such as a suspend transition condition and a suspend mode for shifting to a suspend state, a setup unit 2 for inputting the control information on the screen by the setup function, and a suspend unit. A suspend event monitoring unit 3 having a monitor function and monitoring the occurrence of an event that shifts to a suspend state, a suspend processing unit 4 executing a suspend function, and a resume processing unit 5 executing a resume function are shown. I have.

In order to perform the suspend function, it is necessary to set information such as the suspend mode and suspend transition condition via the setup unit 2 in the suspend information storage unit 1 in advance. The events for shifting to the suspend state include a power-off operation, the lapse of a specified input / output idling time, the remaining power below a set value, and the like. Parameters such as the time of each event are set.

After the system is started, the suspend event monitoring unit 3 constantly monitors the occurrence of an event for shifting to a suspend state, such as power-off, according to the settings in the suspend information storage unit 1 (step 1). When detecting the occurrence of an event for shifting to the suspend state (step 2), the suspend event monitoring unit 3 notifies the suspend processing unit 4 of the occurrence of the event. Suspend processing unit 4
Executes the suspend process in the suspend mode set in the suspend information storage unit 1 (step 3).
Specifically, when the suspend mode is the memory mode, the power supply to the other H / W is stopped while the power supply to the main memory is continued. When the suspend mode is the disk mode, the contents of the main memory are stopped. After saving to disk,
Turn off the computer.

[0011] By the way, depending on the contents of work such as regular inspection work, route sales, and office work in the office, the work schedule of the day is almost constant, so that the use form of the computer is specified to some extent. There is. For example, in inspection work of power distribution equipment such as a telephone pole, a portable terminal is used while moving the installation location of the telephone pole during the business. At this time, at the installation location of the telephone pole,
The mobile terminal is turned on and used. When the mobile terminal is moved to a power pole in a location separated from the mobile terminal, the power is turned off to save power consumption of the battery power. Then, when the vehicle arrives at the destination telephone pole, the power is turned on. When turning on the power, the inspector would like to use the portable terminal immediately, and would like to be suspended in a memory mode that is resumed more quickly than the disk mode when the power is turned off. On the other hand, the inspector turns off the power even when the mobile terminal is not used for a relatively long time, such as during lunch hours, even outside business hours or during business hours. You will want to be suspended in low power disk mode.

[0012]

However, in the prior art, the suspend mode cannot be changed automatically. Therefore, when changing the suspend mode, the setup function provided by the BIOS is basically used. I had to. That is, based on the above-described example, if the user wants to set the memory mode during work and the disk mode during lunch break, the computer that has been set to memory mode performs setting input from the setting screen provided by the setup function every time during lunch break. Therefore, it is necessary to change the suspend mode and restart the system, which is troublesome. Further, the setting for the BIOS is a setting item having contents related to the system, and therefore, the user does not want to frequently operate the setting item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a computer having a suspend / resume function capable of automatically changing the setting of a suspend mode depending on the time of use. It is in.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, a computer having a suspend / resume function according to a first aspect of the present invention has a suspend / resume function and stores data on a main memory. In a computer in which the suspend mode can be selectively set in advance, the suspend mode is set at an arbitrary time interval, and when an event to transition to the suspend state occurs, the suspend set in the suspend state is set. A suspend function executing means for suspending in a mode.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer having a suspend / resume function, the computer having a suspend / resume function and capable of selectively setting a suspend mode depending on a storage destination of data on a main memory. Suspend information storage means for storing the control information of the suspended function, a suspend event monitoring means for monitoring the occurrence of an event that shifts to a suspend state based on a suspend transition condition set in the suspend information storage means, and an arbitrary period. A suspend mode setting table for holding a suspend mode set for each, a suspend mode updating means for updating a suspend mode set in the suspend information storage means in accordance with setting contents of the suspend mode setting table, and the suspend mode Those having a suspend processing means for executing the suspend process in the suspend mode set in the multi-address storage means.

A computer having a suspend / resume function according to a third aspect of the present invention is the computer according to the second aspect, further comprising table management means for changing the setting contents of the suspend mode setting table.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the computer having a suspend / resume function according to the second aspect, the suspend mode updating means refers to the contents set in the suspend mode setting table at set time intervals. is there.

[0018]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a computer having a suspend / resume function according to the present invention. The suspend function of the computer is realized by a suspend function executing unit, and the resume function is realized by the resume processing unit 5. The suspend function executing means includes a suspend information storage unit 1, a setup unit 2, a suspend event monitoring unit 3, a suspend processing unit 4, a suspend mode setting table 6, a suspend mode update unit 7, and a table management unit 8.

The suspend information storage unit 1 stores control information of the set suspend function. The control information to be stored is a suspend transition condition for transition to a suspend state, a suspend mode, and the like, and may be the same as in the conventional example. The setup unit 2 sets the control information input on the screen by the setup function in the suspend information storage unit 1. The suspend information storage unit 1 and the setup unit 2 use a general B
It can be realized by a function provided by the IOS. The suspend event monitoring unit 3 includes a suspend information storage unit 1
Monitors the occurrence of an event for transition to the suspend state based on the suspend transition condition set in. The suspend processing unit 4 executes a suspend process in the suspend mode set in the suspend information storage unit 1. The suspend monitor function of the suspend event monitoring unit 3 and the suspend function provided by the suspend processing unit 4 may be the same as the conventional example. Suspend mode setting table 6,
The suspend mode set for each arbitrary period is retained. The suspend mode update unit 7 updates the suspend mode set in the suspend information storage unit 1 according to the settings in the suspend mode setting table 6. The table management unit 8 changes the setting contents of the suspend mode setting table 6. In FIG. 1, each unit is shown in association with the OS, BIOS, and H / W as in the conventional example.
It is not limited to this relationship.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of setting contents of the suspend mode setting table 6 in the present embodiment.
An initial value is set in the suspend mode setting table 6 in advance, and the suspend mode updating unit 7 updates the suspend mode set in the suspend information storage unit 1 based on the setting contents of the table 6. However, in the present embodiment, the setting contents of the table 6 can be changed while visually recognizing at an arbitrary timing from the table setting screen of the table management unit 8, so that the setting screen shown in FIG. The setting contents of the suspend mode setting table 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, as the setting items relating to the suspend mode, there are a suspend mode setting (valid / invalid), a mode association for each time when the suspend mode is validated, and a monitor interval for the table 6. When invalid is selected in the “suspend mode” area of FIG. 3, the suspend function is invalidated. That is, the setting is not to shift to suspend. When “valid” is set, it is possible to further select whether the mode follows the disk mode, the memory mode, or the table setting. When the disk mode and the memory mode are selected, the suspend process is always performed in the disk mode or the memory mode. If one of these is selected, a suspend function similar to the conventional one will be provided. When the table setting is selected, the suspend process is executed according to the setting contents of the "time / mode association table" in FIG. 3, which is a feature of the present embodiment.

This embodiment is characterized in that the "table setting" of FIG. 3 is provided so that the suspend mode can be set freely in an arbitrary designated period.
FIG. 3 shows Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 12:00 (exactly 11:59:59) and Monday to Thursday at 13 o'clock.
In this example, the memory mode is set from 1:30 to 17:00 (exactly 16:59:59), and the other modes are individually set to the disk mode. In FIG.
Although it is possible to set the time in units of 15 minutes, the set time interval is a matter of design. In this “table setting”, the disk mode or the memory mode can always be fixedly set.

Further, a time interval at which the suspend mode updating unit 7 refers to the suspend mode setting table 6 is set in the "table monitor interval" of FIG. In the present embodiment, it can be set from 1 second to 59 minutes 59 seconds. When set to 0 seconds, this table 6 is not monitored. FIG. 2 schematically shows a content example corresponding to the setting content of FIG. Note that the suspend mode setting table 6
Is updated by the table management unit 8 and is referred to by the suspend mode update unit 7. Therefore, this data structure only needs to be interfaced with the software that implements the suspend mode update unit 7 and the table management unit 8. . Therefore, in the present embodiment, items and data of each item are classified by a comma or a semicolon, and each suspend mode is represented by a simple description format such as “d” or “m”. The text format is used to facilitate maintenance such as performing the same setting for a large number of mobile terminals.

Since it is assumed that the suspend function provided in the present embodiment is provided in a portable terminal used in a specified business to some extent, the setting screen example shown in FIG. However, the mode setting may be simplified to allow only one day, or may be possible every month. In addition, in the data management, the “table monitor interval” is one item of the setting of the suspend mode, but may be managed separately.

FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer according to the present embodiment.
CPU 11, main memory 12, BIOS 13, system clock 14, disk 15, input device 16, output device 17,
It comprises a power supply monitoring device 18 and a battery 19.
Each device can use a conventional device as it is. The main memory 12 is a device subjected to the suspend / resume processing, and receives power from the battery 19 in the memory mode. The system clock 14 measures time even when the power is turned off by receiving power supply from the battery 19. Disk 15
It stores an OS, an application, and the like, and stores the contents of the main memory 12 in the disk mode. Each device receives power supply from the main power supply when the computer is connected to the main power supply (commercial power supply), and receives power supply from the battery 19 when carrying the computer.

A feature of the present embodiment is that the suspend mode can be set at an arbitrary time interval. When the apparatus shifts to the suspend state, the apparatus is suspended in the suspend mode set at that time. That is what we did. That is, in the present embodiment, the suspend mode can be automatically set in accordance with the usage mode of the mobile terminal, so that it is not necessary to switch the suspend mode using the setup function, which is convenient. In addition, depending on the setting of the suspend mode, the effect that the duration of the battery can be longer can be obtained.

Next, the suspend function provided in the present embodiment will be described. First, update processing of the suspend mode set in the suspend information storage unit 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This updating process is executed until the system is shut down by the suspend mode updating unit 7 that starts operating after the system is started.

After the system is started, the suspend mode updating unit 7 acquires the table monitor interval set from the suspend mode setting table 6 (step 10).
1) At this set time interval, the setting contents of the suspend mode setting table 6 are referred to. After that time (step 102), the suspend mode updating unit 7
Refers to the setting contents of the suspend mode (step 103). When the setting content is “table setting”, the suspend mode updating unit 7 acquires the suspend mode set based on the current time from the time / mode association table of the suspend mode setting table 6 (steps 104 and 105). For example, if the current operation of the suspend mode updating unit 7 is Monday at 10:00, the memory mode is acquired, and if it is 12:30, the disk mode is acquired.

As described above, when the suspend mode to be set can be obtained, the suspend mode updating unit 7 updates the setting of the suspend information storage unit 1 with the suspend mode specified from the suspend mode setting table 6 (step 106). . That is, the invalid or valid memory mode, disk mode, or step 105 set in the “suspend mode” of the suspend mode setting table 6
Update in the suspend mode (memory mode or disk mode) of the current time acquired in step 2. Then, the process returns to step 101.

In this example, the setting of the suspend mode in the suspend information storage unit 1 is updated every 30 seconds. However, it is necessary to read out the setting contents every time or to hold the previously set values. Thus, the content of the suspend information storage unit 1 may be rewritten only when it is changed.

According to the present embodiment, the suspend mode at an arbitrary time is stored in the suspend mode setting table 6.
In advance, the suspend mode can be automatically switched without using the BIOS setup function as in the related art.

As described above, the setting contents of the suspend mode in the suspend information storage unit 1 are updated by the suspend mode updating unit 7. After the system is started, the suspend event monitoring unit 3 constantly monitors the occurrence of an event for shifting to a suspend state, such as a power-off operation, according to the settings in the suspend information storage unit 1. When the occurrence of the event is detected, This is notified to the suspend processing unit 4. The suspend processing unit 4 executes the suspend processing in the suspend mode set in the suspend information storage unit 1. That is, if the suspend mode is the memory mode, the power supply to the other H / W is stopped while the power supply to the main memory is continued, and if the suspend mode is the disk mode, the contents of the main memory are transferred to the disk. After evacuating, turn off the computer. Of course, it will not work when suspend mode is disabled.

As described above, the functions of the suspend event monitoring unit 3 and the suspend processing unit 4 for exhibiting the suspend function may be the same as those of the conventional example. Also,
The resume function executed when the power is turned on by the resume processing unit 5 may be the same as the conventional one.

Next, the function of the table management unit 8 will be described. The contents set in the suspend mode setting table 6 are as described above. When a certain range of the time / mode association table is designated and clicked when individual setting is selected using a mouse or the like from the setting screen of FIG. 3 displayed by a user operation, the table management unit 8 reversely displays the range. This switches between the memory mode and the disk mode at that time. And
Clicking the "OK" button updates the suspend mode setting table 6 with the changed contents. Thereafter, the suspend mode update unit 7 performs the above-described update processing based on the updated suspend mode setting table 6.

The same setting can be easily performed on a plurality of portable terminals used by a department performing a certain job by copying the suspend mode setting table 6 in a file format. If the user wants to make other different settings, the user can freely change the settings to suit his / her own business via the setting screen of the table management unit 8.

If the suspend function provided by the present embodiment is used, the memory mode is set in a time zone in which the mobile terminal is frequently used, such as during work, with emphasis on the convenience of instant startup rather than power saving. Otherwise, if the disk mode is set with emphasis on saving power consumption, both convenience and extension of battery life can be satisfied. In the present embodiment, the suspend mode is automatically switched by the suspend mode update unit 7 based on the settings in the suspend mode setting table 6, which is convenient in terms of operability.

The suspend / resume function provided by the present embodiment can be provided to a computer other than a portable terminal.

Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been made assuming a model that realizes the suspend / resume function using the BIOS. However, a computer that does not realize the suspend / resume function with such a hardware configuration and a software configuration is described. Can also be applied. The present invention is characterized in that the mode can be set at an arbitrary time interval, and is not limited to a computer model to which the present invention is applied.

The current suspend mode is as follows:
Although there are two modes, a memory mode and a disk mode, the present invention can be applied even if the number increases in the future.

[0041]

According to the present invention, the suspend mode is set at an arbitrary time interval, and the mode is automatically switched to the suspend mode set at the current time, so that the suspend mode can be suspended in a desired suspend mode. it can. As a result, it is possible to suspend in the suspend mode suitable for the usage of the computer without switching the suspend mode using the setup function of the BIOS, for example.

Also, since the setting contents of the suspend mode setting table can be changed, the optimum suspend mode can be set for each computer.

Further, the timing of automatic switching of the suspend mode can be arbitrarily set.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a computer having a suspend / resume function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of setting contents of a suspend mode setting table in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen used to update setting contents of a suspend mode setting table in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a suspend mode update process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a computer system that realizes a conventional suspend / resume function.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a conventional suspend process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Suspend information storage unit, 2 Setup unit, 3
Suspend event monitoring unit, 4 Suspend processing unit, 5
Resume processing unit, 6 suspend mode setting table, 7 suspend mode update unit, 8 table management unit, 11 CPU, 12 main memory, 13 BIOS,
14 system clock, 15 disk, 16 input device, 17 output device, 18 power monitoring device, 19 battery.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A computer having a suspend / resume function and capable of selectively setting a suspend mode depending on a storage destination of data in a main memory, wherein the suspend mode is set at an arbitrary period, and the suspend mode is set. A computer having a suspend / resume function, comprising: a suspend function executing means for suspending in a suspend mode set at the time of transition to a suspend state when the transition to a suspend state occurs. 2. A computer having a suspend / resume function and capable of selectively setting a suspend mode depending on a storage location of data on a main memory, a suspend information storage for storing control information of the set suspend function. Means, a suspend event monitoring means for monitoring the occurrence of an event for transitioning to a suspend state based on a suspend transition condition set in the suspend information storage means, and a suspend mode setting for holding a suspend mode set at an arbitrary period A suspend mode updating unit for updating a suspend mode set in the suspend information storage unit according to the setting contents of the suspend mode setting table; and executing a suspend process in the suspend mode set in the suspend information storage unit. Computer having a suspend / resume function, characterized in that it comprises a suspension process means that, the. 3. The computer having a suspend / resume function according to claim 2, further comprising table management means for changing the setting contents of said suspend mode setting table. 4. The computer having a suspend / resume function according to claim 2, wherein said suspend mode updating means refers to the contents set in said suspend mode setting table at set time intervals.