JP3707844B2 - Computer system and its resume processing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a computer system such as a personal computer having a suspend / resume function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a portable personal computer driven by a battery has a system having a suspend / resume function in order to save power consumption. The suspend / resume function (hereinafter simply referred to as the resume function) stores information related to the operating state of the system in a memory backed up by a backup power source (usually a RAM which is a main memory) when the system power is turned off. This function restores the saved information when the system power is turned on and resumes the system from the state before the power was turned off.
[0003]
Here, the information to be saved (resume information) is, for example, document information being created, information displayed on the display screen, status information set in an internal register of the CPU, or the like.
[0004]
With this resume function, the system power is turned off when the system is not operating, and when the system power is turned on, the resume information related to the system operating status immediately before turning off is restored. can do.
[0005]
A rechargeable battery or an auxiliary battery is used as the backup power source.
For this reason, a system having a resume function requires a cost for providing a backup power source. In addition, if you forget to replace the auxiliary battery or the rechargeable battery is not charged, the backup power supply will not function, the resume function will not work, and the resume information required to restart the system may be erased. appear.
[0006]
In order to solve such a problem, a method of saving resume information in an external storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) without saving it in a backed up memory has been developed. Since the HDD can store resume information without requiring a backup power source, the resume function can be surely executed.
[0007]
On the other hand, portable personal computers called so-called notebook computers have a system power on / off operation in accordance with the open / closed state of the display panel section constituting the screen of the display device, together with the resume function. .
[0008]
In this system, a power supply switch that is linked to the opening / closing operation of a display panel section having a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen is usually provided. A notebook personal computer is normally configured to be operated with the display panel portion open when the system is started, and carried with the display panel portion closed when the system is stopped.
[0009]
Therefore, when the display panel unit is opened, the power switch is turned on, and the system power controller (power microcomputer) turns on the system power.
When the display panel unit is closed, the power switch is turned off, and the power controller turns off the system power. When the system power is turned on / off, the resume function described above operates.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in a personal computer that employs a resume function using an HDD or the like and a system power on / off operation according to the open / close state of the display panel, the system power is turned on by opening / closing the display panel. It is possible to easily start and stop the system. Further, since the resume information is stored in the HDD when the system power is turned on / off, the resume function can be reliably executed without requiring a backup power source.
[0011]
However, compared with the case where the power switch is operated, in the opening / closing operation of the display panel unit, the display panel unit may be operated from the open state to the closed state in a short time, or vice versa. In this case, the resume function is executed to save the resume information in the HDD or read the resume information from the HDD according to the opening / closing operation of the display panel unit. The HDD is a main memory composed of the RAM of the IC memory. Compared with, the access speed is low. Therefore, when the state transition (change between the open state and the closed state) according to the opening / closing operation of the display panel is short, the subsequent resume function is started before the previous resume function is finished. Will happen.
[0012]
An object of the present invention is to reliably realize a resume function even when a state transition between an on state and an off state of a system power supply is short, for example, by an opening / closing operation of a display panel unit.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An aspect of the present invention provides a first resume process for storing information related to a system operating state in an external storage device when the power is turned off, and restoring the information stored in the external storage device when the power is turned on. Means for executing each of the second resume processing for restarting the system from the operating state before the power is turned off; and means for instructing an on operation or an off operation of the power switch for controlling the power on or off. And a means for determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed from an instruction to turn off the power switch, and determining whether or not the second resume process is being executed after the predetermined time has elapsed. And means for executing the first resume process when the second resume process is not being executed, or the second resume process when the second resume process is being executed. Interrupt the resuming processing is a computer system provided with the means for executing the first resume process.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a computer system related to the first embodiment, FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a second embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of a form.
(System configuration)
The system according to the present embodiment has a resume function using an HDD, and is a portable type such as a notebook type configured to turn on / off a power switch in conjunction with an opening / closing operation of a display panel unit of a display device. A personal computer is assumed.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, this system includes a microprocessor (CPU) 1, a main memory 2, a display device 4, a power supply controller 7, and an HDD 8. The CPU 1 is a central processing unit of the system, and executes the resume function of this embodiment by software such as BIOS (basic input / output system) prepared in advance.
[0017]
The main memory 2 has a backup memory area 2a for storing data used for various data processing of the CPU 1 and storing resume information. The resume information includes status information of the internal register of the CPU 1, display information on the display screen, and other information necessary for restarting the system by executing the resume function. The main memory 2 is composed of a RAM which is an IC memory, and is backed up by a sub battery 3 composed of a rechargeable battery or an auxiliary battery.
[0018]
The display device 4 has a display screen that displays various data processed by the CPU 1. The display screen includes a display panel unit 5 which is an LCD panel. Further, the display device 4 includes a power switch (hereinafter referred to as a panel SW) 6 that is turned on / off in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the display panel unit 5.
[0019]
The panel SW6 is turned on according to the open state of the display panel unit 5 (when the system is started), and instructs the power supply controller 7 to turn on the system power. Further, the power supply controller 7 is instructed to turn off the system power by turning off according to the closed state of the display panel unit 5 (when the system is stopped).
[0020]
The power supply controller 7 controls power supply from the system power supply and the sub-battery 3 based on the on / off operation of the panel SW 6 and a system power switch (not shown). The power controller 7 notifies the CPU 1 of a control signal related to power supply control.
[0021]
The HDD 8 is an external storage device of the system. In this embodiment, the resume function stores the resume information and executes an access operation for restoring the resume information by the resume function.
(Operation of the first embodiment)
The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
In the present embodiment, a resume control process (SW on process) according to the opening operation of the display panel unit 5 and a resume control process (SW off process) according to the closing operation are executed.
[0022]
First, it is assumed that the display panel unit 5 is in a closed state and the system is in a stopped or suspended (operation suspended) state. At this time, when the display panel unit 5 is opened, the panel SW6 is turned on (YES in step S1). Note that, in the off state of the panel SW6, the SW off process shown in FIG. 3 is executed (NO in step S1, S8).
[0023]
The power supply controller 7 detects the ON operation of the panel SW6, and determines the elapsed time of the state transition from the OFF state of the panel SW6 to the ON state (transition of the open / close state of the display panel unit 5) (steps S2 and S3). That is, the power supply controller 7 determines whether or not the elapsed time from the off state to the on state of the panel SW 6 is less than a preset reference time.
[0024]
Here, the reference time is, for example, an average value of the processing time for saving the resume information in the HDD 8 by the resume function activated when the power is turned off. In other words, the reference time corresponds to an elapsed time that normally resume data is stored in the HDD 8.
[0025]
If this elapsed time is less than the reference time, the power supply controller 7 does not recognize the ON state of the panel SW6 and does not supply system power (NO in step S3). Therefore, even when the display panel unit 5 is opened and the panel SW 6 is turned on, the CPU 1 does not execute the resume function associated with the power-on operation. That is, activation or resumption of the system is in a suspended state.
[0026]
When the reference time is exceeded (after a fixed time has elapsed), the power supply controller 7 determines whether or not the resume function by the CPU 1 is being executed (step S4). Here, before the panel SW 6 is turned on, it is determined whether or not a resume process when the power is turned off, that is, a process for saving the resume information in the HDD 8 is being executed in accordance with the closing operation of the display panel unit 5. .
[0027]
When the resume process is not executed or when it is finished, the power supply controller 7 recognizes the ON state of the panel SW6 (NO in step S4, YES in S5, S6). Therefore, the system power is turned on, the power is supplied to the system, and the system is activated (step S7).
[0028]
At this time, the CPU 1 reads out the resume processing accompanying the power-on operation, that is, resume information stored in the HDD 8, returns to the state immediately before the power-off, and restarts the system.
[0029]
On the other hand, it is assumed that the display panel unit 5 is open and the system is operating. At this time, when the display panel unit 5 is closed, the panel SW6 is turned off (YES in step S10). At this time, if the reference time has not elapsed since the panel SW6 was turned off, the power supply controller 7 does not recognize the off state of the panel SW6 and determines that the SW on process is being performed (NO in step S10).
[0030]
When the reference time is exceeded (after a certain time has elapsed), the power supply controller 7 determines whether or not the resume function by the CPU 1 is being executed (step S11).
The resume function is a resume process associated with a power-on operation, that is, a process of reading resume information stored in the HDD 8, returning to a state immediately before the power is turned off, and restarting the system.
[0031]
When the CPU 1 receives an instruction for the power-off state from the power controller 7, the CPU 1 interrupts the resume process and starts the resume process associated with the power-off operation (steps S12 and S13). That is, a process for saving the resume information in the HDD 8 is executed.
[0032]
Next, the supply of system power is stopped until the panel SW6 is turned on by the opening operation of the display panel unit 5, and the system is suspended (suspended) (step S15). When the panel SW6 is turned on by the opening operation of the display panel unit 5, the above-described SW on process shown in FIG. 2 is executed (step S16).
[0033]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the display panel unit 5 is opened or closed, the elapsed time of the state transition that changes from the closed state (panel SW6 is off) to the open state (panel SW6 is on). In the case of a very short time such as less than the reference time, the ON state of the panel SW6 is not recognized. Therefore, the off state of the system power supply is maintained, and the resume function associated with the on operation of the system power supply is in a suspended state.
[0034]
Further, even when the elapsed time of the state transition exceeds the reference time, if the display panel unit 5 is closed before that, that is, if the resume function executed when the power is turned off is being executed, the resume process is performed. Until the operation is completed, the system power-on operation is suspended. As a result, even if an operation for opening the display panel unit 5 is performed immediately after the system power is turned off, the resume process being executed is not interrupted, and the resume information can be reliably stored.
[0035]
On the other hand, when the display panel unit 5 is operated from the open state to the closed state, if the elapsed time of the state transition is very short such as less than the reference time, the off state of the panel SW6 is not recognized. . Therefore, the on state of the system power supply is maintained, and the resume function associated with the operation of turning off the system power supply is on hold.
[0036]
If the elapsed time of the state transition exceeds the reference time and the resume function that was executed when the power was turned on is being executed, the resume process is interrupted and the resume process associated with the power-off operation is started. To do. In this case, the resume process when the power is turned on is a process for reading the resume information stored from the HDD 8 and restarting the system. Therefore, even if the resume process is interrupted, the resume information is not erased.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Even in the case of the second embodiment, the system configuration assumes the personal computer shown in FIG.
[0037]
First, it is assumed that the display panel unit 5 is in an open state and the panel SW6 is in an on state (YES in step S20). At this time, when the display panel unit 5 is closed, the panel SW6 is turned off (YES in step S21). Naturally, when the open state of the display panel unit 5 is maintained, the system is in an operating state and executes various data processing (NO in step S21, S24).
[0038]
If the reference time has not elapsed since the panel SW6 was turned off, the power supply controller 7 does not recognize the off state of the panel SW6 and determines that the system power supply is on (NO in step S22).
[0039]
When the reference time is exceeded (after a certain time has elapsed), the power supply controller 7 recognizes the off state of the panel SW6 and shifts to a system power off operation. When the CPU 1 receives an instruction for the power-off state from the power controller 7, the CPU 1 executes a resume process associated with the power-off operation (step S23). That is, a process for saving resume information necessary for restarting the system in the HDD 8 is executed.
[0040]
On the other hand, it is assumed that the display panel unit 5 is in the closed state and the panel SW6 is in the off state (NO in step S20). At this time, when the display panel unit 5 is opened, the panel SW6 is turned on (YES in step S25). Naturally, when the closed state of the display panel unit 5 is maintained, the supply of the system power is stopped and the system is in the suspended state (NO in step S25, S28).
[0041]
If the reference time has not elapsed since the panel SW6 was turned on, the power supply controller 7 does not recognize the on state of the panel SW6 and determines that the system power is off (NO in step S26).
[0042]
When the reference time is exceeded (after a certain time has elapsed), the power supply controller 7 recognizes the ON state of the panel SW6 and shifts to the system power ON operation. When the CPU 1 receives a power-on instruction from the power controller 7, the CPU 1 executes a resume process associated with the power-on operation (step S27). In other words, the resume information is read from the HDD 8, and the process proceeds to restarting the system.
[0043]
As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the panel SW 6 changes state from the off state to the on state or from the on state to the off state in accordance with the opening / closing operation of the display panel unit 5, When the elapsed time is very short such as less than the reference time, the system power supply does not recognize the state transition of the on state or the off state. Therefore, the state before the opening / closing operation of the display panel unit 5 is maintained, and the resume function according to the changed state is put on hold.
[0044]
As a result, regardless of the execution state of the resume function associated with the state before the opening / closing operation of the display panel unit 5, if the elapsed time of the opening / closing operation of the display panel unit 5 is very short, the previous state Always maintain.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, for example, in a system that controls the on / off state of the system power supply in accordance with the opening / closing operation of the display panel unit, the state transition of the on / off state is very short. In some cases, the state before the state transition is maintained, and the resume function according to the state after the change is put on hold. Therefore, in the resume function using HDD etc. whose access speed is low compared with IC memory, even if the system power on / off state changes in a short time, the resume processing to save the resume information in HDD reliably can do. As a result, it is possible to reliably operate a resume function that does not require a backup power source, and to improve the reliability of a system such as a personal computer having the resume function.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a computer system related to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Microprocessor (CPU)
2 ... Main memory (RAM)
3 ... Sub-battery 4 ... Display device 5 ... Display panel section (LCD panel)
6 ... Power switch 7 ... Power controller 8 ... Hard disk drive (HDD)

Claims (3)

A first resume process for storing information related to the operation state of the system in an external storage device when the power is turned off; and information stored in the external storage device when the power is turned on to restore the information before the power is turned off. Means for executing each of the second resume processes for restarting the system from the operating state;
Means for instructing an on or off operation of a power switch for controlling on or off of the power;
Means for determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed from an instruction to turn off the power switch;
Means for determining whether or not the second resume processing is being executed after the lapse of the predetermined time;
When the second resume process is not being executed, the first resume process is executed, or when the second resume process is being executed, the second resume process is interrupted to stop the first resume process. A computer system comprising: means for executing a resume process . A display device further comprising: a display panel unit that displays a processing result of the system on a screen, and a mechanism for executing an ON operation or an OFF operation of the power switch in conjunction with an open / close state of the display panel unit The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising: A first resume process for storing information related to an operation state of the system in an external storage device when the power is turned off; and restoring information stored in the external storage device when the power is turned on to A resume processing method applied to a computer system comprising means for executing each of the second resume processing for restarting the system from an operating state,
Determining whether or not a certain time has elapsed since the operation of turning off the power switch for turning off the power; and
Determining whether the second resume process is being executed after the predetermined time has elapsed;
When the second resume process is not being executed, the first resume process is executed, or when the second resume process is being executed, the second resume process is interrupted and the first resume process is executed. Performing the resume process and
A resume processing method comprising: executing a procedure having:

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