JP4672056B2 - Auxiliary device for computer system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a computer system utilization assistance device that can improve the usability and safety of a personal computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a computer).

  In schools and companies, one computer may be shared by an unspecified number of users.

  In other words, the user operates a keyboard, mouse, etc. according to the instructions of the computer and operates the computer by inputting a predetermined ID code, password, work procedure, etc., and stores personal information in the computer. It can be pulled out.

  According to such a conventional technique, when using a computer, a user needs to operate a keyboard or the like to accurately input a predetermined ID code or the like. There is a possibility that information such as an ID code may be stolen by another person depending on the operation position and the display content of the display, and there is a problem that it is difficult to securely store important personal information and the like. Moreover, even if it is a dedicated computer owned by an individual, personal information or the like may be leaked if another person operates it without permission.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, in view of the problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to improve usability and safety by omitting input work when operating a computer by combining a memory unit with a main unit. It is in providing the use assistance apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, a configuration of the present invention includes a main unit that is detachably attached to a USB terminal for a peripheral device and is connected to a computer, a microprocessor incorporated in the main unit, and a memory unit that is connected to the microprocessor. The microprocessor reads the data stored in the memory unit at the start of power supply, recognizes and holds the operation contents of the computer corresponding to the data contents, and stores the operation assistance data from the computer. When there is a read request, the contents of the data in the memory unit are matched with the data in the memory unit by collating with the operation contents of the computer held by the microprocessor. Is read out and processed into data for operation assistance. To assist the operation of the computer by outputting the computer, and its gist that to perform the operation of the computer without making the input operation by the user.

  Note that the microprocessor can update data in the memory unit by receiving data from the computer in response to a write request from the computer and writing it in the memory unit.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the main unit can be registered as a peripheral device of the computer via the controller built in the computer by being connected to the computer via the USB terminal, and can be operated by the computer. Therefore, the main unit assists the operation of the computer via the data in the memory unit in response to a request from the operating system or application program in the computer, automatically and promptly operates the ID code by the user. Etc. can be omitted. It should be noted that the user can disconnect the main unit from the computer or remove the memory unit from the main unit for storage, thereby preventing personal information from leaking to others.

  On the other hand, as data stored in the memory unit and given to the computer through the main unit, a personal authentication ID code, a password, etc., a startup procedure for starting the computer itself, and a specification such as the Internet The connection procedure to the external network, the key code for specific decryption, the prepaid remaining use frequency for using the paid information providing service, and the like are useful. The USB terminal is a terminal for a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface system when a plurality of peripheral devices are connected to easily construct a computer system. The USB interface system is connected to the USB terminal. Peripheral devices can be automatically recognized by a computer, and a plug-and-play function with a maximum of 127 peripheral devices can be realized by connecting a plurality of hub units in a tree shape.

  By discriminating a request from the computer, the main unit can prevent inappropriate data in the memory unit from being erroneously taken into the computer and thereby causing the computer to malfunction. The main unit is, for example, a regular request that allows the main unit to request content from the computer, and the data content that is the target of the request is actually combined with the main unit. It shall be determined that it conforms to the data within.

  When the main unit is detachably formed on the USB terminal, the user can easily disconnect the main unit together with the memory unit from the computer and store the main unit safely.

  The memory unit that can be attached to and detached from the main unit can be easily removed from the main unit and stored separately. Note that the memory unit can be formed in any easy-to-handle shape such as a card shape or a block shape.

  If the memory unit is formed integrally with the main body unit, the main body unit can provide predetermined data to the computer by itself without mounting a separate memory unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, by combining the main unit connected to the computer via the USB terminal and the memory unit, the main unit provides the data in the memory unit to the computer to provide the computer. Since the operation can be assisted, it is possible to eliminate the troublesome input work by the user and minimize the chance that personal information is inadvertently stolen, greatly improving the usability and safety of the computer. Can do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The computer system usage assistance device includes a main unit 10 and a memory unit 21 combined with the main unit 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2). However, the main unit 10 is used for a computer PC having a USB terminal TA for peripheral devices.

  The main unit 10 is formed by attaching a terminal 12 to a case 11. The case 11 incorporates a microprocessor 15 and is formed with a recess 11a in which the memory unit 21 is detachably mounted via protrusions 11b, 11b. In addition, contacts 11c, 11c,... That are automatically connected to the memory unit 21 are provided in the recess 11a. The terminal 12 is formed in a shape suitable for the USB terminal TA of the computer PC, and is connected to the microprocessor 15 in the case 11.

  The main unit 10 can be connected to the computer PC by attaching the terminal 12 to the USB terminal TA. The main unit 10 can be disconnected from the computer PC by removing the terminal 12 from the USB terminal TA. The USB terminal TA may be a USB terminal of a hub unit (not shown) connected to the USB port of the computer PC, and the main unit 10 may be a downstream device of the hub unit.

  The memory unit 21 is a storage medium such as an IC card or a seam card, and is formed separately from the main unit 10. The memory unit 21 incorporates an arithmetic circuit (not shown) and a writable nonvolatile memory. The memory unit 21 is formed with contacts (not shown) that match the contacts 11c, 11c,.

  Therefore, the memory unit 21 can be fitted into the main body unit 10 by being fitted into the recess 11a, and can be automatically connected to the main body unit 10 via the contacts 11c, 11c. Further, the memory unit 21 can be detached from the main unit 10 by removing it from the recess 11a.

  The main unit 10 is connected to the computer PC via the power supply line BC1 and the signal line BC2 by being attached to the USB terminal TA, and the microprocessor 15 is supplied with power from the computer PC via the power supply line BC1. The memory unit 21 is attached to the main unit 10 so that power is supplied through the power lines BC1 and BC3 and is connected to the microprocessor 15 through the signal line BC4.

  Such a computer system utilization assisting device operates according to the program flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4, for example.

  When power supply from the computer PC is started via the USB terminal TA and the power supply line BC1, the microprocessor 15 recognizes it as a USB peripheral device and sends recognition information necessary for registration to the computer PC ( Program step (1) in FIG. 3, hereinafter simply referred to as (1)). Therefore, the computer PC can recognize the main unit 10 as a peripheral device in the USB interface system and reconstruct a computer system including the main unit 10 and other peripheral devices.

  Subsequently, when the microprocessor 15 confirms that the memory unit 21 is attached to the main unit 10 (2), the microprocessor 15 reads the data stored in the memory unit 21 and performs any operation of the computer PC depending on the content. Recognize whether it can contribute (3) and hold the result. That is, the microprocessor 15 recognizes and holds the operation content of the computer PC corresponding to the data content from the memory unit 21. Further, when the memory unit 21 is not attached to the main unit 10 (2), the microprocessor 15 recognizes that there is no memory unit 21 (4), and holds the result. On the other hand, the microprocessor 15 also operates when the memory unit 21 is attached to or detached from the main unit 10, and executes the same operation (2) depending on the presence or absence of the memory unit 21 ((3), (4)).

  Thereafter, the computer PC can request data for operation assistance from the main unit 10 at any time via the operating system or application program. That is, when there is a request from the computer PC, the microprocessor 15 determines whether or not the request is appropriate (program step (1) in FIG. 4, hereinafter simply expressed as (1)), Reject inappropriate requests (2). However, the determination that the request is appropriate is, for example, a legitimate request that is permitted for the main unit 10 and the data in the memory unit 21 that is actually combined with the main unit 10. Follow the criteria for requirements that meet The latter criterion is the result of the microprocessor 15 recognizing and holding the data content of the memory unit 21 in the program step (3) of FIG. 3, that is, the memory that the microprocessor 15 holds. It is obtained by checking the operation content of the computer PC corresponding to the data content of the unit 21.

  When the request from the computer PC is appropriate (1) and it is a data read request (3), the microprocessor 15 reads the data in the memory unit 21 (4), processes it appropriately, and operates. The data is output to the computer PC as auxiliary data (5). Therefore, the computer PC can perform a predetermined operation using the data for assisting operation provided from the main unit 10 upon request.

  On the other hand, when the request from the computer PC can be written ((3), (6)), the microprocessor 15 receives the data from the computer PC, processes it appropriately (7), and writes it in the memory unit 21. As a result, the data in the memory unit 21 can be updated. Further, when the microprocessor 15 is not a request for reading or writing data ((3), (6)) and is a request that cannot be processed by the main unit 10, the request is regarded as inappropriate. Reject the request itself (2). That is, the program steps (1), (3), and (6) in FIG. 4 realize a discrimination function for discriminating a request from the computer PC together with the program step (2).

  In the above description, data to be read from the computer PC to the main unit 10 includes, for example, an ID code and password for personal authentication of the user, a startup procedure of the computer itself, a connection procedure to an external network, and a decryption code. For example, the data for which the write request is made are update data of the remaining use frequency, for example.

  The memory unit 21 may be incorporated in the case 11 of the main unit 10 and formed integrally with the main unit 10. The memory unit 21 may be formed separately from the main unit 10 and the main unit 10 may be connected to the USB terminal TA of the computer PC.

Overall configuration perspective view Overall configuration block diagram Program flow chart (1) Program flow chart (2)

Explanation of symbols

PC ... computer TA ... USB terminal 10 ... main unit 15 ... microprocessor 21 ... memory unit

Patent Applicant FCE Co., Ltd.
Attorney Tadaaki Matsuda, Attorney

Claims (2)

A main body unit that is detachably attached to a USB terminal for a peripheral device and is connected to a computer, a microprocessor incorporated in the main body unit, and a memory unit that is connected to the microprocessor are provided. When starting, the data stored in the memory unit is read and the operation content of the computer corresponding to the data content is recognized and held. On the other hand, when there is a read request for operation assistance data from the computer, the microprocessor The data in the memory unit is read and operated on the condition that the requested data content matches the data in the memory unit by checking with the operation content of the computer held by the Process to auxiliary data and output to computer To assist the operation of the computer by Rukoto, usage support system of the computer system, characterized in that to perform the operation of the computer without any input operations by the user.   2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor updates data in the memory unit by receiving data from the computer in response to a write request from the computer and writing the data in the memory unit. Auxiliary equipment.

Images