JP4969904B2 - Information processing system, computer control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system, a computer control method, and a program, and more particularly to a computer environment in which a plurality of programs are executed in parallel.

  A technique is known in which computer computing resources such as memory and CPU time are divided and a separate program is executed on each computing resource. According to such a technique, a general-purpose program such as a system setting program is installed in a computer in advance, and if it is necessary to execute such a general-purpose program during execution of an application program installed after the fact, it can be executed at any time. This improves user convenience. In addition, it is possible to avoid duplicating development of general-purpose programs, improving development efficiency.

  However, in order to execute a general-purpose program in parallel with an application program at an arbitrary timing, it is necessary to leave computer computing resources necessary for executing the general-purpose program unused. For this reason, there has been a problem that computer computing resources are not efficiently used.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system that can efficiently use computer computing resources when another program is started during execution of the program. It is to provide a control method and a program.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information processing system according to the present invention is an information processing system including a first program, a plurality of second programs, and a computer that executes the programs. The program includes: a calculation resource information acquisition unit configured to acquire calculation resource information for determining a calculation resource of the computer used by a computer whose execution is started by the computer among the plurality of second programs; Based on the calculated computing resource information, the computer is caused to function as computing resource releasing means for releasing a part of the computing resources of the computer currently used by the first program. The plurality of second programs are executed using the computing resources of the computer to be released.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the computer further executes a third program. The third program is a program selection unit that selects a program to be executed by the computer from among the plurality of second programs, and the calculation resource information related to the selected second program. A program execution start for starting the execution of the selected second program using the calculation resource information notifying means for notifying the first program and the calculation resource of the computer released by the first program. The computer is caused to function as a means.

  The calculation resource information may be information indicating a calculation resource of the computer used by the selected second program. The first program may cause the computer to function as setting means for setting parallel execution condition information indicating a condition of the plurality of second programs to be executed in parallel with the first program. In this case, the third program executes a part or all of the plurality of second programs based on the parallel execution condition information acquisition means for acquiring the parallel execution condition information and the parallel execution condition information. You may make the said computer function as an execution restriction means to restrict | limit.

  In the aspect of the invention, the calculation resource information is information for identifying the second program to be executed by the computer, and the first program identifies the second program. In association with information, when execution of the second program identified by the information is started, the first program includes information on the computing resources of the computer to be released.

  In addition, the computer control method according to the present invention provides a computer program resource information for determining a computer resource used by a computer that is started to be executed by a computer among a plurality of second programs. A calculation resource information acquisition step acquired by the first program, based on the calculation resource information acquired by the first program, a calculation resource release step of releasing a part of the calculation resources of the computer currently used; Starting execution of the second program using the computational resources of the computer to be released.

  The program according to the present invention is a program selection means for selecting a program to be executed by a computer from among a plurality of second programs, and a computing resource of the computer used by the selected second program The calculation resource information notifying means for notifying the first program of the calculation resource information for determining the calculation resource and the calculation resource of the computer that is released based on the calculation resource information by the first program are selected. The program causes the computer to function as program execution start means for starting execution of the second program.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an entertainment system (information processing system) according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the entertainment system 10 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 11, a main memory 20, an image processing unit 24, a monitor 26, an input / output processing unit 28, an audio processing unit 30, and a speaker. 32, an optical disk reading unit 34, an optical disk 36, a hard disk 38, interfaces (I / F) 40, 44, a controller 42, a camera unit 46, and a network interface 48. It is.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the MPU 11 (program execution means). As shown in the figure, the MPU 11 includes a main processor 12, sub-processors 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, and 14h, a bus 16, a memory controller 18, and an interface (I / F) 22. And comprising.

  The main processor 12 is an operating system stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown), for example, a program and data read from an optical disc 36 such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) -ROM, and a program supplied via a communication network. Based on the data and the like, various information processing is performed, and the sub-processors 14a to 14h are controlled.

  The sub-processors 14a to 14h perform various types of information processing in accordance with instructions from the main processor 12, and each part of the entertainment system 10 is read from the optical disk 36 such as a DVD-ROM or the like via a communication network. Control based on supplied programs and data.

  The bus 16 is used for exchanging addresses and data among the various parts of the entertainment system 10. The main processor 12, the sub processors 14a to 14h, the memory controller 18, and the interface 22 are connected to each other via the bus 16 so as to be able to exchange data.

  The memory controller 18 accesses the main memory 20 in accordance with instructions from the main processor 12 and the sub processors 14a to 14h. Programs and data read from the optical disk 36 and the hard disk 38 and programs and data supplied via the communication network are written into the main memory 20 as necessary. The main memory 20 is also used for work of the main processor 12 and the sub processors 14a to 14h.

  An image processing unit 24 and an input / output processing unit 28 are connected to the interface 22. Data exchange between the main processor 12 and the sub processors 14 a to 14 h and the image processing unit 24 or the input / output processing unit 28 is performed via the interface 22.

  The image processing unit 24 includes a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) and a frame buffer. The GPU renders various screens in the frame buffer based on the image data supplied from the main processor 12 and the sub processors 14a to 14h. A screen formed in the frame buffer, that is, a screen showing the execution result of the MPU 11 is converted into a video signal at a predetermined timing and output to the monitor 26. As the monitor 26, for example, a home television receiver is used.

  An audio processing unit 30, an optical disk reading unit 34, a hard disk 38, and interfaces 40 and 44 are connected to the input / output processing unit 28. The input / output processing unit 28 controls data exchange between the main processor 12 and the sub-processors 14a to 14h, the audio processing unit 30, the optical disc reading unit 34, the hard disk 38, the interfaces 40 and 44, and the network interface 48.

  The sound processing unit 30 includes an SPU (Sound Processing Unit) and a sound buffer. The sound buffer stores various audio data such as game music, game sound effects and messages read from the optical disk 36 and the hard disk 38. The SPU reproduces these various audio data and outputs them from the speaker 32. As the speaker 32, for example, a built-in speaker of a home television receiver is used.

  The optical disk reading unit 34 reads programs and data stored on the optical disk 36 in accordance with instructions from the main processor 12 and the sub processors 14a to 14h. Note that the entertainment system 10 may be configured to be able to read a program or data stored in a computer-readable information storage medium other than the optical disk 36.

  The optical disk 36 is a general optical disk (computer-readable information storage medium) such as a DVD-ROM. The hard disk 38 is a general hard disk device. Various programs and data are stored in the optical disk 36 and the hard disk 38 so as to be readable by a computer.

  The interfaces (I / F) 40 and 44 are interfaces for connecting various peripheral devices such as the controller 42 and the camera unit 46. For example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface is used as such an interface.

  The controller 42 is general-purpose operation input means, and is used by the user to input various operations (for example, game operations). The input / output processing unit 28 scans the state of each unit of the controller 42 every predetermined time (for example, 1/60 seconds), and supplies an operation signal representing the result to the main processor 12 and the sub processors 14a to 14h. The main processor 12 and the sub processors 14a to 14h determine the content of the operation performed by the user based on the operation signal. The entertainment system 10 is configured to be able to connect a plurality of controllers 42, and the main processor 12 and the sub processors 14a to 14h execute various processes based on operation signals input from the controllers 42. ing.

  The camera unit 46 includes, for example, a known digital camera, and inputs black and white, grayscale, or color photographed images every predetermined time (for example, 1/60 seconds). The camera unit 46 in the present embodiment is configured to input a captured image as image data in JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format. The camera unit 46 is installed on the monitor 26 with the lens facing the player, for example, and is connected to the interface 44 via a cable. The network interface 48 is connected to the input / output processing unit 28 and a communication network such as the Internet, and relays data communication between the entertainment system 10 and other computer systems such as the entertainment system 10 via the communication network. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an operating system 50, a system program 52, and an application program 54 are installed in the entertainment system 10. The operating system 50 is stored in a ROM or hard disk 38 (not shown), and includes a boot program for the entertainment system 10 and programs for various basic functions.

  The system program 52 is also stored in a ROM or hard disk 38 (not shown), and includes programs for various general functions that are frequently used by users. As shown in the figure, the system program 52 includes a resident system program 52a and a plurality of non-resident system programs 52b. The former is resident in the main memory 20 when the entertainment system 10 is started, and the latter is a user instruction. Or in response to an instruction from another program. The resident system program 52a has, for example, a function for displaying a menu for a user to give an instruction to start the non-resident program 52b, a function for displaying various messages, and a function for performing various settings of the entertainment system 10. . On the other hand, the non-resident system program 52b is a program for organizing the storage contents of the hard disk 38 or a portable storage medium (not shown), a program for a software keyboard, a program for a Web browser, and other users via a communication network. Program for chatting with.

  The application program 54 is stored in the optical disk 36 or the hard disk 38 and is loaded into the main memory 20. The application program 54 is a specific purpose program, and here is a game program 54a.

  In the entertainment system 10, the above-mentioned programs are executed in parallel using calculation resources such as the main processor 12, sub-processors 14a to 14h, the main memory 20, and the like. That is, on the operating system 50, the resident system program 52a, one or a plurality of non-resident system programs 52b, and the game program 54a are executed simultaneously.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the resident system program 52 a causes the entertainment system 10 to function as a coexistence program list acquisition unit 60, a menu selection unit 62, an activation preparation unit 64, and an activation unit 66.

  The coexistence program list acquisition unit 60 acquires a coexistence program list (parallel execution condition information) set by the game program 54a. The coexistence program list indicates a condition of a plurality of non-resident system programs 52b to be executed in parallel with the game program 54a, and whether or not each non-resident system program 52b may be executed in parallel with the game program 54a. Contains information.

  The menu selection unit 62 displays a menu screen on the monitor 26 and selects one of the icon images related to each non-resident system program 52b displayed on the menu screen according to an operation signal input from the controller 42. is there. When displaying the menu screen, the menu selection unit 62 acquires the latest coexistence program list acquired by the coexistence program list acquisition unit 60, and may be executed in parallel with the currently running game program 54a. Only the icon image related to 52b is displayed on the monitor 26, and the icon images related to other non-resident system programs 52b are not displayed on the monitor 26. As a result, the execution of the non-resident system program 52b that is not permitted to be executed in parallel with the game program 54a is instructed by the coexistence program list, and the actual execution is restricted.

  The activation preparation unit 64 prepares for activation of the non-resident system program 52b selected by the menu selection unit 62. Specifically, calculation related to calculation resources (for example, the amount of memory used such as the main memory 20 and the amount of processors used such as the main processor 12 and the sub-processors 14a to 14h) required for executing the selected non-resident system program 52b. The game program 54a is notified of an activation application including resource information. The calculation resource information is, for example, identification information of the non-resident system program 52b. In this case, the game program 54a determines the calculation resource necessary for executing the non-resident system program 52b identified by the identification information from the identification information. . The calculation resource information may be information indicating the calculation resource itself necessary for executing the selected non-resident system program 52b.

  The game program 54a releases calculation resources necessary for executing the non-resident system program 52b selected by the menu selection unit 62 according to the calculation resource information notified by the activation preparation unit 64. The activation unit 66 After releasing the computing resources, the selected non-resident system program 52b is started. At this time, the game program 54a passes display position data indicating the display position of an image such as a window indicating the execution result of the non-resident system program 52b to the resident system program 52a. When the selected non-resident system program 52b is activated, the display position data is passed.

  The non-resident system program 54b is executed using the calculation resources released by the game program 54a. When the display position data is acquired, an image indicating the execution result is displayed at a position corresponding to the acquired display position data.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the game program 54 a uses the entertainment system 10 as an activation application accepting unit 70, an open resource determination unit 72, a resource release unit 74, an activation permission unit 76, a coexistence program list setting unit 78, and a game control unit 80. Make it work.

  The activation application receiving unit 70 receives an activation application from the resident system program 52 b and passes the calculation resource information (identification information of the non-resident system program 52 b) included therein to the open resource determination unit 72. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the open resource determination unit 72 stores the identification information (program ID) of the non-resident system program 52b and the calculation resource necessary for executing the non-resident system program 52b in association with each other. Then, the computing resource corresponding to the computing resource information passed from the activation application receiving unit 70 is read from there. And the calculation resource which the game program 54a is using from the game control part 80 is acquired, and the calculation resource which the game program 54a should release based on both is determined. Then, the resource release unit 74 instructs the operating system 50 to release that amount of calculation resources.

  The activation permission unit 76 notifies the resident system program 52a that the activation of the selected non-resident system program 52b is permitted after the calculation resource is completed by the resource releasing unit 74. The activation permission unit 76 includes a display position notification unit 76a, which acquires display position data indicating from which position on the display screen the execution result of the non-resident system program 52b may be displayed from the game control unit 80. Included in notifications. As a result, the position of the display screen on which the execution result of the non-resident system program 52b can be displayed is determined and instructed from the game program 54a side according to the content currently displayed on the monitor 26 by the game program 54a. Therefore, an important part of the execution result by the game program 54a is not covered by the execution result of the non-resident system program 52b. FIG. 7A shows an example of display contents on the monitor 26 before the non-resident system program 52b is executed. FIG. 7B shows an example of display contents on the monitor 26 after the non-resident system program 52b is executed. Show. The display position notification unit 76a may display an image 82 indicating the execution result of the non-resident system program 52b, which is determined according to the content of the game screen (FIG. 5A) generated by the game control unit 80. , That is, data at positions 84a and 84b that specify the corners of the area are notified to the resident system program 52a.

  The game control unit 80 executes various game programs, displays a game screen on the monitor 26, and outputs game music and sound effects from the speaker 32. The coexistence program list setting unit 78 sets a coexistence program list. The coexistence program list is referred to by the menu selection unit 62 when the menu selection unit 62 displays the menu, for example. The coexistence program list may be set when the game program 54a is started, or may be reset every time the game screen layout is updated by the game control unit 80.

  FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in the entertainment system 10 when the non-resident system program 52b is activated during the execution of the game program 54a. As shown in the figure, when one of the non-resident system programs 52b is selected by the menu selection unit 62 of the resident system program 52a, the program ID is notified to the game program 54a (S101). The game program 54a determines a calculation resource to be released based on the program ID and releases it (S102). Thereafter, activation permission including display position data is returned to the resident system program 52a (S103).

  The resident system program 52a receives the activation permission and instructs the operating system 50 to activate the non-resident system program 52b selected by the user (S104). At this time, the display position data notified from the game program 54a is passed as an argument. The operating system 50 activates the selected non-resident system program 52b (S105) and notifies the resident system program 52a of the completion (S106). In response to this notification, the resident system program 52a notifies the game program 54a of the completion of activation of the non-resident system program 52b (S107).

  According to the embodiment described above, the coexistence program list is set by the game program 54a, whereby the menu for starting the non-resident system program 52b is changed, and the user preferably executes it in parallel with the game program 54a. It becomes impossible to give an instruction to start the non-resident system program 52b. As a result, the execution of the non-resident system program 52b is restricted, and the game program 54a can be operated stably.

  In addition, when the non-resident system program 52b is activated during the execution of the game program 54a, the game program 54a can release the calculation resources by a necessary amount, so that the game program 54a can use sufficient calculation resources. it can. Thereby, the efficient use of the computing resources of the entertainment system 10 can be achieved.

  In addition, during execution of the game program 54a, it is possible to restrict activation of the non-resident system program 52b that is not desirable to be executed in parallel with the game program 54a. Further, when the display of the execution result of the non-resident system program 52b is added during the display of the execution result of the game program 54a, the display position can be optimized.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, when the game program 54a is further activated during the execution of the non-resident system program 52b, for example, the resident system program 52a coexists from data related to the game program 54a (for example, a file stored on the optical disc 36) before the activation. A program list may be acquired, and the coexistence program list may be used to check whether a non-resident system program 52b that is not permitted to execute in parallel with the game program 54a is currently being executed. If such a non-resident system program 52b is being executed, the resident system program 52a terminates the non-resident system program 52b and then starts the game program 54a. At this time, it is preferable to notify the game program 54a of the identification information of the non-resident system program 52b being executed (not terminated).

  Note that when the non-resident system program 52b is terminated, the user's intention confirmation may be input and actually terminated according to the input. In this case, if the user does not wish to end the non-resident system program 52b that is not permitted to execute in parallel with the game program 54a according to the coexistence program list, the activation of the game program 54a is canceled.

  In this way, when the game program 54a is started, the non-resident system program 52b that is not desirable to be executed in parallel with the game program 54a can be stopped, and the game program 54a can be operated stably. It becomes like this.

  In addition, based on the coexistence program list, when it is determined that parallel execution of the currently executing non-resident system program 52b and the game program 54a related to the coexistence program list is not permitted, the activation of the game program 54a is restricted. (Prohibited) may be used. In this case, the start instruction of the game program 54a using the user interface is restricted by restricting display of a user interface for starting the game program 54a, for example, an icon image for instructing start of the game program 54a. May be. Alternatively, after receiving an instruction to start the game program 54a from the user, if it is determined that the start is not permitted based on the coexistence program list related to the game program 54a, a message to that effect is output, You may cancel activation.

It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the entertainment system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of MPU. It is a figure which shows the program installed in an entertainment system. It is a functional block diagram of a resident system program. It is a functional block diagram of a game program. It is a figure which shows an example of the table which shows the calculation resource required for every nonresident system program. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on a monitor before and after starting of a nonresident system program. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the entertainment system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Entertainment System, 11 MPU, 12 Main Processor, 14a-14h Sub-Processor, 16 Bus, 18 Memory Controller, 20 Main Memory, 22, 40, 44 Interface, 24 Image Processing Unit, 26 Monitor, 28 Input / Output Processing Unit, 30 Audio processing unit, 32 speaker, 34 optical disk reading unit, 36 optical disk, 38 hard disk, 42 controller, 46 camera unit, 48 network interface, 50 operating system, 52 system program, 52a resident system program, 52b non-resident system program, 54 application program 54a game program, 60 coexistence program list acquisition unit, 62 menu selection unit, 64 startup preparation unit, 6 launching unit, 70 launch application accepting unit, 72 release resource determining unit, 74 resource releasing unit, 76 launch permitting unit, 76a display position notifying unit, 78 coexistence program list setting unit, 80 game control unit, 82 images, 84a, 84b position.

Claims (6)

An information processing system including a game program and a plurality of non-resident system programs, and a computer that executes the programs,
The game program is
Among the plurality of non-resident system programs, a computer resource that is started to be executed by the computer uses calculation resource information acquisition means for acquiring calculation resource information for determining a calculation resource of the computer, and the acquired calculation resource Based on the information, causing the computer to function as a computational resource releasing means for releasing a part of the computational resources of the computer currently used by the game program,
The plurality of non-resident system programs are:
Executed using the computing resources of the computer to be released,
An information processing system characterized by this. The information processing system according to claim 1,
The computer further executes a resident system program,
The resident system program is
A program selection means for selecting one of the plurality of non-resident system programs to be executed by the computer;
Using computational resources of the computer to be opened computational resources information notification means for notifying the calculated resource information related to the transient system program to be selected in the game program, and by the game program, the transient system program is selected An information processing system for causing the computer to function as program execution start means for starting execution of the program. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2,
The computational resource information is information that identifies the non-resident program that is to be executed by the computer,
The game program is associated with information for identifying the non-resident system program, and information relating to computational resources of the computer to be released by the game program when the execution of the non-resident system program identified by the information is started including,
An information processing system characterized by this. The information processing system according to claim 2,
The calculation resource information is information indicating a calculation resource of the computer used by the selected non-resident system program.
An information processing system characterized by this. A calculation resource information acquisition step in which the game program acquires calculation resource information for determining the calculation resource of the computer used by the computer whose execution is started by the non-resident system program,
A calculation resource releasing step for releasing a part of the calculation resources of the computer currently used by the game program based on the acquired calculation resource information;
Starting execution of the non-resident system program using the computing resources of the computer to be released ;
A computer control method comprising: A program selection means for selecting a non-resident system program to be executed by a computer;
It is opened on the basis of the transient calculation resource information notifying means for notifying the calculated resource information for the system program to determine the computational resources of the computer used in the game program, and the computing resource information by the game program to be selected A program for causing the computer to function as program execution start means for starting execution of the selected non-resident system program by using a calculation resource of the computer.

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