JP5028196B2 - Backup / restore device, backup / restore system, and backup / restore method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a backup / restore device and a backup / restore system for backing up data from a storage device provided in an electronic device to another storage device or restoring data from another storage device to a storage device provided in the electronic device. And a backup / restore method.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs), image forming apparatuses, and the like have been provided with hard disk drives (hereinafter referred to as HDDs) as nonvolatile storage devices in order to store large amounts of data.
The HDD is a magnetic disk that records data by magnetism, and changes over time with use. Therefore, the probability of failure increases as the usage period increases. Therefore, the user needs to perform a so-called backup in which data stored in the HDD is copied and stored in another HDD or the like in preparation for data loss when the HDD fails.

When copying data from this HDD to another HDD or the like, conventionally, the HDD is connected to another HDD or the like via various interfaces, and the data is transferred to another storage device.
As a method for backing up such HDD data, for example, a digital broadcast reception that performs backup by copying data from a data protection device such as an HDD to another storage device connected to IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1394 An apparatus is known (see Patent Document 1).

However, when the interface for copying data from the HDD is IEEE 1394, backup may not be possible if the data in the HDD is encrypted or if access is restricted by the OS (Operating System).
When HDD data is backed up using another interface, for example, when using a network interface (for example, 100BASE-T2, TX, etc.), the data transfer speed is slow and the backup takes time, and USB (Universal Serial When using (Bus), there are various problems that require dedicated software on the device side.

  As an interface for solving the above problem, an apparatus that connects an HDD and another storage device using ATA (AT Attachment) and performs backup / restore is known (for example, see Patent Document 2).

However, if data is copied from the HDD to another storage device via the ATA and then the other storage device is left connected to the PC or image forming device, the PC or image forming device stores it in itself. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the ATA cable from the HDD every time it is in a normal state (a state in which backup is not performed). Because it is inside, this removal work is difficult and time-consuming.
JP 2006-113638 A JP 2006-121621 A

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a PC, an image forming apparatus, or the like even if another storage device is connected to the PC, the image forming apparatus, or the like via the ATA. It is to be able to use the function of the HDD.

The invention according to claim 1 is used by being connected to a first device having a first storage means and a first controller for controlling the first storage means by a parallel ATA cable, and a second storage means. And a second controller for controlling the second storage means, and a backup / restore device for backing up or restoring the contents of the first storage means, wherein the first controller and the first controller And a controller switching unit that controls switching between connection and disconnection between the storage unit and the second controller and the first storage unit, and the first device performs second control based on the presence or absence of a cable select signal of the parallel ATA cable. The controller switching means recognizes the connection or disconnection of the controller to the parallel ATA cable, and the controller switching means recognizes the connection between the first controller and the first storage device. With prohibits the data output between, has a feature that allows data output between the second controller and the second memory means by said controller switching means disconnects the first controller and the first storage means At the same time, the second controller is connected to the first storage means, and the contents of the first storage means are read and written to the second storage means, or the contents of the second storage means are read and stored in the first storage means. A writing process is performed.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the backup / restore apparatus according to the first aspect, the controller switching means includes data between the first controller and the first storage means, and between the second controller and the first storage means. And controlling whether or not data output is possible.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the backup / restore apparatus according to the second aspect, the second controller controls enable / disable in the controller switching means .
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a backup / restore system comprising the backup / restore apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects and a first apparatus, wherein the first apparatus, the second apparatus, and the first apparatus The controller switching means are each connected by a parallel ATA cable, and the first and second controllers are first and second host controllers of the parallel ATA cable, respectively, and the second host controller is parallel. It is connected to the connection part located in the middle between the ends of the ATA cable.
The invention of claim 5 is a method for backing up / restoring the contents of the first storage means of the first device comprising the first storage means and a first controller for controlling the first storage means. The first apparatus has a second storage means and a second controller for controlling the second storage means, and backup / restore for backing up or restoring the contents of the first storage means Connecting the device with a parallel ATA cable, recognizing whether the first device is connected to or disconnected from the parallel ATA cable based on the presence or absence of a cable select signal of the parallel ATA cable, and the recognition when the connection is recognized in the step of the step of cutting the first controller and the first storage means, a second controller connected to the first storage means, first And writing to the first storage means reads out the contents of the second or written into the storage means a second storage means reads out the contents of the storage means, and having a.

  It is possible to easily perform backup and restoration of the HDD by allowing the functions of the PC, the image forming apparatus, and the like to be used while the other storage device is mounted on the PC, the image forming apparatus, etc. via the ATA.

Hereinafter, a backup / restore system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a backup / restore system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The backup / restore system according to the present embodiment includes an MFP (Multi Function Printer) 200 that is an embodiment of the first apparatus of the present invention having an HDD to be backed up or restored, and a PATA (Parallel ATA) cable. The backup / restore apparatus 100 is connected to the MFP 200 via the HDD 300 and the HDD 300 stores the backed-up data.

  The MFP 200 includes a ROM 215 that stores a program, a CPU 214 that reads and executes the program stored in the ROM 215, a RAM 216 that temporarily stores the program when the CPU 214 executes the program, and an image to be printed. In the MFP built-in HDD 210 corresponding to the first storage means of the present invention for storing data and various information, a bidirectional buffer 211 connected to the MFP built-in HDD 210 via the PATA cable 400, and the bidirectional buffer 211 An exclusive control means 212 that controls the data movement direction, and an ATA host controller (1) corresponding to the first controller of the present invention that converts the input / output signals of the CPU 214 to the ATA standard and inputs / outputs to / from the MFP built-in HDD 210 ) 213 There.

  The backup / restore device 100 includes a ROM 112 that stores a program, a CPU 114 that reads and executes the program stored in the ROM 112, a RAM 111 that temporarily stores the program when the CPU 114 executes the program, Control for controlling the data movement direction of the bidirectional buffer 211 indirectly by operating an RTC (Real Time Clock) 113 that is a means for performing this operation and an exclusive control means 212 of the MFP 200 connected by the PATA cable 400. ATA host controller (2) 116 corresponding to the second controller of the present invention which converts the input / output signal of the right request means (GIO PORT) 110 and CPU 114 to the ATA standard and inputs / outputs to / from the MFP built-in HDD 210. Similarly to this, the HDD 30 to be described later Has a ATA host controller (3) 117 for inputting and outputting, and a buffer signal waveform shaping means 115 for shaping the waveform of the output signal relative.

Next, a method for using the PATA cable 400 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a general method of using the PATA cable 400 in a PC.
As shown in the figure, the PATA cable 400 has connection portions at both ends and an intermediate portion, and a connection portion 401 (the left end in the figure) which is one end thereof is connected to an electronic device such as a PC. The right end in the figure is connected to the HDD.
Further, the HDD to be used can be switched by connecting the HDD to the connection unit 403 located in the middle so that the HDD connected to the connection unit 402 is a master and the HDD connected to the connection unit 403 is a slave.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a general method of using the PATA cable 400 in the MFP 200.
When the PATA cable 400 is used in the MFP 200, the intermediate connection unit 403 is not used, unlike the method of using the PC. The bidirectional buffer 211 of the MFP 200 is connected to the connection unit 401, and the MFP built-in HDD 210 is connected to the rightmost connection unit 402.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of using the PATA cable 400 according to this embodiment.
First, the bidirectional buffer 211 of the MFP 200 is connected to the leftmost connection unit 401. The MFP built-in HDD 210 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the rightmost connection unit 402, and the backup / restore apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the intermediate connection unit 402.

  Here, in the state shown in FIG. 2, that is, when a PC and two HDDs are connected by the PATA cable 400, in order to determine which HDD is the master (or slave), the cable select (PATA cable 400) It is common practice to use a Cable SELect (CSEL) signal.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining how to use a CSEL signal in a PC.
In the example shown in the figure, a PC is connected to one end of the CSEL signal line 410 of the PATA cable 400, and an HDD is connected to the other end and an intermediate connection, and the CSEL signal line on the PC side is connected to GND (grounding). The CSEL signal line on the HDD side is pulled up.
Also, the CSEL signal line between the two HDDs is cut, and the voltage at the connection part (intermediate part) of the HDD where the signal line is connected to the connection part on the PC side is grounded (GND: CSEL signal is Low). The voltage at the connection portion of the unconnected HDD becomes the power supply voltage (Vcc) (CSEL signal is High). Each HDD recognizes as a master when the CSEL signal is Low and as a slave when the CSEL signal is High.

As another method for recognizing whether the HDD is a master or a slave, a method using a jumper pin provided on the HDD is also known.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a method of recognizing whether the HDD is a master or a slave using jumper pins.
First, a jumper pin provided in each HDD is set in advance as a master or a slave. In this state, regardless of whether the CSEL signal detected by each HDD is High or Low, each HDD recognizes whether it is a master or a slave based on the jumper pin setting.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, since the backup / restore apparatus 100 is connected to the intermediate connection unit 403 and the HDD 210 with built-in MFP is connected to the right end connection unit 402, the HDD using the CSEL signal is used. There is no need to determine the master / slave. Therefore, in this embodiment, the MFP 200 uses this CSEL signal to recognize the connection / disconnection of the backup / restore apparatus 100 described later.

7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating a method for recognizing the presence / absence of connection of the backup / restore apparatus 100 using the CSEL signal.
In FIG. 7, the MFP 200 is connected to one end of the CSEL signal line 410, the HDD built-in HDD 210 is connected to the other end, and the backup / restore apparatus 100 is connected to the middle, and the MFP 200 side is pulled up by a pull-up resistor. The state where 100 side is connected to GND is shown.
The CSEL signal line between the backup / restore apparatus 100 and the MFP built-in HDD 210 is cut off.

  In this state, the MFP 200 side is pulled up, but the backup / restore apparatus 100 side is grounded (connected to GND), so the CSEL signal on the MFP 200 side is L (Low). That is, the MFP 200 can recognize that the backup / restore apparatus 100 is connected when an L CSEL signal is detected.

FIG. 8 shows a state where the MFP 200 pulled up by a pull-up resistor is connected to one end of the CSEL signal line 410 and the HDD built-in HDD 210 is connected to the other end, and the backup / restore apparatus 100 is not connected to the center. Show.
In this state, the CSEL signal becomes H (High) due to pull-up on the MFP 200 side. In other words, the MFP 200 can recognize that the backup / restore apparatus 100 is not connected when the High CSEL signal is detected.

  In FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, since the CSEL signal used is not used as an original cable selection function, the name of this signal is defined as / HOST2_DETECT.

Next, a method for connecting the MFP 200 and the backup / restore apparatus 100 to the PATA cable 400 in the signal input / output using the PATA cable 400 shown in FIG. 4 will be described.
FIG. 9 is a reference circuit diagram when output from the PC to the HDD in the state of FIG.
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram when signals are output from MFP 200 and backup / restore apparatus 100 to MFP built-in HDD 210 in the state of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, two signal output sources to the HDD built-in HDD 210 are the MFP 200 (ATA host controller (1) 213) and the backup / restore apparatus 100 (ATA host controller (2) 116). Therefore, there is a possibility that output signals collide.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to be able to control the HI-Z (high-impedance) state and drive state of each output source (MFP 200 and backup / restore apparatus 100), a tri-state buffer and its buffer as shown in FIG. A signal line for controlling the output of is provided. At this time, an output control signal from the MFP 200 is defined as HOST1_OE, and an output control signal from the backup / restore apparatus 100 is defined as HOST2_OE.
Further, in the present embodiment, when the output source is switched to the HI-Z state and the drive state, respectively, there is a possibility that both output sources are simultaneously in the HI-Z state. In addition, a pull-up resistor (signal waveform shaping means 115) is provided on the backup / restore apparatus 100 side to prevent both output sources from simultaneously entering the HI-Z state.

FIG. 11 is a reference circuit diagram when a signal is input from the HDD to the PC in the state of FIG.
FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram when inputting signals to the MFP 200 and the backup / restore apparatus 100 in the state of FIG.
In FIG. 12, when signal input to the MFP 200 and the backup / restore apparatus 100 is performed, the input signal branches to each. However, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, when either one of the MFP 200 or the backup / restore apparatus 100 (MFP 200 in the figure) is provided with a pull-up resistor or pull-down resistor, the other apparatus (the backup in the figure is a backup). / Restoration device 100) is not provided with the same circuit (pull-up resistor or pull-down resistor (signal waveform shaping means 115)).

  This is an example for preventing the MFP 200 and the backup / restore apparatus 100 from simultaneously becoming HI-Z, and for preventing the waveform from being adversely affected by double pull-up / pull-down. Even if a pull-up resistor or a pull-down resistor is provided on the restore device 100 side, the driver can drive H / L with a relatively high resistance value of 47 KΩ or more, and does not significantly affect the timing of becoming HI-Z. There may be a pull-up resistor or a pull-down resistor in the device.

  As described above, the ATA host controller (2) 116 (backup / restore apparatus 100) is provided with the input signal pull-up and pull-down resistors, which are signal waveform shaping means of the present invention, so that the output side (the MFP 210 built-in HDD 210). ) Can drive H / L reliably. Therefore, since there is no malfunction, the setup / hold timing margin can be performed with a margin.)

  In the block diagram shown in FIG. 10, when outputting from the MFP 200 and the backup / restore apparatus 100 to the MFP built-in HDD 210, the respective output sources (MFP 200 or backup / restore apparatus 100) are set to HI− with the / HOST1_OE and / HOST2_OE signals. Although it can be switched to the Z / drive state, the H / L output control of the / HOST1_OE signal must be performed by the MFP 200, and the H / L output control of the / HOST2_OE signal must be performed by the backup / restore apparatus 100.

  Therefore, in order to enable H / L output control not only for the / HOST2_OE signal but also for the / HOST1_OE signal from the backup / restore apparatus 100, a bidirectional buffer 211 is connected to each output source, and the ATA host controller ( 1) 213 and ATA host controller (2) 116 to the buffer control signal line DIR (signal or pin name defining the direction of the bidirectional signal) signal line and OE (Output Enable: output) for controlling the bidirectional buffer 211 Signal or pin names) enabling signal lines.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a DIR signal and an OE signal as buffer control signals for controlling the bidirectional buffer 211 (LVC 245).
As shown in the figure, the DIR signal line indicating the signal direction of the buffer from the ATA host controller (1) 213 of the MFP 200 and the OE signal line indicating whether output is possible are connected to the DIR terminal and the OE terminal of the LVC 245 which is the bidirectional buffer 211, respectively. To do.

Note that the ATA host controller (2) 116 and the buffer / signal waveform shaping means 115 of the backup / restore apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 are also connected by the DIR signal line and the OE signal line as in FIG.
Thus, the electrical connection / disconnection of the ATA host controller (1) 213 and the ATA host controller (2) 116 with the MFP built-in HDD 210 can be switched.

FIG. 16 shows a control circuit for the OE signal line shown in FIG.
The control circuit includes a negative logic AND gate and an inverter, and uses the / HOST2_DETECT signal described with reference to FIGS. When the / HOST2_DETECT signal (B) is L (that is, when the ATA host controller (2) 116 is connected to the ATA cable 400), whether the HOST1_OE signal from the ATA host controller (1) 213 is H or L. The OE signal resulting from the control circuit is L, that is, DISABLE (cannot be output), and the LVC 245 bus becomes HI-Z. That is, the ATA host controller (1) 213 is electrically disconnected from the MFP built-in HDD 210, and the ATA host controller (2) 116 is electrically connected.

  As described above, when the ATA host controller (2) 116 is connected to the ATA cable 400, the ATA host controller (1) 213 is electrically disconnected, so that exclusive control of the output signal can be performed.

Next, a method for switching the / HOST2_DETECT signal in FIG. 16 to H / L will be described.
In the above description, since the backup / restore apparatus 100 is GND-connected (grounded) as shown in FIG. 7, the / HOST2_DETECT signal is always L, and as a result, the backup / restore apparatus 100 is connected to the ATA cable 400. , The ATA host controller (1) 213 is surely electrically disconnected from the MFP built-in HDD 210, and the ATA host controller (2) 116 is electrically connected.
Therefore, the backup / restore apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a control right request unit 110 (see FIG. 1) for controlling the H / L switching of the / HOST2_DETECT signal so that the / HOST2_DETECT signal does not always become L. I have.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow when the backup / restore apparatus 100 switches between High / Low of the / HOST2_DETECT signal.
As shown in the figure, a / HOST2_DETECT signal is transmitted to the MFP 200 from the control right request unit (GIO PORT) 110 of the backup / restore apparatus 100. At this time, the CPU 114 of the backup / restore apparatus 100 operates the control right request unit 110 to perform switching control of H / and L of the / HOST2_DETECT signal.
This / HOST2_DETECT signal is transmitted to the OE signal line control circuit (exclusive control means 212) shown in FIG. 16, and the ATA host controller (1) 213 and the ATA host controller (2) 116 (with the MFP built-in HDD 210). Switch electrical connection / disconnection. That is, by switching the / HOST2_DETECT signal to H, B becomes H in the truth table in FIG. 16, and C in that case corresponds to L or H of A, that is, the OE signal is L That is, DISABLE becomes, and the LVC245 bus becomes HI-Z, or the OE signal becomes H, and becomes ENABLE to assert the LVC245 bus.

  In this case, the backup / restorable mode is set on the operation panel of the MFP 200. The MFP 200 set in this mode does not generate an error even if the connection of the HDD built-in HDD 210 cannot be detected. For example, the sort memory uses the RAM 216 without using the MFP built-in HDD 210 or based on the amount of free memory. Thus, it is possible to continue the printing operation or the like with restrictions such as limiting the number of printed sheets or prohibiting the document storage operation in the MFP built-in HDD 210.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing processing for backing up data in the backup / restore apparatus 100 in the above configuration.
First, when a backup trigger (for example, when a backup button is pressed and the timer of the RTC 113 reaches a set time) occurs in the backup / restore apparatus 100 (S101), the MFP 200 is set to a backup / restoreable mode (S102). The CPU 114 of the backup / restore apparatus 100 changes the / HOST2_DETECT signal to Low to set the output buffer of the ATA host controller (1) 213 of the MFP 200 to DISABLE (S103).
Next, the output buffer of the ATA host controller (2) 116 of the backup / restore apparatus 100 is set to ENABLE (HOST2_OE is asserted), and the HDD / built-in HDD 210 is accessed from the backup / restore apparatus 100 (S104).

  The LBA (serial number assigned to a sector of the HDD: Logical Block Addressing) of the MFP built-in HDD 210 of the MFP 200 is sequentially read from 0 via the ATA host controller (2) 116 of the backup / restore apparatus 100 (S105). Data is stored in a buffer on the RAM 111 (S106). When the buffer becomes full (S107, YES), writing is performed from LBA 0 of the HDD 300 connected to the backup / restore apparatus 100 via the ATA host controller (3) 117 (S108).

This operation is continued until LBA reaches MAX (S109). When LBA becomes MAX, that is, when copying is completed (S109, YES), HOST2_OE is negated (inactive), and / HOST2_DETECT is negated, and MFP 200 The MFP built-in HDD 210 is accessible from the ATA host controller (1) 213 of the MFP (S110).
When the ATA host controller (1) 213 detects the connection of the MFP built-in HDD 210, the MFP 200 cancels all the restrictions and prohibited items described above (S111).

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for performing data restore processing in the backup / restore apparatus 100 in the above configuration.
First, when a restore trigger (for example, a restore button is pressed and the timer of the RTC 113 reaches a set time) occurs in the backup / restore apparatus 100 (S201), the MFP 200 is set to a backup / restoreable mode (S202). The CPU 114 of the backup / restore apparatus 100 changes the / HOST2_DETECT signal to Low to set the output buffer of the ATA host controller (1) 213 of the MFP 200 to DISABLE (S203).
Next, the output buffer of the ATA host controller (2) 116 of the backup / restore apparatus 100 is set to ENABLE (HOST2_OE is asserted), and the HDD 300 is accessed from the backup / restore apparatus 100 (S204).

  The data is sequentially read from the LBA 0 of the HDD 300 via the ATA host controller (3) 117 of the backup / restore apparatus 100 (S205), and the read data is stored in a buffer on the RAM 111 (S206). When the buffer becomes full (S207, YES), writing is performed from the LBA 0 of the MFP built-in HDD 210 via the ATA host controller (2) 116 (S208).

This operation is continued until the LBA of the MFP built-in HDD 210 becomes MAX (S209). When the LBA becomes MAX, that is, when the copying is completed (S209, YES), HOST2_OE is negated (inactive) and / HOST2_DETECT is set. It is negated so that the MFP built-in HDD 210 can be accessed from the ATA host controller (1) 213 of the MFP 200 (S210).
When the ATA host controller (1) 213 detects the connection of the HDD 210 with built-in MFP, the MFP 200 releases all the restrictions and prohibited items described above (S211).

As described above, since the High / Low switching of the OE signal of the MFP 200 can be controlled by software control of the backup / restore apparatus 100, the MFP 200 can automatically access the MFP built-in HDD 210 after the backup / restore is completed. Thus, backup / restoration can be performed without removing the HDD 210 with a built-in MFP.
1 is supplied from the PATA cable 400 that connects the control right request unit 110 and the exclusive control unit 212 shown in FIG. 1 and the PATA cable 400 that connects the buffer / signal waveform shaping unit 115 and the HDD 210 with the MFP. Thus, the above backup process can be performed even when the MFP 200 is turned off.

It is a functional block diagram of a backup / restore system. It is a figure explaining the general usage method in PC of a PATA cable. It is a figure explaining the general usage method in MFP of a PATA cable. It is a figure explaining the usage method which concerns on this embodiment of a PATA cable. It is a figure explaining the usage method in PC of a CSEL signal. It is a figure explaining the method to recognize whether HDD is a master or a slave using a jumper pin. It is a figure explaining the method of recognizing the presence or absence of the connection of a backup / restore apparatus using a CSEL signal. It is a figure explaining the method of recognizing the presence or absence of the connection of a backup / restore apparatus using a CSEL signal. FIG. 3 is a reference circuit diagram when outputting from a PC to an HDD. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram when signals are output from the MFP and the backup / restore apparatus to the MFP built-in HDD. It is a reference circuit diagram when inputting a signal from the HDD to the PC. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram when inputting signals to an MFP and a backup / restore apparatus. FIG. 5 is another circuit diagram when inputting signals to the MFP and the backup / restore apparatus. FIG. 10 is still another circuit diagram when inputting signals to the MFP and the backup / restore apparatus. It is a figure explaining the DIR signal and OE signal of the buffer control signal which controls a bidirectional buffer (LVC245). It is a figure which shows the control circuit of OE signal line. It is a figure which shows the signal flow when a backup / restore apparatus switches High / Low of a / HOST2_DETECT signal. It is a flowchart which shows the process which backs up data with a backup / restore apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process which restores data with a backup / restore apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Backup / restoration apparatus, 110 ... Control right request means, 111, 216 ... RAM, 112, 215 ... ROM, 113 ... RTC, 114, 214 ... CPU, 115 ··· Buffer and signal waveform shaping means, 116 ... ATA host controller (2), 117 ... ATA host controller (3), 200 ... MFP, 210 ... HDD with built-in MFP, 211 ... both Direction buffer, 212 ... exclusive control means, 213 ... ATA host controller (1), 300 ... HDD, 400 ... PATA cable, 401, 402, 403 ... connection part.

Claims (5)

A first storage means and a first controller comprising a first controller for controlling the first storage means are used connected by a parallel ATA cable, and are used as a second storage means and a second storage means. A backup / restore apparatus for backing up or restoring the contents of the first storage means,
Controller switching means for controlling switching between connection and disconnection between the first controller and the first storage means and between the second controller and the first storage means;
When the first device recognizes the connection or non-connection of the second controller to the parallel ATA cable based on the presence or absence of the cable select signal of the parallel ATA cable and recognizes the connection, the controller switching means A function of prohibiting data output between the controller and the first storage means, and a function of permitting data output between the second controller and the second storage means;
The controller switching means disconnects the first controller and the first storage means, connects the second controller to the first storage means, reads the contents of the first storage means, and stores them in the second storage means. A backup / restoration apparatus which performs a process of writing or reading the contents of the second storage means and writing them to the first storage means. The backup / restore apparatus according to claim 1,
The controller switching means controls the direction of data and the possibility of data output between the first controller and the first storage means and between the second controller and the first storage means. The backup / restore apparatus according to claim 2,
A backup / restore apparatus, wherein a second controller controls enable / disable in the controller switching means . A backup / restore system comprising the backup / restore apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and a first apparatus,
The first device, the second device, and the controller switching means are each connected by a parallel ATA cable, and the first and second controllers are first and second host controllers of the parallel ATA cable, respectively. The backup / restore system is characterized in that the second host controller is connected to a connection portion located in the middle between the end portions of the parallel ATA cable. A method for backing up / restoring the contents of a first storage means of a first device comprising a first storage means and a first controller for controlling the first storage means,
A backup / restore device for having a second storage means and a second controller for controlling the second storage means in the first device for backing up or restoring the contents of the first storage means Connecting with a parallel ATA cable ;
Recognizing connection or disconnection of the second controller to the parallel ATA cable based on the presence or absence of a cable select signal of the parallel ATA cable;
Disconnecting the first controller and the first storage means when a connection is recognized in the step of recognizing ;
The second controller is connected to the first storage means, and the contents of the first storage means are read and written to the second storage means, or the contents of the second storage means are read and written to the first storage means. A backup / restoration method comprising the steps of:

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