JP5241342B2 - Peripheral devices and information processing systems - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a peripheral device connected to an information processing device such as a personal computer, and an information processing system including the peripheral device and the information processing device.

  In recent years, detachable peripheral devices (removable devices) such as USB memories have become widespread. The removable device is convenient because it can be easily carried, but it may be forgotten to be removed while attached to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC). In particular, if the removable device has a built-in storage device, the data in the removable device may be lost and referred to by a third party if the removable device remains attached to the PC on the go.

  In addition, some devices use the removable device as a key to make the PC inoperable when the removable device is not connected, but if the device remains attached to the PC in the same manner as described above, it can be operated by a third party. It becomes a security problem.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for preventing forgetting to remove a removable device.
JP-A-5-324212

  However, the method such as the apparatus of Patent Document 1 requires a detection mechanism forgetting to pull out and a display structure for warning on the PC side, which cannot be easily realized in an existing PC.

  Even if the PC has a mechanism for preventing forgetting to pull out, if it is carried to another PC that does not have an environment for preventing forgetting to pull out, a warning about forgetting to pull out cannot be displayed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a peripheral device that can prompt the user to prevent forgetting to pull out even if it is carried in any environment without changing the PC side.

The peripheral device of the present invention is a peripheral device connected to the information processing apparatus, a disconnect detection means for detecting a logical disconnection state from the information processing apparatus, a user detection means for detecting a user's contact, And a notifying unit for notifying forgetting to remove when the disconnection detecting unit detects a logical disconnection state and the user detecting unit does not detect a user contact. To do.

  In this way, when disconnection from the information processing apparatus (a power-off state or a state in which there is no communication) is detected in a state where no user contact is detected, a notification for forgetting to remove (such as sounding a buzzer) is performed. . In this way, by detecting the forgetting to remove on the peripheral device side and notifying the buzzer, etc., no special configuration is required on the PC side, and no matter what PC is connected, It can promote prevention of forgetting to unplug.

In addition, the disconnection detection unit may periodically issue a signal from the information processing device to the peripheral device, or may connect the peripheral device and the information processing device from the information processing device to the peripheral device. It is also possible to configure so that a logical disconnection state from the information processing apparatus is determined when there is no input of a signal to be indicated.

  For example, when a removable device is connected to a PC using a USB interface and there is no input such as SOF (Start Of Frame) periodically issued from the PC, power is supplied. However, it is determined that it is in the suspended state or the PC is shut down, and a notification for forgetting to remove is issued. As a result, it is possible to provide a notification for preventing forgetting to remove even a PC that is in a suspended state or a PC that continues to supply power to the USB even when the power is turned off.

Further, the present invention further, the information processing apparatus further comprising a storage unit that stores a program to be executed, the program causes the information processing apparatus, prior to the pre-migration Symbol into logical disconnection state, around processing for performing an operation stop notification to the device, is executed, the notification unit, when receiving the operation stop notification, and performs notification for forgetting to pull out preventing.

  As described above, the program to be executed on the PC is stored, and the program detects a change in the state of the PC, so that notification for forgetting to remove can be performed even in a logoff situation.

The information processing system according to the present invention includes a peripheral device and the information processing apparatus that, when connected to the peripheral device, executes the program stored in the peripheral device .

  According to the present invention, no special configuration is added to the PC side, and it is possible to promote prevention of forgetting to pull out even in any environment.

  Hereinafter, a peripheral device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings by taking a removable device (hereinafter referred to as a USB memory) having a USB interface as an example. FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a USB memory. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the appearance of the USB memory.

  The USB memory according to the present embodiment prevents a user from forgetting to pull out by making a buzzer sound if the USB memory remains inserted into the PC when the PC is shut down.

  The USB memory 1 includes an interface (I / F) 11, an insertion / removal monitoring unit 12, a controller 13, a buzzer 14, a forgetting to remove detection unit 15, and a contact sensor 16.

  The I / F 11 is an interface for PC connection conforming to the USB standard. In the present invention, the interface standard is not limited to USB.

  The insertion / removal monitoring unit 12 monitors whether the USB memory 1 is connected to the PC 2 and is communicable with the PC 2. The insertion / removal monitoring unit 12 supplies power to the controller 13 and the forgetting to remove detection unit 15, Send and receive data.

  The controller 13 is a main device as a USB memory, and has a built-in memory 131 (flash memory). The controller 13 performs data transmission / reception with the PC 2 via the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12, and writes or reads data in the memory 131. Note that the type of the main device in the present invention is not limited to the USB memory.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the buzzer 14 is provided outside the housing of the USB memory 1, and generates a buzzer sound according to a command from the insertion / removal monitoring unit 12 or the forgetting to remove detecting unit 15 to prevent forgetting to remove it. It becomes a notification means which performs notification for the purpose. Note that notification by display of LEDs or the like may be performed instead of notification by sound using a buzzer. Of course, other notification modes such as smell are possible.

  The forgetting to remove detection unit 15 is a functional unit that detects forgetting to remove the USB memory 1, and issues a notification start command to the buzzer 14 according to the monitoring state of the insertion / removal monitoring unit 12 to drive the buzzer 14. The forgetting to remove detection unit 15 has a built-in battery 151 and can continue to operate independently even after the power supply from the PC 2 is cut off and the operations of the insertion / removal monitoring unit 12 and the controller 13 stop.

  The contact sensor 16 includes a capacitive touch sensor, a strain sensor, and the like, and detects contact with the user. When contact with the user is detected, a contact detection signal is supplied to the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 and the forgetting to remove detection unit 15. As shown in FIG. 5B, the contact sensor 16 is attached to the outside of the USB memory housing, and is also used as a grip, and is provided at a location where the user touches when the USB memory is inserted and removed. In place of the contact sensor, a button type switch or a slide type switch may be used, but it is desirable to use a contact sensor from the viewpoint of design. In the case of a contact sensor, the degree of freedom in design is increased, and the USB memory can be a sealed structure. For example, a dust-proof and waterproof USB memory can be used.

  When there is no user contact detection signal from the contact sensor 16, the insertion / removal monitoring unit 12 or the forgetting to remove detection unit 15 is disconnected from the bus power or communication with the PC 2 (although power is supplied). When the PC 2 is shut down), a buzzer sounds from the buzzer 14.

  Hereinafter, operations of the insertion / removal monitoring unit 12 and the forgetting to remove detection unit 15 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12. This operation is started when the USB memory 1 is connected to the PC 2 and power is supplied to the insertion / removal monitoring unit 12 by the bus power from the USB I / F 11.

  First, the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 supplies power to the forgetting to remove detection unit 15 (s11). Thereafter, the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 stands by until the forgetting to remove detection unit 15 is activated (s12, s13). The insertion / removal monitoring unit 12 issues a notification start command (s12 → s14) and emits a buzzer sound when the PC 2 does not respond with power being supplied and times out. When the contact detection signal is not input, the insertion / removal monitoring unit 12 continues to sound a buzzer sound until the contact detection signal is input from the contact sensor 16 (s15). When the contact detection signal is input, it is determined that the user has an intention to remove the USB memory, a notification stop command is issued (s16), and the buzzer sound is stopped.

  On the other hand, if the forgetting to remove detection unit 15 is activated without time-out and the connection is confirmed from the PC 2, the controller 13 is supplied with power (s17), the bus is initialized, and the connection with the PC 2 is established. (S18). When the connection with the PC 2 is established, the insertion / removal monitoring unit 12 notifies the forgetting to remove detection unit 15 of a use state (s19). The forgetting-to-unplug detection unit 15 can determine that the connection with the PC 2 is established and the device is usable by receiving the use state notification.

  After that, the process waits until the packet is not input from the I / F 11 such as SOF (Start Of Frame) (for example, the suspended state) (s20). If the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 determines that there is no input, the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 notifies the unused state detection unit 15 of an unused state (s21). The forgetting to remove detection unit 15 can determine that communication with the PC 2 has been interrupted by receiving an unused state notification (the power is supplied, but the PC 2 is shut down or is in a suspended state). It is possible to perform an operation of continuously sounding a buzzer sound until a contact detection signal is input from the contact sensor 16. In this case, even a PC that continues to supply power to the USB even when the power is turned off can be notified for forgetting to disconnect.

  Thereafter, the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 waits until the bus power is cut off (s22), and ends the operation.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the forgetting to remove detection unit 15. The forgetting to remove detection unit 15 starts this operation when receiving power supply from the insertion / removal monitoring unit 12.

  First, the forgetting to remove detection unit 15 determines whether or not the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 is activated (s31). If the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 is not activated, it is determined that the power supply is cut off, a notification start command is issued (s31 → s36), and the buzzer sound of the buzzer 14 is sounded. If the contact detection signal is not input, it is assumed that the USB memory 1 is still inserted in the PC 2 and the buzzer is continuously sounded until the contact detection signal is input from the contact sensor 16 (s37). When the contact detection signal is input, it is determined that the user has an intention to remove the USB memory, a notification stop command is issued (s38), and the buzzer sound is stopped.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in s31 that the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 is activated, the process waits until a use state notification is made from the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 (s32). When the use state notification is performed, it is determined again whether or not the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 is activated (s33), and if not activated, a notification start command of s36 or less is issued as described above.

  When the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 is activated, the process waits until an unused state notification is issued from the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 (s34). When the unused state notification is made, the input of the contact detection signal from the contact sensor 16 is confirmed (s35). A state in which no contact detection signal is input from the contact sensor 16, that is, power is supplied, but the PC 2 is shut down or suspended, and a notification start command is issued (s36). The buzzer 14 sounds. Thereafter, the buzzer is continuously sounded until the contact detection signal is input (s37). When the contact detection signal is input, it is determined that the user has an intention to remove the USB memory, a notification stop command is issued (s38), and the buzzer sound is stopped.

  As described above, when the user's contact is not detected and the PC is disconnected from the PC, the USB memory side detects forgetting to pull out and notifies the PC side by sounding a buzzer. No special configuration is required, and even if it is connected to any PC, it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove. For example, notification can be performed even in an environment where there is no speaker on the PC side.

  Next, FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a peripheral device according to an application example of the present embodiment. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the appearance of the peripheral device. In addition, about the structure which is common in FIG. 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted. The peripheral device 1 according to this example has a built-in program that is automatically executed by the OS of the PC 2. The program monitors the state of the PC 2, and forgets to remove it even in situations other than power shutdown. It is possible to make a notification for prevention. For example, notification can be performed even when the user logs off.

  The USB memory 1 in this example further includes an autorun program storage unit 17 and an LED 18. The LED 18 is not an essential component in this example. The auto-run program storage unit 17 stores a program that is automatically executed by the OS of the PC 2. The auto-run program storage unit 17 is a device that is virtually recognized as a USB mass storage, and executes an auto-run program when recognized by the PC 2. In order to be virtually recognized as a USB mass storage, the firmware of the controller 13 is set so that the information indicating the USB mass storage is returned when the OS requests the transmission of the information indicating the device type. You just have to. The CPU 21 of the PC 2 performs the PC state monitoring operation by developing the automatic execution program in the RAM 24 and making it resident on the OS.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the PC state monitoring operation. First, the CPU 21 confirms whether the target peripheral device is connected to the I / F 22 of the PC 2 (s51). If the target peripheral device is connected, it waits until the state of the OS changes (s52). The OS state change refers to a case where operations such as suspend, hibernation, user logoff, and shutdown are performed. When the state of the OS changes, it is determined whether it is a hibernation state (or suspend) (s53), whether it is logoff (s54), or the like.

  When the hibernation state or logoff is performed, the CPU 21 checks whether a condition for performing notification is satisfied (s55). Since the PC state monitoring operation is realized by a program, the user can manually set whether to perform notification by operating the PC 2. If the user has not set to perform notification (if not set to perform notification), the OS state change monitoring process is repeated (s55 → s52). If the user has set for notification, an operation stop notification is sent to the peripheral device 1 (s56). On the peripheral device 1 side, the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 receives the operation stop notification and performs a process of sounding the buzzer 14 until a contact detection signal is input from the contact sensor 16. In this application example, the contact sensor 16 is not essential. In the application example, since it is possible to accurately monitor a change in state such as a hibernation state or logoff, it is possible to accurately determine the state of forgetting to remove. Therefore, regardless of whether or not a contact detection signal is input from the contact sensor 16, a process for sounding the buzzer 14 when an operation stop notification is received may be performed. However, a switch or the like for stopping the buzzer may be provided on the peripheral device side.

  In this embodiment, the user can also select whether the sound is notified by the buzzer 14 or is displayed by the LED 18. In this case as well, the user selects the type of notification by operating the PC 2 and setting the program. Furthermore, it is possible to change the contents of the notification according to the contents of the OS state change. For example, a mode in which the buzzer 14 is sounded at the time of shutdown, the LED is blinked at the time of hibernation, and nothing is performed at the time of logoff is possible.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 21 is not in the hibernation state or the logoff state, the CPU 21 confirms whether the shutdown process has been started (s57). If not shut down, the OS state change monitoring process is repeated (s57 → s52). If the shutdown process has been started, an operation stop notification is sent to the peripheral device regardless of the user setting whether to perform the notification (s58). On the peripheral device side, the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12 receives the operation stop notification and performs a process of sounding the buzzer 14 until a contact detection signal is input from the contact sensor 16. In this case, the buzzer 14 may be sounded when the operation stop notification is received regardless of whether or not the contact detection signal is input from the contact sensor 16.

  As described above, by storing the auto-run program that is automatically executed in the OS of the PC 2, notification for forgetting to remove can be performed even in situations other than power-off such as logoff.

  The program may be installed in advance on the HDD 23 (on the OS) of the PC 2. In this case, the autorun program storage unit 17 is unnecessary, and the CPU 21 may be configured to automatically execute the program when the OS is activated. Even in the case of installing on a PC, no special configuration is required as hardware on the PC side, so that it can be easily prevented from being forgotten by an existing PC.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the contact sensor 16 is provided at a location touched by the user when the USB memory is inserted and removed, and the user forgets to remove the USB memory. However, for example, a USB connector is housed in a housing ( If the connector pops out when inserted into the PC), it may be determined that the user has forgotten to disconnect if the connector remains popped out when disconnected from the PC. In this case, a sensor (such as a microswitch) that detects whether or not the connector is housed may be installed.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure of USB memory. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the insertion / extraction monitoring unit 12. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the forgetting to remove detection unit 15; It is the block diagram which showed the other example of USB memory. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an application.

Explanation of symbols

1-USB memory 2-PC

Claims (4)

A peripheral device connected to the information processing apparatus,
A disconnection detecting means for detecting a logical disconnection state from the information processing apparatus;
User detection means for detecting user contact;
Informing means for notifying forgetting to remove when the disconnection detecting means detects a logical disconnection state and the user detecting means does not detect a user contact;
Peripheral equipment equipped with. The disconnection detection means is a signal periodically issued from the information processing device to the peripheral device, or a signal indicating connection between the peripheral device and the information processing device from the information processing device to the peripheral device. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device determines that the information processing apparatus is logically disconnected when there is no input. A storage unit storing a program to be executed by the information processing apparatus;
The program is stored in the information processing apparatus .
Before migrating before Symbol into logical disconnection state, processing for stopping the operation notified to the peripheral device,
And execute
The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit performs notification for preventing forgetting to pull out when receiving the operation stop notification. A peripheral device according to claim 3;
When connected to the peripheral device, the information processing apparatus that executes the program stored in the peripheral device;
An information processing system consisting of

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