JPH04153806A - Processor controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To judge the timing of the continuation of operation such as input from a keyboard and to improve the operability by informing a user of the start or end timing of the continuation of data processing. CONSTITUTION:A main memory 2, a keyboard input device 4, a timer 5, and a display controller 7 are connected to a processor 1 through a bus line 3; and the main memory 2 includes an operating system (OS), application software, and a basic input/output system(BIOS), which includes a buzzer sound control means 2a, a power-OFF detecting means 2b, a state storing means 2c, a state restoring means 2d, and a power source control means 2e. The state restoring means 2d restores a state and an indicating means 6 indicates that the continuation of data processing starts or ends. Consequently, such trouble to the operator due to a time difference between operation for an equipment main body and the operation of the equipment main body is eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an information processing device equipped with a processor-based i11 device such as a personal computer, a personal word processor, or the like.

[Prior Art] In recent years, in information processing devices such as portable and portable personal computers and personal word processors, the state at that time is saved even when the power switch is turned off, and the state is saved when the power switch is turned on again. Internal data storage functions have been added that allow data processing to continue after restoring the state that was previously used. This function stores all power-off status information, including the display contents, in the memory mechanism when the operating status of the information processing device is displayed on the display screen. It incorporates a mechanism that restarts in exactly the same state as before.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] When such a mechanism is activated, the brightness of the display,
Alternatively, by dimming the backlight, the operator recognizes that the power has been turned off, but the actual state is that the device is actively backing up data by transferring data to the memory mechanism, and for a certain period of time. After all processing is completed, some or all of the actual power supply circuits are turned off.

In addition, when the switch is turned on from a power-off state to a power-on state, the brightness of the display brightens so that the operator recognizes that the power has been turned on, but the internal memory contents of the device are not stored in the device itself. The data is being moved to the memory section of the computer or the memory section of the display section, and even if you press a key on the keyboard, it will not work. Therefore, if such functions are added, the internal operations of the device will not necessarily match even if the power control member is activated, and if the saved state is restored and data processing is continued. However, there was no way to clearly determine at what point continuation processing occurred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problem caused by the time lag between the operation for moving the device body and the operation of the device body for the operator.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention includes a memory connected to a processor via a bus line, a notification means, and a state that saves the state of the processor and the contents of the memory even when an operating member is operated. A processor control device comprising: a storage means; and a state restoration means for restoring the state saved by the state storage means when the operating member is operated to complete data processing; It is characterized in that the notification means notifies that data processing has started or ended after restoration.

[Operation] The processor control device according to the present invention detects the time when an arbitrary operation is performed on the device main body and the time difference between the operation of the device main body and prevents the operator from feeling abnormal, for example, by continuing data processing. The user is notified of the start or end timing by a buzzer sound [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment according to the present invention, and is a schematic diagram of a portable personal computer. A processor 1 plays the role of a central processing unit and controls a main memory 2, a keyboard input device 4, a timer 5, and a display controller 7 via a bus line 3. Further, a buzzer 6 is connected to the timer 5 and serves as a buzzer sound generating means. Timer 5 is used to determine the buzzer sound frequency of buzzer 6. In this embodiment, a display controller 7 controls a liquid crystal (LC) display section 8, and a side light 9 illuminates one side of the liquid crystal display section.

Main memory 2 contains the operating system (O8)
, application software and Paysic Input Output System (BIO5),
The BIO 5 includes a buzzer sound control means 2a for controlling a buzzer sound generation means, a power off detection means 2b, and a state storage means 2C.
It includes a 1-state restoration means 2d and a power supply control means 2e. Reference numeral 10 denotes a power source for operating the device and storing the contents of the memory, which in this embodiment is a battery. 11
12 is a video RAM for displaying characters and graphics on the display unit 8, which is composed of a dual-baud RAM II that can be accessed at high speed, and 12 is a backup memory for storing the contents of the video RAM II. Further, each device and means is connected to a battery 10 via a power supply line 13, and is controlled by a power supply control means 2e.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the process from when the power switch is turned off until the time when the power switch is turned on and the buzzer sound generating means notifies that data processing has started. When the power switch is turned off while the application software is running (200), a power switch-off detection interrupt (201) occurs, the processor state is saved in the main memory, and control is transferred to the power switch-off process (202). The state saving means (203) is executed. The state storage means (203) stores a video RA configured with a dual port memory that consumes a large amount of power.
Transfer the contents of rVI to backup memory with low power consumption. Next, the liquid crystal display device, backlight, video R
AM stops power supply to the processor (204).

At this time, the power supply to the processor itself is also stopped, so
The operation stops. However, the contents stored in the backup memory by the state storage means are held by the battery.

Next, when the power switch is turned on (205), the processor starts processing from the reset state (206), and restores the contents transferred by the state storage means (203) to the video RAM (20?). At this point, the buzzer sounds twice briefly to notify the user that the status restoration process has finished.
08). Of course, it is not necessary to play it only twice, and it is clear that the effect will not change even if you play it once or more, or for a longer time. Furthermore, it is possible to notify by displaying a message on a liquid crystal display or by blinking an LED lamp, and the effect is increased by using it in conjunction with a buzzer. Next, the state of the processor is restored so that the application software continues from the next instruction after the power switch-off detection interrupt has occurred (209), and the application software continues processing (210).

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention provides a method that can be used both when the power is turned on and when the power is turned off, when the timing at which a command is given to the device body and the time at which the device body operates is different in timing. However, by notifying the user of the start or end of data processing using a buzzer sound, blinking light, blinking display, or message on the display, the timing of continuing data processing can be determined by manual input from the keyboard, etc. It becomes possible to make accurate judgments, and when a small portable information processing device is moved and applied to any location, the effect of such a notification means is great.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of software according to the present invention. 1: Processor 2: Main memory 3: Bus line 4: Keyboard input device 5: Timer 6: Buzzer 7: Display controller 8: Display section 9: Sight light 10: Power supply (battery) 11: Video RAM 12: Backup memory 13: Power line and above Applicant: Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Kizobe Suzuki and 1 other person Ken Z Kou

Claims (1)

[Claims] memory connected to the processor via bus lines,
a notification means, a state storage means for saving the state of the processor and the contents of the memory even when the operation member is operated, and data processing by restoring the state saved by the state storage means when the operation member is operated. a state restoring means for restoring the state from beginning to end; the processor control device is characterized in that the notifying means notifies that the state is restored by the state restoring means and continuation of data processing has started or ended. Device.