JPH04360253A - Computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To continuously restart a program being executed by another device of the same sort when a computer system body is failed by collectively storing information necessary for the restart of the program being executed in a memory card at the time of generating a power OFF factor. CONSTITUTION:The running state of the program 7 in the memory card inserted into a slot 2 for the computer body 3 is shown in the figure. When the program 7 runs, data are varied so that current information is stored by a file system 6, hardware setting information 8, a program work 9, and a stack 10. Information to be always stored in the memory card 1 is distinguished from information to be copied from the body 3 to the memory card 1 at the time of interruption, and when the saving of these information is completed at the time of generating a power OFF factor, a restart information effective flag can be set up in the memory card 1. Thereby even when the body device is failed, the program can be restarted by another device of the same sort.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to computer systems using memory cards.

0002

[Background Art] When a computer system is running a program and a power-off event occurs (such as pressing an off key, a power outage, or a drop in voltage when running on a battery), there is a method for restarting the interrupted program the next time the power is turned on. It is necessary to quickly save program running information, environment, etc. (restart information) when the power is turned off.

[0003] In order to realize this restart function, conventional devices employ a method of saving restart information in a backup RAM built into the computer system itself. (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-81537, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-27
Publication No. 9312)

0004

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (1) When attempting to execute a restart function in a computer system, it is an object of the present invention to be able to realize the same restart processing even if the main unit fails, even with other machines of the same type. (2) Eliminate the backup battery from the built-in backup RAM, which is essential to conventional computer systems with a resume function.

(3) By consolidating restart information on a small, lightweight medium called a memory card, it is not necessary to carry the computer system itself, and continuous restart can be easily achieved even in remote locations by simply carrying the memory card.

(4) To resume the previous task at any time even after interrupting the currently executing program (work) and completing several other tasks.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention collectively collects information necessary for restarting a running program in a memory card inserted into a slot of the computer system when a power-off factor occurs in the computer system. This makes it possible to physically separate the restart information from the computer system itself.

[0008]

[Operation] (1) When a power-off factor occurs in a computer system, there are factors that allow sufficient time from the occurrence of a power-off factor until the CPU stops, and factors that do not. For example, if the off key is pressed, sufficient time can be taken, but in cases such as low battery voltage generation, even if a backup capacitor is added, there is a limit to the CPU running time due to its capacity and external shape. On the other hand, the restart information saving processing time is not constant depending on the program execution state, and in the worst case, a situation may occur in which the restart information is not completely saved. For these reasons, the key point is to minimize the number of processes required after the occurrence of a power-off factor.

Here, a distinction is made between information that can be held in the memory card at all times and information that must be copied from the computer system to the memory card when the program is interrupted (VRAM contents, CPU registers, restart stack pointer, etc.). However, when this information is completely saved when a power-off factor occurs, the restart information valid flag in the memory card is set.

(2) When the computer system is powered on When the computer system is powered on, it is checked whether valid restart information exists in the memory card, and if so, the hardware is reconfigured based on the restart information in the memory card. , setting the restart stack pointer, restart program counter, loading registers, etc., to realize continued restart of the program.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system operating in a normal state, showing how a program 7 in a memory card 1 inserted into a slot 2 of a computer system body 3 is running. Program 7
As the system runs, the data changes so that the file system 6, hardware setting information 8, program work 9, and stack 10 retain current information.

[0012] Here, when a power-off factor occurs, information that must be copied from the computer system main body 3 in addition to the information is saved in the memory card, and the computer system main body 3 is stopped. FIG. 2 shows the information in the memory card after the restart information is saved at this time. In addition to the memory card information of FIG. 1, VRAM save data 12, restart stack pointer 13, restart program counter 14, and system work save data 15 are added to the memory card of FIG. 2 as restart information. Further, a restart information valid flag 11 is set to indicate that the information in the memory card is valid. Note that the system work saved data is information that has been copied from among the system work existing in the RAM 4 that is necessary for restarting.

Next, a flowchart in FIG. 3 shows a process for realizing restart when the memory card shown in FIG. 2 is inserted into a slot of another same model and the power is turned on.

(Step 16) Check whether valid restart information exists in the memory card. If there is, it moves to the restart phase, otherwise it moves to normal processing.

(Step 17) System work save data 1 is used as restart information necessary for the system program.
Return 5.

(Step 18) Hardware setting information 8
Based on this, reconfigure the hardware.

(Step 19) VRAM save data 12
to return to the screen where you left off.

(Step 20) Resume stack pointer 1
3 is set in the stack pointer of CPU5.

(Step 21) Set the restart program counter 14 to the program counter of the CPU 5.

(Step 22) After returning the restart information,
Resumption is achieved by transferring control to the program pointed to by the program counter.

[0021]

According to the present invention, restart information is aggregated in the memory card, so that when the computer system main body fails, it is possible to continue restarting with another computer system of the same type.

[0022] Further, restart processing can be realized between machines of the same type located at remote locations. Therefore, there is an effect of expanding the environment in which conventional restart processing is possible.

Furthermore, since the memory card holding the restart information can be used at any time, there is no problem in restarting the work even if other work is done during that time. In other words, there is an effect of suspending the restart processing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system that is an embodiment of the present invention;

[Figure 2] An explanatory diagram of the information in the memory card after saving the resume information,

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a restart realization process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Memory card, 2...Slot, 3...Computer system body, 4...RAM, 5...CPU, 6...File system, 7...Program, 8...Hardware setting information,
9...Program work, 10...Stack, 11...Resume information valid flag.

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] By consolidating the information necessary for restarting the program such as file data, programs, user stack, and hardware settings in a memory card, the memory card can be inserted in other computer systems of the same model and the program can be restarted. A computer system characterized by: