JPH0475145A - Hardware checking system for computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten latency time until a computer can be used by storing error information by automatically performing the hardware checking of the computer when it is not used by a user, and judging a hardware error based on the information when a power source is applied in an ordinary operation. CONSTITUTION:A hardware checking means 2 automatically performs the hardware checking of the computer by applying the power source when the computer is not used by the user, and writes the error information on an error information storage means 1. When the power source is applied by the operation of the user or automatic time setting, etc., to use the computer by the user ordinarily, an error processing means 3 reads out the error information written from the error information storage means 1, and performs correspondent error processing based on read out error information. Thereby, it is possible to start a targeted job immediately after applying the power source.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a hardware check method for electronic computers, and in particular, to a system for checking the hardware of electronic computers, which can shorten the start-up time of the device during normal use. This invention relates to a hardware check method for electronic computers.

〔overview〕

Hardware check processing in conventional electronic computers is performed either after automatic power-on based on alarm signal generation date and time information set in advance in the RTC (real-time clock) circuit, or after manual power-on by operating a key switch, etc. By executing the IPL (Initial Program Loader) stored in the ROM (read-only memory) that requires startup, it is always executed before loading the O3 (operation system) into the main memory. There is. However, if the device is operated at a time that is not set in the RTC circuit, the device will be ready for use at the beginning of the device startup, corresponding to the time required to perform the hardware check process. There is a waiting period until it becomes available.

The present invention automatically checks the hardware of an electronic computer when the user is not using it, stores error information from the hardware check, and stores the computer's hardware when the computer is powered on during normal use. When a computer hardware error occurs, it is possible to omit the computer hardware check process by determining whether the computer has a hardware error based on the stored error information. This makes it possible to shorten the waiting time until the device becomes available.

[Prior art] Conventionally, in a computer used on a boat, a hardware check of the internal circuit of the device is always performed before the computer is started up, that is, before O8 is loaded. and this hardware
In normal cases, the check process is performed using the IPL stored in the ROM ( (initial program loader).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The hardware check process in the computer is performed as described above, and in the case of automatic power-on by the RTC circuit, the corresponding alarm signal generation date and
As long as the time is set in advance by taking into account the time required for the hardware check processing operation, you can use the hardware check processing There is no waiting time and there is no particular problem.
When using an electronic computer, the user must wait for the time required for the hardware check process until the device becomes operational, which hinders the efficient operation of the device itself. there were.

This is thought to be because the hardware check process is always performed when the power is turned on by operating the key switch when performing work or the like.

If it were possible to automatically perform a hardware check process when the device itself is not in use and store error information caused by the check, it would be possible to reduce the power consumption during normal business use. Even if the power is turned on, the hardware check process will not be performed, and the hardware check will be performed based on the error information stored above, so it is thought that it will be possible to start the desired work immediately after the power is turned on. .

The problem of the present invention is to install hardware while the device is not in use.
The purpose is to automatically perform check processing and store the check results (error information).

[Means to solve the problem]

The means of the present invention are as follows.

The present invention is based on a computer hardware check method that is performed when the power source is turned on.

The error information storage means 1 (see the functional block diagram in FIG. 1; the same applies hereinafter) is a memory that stores error information generated by hardware checks of an electronic computer, and is, for example, an EEPROM (electrically erasable and rewritable ROM).
) etc.

The hardware check means 2 automatically powers on the power supply at a preset time, checks the hardware of the computer, and when an error occurs, converts the error information into the error information. This is a means for writing data into the storage means 1 and automatically turning off the power supply after the hardware check is completed. For example, the RTC (
It consists of a real time clock), a circuit for controlling on/off of the power supply, a microprocessor, and the like.

When the power source is turned on by an operator's operation or automatic time setting, the error processing means 3 reads out the error information stored in the error information storage means 1 and performs electronic processing based on the error information. It is a means of processing in response to computer hardware errors,
For example, it consists of a microprocessor.

Incidentally, the predetermined time at which the power source is turned on when the hardware check means 2 performs a hardware check of the computer is set by the error processing means 3, for example.

[For production]

The operation of the means of the invention is as follows.

The hardware checking means 2 automatically turns on the power supply at a time when the computer is not used by the user, such as late at night, and performs a hardware check of the computer. If an error occurs as a result of the check, the error information is written into the error information storage means 1. Thereafter, when the power is turned on by the user's operation or automatic time setting in order for the user to use the computer normally, the error processing means 3
The error information written by the hardware checking means 2 is read from the error information storage means 1, and corresponding error processing is performed based on the read error information.

In this way, at a predetermined time when the user is not using the computer, the computer is automatically powered on, a hardware check is performed, and the check results (error results) are stored. When the power source is turned on, the state of the hardware of the computer can be checked based on the previously stored error information without performing the time-consuming hardware check. Therefore, hardware check processing can be automatically performed during unused time slots, and the check results can be stored.

〔Example〕

One embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an overview of the system configuration of one embodiment.

In the figure, CPU II is a central processing unit consisting of a microprocessor, etc.
By executing the operation control program stored in the OMI 6, a hardware check process of the internal circuit of the device is performed. Further, this CPU 1l has a built-in power-on generation circuit 12 and a clock device, and the power-on generation circuit 1
An RTC circuit 13 that controls the RTC circuit 2 and a standby power supply 14 that supplies power to the RTC circuit 13 are connected via a bus. Furthermore, the above-mentioned bus includes a power-off circuit 15 controlled by the IPL program, an initial program loader for loading O3 after power-on by the power-on generating circuit 12, and for performing hardware check processing, etc. IP consisting of ROM (read-only memory) that stores programs, etc.
An LROMI 6 and an EEPROM 17 for storing necessary control information and the like are connected.

As shown in FIG. 3, the EEPROM 17 has a main information storage area 17d that stores necessary control information, etc., as well as a time when the device is not in use, such as a time when the device is rarely used, such as late at night. A first information storage area 171 that stores power-on date and time information for the next hardware check process set by selecting . - a second information storage area 17b that stores time information;
It is divided into a third information storage area 17c for storing error information during hardware check processing.

Next, a method of hardware check processing in the embodiment with the above configuration will be explained.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating hardware check processing performed by CPU II.

First, a case in which hardware check processing is performed will be described.

In this case, the power is turned on at the alarm signal generation date and time preset in the RTC circuit 13 by the software under O3 (operating system) management after the device is started up for normal use as described later. The process starts when the RTC circuit 13 activates the power-on generation circuit 12.

That is, after the power-on generation circuit 12 turns on the power supply under the control of the RTC circuit 13, the CPU II
After reading the current date and time from the RTC circuit 13 based on the operation control program in the I PLROMI 6 (step 5ll), the hardware information preset in the first information storage area 17□ in the EEFROM 17 is read. Step 512) Read the date and time of the check.
, compare the above two dates and times (step 513)
.

In this case, the date and time on both sides match, so
It is determined that the startup is for a hardware check, and hardware check processing is performed for each circuit in the device (step 514).

After completing this hardware check process, it is determined whether an error has occurred (step 515). If an error has occurred, the error information is written to the third information storage area 17c in the EEPROMI 7 (step 515). Step 316), if necessary, the power-on date and time for the next normal use stored in the second information storage area 17b in the EEPROMI 7 is sent to the RT.
After setting the alarm occurrence date and time of the C circuit 13 (step 317), the power off circuit 15 is powered off.

On the other hand, if no error has occurred in step S15, step S17 is immediately performed, and then the power-off circuit 15 is powered off.

Next, if you want to use it normally, in this case,
A case will be described in which the device is started without the hardware check process.

In this case, the power is turned on by automatically turning on the power-on generation circuit 12 at the preset alarm signal generation date and time for the next normal use by the RTC circuit 13, or by turning on the power-on generation circuit 12 by pressing the key switch. This is done by manually operating the power-on generating circuit 12.

That is, after the power-on generation circuit 12 is powered on, C
PUII, again as before, IPLRO
Based on the operation control program in M16, the current date and time are read from the RTC circuit 13 (step Sl 1), and the first information storage area 17. The hardware check date and time stored in advance are read out (step 512), and the two dates and times are compared (step 513).

However, in this case, since the two do not match, the CPU
I1 is determined to be startup for normal use, and is written to the third information storage area 17c in the EEPRO-M17 without performing hardware check processing on each circuit in the device. The error information that occurred during the hardware check process is read out (step 518), and the presence or absence of an error is determined (step 519).
, If there is an error, error processing is performed such as displaying the error on a display device (not shown), and if there is no error, O3 is loaded into the main memory (step 520).

Also, the operation up to this point is performed using IPLROM as described above.
This is due to the program stored in 16.
Such a series of operations (step Sll-step 52
0) next time, it is necessary to perform the following two settings using software under O3 management during normal startup.

That is, one setting sets the power-on date and time for the next hardware check and subsequent normal use to the first . Each second information storage area 17. ．． 17b (step 521), and the other setting is a process of setting the alarm signal generation date and time in the RTC circuit 13 for the next hardware check process (step 521). 522). Then, the above step S21
．． When the process of 322 is completed, the power-off circuit 15 is powered off.

Therefore, in the above embodiment, a time when the device is rarely used, such as late at night, is selected, and that time is set to EEPR.
By writing in the first information storage area 171 in the OMIT, the device is automatically powered on during times when the device is not normally used, such as late at night, and hardware check processing of the internal circuit is performed. After the process is completed, the power can be automatically turned off. Also, the result of the hardware check processing at this time is EEPRO
Third information storage area 17 in MI7. is written in
Since it is memorized, the check result can be confirmed the next time it is started up for normal use. Therefore, during normal use, it is possible to omit the hardware check process.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, a hardware check of a computer is automatically performed at a preset predetermined time, error information generated by the hardware check is recorded, and the power supply is turned off during normal use. When turned on, hardware errors are detected based on the error information recorded in advance without performing a hardware check. Therefore, the predetermined time can be set to a time when the user does not use the computer. By keeping it in place, during normal use,
The time from when the power source is turned on until it becomes ready for use can be significantly shortened compared to the conventional method.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an overview of the system configuration of one embodiment, Fig. 3 is a memory configuration diagram of an EEPROM, and Fig. 4 is a flowchart explaining the main processing. be. 1... Error information storage means, 2... Hardware checking means, 3... Error processing means. Pleasure angle E block diagram of the 4th month Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) In a computer hardware check method performed when a power source is turned on, an error information storage means for storing error information generated by a computer hardware check; and presetting. automatically powering on the power supply at a predetermined time and performing a hardware check of the computer;
hardware check means for writing error information in the error information storage means when an error occurs and automatically turning off the power supply after the hardware check is completed; and operator operation or automatic time setting. when the power supply is turned on by the above, error processing reads error information stored in the error information storage means and performs processing corresponding to a hardware error of the computer that has occurred based on the error information; A hardware check method for an electronic computer, comprising: means. 2) The predetermined time for starting power-on of the power supply when the hardware check means performs a hardware check of the computer is set by the error processing means. Computer hardware check method.