JPH0612208A - Personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily execute an arbitrary software only by selecting a user registration icon emphasized and displayed on a following menu screen by registering the arbitrary software on the user registration icon. CONSTITUTION:When a DOS is installed from a DOS-ROM 21 built in a main body put on a memory space enabling the bank access of the main body of the device, a menu display processing program (PMENU) 21a stored in the DOS-ROM 21 is executed by that DOS, and the setting and execution of the user registration icon can be processed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a personal computer having a function of displaying a menu screen for selecting an operation to be executed by an icon.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a portable computer of a laptop type, a notebook type, etc., when performing work by various application software, an OS (operating system) which is a basic software for system operation is started before the work is started. System) from floppy disk, hard disk, etc. into the main memory, processing of inputting execution commands, etc.
Since various operations and work are required, there is an operational problem that it is inconvenient especially for beginners.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a personal computer having a work selection menu capable of easily selecting and executing arbitrary application software without inputting a command. And

[0004]

The present invention selects and executes arbitrary software with respect to one or a plurality of software supplied from a floppy disk or the like and stored in a main body (hard RAM, hard disk, etc.). Menu screen display means provided with one or more user registration icons, means for setting a file name (or file name and its attribute information) for the selected user registration icon, and the selected user A means for changing and displaying the registered icon in a display form indicating that it has been registered (for example, highlighted display), and saving the display information of the user registration icon changed to the above-mentioned display form indicating registered as a partial display information of the menu screen. Means, and when the user registration icon indicating the above registration is selected, the software with the corresponding registration file name is started. And characterized by being and a that means.

[0005]

In the above configuration, one user registration icon is selected by operating the cursor keys on the menu screen, and the selected user registration icon has the file name (or file name) of the software already stored in the main body. And its attribute information), the setting contents are reflected in the selected user registration icon, and the user registration icon is highlighted, for example, in a display mode indicating that the user registration has been completed. By selecting the highlighted user registration icon, a command unique to the icon is issued and the software of the corresponding file name is executed. In this way, by registering any software in the user registration icon, it is possible to easily execute any software on the menu screen.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, here, a configuration having two user registration icons for allowing the user to arbitrarily select execution of software stored in the main body on the menu screen is illustrated. Figure 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 11 is a CPU that controls the entire system. Here, a ROM (DO) inside the apparatus is used.
For example, MS-DOS (registered trademark), which is basic software for system operation stored in S-ROM 21)
When is installed, in the initialization process,
The menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a stored in the DOS-ROM 21 is started up, and the menu shown in FIG.
A processing routine for menu display as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is executed. That is, when the system power is turned on, the floppy disk drive (FDD) 3
1 or hard disk (HDD (optional)) 30
When MS-DOS is installed from the DOS-ROM 21 built in the main body placed in the memory space where the main body of the device can be accessed without installing the MS-DOS from the main body, it is stored in the DOS-ROM 21 by the DOS. Menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a
Is executed, and a processing routine relating to a menu display including setting and execution of the user registration icon as shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 is executed.

11A is each memory and I / O connected to the bus
Bus access control of various system components such as
This is a bus controller that controls bus cycle control and the like. Here, the enable signals E1 and E2 output from the bus controller 11A are used for bank switching among a Kanji ROM 19, a dictionary ROM 20, a DOS-ROM 21, and an application ROM 22 described later. To be done. Reference numerals 12 to 29 are system components connected to the CPU 11 via the system bus 10 and the bus controller 11A, respectively.

Of these, 12 is a main memory used as a storage area for an actual processing (processing target) program, a work area, etc. Here, it has a capacity of 2 MB and the system program area (640 KB) shown in FIG. A part of the area excluding can be set as a hard RAM (H-RAM). This hard RAM (H-RAM) can be used as a storage area for commercially available application software read from the floppy disk drive 31, for example.
At this time, by setting a user registration icon for the software, the user registration icon (a4 or a5, for example, highlighted in the menu screen shown in FIG. ) Is selected by operating the cursor key, the software of the registered icon is executed.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the hard RAM (HDD pack) 30 is not mounted and the hard RAM is
The operation will be described later assuming that a file storing the menu display management information including the display position information of the menu icon is set in the hard RAM.

A system BIOS-ROM 13 stores a control program including an IRT processing routine.
Here, the floppy disk drive 31 and the hard disk drive (H
When it is confirmed that the MS-DOS is not supplied from the DD pack) 30 etc., the DO that is equipped as standard inside the device
A processing routine for automatically installing the S-ROM 21 is included. The DOS-ROM 21 stores a menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a having processing functions as shown in FIG. 4 to FIG.
The DOS stored in the file handles this menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a as one execution file.

Reference numeral 14 is a DMA controller (DMAC; Di
rect Memory Access Controller) and main memory 1
Direct access control of 2 is performed to perform direct data transfer. 15 is an interrupt controller (PIC; Programmab)
le Interrupt Controller), which controls interrupts according to the set program. 16 is a timer (Prog
rammable Interval Timer), which executes timer count according to the set program. Reference numeral 17 indicates a clock module (RT having a CMOS memory for data storage)
C; SReal-Time Clock), which is used for storing setup information and the like. A battery-backed backup memory 18 is provided for storing system configuration information set by the user.

A kanji ROM 19 stores various kanji fonts. Reference numeral 20 is a dictionary ROM, which is used as a Kana-Kanji conversion table. This Kanji ROM1
As shown in FIG. 2, the ROM 9 and the dictionary ROM 20 are mapped together with a DOS-ROM 21 and an application ROM 22, which will be described later, on the same address space of 64 Kbytes, and the read access is selectively performed by the bank switching method. To be done.

Reference numeral 21 denotes MS-DOS which is the basic software for system operation in this computer system.
And a menu display processing program (P ME, which is started by this DOS and has processing functions as shown in FIGS. 4 to 8).
NU) 21a, which is composed of 512 Kbytes (64 Kbytes × 8 pages), and has a Kanji ROM 19 and a dictionary ROM 2 as shown in FIG.
0, the application ROM 22 and the like are mapped in the same memory space that can be bank-accessed and selectively accessed by the bank switching circuit.

By having the DOS-ROM 21, the floppy disk drive 31 and the hard disk device (HDD pack) 30 are provided when the system power is turned on.
The system can be automatically started without installing MS-DOS from the etc. Furthermore, in this case,
When the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a is started, a menu for work selection as shown in FIG. 3 is automatically displayed, and an application ROM, which will be described later, is displayed on this menu.
Applications stored in 22 and software registered in the user registration icons (a1, a2) can be selected and executed.

Reference numeral 22 denotes an application ROM which stores application software. Here, an example in which a Japanese word processor and each application software for spreadsheet are installed is shown.

This application ROM 22 is also the above D
As with the OS-ROM 21, as shown in FIG.
It is mapped in the same memory space that can be bank-accessed together with the OM 19, the dictionary ROM 20, etc., and is selectively accessed by the bank switching circuit. Therefore, in the system having the configuration of this embodiment, the system power is turned on without installing the MS-DOS, application software, etc. from the floppy disk drive 31, the hard disk device (HDD pack) 30, etc.
By selecting a Japanese word processor or spreadsheet from the displayed menu of work selection, the selected work can be executed immediately. Reference numeral 23 is an additional memory that is optionally connected, and is installed as needed to expand the memory.

Among the various ROMs mentioned above, the Chinese character R
The OM 19, the dictionary ROM 20, the DOS-ROM 21, and the application ROM 22 are each constituted by a mask ROM, while the system ROM 23 is constituted by a one-time PROM (OTP).

An FDD controller 24 controls a floppy disk drive (FDD) 31 which drives a 3.5-inch floppy disk (FD). A printer controller 25 controls an optional printer 32. 26 is RS-232
RS controller which is C controller and optionally connected
Controls 32C equipment.

A keyboard controller 27 controls the keyboard 33, mouse, and the like. The 2-bit signal (P36, P37) output from the I / O port of the keyboard controller 27 is used for bank switching among the Kanji ROM 19, the dictionary ROM 20, the DOS-ROM 21, and the application ROM 22.

28 is a display controller,
The video RAM (VRAM) 29 is read / write controlled to control the display drive of the liquid crystal display 34 having a resolution of 640 × 400 dots.

Reference numeral 35 is a power supply controller equipped with a dedicated microprocessor for controlling supply / interruption of the system power supply, including a backup power supply required by the system based on a power supply such as an AC adapter and a built-in battery. It generates various power supplies and controls the charging of the built-in battery.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory map of the portable computer in the above embodiment.

Here, as shown in the figure, the address "0E00"
In the 64 Kbyte area from "00H" to "0F0000H",
Kanji ROM 19, dictionary ROM 20, DOS-ROM 2
1, an application ROM 22, a hard RAM window and the like are commonly assigned.

Therefore, the Kanji ROM 19 and the dictionary RO
M20, DOS-ROM21, application ROM
Exclusive control is required for each memory access of the hard disk 22 and the hard RAM. This exclusive control is realized by a bank switching method in which one memory is enabled and the remaining memories are disabled by hardware control.

This bank switching between ROMs is performed by the signals (E1, E) output from the bus controller 11A.
2) and the signal (P36, P37) output from the I / O port of the keyboard controller 27, which is performed by hardware, but the detailed description thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the menu screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 24 when the system is started up by the DOS of the DOS-ROM 21.
Here, for convenience of explanation, a configuration having two user registration icons for allowing the user to arbitrarily select execution of software stored in the main body on the menu screen is illustrated, but, for example, three user registration icons are displayed. Configuration with one or more, 1
There may be only one configuration or the like.

In FIG. 3, a1 to a12 are menu icons for work selection. Among these icons, a1 is a word processor icon that starts the word processor of the application software installed in the system, a2 is a spreadsheet icon that starts the spreadsheet software of the application software installed in the system, a3 is a calendar, It is an accessory icon that activates accessories such as a calculator and a world clock. a4 and a5 are user registration icons for registering and starting arbitrary software such as commercially available software in the menu.

Software registration to the user registration icons a4 and a5 is performed by operating the function key F7 on the menu screen shown in FIG. 3 to call the user registration function of the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a. The first registration method in which the target icon (a4 or a5) is selected and the user sets and registers arbitrary registration information, and the software installation icon a6 is selected on the menu screen, and the menu display processing program is displayed. There is a second registration method of starting the software installation program of (P MENU) 21a and automatically registering the registration information in the program to the unregistered icon.

The processing procedure according to the first registration method at this time is shown in FIG. 6, and the processing procedure according to the second registration method is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Details of this processing will be described later.

Reference numeral a6 denotes a software installation icon for activating registration (copying) of arbitrary software such as commercially available software in the main body (hard RAM (H-RAM) or hard disk device (HDD pack) 30).

A7 starts commercial software supplied on a floppy disk (FD) (autoexec.bat of FD)
Is an FD execution icon. a8 is a spare FD creation icon for copying the entire contents of the floppy disk to a new floppy disk (invoking the diskcopy command). a9 is an FD initialization icon that initializes the floppy disk (starts the format command). a10 is the main unit (hardware RA set in the main memory 12)
Copy (back up) all contents stored in M (H-RAM) or hard disk device 30 to a floppy disk (start allcopy command in case of hard RAM, start backup command in case of hard disk) → It is the FD icon. a11 is an FD → main body icon for copying the entire contents of the floppy disk to the main body (invoking the allcopy command in the case of hard RAM and activating the backup command in the case of hard disk). a12 is an MS-DOS icon for enabling the MS-DOS stored in the DOS-ROM 21 (activating command.com). b1 to b12 are icon titles displayed corresponding to the respective icons a1 to a12. Reference numeral c1 denotes a message line (title bar) on which the work content of the selected icon, that is, the icon highlighted by reverse display or the like is displayed.

Reference numerals d1 to d10 are function display portions of the function keys F1 to F10 provided on the keyboard 33, respectively. Here, the function display portion d7 serves as a function display guide of the function key F7 and functions key F7.
Indicates that the user registration function is selected by the operation. Follow this function display guide and press function key F
By operating 7, the commands associated with the operation of the function keys execute the processes shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 included in the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a. With the user registration screen shown in, the software copied (installed) to the main body can be registered in the icon on the menu.
By selecting the post-registration icon highlighted by this registration, the software registered for that icon can be executed.

Here, d1 is a function display portion of the function key F1 for setting the date and time in the CMOS memory of the RTC 17, d2 is a function display portion of the function key F2 for selecting the kanji input mode and whether or not to practice inputting, d3 is a function key F that sets various modes such as resume, speaker, low battery alarm, auto power off, screen reverse display, hard disk automatic stop etc. to the main unit
3 is the function display section, d4 is the function display section of the function key F4 for selecting the type of printer driver, and d5 is the hardware R
It is a function display portion of a function key F5 for setting memory such as AM and EMS.

D7 is a function key F for registering a user command in each menu of user registration 1 / user registration 2
7 is a function display portion, and when the function key F7 is operated on the menu screen shown in FIG. 4, each processing of menu rearrangement shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 is executed, and FIG.
The user registration screen shown in FIG. 13 is displayed in a window in the lower right portion (between the menu icon and the function display portion) of the menu screen shown in FIG. 3 depending on the processing stage. By performing the software registration / setting operation according to the display contents of this window, the software to be copied to the main body can be registered in the icon on the menu as described above, and the icon is highlighted with the registration.

D9 is a function display portion of a function key F9 for changing CONFIG.SYS (environment setting file), d10
Is a function display portion of the function key F10, which becomes valid display only when the hard disk device (HDD pack) 30 is mounted, defines a partition of the hard disk, and performs formatting.

4 to 8 respectively show the above DOS-RO.
Menu display processing program (P MEN
It is a flowchart which shows the menu display processing flow implement | achieved by U) 21a. Of these, FIG. 4 and FIG.
FIG. 6 shows a display processing flow of the menu screen shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the procedure of starting the menu, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the menu processing shown in step A4 of FIG.

6 to 8 show a user registration processing flow when registering the software read in the main body as an icon with the user registration icons a4 and a5 on the menu screen shown in FIG. 3, respectively. FIG. 3 shows a user registration processing flow when the “user registration” function is selected by operating the function key F7 on the menu screen shown in FIG. 3. Here, the software installation processing by selecting the software installation icon a6 is performed. Regardless, the user registration process when the user makes any registration is shown, and FIGS. 7 and 8 show the registration process when automatic registration is performed by the software installation process by selecting the software installation icon a6.

That is, the user registration icons a4 and a5 are software execution icons for registering and activating arbitrary software such as commercially available software in the menu, and the software registration to the user registration icons a4 and a5 is as shown in FIG. On the menu screen shown in, operate function key F7 to display the menu display processing program (P MENU).
Call the user registration function of 21a, select the icon (a4 or a5) to be registered, and the user sets the desired registration information and registers the first registration method and the software installation icon a6 on the menu screen above. There is a second registration method in which the software installation program of the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a is started and the registration information in the program is automatically registered in the unregistered icon. FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure according to the first registration method in this case.
7 and 8 show the processing procedure according to the second registration method.
Is shown in.

9 to 13 are function keys F7 according to the function display section d7 on the menu screen of FIG.
Is displayed to show the contents displayed on the user registration screen (window) displayed by executing the user registration processing program included in the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a when the user registration function is selected. Each of these screens is displayed as a window in a predetermined area in the lower right portion (between the menu icon and the function display portion) on the menu screen shown in FIG. 3 according to the processing stage. By performing the software registration setting operation according to the display contents of this window, the software copied to the main body can be registered in the icon on the menu, and the icon is highlighted with the registration.

FIG. 14 shows the menu screen shown in FIG.
Select the software installation icon a6 to start the software installation program of the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a, and in the process, the installation read from the software for software installation (software installation disk attached to the system) It is a figure which shows the display screen of the menu list of possible software. The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

When the system power is turned on, the CPU 11 executes an initialization processing routine stored in the system BIOS-ROM 13, and in the processing routine, the floppy disk drive 31, the hard disk device (HDD pack) 30 and the like MS-DOS. If it is confirmed that the DOS-ROM is not supplied, the DOS-ROM that comes standard with the device
21 automatically installs the DOS in the main memory 12, and executes the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a stored in the DOS-ROM 21 on the DOS. It should be noted that in the actually realized device, the above-mentioned boot mode and the boot mode in which the DOS stored in the DOS-ROM 21 is preferentially installed and the system is started up can be selected. Then, the explanation is omitted.

At this time, the DOS-ROM 21 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the data is mapped on a common address space together with the Chinese character ROM 19, the dictionary ROM 20, and the application ROM 22, so that the read access is selectively performed by the bank switching.

At this time, the bank switching between the ROMs is performed by C
It is performed by hardware using enable signals (E1, E2) set by the PU 11 and output from the bus controller 11A and signals (P36, P37) output from the I / O port of the keyboard controller 27. The enable signal (E1, E2) is E
1 = “0”, E2 = “1”, and the I / O port signals (P36, P37) are P36 = “1”, P37 = “0”.
, The AND gate G5 of the gate circuit 40 causes the ROM
Select enable signal EN is output and DOS-ROM
21 so that the DOS-ROM 21 can be access-controlled.

Menu display processing program (P MENU) 2 at the time of booting with DOS by this DOS-ROM 21
The menu display processing operation according to 1a will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Incidentally, here, a hard RAM is set in the main memory 12, and the hard RAM is set.
The operation will be described assuming that a file storing the menu display management information including the display position information of the menu icon is stored. First, the startup processing operation for displaying the menu screen will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the start-up process for displaying the menu screen, first, the hard RAM set in the main memory 12 is displayed.
Position information of each menu icon required to display the menu screen in the menu display management information file, icon information executed last time (target for reverse display), icon title, message line (description), and each function key The menu components such as the function display section are read into the main memory 12 (step A1 in FIG. 4), and subsequently, each information of the user registration icon (title, execution command, description, icon image, etc.) is read (Fig. 4 steps A2)
After that, a menu screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed according to the above information (step A3 in FIG. 4). An icon according to the work to be executed is selected on this menu screen to execute the menu processing (step A4 in FIG. 4). The menu processing at this time will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

On the menu screen shown in FIG. 5, the cursor key and the enter key are operated to select the icon of the work to be executed. That is, for example, by operating the cursor key in the right direction, the icons displayed in reverse are sequentially moved to the right, and after making the target icon in the reverse display state,
For confirmation input, operate the [Enter] key (steps B1 and B2 in FIG. 5).

By this selection operation of the icon, the position information of the selected icon is reflected in the menu display management information file, the icon position information in the file is updated, and the work of the selected icon is started. .
That is, when the [Enter] key for confirming the icon selection is operated, the icon position information in the file is updated to the icon position selected now, and the command corresponding to the selected icon is executed (FIG. 5). Steps B3 and B4
). In the next menu display, the icon according to the updated icon position information is highlighted as the initial selection target icon.

When the execution of the selected command is completed, the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a is started again, and the menu screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. The initial selection target icon is highlighted based on the updated icon position information. That is, the icon of the command that has just ended is highlighted as the initial selection target icon (steps B5 and B6 in FIG. 5).
). Next, with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 8, a software icon registration process for the user registration icons a4 and a5 will be described.

At this time, on the menu screen shown in FIG. 3, the function key F7 is operated to call the user registration function of the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a, and an arbitrary icon (a4 to be registered) is registered. Or select a5), and the user sets and registers arbitrary registration information.
Registration method, and select the software installation icon a6 on the menu screen above to start the software installation program of the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a, and automatically register the registration information in that program to the unregistered icon. There is a second registration method for registering in the above. The processing procedure according to the first registration method in this case will be described with reference to FIG.
A processing procedure according to the second registration method will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

By operating the function key F7 on the menu screen shown in FIG. 3 (step S1 in FIG. 6).
, S2), first, the selection screen of the user registration icons a4 and a5 to be registered and the registration (change) / deletion selection screen shown in FIG. 9 are displayed in the predetermined window area described above (step S3 in FIG. 6). ).

Here, when the icon to be registered is selected and the "Enter" key for instructing the "registration" is operated, next, as shown in FIG.
The title setting screens shown in FIGS. 0 to 13 are sequentially displayed in the same area for each setting (steps S4 to S6 in FIG. 6).

When the title is input and confirmed as shown in FIG. 11, the file name setting screen for setting the file name for starting the software to be used, shown in FIG. 12, is displayed in the same area. When the file name is input and confirmed, the explanatory text input screen shown in FIG. 13 for inputting the explanatory text displayed on the message line (title bar) c1 is displayed in the same area.

After completing and confirming each of these settings, "Ente
When the "r" key is operated to confirm the user registration setting contents, the selected user registration icon (a4 or a5) is highlighted as registered and the contents of the file that stores the menu display management information according to the above setting information. Is updated (steps S7 to S9 in FIG. 6).

When the "Del" key for instructing "Delete" is operated on the screen for selecting the registration target icon shown in FIG. 9, the information registered in the selected user registration icon (a4 or a5) is displayed. The user registration icon (a4 or a5) is deleted from the file and returns to the unused display state (non-highlighted display) (steps S11 and S12 in FIG. 6).

Also, after the above settings are completed and confirmed, "Ente
When the "r" key is operated, all the input information up to that point is discarded (cancelled) and the menu screen shown in FIG. 3 is restored (step S10 in FIG. 6).

Next, on the above menu screen, select the software installation icon a6 to start the software installation program of the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a, and automatically register the registration information in the program to the unregistered icon. The second registration method for performing the manual registration will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

At this time, by selecting the software installation icon a6 on the menu screen and operating the "Enter" key, the processing shown in FIG. 8 is started (steps S21 to S23 in FIG. 7).

When this process is completed, the contents of the updated file are reflected on the menu screen shown in FIG. 3, and the software selected in the process of FIG. 8 is automatically registered as an icon in the unregistered icon. (Fig. 7 Steps S24, S
twenty five).

In the software installation registration processing shown in FIG. 8, a menu list of installable software read from the software for software installation (software installation disk attached to the system) in this processing is shown in FIG. Is displayed. Select one software to be registered on this screen and click "En
The "ter" key is operated (step S31 in FIG. 8,
S32), the presence or absence of an unregistered icon is checked (step S33 in FIG. 8), and if the presence of an unregistered icon is confirmed, the icon title, command to be executed, command description, and icon file file relating to the selected software are Information such as the name is registered in the file, this information is reflected in the unregistered icon, and the unregistered icon is changed to registered according to the icon information (step S34 in FIG. 8). At this time, when the icon information includes icon image information, an icon pattern according to the image information is displayed.

In this way, by registering any software in the user registration icon, it is possible to easily execute any software simply by selecting the highlighted user registration icon on the subsequent menu screens.

In the above embodiment, only the personal computer having the system components shown in FIG. 1 is shown as an example, but the menu display mechanism of the present invention can be realized in other system configurations, logical address configurations and the like. is there.
Further, in the above embodiment, the menu display processing program (P
The menu display 21a is placed in the DOS-ROM 21 and the menu display management information file is placed in the hard RAM in the main memory 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the menu display processing program (P MENU) 21a is stored in another ROM. It is also possible to store the menu display management information file in another memory such as storing it in the hard disk device (HDD pack) 30. Further, the hardware configuration for switching banks between ROMs is not limited to the above embodiment, and other hardware configurations and logical layout configurations may be used.

[0062]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the work after system startup can be selected and designated by the icon on the menu screen, and any software can be registered in the user registration icon on the menu screen. By setting it, any application software can be easily selected and executed without inputting a command.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory map of the portable computer in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a menu screen in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a menu starting process in the above embodiment.

5 is a flowchart showing a menu processing procedure shown in step A4 of FIG.

6 is a flowchart showing a user registration processing procedure when the "user registration" function is selected by operating the function key F7 on the menu screen shown in FIG.

7 is a flowchart showing a software installation process procedure when a software installation icon a6 is selected on the menu screen shown in FIG.

8 is a flowchart showing a registration processing procedure shown in step S23 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a user registration screen of the above embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a user registration screen of the above embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a user registration screen of the above embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a user registration screen of the above embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a user registration screen of the above embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a software installation screen of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... System bus, 11 ... CPU, 11A ... Bus controller, 12 ... Main memory, 13 ... System BIOS-ROM, 14 ... DMA controller (DMAC), 15
... Interrupt controller (PIC), 16 ... Timer, 1
7 ... Clock module (RTC), 18 ... Backup memory, 19 ... Kanji ROM, 20 ... Dictionary ROM, 21 ... D
OS-ROM, 21a ... Menu display processing program (P
MENU), 22 ... Application ROM, 23 ... Expansion memory, 24 ... FDD controller, 25 ... Printer controller, 26 ... RS-232C controller, 27 ...
Keyboard controller, 28 ... Display controller, 29 ..., 30 ... Hard disk device (HDD pack), 31 ... Floppy disk drive (FDD),
32 ... Printer, 34 ... Liquid crystal display, 35 ... Power supply controller, 40 ... Gate circuit, a1, a2, ... A12 ... Menu icon, b1, b2, ... B12 ... Icon title, c1
... message line (title bar), d1, d2, ... d10 ... function display section (function display guide) of function keys (F1 to F10).

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Arbitrarily configurable 1 released to the user
A means for displaying a menu screen having a plurality of icons for work selection including one or more specific icons, a means for storing software supplied from the outside, and a method for selecting a specific icon on the menu screen. And a means for registering the above software in the icon. 2. Display means for displaying a menu screen having a plurality of icons for work selection including at least one specific icon for selecting execution of software registered by a user, and selecting the specific icon from the menu screen. Means for setting a file name to the icon, means for changing the icon to a display form indicating registered and re-displaying the icon according to the setting, and display information of the specific icon changed to the display form indicating registered Is provided as a part of display information of the menu screen, and means for activating software having a corresponding file name when a registered specific icon is selected on the menu screen. And a personal computer. 3. A personal computer having a function of displaying a menu screen including a plurality of icons for work selection, wherein at least one of the menu screens for selecting execution of software registered by a user is provided. A first specific icon, a second specific icon provided on the menu screen for inputting a command for executing software that supports software installation, and executed by selecting the second specific icon A means for displaying a list of software that can be installed on the process, a means for selecting any software from the list, and information specific to the selected software in one first specific icon on the menu screen. By reflecting it, the specific icon is changed to a display form indicating that it has been registered. And a means for storing the display information of the first specific icon changed to the display form indicating the registered as a part of the display information of the menu screen, and the specific icon indicating the registered on the menu screen is selected. A personal computer comprising means for activating software having a corresponding file name. 4. A personal computer having a function of displaying a menu screen including a plurality of icons for work selection, the personal computer having at least one menu screen for selecting execution of software registered by a user. A specific icon, a means for setting a file name and attribute information for the specific icon, a means for changing the specific icon displayed on the menu screen according to the setting to a display form indicating registered, And means for displaying the set attribute information in the area associated with the icon, and the file name and attribute information of the specific icon changed to the display form indicating the registered state as partial display information on the menu screen. When the specific icon indicating registered has been selected on the above menu screen and the means for saving, the corresponding file A personal computer, characterized by comprising and means for starting the software. 5. A means for providing a plurality of specific icons for selecting execution of software registered by a user, and for setting a registered state by selecting a certain icon or one of them in a fixed order,
The personal computer according to claim 1, 2 or 3 or 4, further comprising means for designating and canceling registration by designating an arbitrary specific icon. 6. The personal computer according to claim 1, wherein an operation guide for registering and deregistering the specific icon is displayed on a menu screen on which the specific icon is displayed. 7. Means for displaying an icon according to icon information of the software at the display position of the specific icon when the software registered by the user includes icon display information and the software is selected by the specific icon. Claim 1 or 2 or 3 which comprises
Alternatively, the personal computer according to item 4.