JPH0675919A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely perform the backup of data even when a data transfer is interrupted. CONSTITUTION:When a preservation key is operated, the abnormalities in a main memory and a sub-memory are checked (S2, S4). If the memories are normal, the preserving processing of data is executed (S6). Then, whether the preserving processing is interrupted or not is discriminated (S7), '1' is set to a flag Po when the processing is interrupted (S8) and the message to the effect that data can not be preserved is displayed (S5). Similarly, when the calling of data from the sub-memory is performed by operating a calling key, whether a calling processing is interrupted or not is discriminated (S15). When the processing is interrupted, '1' is set to a flag P1 (S16). At time of turning ON a power source, whether the flag P0=1 is right or not and whether the flag P1=1 is right or not are discriminated (S21, S23). If the flag is '1', the preservation processing or the calling processing is executed (S22, S24).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a main storage unit and a sub storage unit for storing and holding data stored in the main storage unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a small information processing device such as an electronic notebook,
The input data is stored in the RAM or the like. However, in the RAM, the stored data is lost when the power supply voltage drops, so it is considered to back up the RAM data to a non-volatile memory.

As a non-volatile memory, for example, a floppy disk, an EEPROM and the like are known, but the floppy disk is not suitable for a small electronic device which requires a large portability and portability. So EE
A semiconductor non-volatile memory such as a PROM is used as a backup memory, and the RA is operated by the user's key operation.
It is considered to transfer data from M to EEPROM.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned information processing apparatus, other processing may be prioritized during data transfer, and the data transfer may be interrupted. For example, a small-sized information processing device such as an electronic notebook is provided with a schedule function of giving an alarm sound or the like at a scheduled time preset by the user. In such a device, when the notification of the scheduled time is prioritized, the data transfer is interrupted when the scheduled time is reached during the data transfer. Similarly, when the key input is prioritized, if any key operation is performed during the data transfer, the data transfer is interrupted. When the data transfer is interrupted, all the data in the RAM is not transferred to the EEPROM, so that reliable backup of the data cannot be performed.

An object of the present invention is to ensure that data can be backed up even if the data transfer is interrupted.

[0006]

In the first invention, the main storage means stores data, and the sub storage means stores and holds data transferred from the main storage means.

The transfer means informs that the data transfer is interrupted when the data transfer from the main memory means to the sub memory means or from the sub memory means to the main memory means is interrupted. In the second invention, the transfer means starts data transfer when the transfer from the main storage means to the sub storage means or from the sub storage means to the main storage means is interrupted, and when the power is next turned on.

[0008]

In the first aspect of the present invention, when the data transfer is interrupted, the fact is notified, so that the user recognizes that the data transfer is not completed and operates the key for the transfer. For example, the data transfer can be performed again.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, when the data transfer is interrupted, and when the power is turned on next time, the data transfer is performed again, so that the backup of the data is surely performed.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a handy-type electronic notebook to which the present invention is applied.

The upper case 2 of the electronic notebook 1 can be opened and closed with respect to the lower case 3 via a hinge portion 2a.
A card insertion hole 4 for accommodating an IC card (not shown) is formed on the side surface of the lower case 3. Inside the card insertion hole 4, there is provided a lock mechanism (not shown) for preventing the IC card from being pulled out when the card lock slide switch 5 is operated, and when the card is locked. A connector (not shown) for electrically connecting an electronic circuit inside the IC card and an electronic circuit inside the electronic notebook.
Is provided.

As the IC card, an application ROM card having a translation function, a dictionary function, a game function, etc., or a RAM card for storing input data can be used. Also, the electronic notebook 1 alone can be used without mounting the IC card.

The lower case 3 includes a power on / off key 6 for reversing the power on / off for each key operation, character keys such as numerical values and alphabets, a transfer key described later, a setting key, a call key, a clear key, etc. A key input device 7 having function keys is provided.

In the upper case 2, a dot matrix type liquid crystal display device 8 for displaying input data, stored data and the like, a card key 9 for operating the IC card and setting a use mode of the IC card, A telephone number function key 10, a memo function key 11, a schedule function key 12, and a clock function key 13 for setting respective modes of a telephone number function, a memo function, a schedule function, and a clock function.
Is provided.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of the electronic notebook 1. The control unit 20 is composed of a CPU and controls the entire system according to a micro program stored in the ROM 21.

The RAM 22 is a main storage device for storing key-in data, display data, IC card data, etc., and is composed of a volatile memory in which internal data disappears when the power supply voltage drops.

The EEPROM 23 is a sub memory device to which the data in the RAM 22 is transferred and stored and held, or the stored and held data is transferred to the RAM 22 again, and the internal data disappears even if the power supply voltage is lowered. It is composed of non-volatile memory.

The key input section 24 includes a power-on / off key 6, a function key (key input device) 7, a card key 9, a telephone number function key 10, a memo function key 11 in FIG.
The schedule function key 12 and the clock function key 13 are included. Then, the function key 7 of the key input unit 24
Is a save key 24a for instructing data transfer from the RAM 22 to the EEPROM 23, and an R key from the EEPROM 23.
Call key 24 for instructing to call data to AM 22
b and EEPRO from the RAM 22 at a predetermined time
A transfer setting key 24c for setting whether or not to transfer data to M23 and a clear key 24d for clearing data in the RAM 22 are provided.

The oscillation circuit 25 outputs a clock signal of a predetermined cycle, and the timing signal generation circuit 26 receives the clock signal and generates various timing signals for controlling the operation timing of each part. The clock / timer circuit unit 27
A not-shown crystal oscillator is provided inside, and a clock circuit that obtains current date and time data by counting a reference signal obtained by the crystal oscillator is provided, and a timer circuit that obtains time data under the control of the control unit 20 is also provided. I have it.

The power supply circuit 28 is usually a main battery 29.
The drive voltage is supplied to each part based on the battery voltage from the battery, and when the battery voltage of the main battery 29 drops, the drive voltage is supplied to each part based on the battery voltage from the sub battery 30 for battery backup.

The IC card 31 is an application ROM card or RAM card having a translation function, a dictionary function, etc. as described above, and the IC card 31 is used by inserting it into the card insertion hole 4 of the electronic notebook 1. That also
Alternatively, the electronic notebook 1 alone can be used without using the IC card 31.

The display driver 32 decodes the display signal from the control unit 20 and decodes the display signal to display the dot matrix display unit 33.
A display drive signal is supplied to (the liquid crystal display device 8 in FIG. 1).
The speaker 19 gives an alarm sound according to an instruction from the control unit 20 when the current time matches the scheduled time (including the alarm time and the like).

Next, FIG. 3 shows a storage area of the RAM 22. The display register 34 stores the data displayed on the dot matrix display unit 33. The data storage area 35 stores telephone number data, memo data, schedule data, and the like. Predetermined time data is stored in the set time storage area 36, and when the current time coincides with this predetermined time, the EE is read from the RAM 22.
Data transfer to the PROM 23 is started. The work area 37 is an area for temporarily storing input data and the like.

The flag register P ₀ is a register for storing "1" when the saving process, that is, the data transfer from the RAM 22 to the EEPROM 23 is interrupted, and "0" otherwise, and the flag register P ₁ is This is a register that stores "1" when the calling process, that is, the data transfer from the EEPROM 23 to the RAM 22 is interrupted, and otherwise stores "0".

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a storage area of the EEPROM 23. The EEPROM 23 is provided with a date / time storage area 23a that stores the date and time when the data was transferred, and a data recording unit 23b that stores the data transferred from the RAM 22. RA
Although it is desirable that all the data in M22 be transferred to the data storage section 23b of the EEPROM 23, the contents of the display register, the data in the work area, etc. may be omitted.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, the electronic notebook 1 according to the embodiment.
The operation of will be described. In step S1 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the save key 24a has been operated. Save key 2
When 4a is operated, it is checked in the next step S2 whether or not there is an abnormality in the main memory (RAM) 22. The abnormality check of the main memory 22 is performed by, for example, checking the parity bit of the data stored in the main memory 22.

At this time, if an abnormality is detected in the main memory 22, a message indicating that the data in the main memory 22 has an abnormality is displayed on the display unit 33 in step S3. on the other hand,
If there is no abnormality in the main memory 22, it is checked in step S4 whether there is an abnormality in the sub memory (EEPROM) 23 of the transfer destination. When an abnormality is detected in the sub memory 23, the process proceeds to step S5 and the display unit 33 displays the sub memory 23.
Display a message that data cannot be saved to.

When the main memory 22 and the sub memory 23 are normal, the process proceeds to step S6 and the data saving process is executed. In this saving process, the current date and time measured by the clock / timer circuit 27 is stored in the date / time storage area 23a of the EEPROM 23 and the RAM 22 is also stored.
The data stored in is stored in the data storage unit 23b of the EEPROM 23. And step S
In step 7, it is determined whether the data storage process has been interrupted.

When the data saving process is interrupted,
In step S8, the flag P ₀ is set to "1" to memorize that the data storage has been interrupted, and the above-mentioned step S5 is executed.
Then, a message indicating that data cannot be stored is displayed on the display unit 33.

That is, if the saving process is interrupted during data saving, the flag P ₀ is set to "1" and the display section 33 indicates that the data cannot be saved in the EEPROM 23. Therefore, the user can know from the message that the data cannot be saved.

On the other hand, if the data saving process has not been interrupted, the process proceeds to step S9 to determine whether or not all the data has been saved. If the saving has not been completed,
The process returns to step S6 to continue the saving process. And RA
When the storage of all the data in M22 is completed, the process proceeds to step S10 and the display unit 3 indicates that the data transfer is completed.
Display in 3.

When it is detected in step S11 that the call key is operated, it is determined in next step S12 whether or not the sub memory 23 has an abnormality. At this time, if the sub memory 23 is abnormal, the process proceeds to step S13, and a message indicating that the data cannot be called from the EEPROM 23 is displayed on the display unit 33.

If no abnormality is detected in the sub memory 23,
The calling process of step S14 is executed. In this calling process, the data transferred to the data storage unit 23b of the EEPROM 23 is transferred to each storage area of the RAM 22. Then, in step S15, it is determined whether or not the data calling process is interrupted.

If the process of calling the data from the EEPROM 23 is interrupted, the flag P is set in step S16.
"1" is set to ₁ to store that the call is interrupted, the display unit 33 could not be a call data flow proceeds to step S13 described above.

On the other hand, if the calling process is not interrupted, it is determined in step S17 whether the calling of all data is completed. If the calling is not completed, the process returns to step S14 to continue the calling process. To do. When all the data have been called, step S
In step 18, the display unit 33 displays that the calling of data from the EEPROM 23 to the RAM 22 is completed.

Further, when it is detected in step S19 that the power on / off key 6 is operated,
In the next step S20, the power supply system is turned on, and in step S21 it is determined whether the flag P ₀ is "1".

If the flag P ₀ = 1, it means that the saving process has been interrupted for some reason. Therefore, step S22.
Execute the data saving process. The flag P ₀ = 1
If the saving process is interrupted at, the data for error check is not normally stored in the EEPROM 23, so that the above saving process does not check the memory for abnormality.

As a result, even when the current time reaches the scheduled time or the saving process is interrupted by a key input, the saving process of data is executed when the power is turned on next time. The data in the RAM 22 can be reliably backed up.

At this time, if the flag P ₀ is not "1", it is determined in step S23 whether the flag P ₁ is "1". If the flag P ₁ = 1, it means that the calling process has been interrupted, so the calling process of step S24 is executed. As a result, even when the calling process is interrupted, the data is called from the EEPROM 23 when the power is turned on next time, and the data of the EEPROM 23 is completely transferred to the RAM 22.

If it is determined in step S19 that the power on / off key 6 has not been operated, it means that a key other than the above-mentioned keys has been operated, and the process proceeds to step S25 to execute the corresponding key processing. .

According to the above embodiment, the RAM 22 to the EE
If the process of saving data to the PROM 23 is interrupted,
Alternatively, when the process of calling the data from the EEPROM 23 to the RAM 22 is interrupted, the fact that the data could not be saved or the data could not be called is notified by a message or the like. You can tell from the data backup is not completed.

Further, when the data saving process and the calling process are interrupted, the state is stored and the saving process and the calling process are executed when the power is turned on next time. Therefore, even if the data transfer is interrupted, it is possible to reliably back up the data.

In the above embodiment, the case where the user operates the save key 24a and the call key 24b to instruct the data transfer is described. However, the time is automatically set at the set time storage area 36 of the RAM 22. The same applies when the data transfer is started.

Further, not only the electronic notebook described in the embodiment,
It can be applied to various electronic devices such as a personal computer, an electronic book, a mobile phone, a small electronic calculator, and an electronic watch with a data storage function. Furthermore, the volatile memory is not limited to RAM, and the non-volatile memory is not limited to EEPROM.

[0045]

According to the present invention, when the storage of data in the sub storage unit and the call of the data from the sub storage unit are interrupted, the fact is notified, so that the user can store or call the data. Recognizing that the process is not finished,
It can be saved and recalled again. Further, when the data saving or calling process is interrupted, the saving or calling process is executed when the power is turned on next time, so that the data can be backed up reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic notebook according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of an electronic notebook according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a storage area of a RAM.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a storage area of an EEPROM.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 electronic notebook 20 control unit 22 RAM 23 EEPROM 24 key input unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A main storage unit for storing data, a sub storage unit for storing and holding data transferred from the main storage unit, a main storage unit to the sub storage unit, or a sub storage unit to the main unit. An information processing device comprising: a notification unit that notifies that the data transfer is interrupted when the data transfer to the storage unit is interrupted. 2. A main storage unit for storing data, a sub storage unit for storing and holding data transferred from the main storage unit, a main storage unit to the sub storage unit, or a sub storage unit to the main unit. An information processing apparatus comprising: a transfer unit that starts the data transfer when the power is turned on next when the data transfer to the storage unit is interrupted. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main storage unit is a volatile memory, and the sub storage unit is a non-volatile memory.