JPH0749732A - Method for controlling computer system and its peripheral device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a user to easily confirm the sort of a built-in or extending peripheral device effectively connected to a computer system capable of connecting plural kinds of peripheral devices. CONSTITUTION:At the time of turning on a power supply e.g. a CPU 1 recognizes the sort of an extending drive 6 connected to a system body. The CPU 1 displays an image corresponding to the sort of a built-in drive 4 or the extending drive 6 on the screen of a display device 3 based upon image data stored in a RAM 5. The CPU 1 executes the control of the drive 4 or 6 corresponding to the image selected and specified out of images displayed on the display screen and displays data relating to a file stored in the selected and specified drive 4 or 6 on the display screen.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system capable of incorporating or expanding a plurality of types of peripheral devices such as a magneto-optical disk device or a hard disk device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a computer system such as a personal computer or a word processor, a system main body is generally equipped with a peripheral device such as a keyboard, a display and a floppy disk device (FDD) as standard equipment. Further, there is a method in which a hard disk device (HDD) can be connected as an internal or external expansion drive in the system body.

By the way, in a computer system for constructing a file system for managing a large-capacity file, for example, a magneto-optical disk device (MO unit) that can be used as a large-capacity file device other than an HDD, and document data are image data. A scanner for entering as
Also, printing devices such as laser printers are used as peripheral devices.

In such a computer system, the user needs to confirm the type of built-in or additional peripheral device that is effectively connected to the system body. Furthermore, it would be convenient if the contents of the files stored in each of the HDD and MO units connected to the system could be confirmed.

[0005]

Conventionally, when the user confirms the type of peripheral device effectively connected to the system main body, a relatively complicated input operation is required.
Moreover, the method of confirming the type from the display screen is not always appropriate. Further, when the peripheral device is a file device, it is not always easy for the user to confirm the file stored in the file device that is effectively connected.

A first object of the present invention is to enable a user to easily confirm the type of a peripheral device for built-in or extension which is effectively connected in a computer system to which plural kinds of peripheral devices can be connected. There is something I did. A second object of the present invention relates to the control of the peripheral device so that the contents of the file can be confirmed by a simple operation when the peripheral device for built-in or extension which is effectively connected is a file device or the like. It is possible to display the data.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a computer system in which a plurality of types of peripheral devices can be built in or added to a system main body, a recognition means for recognizing the type of the peripheral device and a type of the peripheral device are supported. And a display unit for displaying an image corresponding to the type of peripheral device on the display screen.

A second aspect of the present invention is, in a computer system in which a plurality of types of file devices can be built in or added to a system main body, a recognition means for recognizing the type of an additional file device connected to the system main body, and a file device. Image data storage means for storing image data corresponding to the type, display control means for displaying an image corresponding to the type of the file device on a display screen, and file control means for controlling the file device corresponding to the selected and designated image It is a system equipped with.

[0009]

In the first aspect of the present invention, the recognition means recognizes the type of the peripheral device connected to the system main body when the power is turned on, for example. The display control means displays an image corresponding to the type of peripheral device recognized by the recognition means on the display screen based on the image data stored in the image data storage means.

In the second aspect of the present invention, for example, when the power is turned on,
The recognition means recognizes the type of the file device for expansion connected to the system body. The display control means displays an image corresponding to the type of the built-in or additional file device on the display screen based on the image data stored in the image data storage means. The file control means executes control of the file device corresponding to the image selected and designated in the image displayed on the display screen, and relates to the file stored in the file device for internal or expansion selected and designated. Display the data on the display screen.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a computer system according to the same embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a file system according to the same embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a display screen of the system according to the embodiment.

This system is a microprocessor (CP
U) 1, RAM 5 as main memory, and HD, for example
A built-in drive 4, which is a D or MO unit, is built in the system body. In addition, an input device 2 such as a keyboard and a mouse and a display device 3 having a display screen such as a CRT display are provided as standard equipment.

In addition to the built-in drive 4, the input device 2 and the display device 3, which are the standard peripheral devices, this system is
For example, an additional drive 6 which is an additional MO unit can be connected. This add-on drive 6 is connected to the system main body through an add-on slot provided as standard equipment.

The RAM 5 has an area 5a for storing a program for determining the operation of the CPU 1, an area 5b for storing image data which is a main part of the present invention, and an area 5c for storing control data necessary for controlling the system. The image data is data for displaying images corresponding to the peripheral devices effectively connected to the system, particularly the internal drive 4 and the additional drive 6. The control data includes data for controlling peripheral devices such as displaying the contents of files stored in each of the internal drive 4 and the additional drive 6.

As a concrete example, the present system can be applied to the construction of a file system for managing a large capacity file, as shown in FIG. The file system includes a keyboard 12, a keyboard interface (IF) 12a, a mouse 22, and a mouse IF as the input device 2.
CRT display 1 as display device 3 having 22a
3 and the display controller 13a.

The file system includes a floppy disk device (FDD) 14, a floppy disk controller (FDC) 14a, and an HDD 2 as the internal drive 4.
4, hard disk controller (HDC) 24a, built-in MO unit 34 and MO interface 34a
Have. On the other hand, the expansion drive 6 has a 3.5-inch MO unit 16 and a 5.25-inch MO unit 26, and is connected to the system main body via an expansion IF 6a including a standard expansion slot and the like. To be done.

Further, the file system includes a printer 8
The printer and the printer IF8a, and the scanner 9 and the image input device including the IF9a are provided as peripheral devices as standard equipment or options. The scanner 9 is a device that converts document information into image data and inputs the image data.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. First,
As shown in step S1 of FIG. 3, when the power of the system is turned on, the CPU 1 executes various initial processes at the time of starting the system. At this time, in the same embodiment, the CPU 1 recognizes the type of the peripheral device effectively connected to the system based on the program stored in the area 5a of the RAM 5, and executes the process of displaying on the display screen of the display device 3. To do.

In the embodiment, the CPU 1 is the internal drive 4
Is effectively connected, the image data corresponding to the internal drive 4 is searched from the area 5b of the RAM 5 (step S2). The CPU 1 displays an image on the display screen so that the internal drive 4 can be easily recognized based on the retrieved image data (step S3).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), the display 1
An image 40 of “desk” corresponding to the built-in MO unit 34 is displayed on the screen of No. 3. This image 40 is "desk"
Each of the drawers 40a of FIG. Alternatively, image data corresponding to the HDD 24 or the FDD 14 may be prepared in advance and the corresponding images may be displayed.

Next, the CPU 1 executes a process for recognizing the type of the extension drive 6 effectively connected to the system body via the extension IF (step S4). In this process, the CPU 1 actually accesses the additional drive 6 and recognizes it by the identification information transmitted from the additional drive 6, for example. Based on the recognition result, the CPU 1 stores the image data corresponding to the effectively connected extension drive 6 in the RAM.
The area 5b of No. 5 is searched (step S6). An image is displayed on the display screen so that the type of the additional drive 6 can be easily recognized based on the searched image data (step S7).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, an image 41 of a "side desk" corresponding to the 3.5-inch MO unit 16 connected as the additional drive 6 is displayed on the screen of the display 13. Is displayed. In addition, a 5.25-inch M that was also connected as an additional drive 6
The “cabinet” image 42 corresponding to the O unit 26 is displayed. When the printer 8 or the scanner 9 prepared as an option is connected, the image corresponding to each may be displayed based on the image data stored in advance.

Next, when one of the images 40 to 42 on the display screen is selected and designated, the CPU 1 performs a process of displaying data necessary for controlling the internal drive 4 or the additional drive 6 corresponding to the image. . Specifically, for example, when the image 41 is selected and designated using the mouse 22 which is a pointing device, the CPU 1 determines the type of drive corresponding to the image 41. Here, the 3.5-inch MO unit is used. It is recognized as 16 (steps S8 and S9). The CPU 1 displays the data related to the file stored in the 3.5-inch MO unit 16 on the display screen based on the control data stored in the area 5c of the RAM 5 (step S10).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, a file list 43 showing the contents of the files stored in the 3.5-inch MO unit 16 is displayed on the screen of the display 13. Further, when the image 42 is selected and designated by using the mouse 22, the CPU 1 performs a process of displaying a file list showing the contents of the files stored in the 5.25-inch MO unit 26.
After this processing, for example, when the user specifies a file name from the file list 43, the CPU 1 accesses the 3.5-inch MO unit 16 and executes processing for calling file information corresponding to the file name. (Step S11).

In this way, for example, immediately after the system is powered on, an image corresponding to the type of the peripheral device which is the internal drive 4 or the additional drive 6 effectively connected to the system main body is displayed on the display screen. By setting an image that allows the type of peripheral device to be easily assumed by the image data stored in advance, the user can easily confirm the type of peripheral device that can be used from the display screen. In particular, if applied to a file system, a built-in MO unit 34 that stores files and a 3.5-inch M for extension
O unit 16 and 5.25 inch MO unit 26
It is possible to easily confirm that various file devices such as are effectively connected.

By selecting and designating the image displayed on the display screen, the data necessary for controlling the file device corresponding to the image is displayed. As a specific example, the file list stored in the file device corresponding to the specified image is displayed. Therefore, the user can easily confirm the contents of the file stored in the designated file device from the display screen.

In this embodiment, the case of the peripheral device related to the file device has been described, but the present invention can be applied to other types of peripheral devices. For example,
An image corresponding to the type of printer such as a laser printer or a color printer may be displayed as the printing device. Further, when the displayed image is selected and designated, data such as the paper setting state (for example, presence or absence of each size) and toner state (for example, each color state) related to the operation of the printer are displayed. Good.

[0027]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, firstly, in a computer system capable of connecting a plurality of types of peripheral devices, the type of the peripheral device for internal or extension which is effectively connected is properly selected. The image is displayed on the display screen. Therefore, only by looking at the image on the display screen, the user can easily confirm the type of peripheral device effectively connected. Second, since the data related to the control of the effectively connected internal or expansion peripheral device is displayed, the user can easily confirm the information for using the peripheral device. Specifically, when the present invention is applied to a file system, the contents of the file stored in the file device can be confirmed by a simple operation simply by selecting and designating the image corresponding to the type of the file device. Becomes

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of the file system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a display screen of the system according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... CPU, 2 ... Input device, 3 ... Display device, 4 ... Built-in drive, 5 ... RAM, 6 ... Expansion drive, 16 ... 3.5-inch MO unit for expansion, 26 ... Expansion For 5.
25-inch MO unit, 34 ... Built-in MO unit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a computer system in which a plurality of types of peripheral devices can be built in or added to a system body, a recognition means for recognizing the type of the peripheral device connected to the system body, and a peripheral device prepared in advance. Image data storage means for storing image data corresponding to the type, and a display screen for displaying an image corresponding to the type of the peripheral device recognized by the recognition means based on the image data stored in the image data storage means. And a display control means for displaying on the computer. 2. In a computer system in which a plurality of types of peripheral devices can be built in or added to a system body, a recognition means for recognizing the type of the peripheral device connected to the system body, and a peripheral device prepared in advance. Image data storage means for storing image data corresponding to the type, and a display screen for displaying an image corresponding to the type of the peripheral device recognized by the recognition means based on the image data stored in the image data storage means. Display control means for displaying on the display screen, and peripheral device control means for displaying on the display screen data related to control of the peripheral device corresponding to the image selected and designated from among the images displayed on the display screen. A computer system comprising: 3. In a computer system in which a plurality of types of file devices can be built in or added to the system body, a recognition means for recognizing the type of the file device for extension connected to the system body, and a built-in device prepared in advance Alternatively, based on the image data storage means that stores image data corresponding to the type of the additional file device, the type of the built-in file device and the recognition based on the image data stored in the image data storage device. Display control means for displaying on the display screen an image corresponding to the type of the additional file device recognized by the means; and the file corresponding to the image selected and designated from among the images displayed on the display screen. It executes the control of the device and selects the specified file device for built-in or extension. Computer system characterized in that the data relating to the stored files; and a file control means for displaying on the display screen. 4. A computer system in which a plurality of types of file devices can be built in or expanded in the system body, based on image data corresponding to the type of the built-in or expansion file device previously stored in the image data storage means. A step of displaying an image corresponding to the type of the built-in file device on a display screen, a step of recognizing the type of the additional file device connected to the system body, based on the image data, A step of displaying on the display screen an image corresponding to the type of the recognized file device for expansion; a built-in or expansion corresponding to the image selected and designated from the images displayed on the display screen. The file device is controlled and stored in the selected file device. Control method for a peripheral device, characterized in the data related to the file that includes a step of displaying on the display screen.