JPH0793061A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of an information processor which is connected to a network and has a power-saving operation mode by putting the information processor back in normal operation mode if the information processor is accessed by another equipment connected to the network in the power-saving operation mode. CONSTITUTION:When the processor is accessed from the outside through the network, a network control part 7 outputs an interruption request to an input/ output control/power-saving control part 5 to transmit the occurrence of the access. To put the information in the normal operation mode, the input/output control/power-saving control part 5 having received the interruption request instructs a power source control part 8 to supply electric power to respective parts (electric feeding logic part 28) in the information processor. Then, the power source control part 8 which has received the instruction supplies the electric power to the respective parts which are not fed in the power-saving operation mode and then the respective parts are put back in the normal operation mode.

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 such as a personal computer and a workstation having a normal operation mode and a power saving state in which the power saving operation mode is reduced, and more particularly to a method for returning to the normal operation mode. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, information processing devices such as personal computers (PCs) and workstations (WSs) used for office work in office work have been reduced in size and weight. Those that operate by driving have been commercialized. From such trends, there is a demand for WS to operate on battery drive, and commercialization is under consideration. With regard to an information processing device that operates on a battery, many types of power management control have been proposed in order to extend the life of the battery, and reduction of power consumption has been studied. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-294760, an auto power-off unit that automatically cuts off the power when data is not input from the key input unit for a predetermined period is provided to improve the power saving effect, thereby reducing the battery life time. An information processing apparatus has been proposed that lengthens the time. That is, this information processing apparatus is equipped with a power saving mode. When entering this mode, the display data is saved in the backup storage section before the power is turned off by the auto power off section, and when the power is turned on again. It has a resume function for displaying the display data again.

[0003]

However, since the conventional information processing apparatus is often used as a stand-alone device, the power saving mode is provided in consideration of low power consumption and improved operability in this case. Has been.
For this reason, it is not taken into consideration when there is access from the network when the device is in the power saving mode. That is, when an information processing apparatus connected to the network attempts to input / output data via the network, there is a problem that access is not accepted when the apparatus is in the power saving mode. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, reduce the power consumption of the device, and enable the input / output of data via the network in the power saving mode, thereby improving the usability in the power saving mode even in the network system. To provide the information processing device.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the device is connected to another device by a network, and a central processing unit, a main storage device, and an access from another device via the network are accepted. An information processing apparatus that includes at least a network control unit that outputs an access signal indicating that there has been an access, and has a normal operation mode and a power saving operation mode that reduces or stops power supply to a predetermined apparatus. In the power saving operation mode, when receiving the access signal, an access monitoring unit that outputs a detection signal indicating that the access from another device is received, and when the detection signal is received,
The power supply control unit increases or restarts the power supply to the device whose power supply has been reduced or stopped.

[0005]

With the above configuration, even when the information processing apparatus connected to the network is in the power saving operation mode, access from the network can be accepted at any time. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the information processing apparatus and to input / output data to / from the information processing apparatus in the power saving mode, and improve the operability when used in the network system.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device. The information processing apparatus includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1 that performs a central function of the information processing apparatus, a bus memory / sleep control unit 2 that performs memory access control, system bus control, and power saving control. A memory 3, a system bus 4, an input / output control / power saving control unit 5, an I / O bus 6 to which each I / O device is connected, a network control unit 7 for controlling access from a network, and usually A power supply control unit 8 that switches between power supply channels in the operation mode and the power saving operation mode, and other I / O built in the device.
It has an O device 24 and an input device 25 such as a keyboard. The network controller 7 can be realized by using, for example, a semiconductor integrated circuit “Am79C900” (manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices) for communication control. When an information processing device is accessed from outside via a network,
The fact that the access has occurred is transmitted by the network control unit 7 by issuing an interrupt request to the input / output control / power saving control unit 5. The input / output control / power saving control unit 5 that has received the interrupt request instructs the power supply control unit 8 to supply power in order to shift to the normal operation mode. Receiving this, the power supply control unit 8 also supplies power to the circuits that were not energized in the power saving operation mode, and operates to return to the normal operation mode. Further, when a key input from the keyboard or an input from the input device 25 such as a mouse as a pointing device occurs, the input / output control / power saving control unit 5
Operates to return from the power saving operation mode to the normal operation mode as in the case where the access from the network occurs. FIG. 2 is a logic block diagram showing a circuit that is energized by the power supply controller 8 in the power saving operation mode. Reference numeral 9 denotes an energization logic unit which is a circuit energized in the power saving operation mode. Reference numeral 12 is an information processing device in a normal operation mode connected to the network, 14 is a LAN, 26 is a power saving operation mode power supply channel for supplying power in the power saving operation mode, 2
Reference numeral 7 is a power supply channel for the normal operation mode when returning to the normal operation mode, and 28 is an energization logic unit for returning during the normal operation mode. The main memory 3 is energized even in the power saving operation mode. This utilizes the self-refresh function of the main memory (a function that does not require refresh control from the peripheral control circuit), and registers information of the logic circuit not energized in the power saving operation mode and the contents of the main memory 3 and the display memory. Hold. As a result, the resume function can be realized. The input / output control / power saving control unit 5 monitors the generation of network services from the network control unit 7 and the input from the input device 25, and at the same time, the power supply control unit 8
Is instructed to switch the power supply channel. When the network control unit 7 receives an access from the network, the input / output control / power saving unit 5 causes the power supply control unit 8 to turn on all the power saving operation mode power supply channel 26 and the normal operation mode power supply channel 27, and the CPU 1 and the bus. The memory / sleep control unit 2 and other I / O devices 24 are requested to be energized. The network control unit 7 receives the access and processes the network service. Also,
It is possible to constantly monitor key input and the like from the input device 25. Accepts key input as an interrupt and performs processing to switch to the normal operation mode. FIG. 3 is a logic block diagram showing a circuit that is energized during normal operation. Reference numeral 10 denotes an energization logic unit which is a circuit energized during normal operation. As shown in FIG. 3, the entire device is energized to return from the power saving operation mode to the normal operation mode. FIG. 4 shows an environment in which the information processing apparatus is connected to the network. Reference numeral 11 denotes an information processing device connected to a network and in a power saving operation mode state,
Reference numerals 2 and 13 are devices in a normal operation mode connected to the network. Reference numeral 14 indicates a LAN. According to the present invention, when the devices 12 and 13 access the device 11 in the power saving operation mode via the network, the device 11 is immediately returned to the normal operation mode, and data is exchanged smoothly between the devices. It is a thing.

FIG. 5 shows an operation flowchart. Reference numeral 15 is a power-on process for supplying power to the device, 16 is a normal operation mode process for turning on all devices constituting the device, and 17 is a main memory 3, a power control unit 8, an input / output as shown in FIG. This is a power-saving operation mode process in which only the control / power-saving control unit 5 and the network control unit 7 are energized. Reference numeral 18 is an access process for determining whether or not there is an access from the network. Reference numeral 300 denotes a process of shifting to the normal operation mode. Details will be described later. After the power is turned on 15, the normal operation mode is entered, and by energizing the entire device, each device becomes operable. When the work is interrupted and the power saving operation mode 17 such as the sleep mode in which the work state is saved is transitioned to, the access from the outside such as the network is constantly monitored, and when the access occurs, the operation returns to the normal operation mode. Works like. As a result, if a network access occurs between the devices in the power saving operation mode, it is possible to receive the network service without any problem. FIG. 6 shows an internal block diagram of the power supply control unit 8 and the input / output control / power saving control unit 5. Reference numeral 19 is a power channel switching unit built in the power control unit 8. Reference numeral 20 is a status register built in the input / output control / power saving control unit 5 for storing a device state indicating whether it is in a normal operation mode / power saving operation mode, and 21 is access monitoring / operation for monitoring access from the network control unit 7. A state restoration control unit, 22 is an access generation interrupt signal input from the network control unit 7 to the access monitoring / operating state restoration control unit 21, and 23 is input from the access monitoring unit 21 to the power channel switching unit 19, and the energization logic unit of the device A power supply control signal for controlling the power supply to the device, 29 is an access monitoring / operation state restoration control unit 2
1 is an interrupt signal for generating an interrupt to the CPU 1. The network control unit 7 receives commands and IP from other devices connected to the network via the network.
When a control signal such as an address (ID number of a device in the network) is received, an interrupt is input to the input / output control / power saving control unit 5 to request permission to use the I / O bus 6. In the normal mode, the input / output control / power saving control unit 5 arbitrates the right to use the I / O bus 6 from the other I / O devices 24 connected to the I / O bus and the network control unit 7, I / O bus 6 based on priority of right transfer
Transfer the right to use. After the access to the I / O device to which the bus right is transferred is completed, a permission signal is returned to the other requesting other I / O device 24 or the network control unit 7. In power saving mode, CPU1, bus memory /
Sleep controller 2, other I / O device 24 in the device
It does not supply power to the system, saves power, does not perform internal operations, and only monitors access from the network. When access from the network occurs,
The network control unit 7 outputs an access generation interrupt signal 22 for notifying the occurrence of network access to the access monitoring / operation state restoration control unit 21 of the input / output control / power saving control unit 5. The access monitoring / operation state restoration control unit 21 receives the access generation interrupt signal 22 from the network control unit 7, and receives from the status register 20 the state information of the device, which is in the normal operation mode or the power saving operation mode state. In the normal operation mode, data is exchanged for normal network access.
When in the power saving operation mode, the CPU 1, bus memory control, sleep control unit 2 and other I / O devices 24 are energized to supply power to the power channel switching unit 19 for normal operation. The control signal 23 is input. The power supply control unit 8 is a microcomputer that monitors the remaining battery level and switches the power supply channel, and has a built-in power supply control program. In response to the input of the power supply control signal 23 from the access monitoring / operation state restoration control unit 21, the power supply control program reads the energization information to the device in the power supply channel switching unit 19, and based on the information, the power supply channel Operates to instruct switching. As a result, it is possible to always provide network access even in the power saving operation mode state, and to provide an information processing apparatus that saves power.

FIG. 7 shows a process 300 for shifting to the normal operation mode.
3 is a flowchart showing the details of FIG. Reference numeral 30 denotes control of the power supply channel switching unit 19 (power supply channel control processing) performed by the access monitoring / operating state restoration control unit 21 when access from the network or key input occurs, and 31 denotes an access monitoring / operating state restoration control unit. An interrupt generation process for the CPU 1 performed by 21; a power saving operation mode determination process for checking the device state by reading the status register 20 in the input / output control / power saving control unit 5 by an interrupt handler of the CPU; Is a process for returning to the normal operation mode, 34 is a process for returning to the normal operation mode, which is a process for returning the contents of various registers in the control logic of the power stopping unit from the main memory, and a process for returning the contents of the registers in the power stopping unit, A status register setting process for indicating the normal operation mode, 36 is the normal operation mode. When the device is in the power saving operation mode and an access from the network or a key input occurs, the access monitoring / operation state restoration control unit 21 sends the power channel switching unit 19 to the CPU.
By enabling the power supply channel to 1 and other non-energized circuits and generating an interrupt to the CPU 1, the processing is transferred to the handler of the initialization program stored in ROM.
A program routine to be executed depending on the type of interrupt occurrence can be set, and the normal operation mode is restored by executing the return program routine to the normal operation mode. First, after power is supplied to the entire device by the power supply channel control processing 30, an interrupt to the CPU 1 is generated, and upon receipt of the interrupt, the processing shifts to the interrupt handler of the initialization program, which is the status register 20.
Is read out, and if it is the power saving operation mode, the process 33 for returning to the normal operation mode is performed. If it is not in the power saving operation mode, it shifts to the normal operation mode. In the process 33 of returning to the normal operation mode, the contents of the register of the power supply stop unit is returned from the main memory 3 and the status register is set to the normal operation mode, whereby the transition to the normal operation mode is completed. As a result, in an information processing apparatus having a process of returning the work state from the main memory, that is, a resume function and other detailed I / O devices and a power saving function of a display device, the operator and the network can be protected. When an operator who accesses through the device accesses the device, the device can immediately return to the normal operation state, and the usability can be improved.

[0009]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to improve the usability of the network environment by immediately returning to the normal state in response to the access from the outside in the network environment such as the workstation. It is possible to provide the information processing device. In addition, low power consumption can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a logical configuration of a system.

FIG. 2 is a logical block diagram showing a power supply circuit in a power saving operation mode.

FIG. 3 is a logic block diagram showing an energizing circuit in a normal operation mode.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing a network environment.

[Fig. 5] Operation flowchart

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the inside of the control unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a transition to a normal operation mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... CPU, 2 ... Bus memory / sleep control unit, 3 ... Main memory, 4 ... System bus, 5 ... Input / output control / power saving control unit, 6 ... I / O bus, 7 ... Network control unit, 8 ...
Power control unit, 9 ... Energization logic unit in power saving operation mode, 1
0 ... Energization logic unit in normal mode, 11 ... Power saving operation mode device, 12 ... Normal operation mode device 1, 13 ... Normal operation mode device 2, 14 ... LAN, 15 ... Power ON processing, 16 ... Normal Operating mode, 17 ... Power saving operating mode,
18 ... Access monitoring processing, 19 ... Power channel switching unit, 20 ... Status register, 21 ... Access monitoring unit, 22 ... Access generation interrupt signal, 23 ... Power supply control signal, 24 ... Other I / O device, 25 ... Input device , 26 ... Power saving operation mode power supply channel, 27 ... Normal operation mode power supply channel, 28 ... Energization logic unit returning in normal operation mode, 29 ... Interrupt signal, 30 ... Interrupt generation processing, 31 ... Power saving operation mode determination processing, 32 ... Power channel control processing, 33 ... Return processing to normal operation mode, 34 ... Return processing of register contents of power stop unit, 35
... Status register setting processing, 36 ... Normal operation mode.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yuichi Fukuda 1 Ikegami, Haruoka-cho, Owariasahi-shi, Aichi Stock company Hitachi Office Systems Division (72) Inventor Kiyokazu Nishioka 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Ceremony Company Hitachi, Ltd. Microelectronics Device Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Nori Kurokawa 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Ltd. Microelectronics Equipment Development Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A device connected to another device via a network,
A central processing unit, a main storage device, and at least a network control means for receiving an access from another device via the network and outputting an access signal indicating that there is an access, and a normal operation mode, In an information processing apparatus having a power saving operation mode for reducing or stopping power supply to a predetermined apparatus, when the access signal is received in the power saving operation mode, access from the other device is received. A power supply control unit that outputs a detection signal indicating that the power supply control unit increases or restarts the power supply to the device whose power supply has been reduced or stopped when the detection signal is received. Information processing device. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for holding information indicating whether the information processing apparatus is in a normal operation mode or a power saving operation mode, wherein the central processing unit outputs the detection signal. Upon receiving the information, the above information is read, and when it is found that the power saving operation mode is set, the information processing apparatus performs processing for returning each unit of the apparatus to the normal operation mode.