JPH08221222A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To use plural cards with efficient memory consumption by mapping a necessary driver to a system memory only when a card is used. CONSTITUTION: When a card is inserted into a slot and the access request to the card is received, a resource manager 304 maps the ROM of the card to a dynamic allocation area 306, the program on the ROM of the card is called and a processing is performed for the card. When the access of the card is terminated, the resource manager 304 opens the dynamic allocation area 306. Therefore, because a driver is mapped to a system area only when the access to the card is performed, a memory can be efficiently used. Because the resource manager 304 automatically calls the driver which is necessary for the card to be used, a user is released from the work such as the maintenance of the necessary driver, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system using a card having a data input / output function and an expanded function such as a storage function or a communication function, and in particular, hot-swap is possible. The invention relates to a computer system in a card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional computers, when trying to use a card having extended functions such as I / O and memory functions, it is necessary to turn on the power before turning on the power or after turning off the power.
Insert the card into the dedicated slot, connect it, then power on to start the operating system, set the card connection settings, and restart the system according to the settings before it can be used. It was that.

On the other hand, in recent years, a computer capable of hot-plugging a card has begun to appear. This eliminates the need to turn off the power once to insert and connect the card to the dedicated slot. Also, along with this, there is a program that has a connection program on the card side and that automatically performs the connection process just by inserting the card.

As an example of such a known technique, there is JP-A-5-11928.

[0005]

In order to effectively utilize a computer in which a card can be hot-swapped, it is desirable to be able to use the function of the card when the card is inserted.

For this reason, there is a method in which a connection program for a card to be used is registered in the operating system in advance and the card is used by using the connection program according to the inserted card.

There is also a method in which a connection program that supports a plurality of types of cards is made resident in the memory so that the inserted card is recognized and necessary connection processing is performed. However, the former requires the user to perform the work of registering the necessary connection program, and is required to have technical knowledge about the card and the system. Therefore, there has been a problem that the burden on the user becomes large. On the other hand, in the latter, the resident program automatically performs the card connection process, so the burden on the user is reduced, but since the connection program corresponding to more cards also has a larger size, the available memory area becomes smaller. There was a problem of being pressed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the program necessary for using the card is called and executed when necessary, and when the program ends, the memory required for execution is released to effectively use the memory. Try. It is another object of the present invention to obtain an information processing apparatus that can reduce the burden on the operator such as the technical knowledge for using the card and the storage of the usage procedure, and can use the card easily and easily.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an information processing apparatus using a card having an expansion function that can be connected by hot plugging and unplugging, and a slot for inserting the card. A first storage area for storing a program for using the extended function of the card, a first storage means including a second storage area for storing information necessary for using the card, and In an information processing apparatus having an information processing apparatus having an execution unit that executes the program of the first storage unit, the card includes an extended function unit for implementing an extended function provided by the card. , At least an initialization program for performing an initialization process for registering the card in the information processing device, and a control for using the extended function of the card in the information processing device. A card having a second memory means for storing and holding a used control program for performing processing,
The information processing apparatus includes a card detection unit that detects insertion and removal of the card, a usage request monitoring unit that monitors a request to use the card in the information processing apparatus, and a card detection unit that detects the insertion of the card. When detected, the initialization program is read from the second storage means into the first storage area of the first storage means and executed by the execution means, and the registration information by the initialization program is stored in the first storage area. 2 in the storage area, and when the initialization program ends, the first area in which the initialization program is stored is released, and when the usage request monitoring means detects a usage request for the card, The use request retrieves the registration information stored in the second storage area, and if the card is an already registered card, the use of the corresponding card is searched. The control program is read into the first storage area of the first storage unit, executed by the execution unit, and when the end of the use request is detected by the use request monitoring unit, the use control program is read out. Card control means for clearing the stored first storage area and clearing registration information corresponding to the pulled-out card from the second storage area when the card detection means detects that the card has been pulled out. Is achieved by

As a concrete example of each of the above means, for example, a CPU as an executing means in the information processing apparatus, a main storage device in the information processing apparatus as a first storing means, a slot / card controller as a card detecting means, and a use monitoring means. And a resource manager as the card control means, or a card ROM or the like as the second storage means for storing the initialization program and the use control program in the card.

[0011]

When the card is inserted, the resource manager receives the signal from the slot / card controller that the card has been inserted, and performs the card registration process. At this time, the card ROM is mapped to a certain area of the main storage device and called, and executed by the CPU. In the registration process, the registration information of the card is stored in an area of the main storage device. When the connection process is completed, the area required for mapping the card ROM is released from the main storage device.

Next, when an access request is made to the card from the operating system or application program executed by the information processing device, the resource manager calls the usage control program corresponding to the card and executes it by the CPU. Also in this case, as in the case of the above-mentioned connection processing, the card ROM is mapped to an area in the main storage device and read and executed.

After the access to the card is completed, the resource manager releases the card ROM from a certain area of the main memory.

Further, when the card is pulled out, a signal notifying that the card has been pulled out is received from the slot / card controller, and the storage area of the main storage device in which the registration information registered in the registration process is stored is opened. Perform processing.

As a result, the main storage device (memory) can be effectively used, and the card itself is initialized.
Since an access control program is provided and these programs are automatically called and executed when a card is inserted or accessed, the user does not need to be aware of the configuration driver, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

[0016]

EXAMPLES An example of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

In the figure, 11 is an information processing device.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a card used by connecting to the information processing device 11. Further, inside the information processing apparatus 11, 101 is a CPU that controls each part in the information processing apparatus and executes various programs, and 102 is an RO that holds a basic access control program, an initial diagnosis processing program, and the like.
M is a RAM 103 is loaded with data and programs to be processed by the CPU 101, and 104 is a card 1
Reference numeral 105 denotes a slot (socket) into which 2 is inserted, and 105 denotes a slot / card controller that controls the card 12 and the slot 104. Reference numeral 106 denotes an external storage device such as a hard disk or a floppy disk.
Reference numeral 7 denotes an input / output device such as a keyboard and a CRT that is connected to the information processing device 11 and that inputs / outputs data. The card 12 is used to expand the function of the information processing apparatus 11. For example, the function as a storage device such as RAM and ROM, the communication function such as LAN, FAX, and modem, or simply SCSI, parallel / Some have a data input / output function such as a serial port.

Next, the basic functions of the slot card controller 105 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a card 12 having a function as a SCSI, a modem, or a storage device.
Is used by inserting it into the slot 104. Slot 1
04 is connected to and controlled by the slot / card controller 105. The basic function of the slot card controller 105 is roughly divided into a decoder unit 201 and an interrupt control unit 202.

The decoder unit 201 is the RAM 10 of FIG.
The I / O, RAM, ROM, etc. of the card can be mapped to an arbitrary address of the system memory area arranged on the memory 3, and the configuration is freely programmable. Also, data and addresses are transmitted and received from the decoder unit 201 through the data / address bus 203.

The interrupt control unit 204 sends an interrupt signal to the CPU 101 through a signal line 204 in response to insertion / removal of a card.

Next, the RAM 1 of FIG. 1 which is set at the time of startup
An example of the memory map set to 03 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the RAM 103 is divided into several areas.

For example, an interrupt table area 301, which is an area for storing an interrupt table containing a callee address of a processing routine executed when a hardware or software interrupt request occurs, and BI to be described later.
A data area 302, which is an area for storing the OS and control data used by the OS (for example, the number of lines on the screen), and an OS, which is an area where the operating system is loaded.
An area 303, a resource manager area 304, which is an area in which a resource manager program for controlling a card used in an information processing device, an interrupt signal, and the like (hereinafter, a resource manager program is referred to as a resource manager) is stored, and an application program is loaded. Application program area 305 which is an area to be used, a dynamic allocation area 306 used when a card ROM described later is used, and
And ), A BIOS area 307, which is an area to which a program required for basic operation processing and input / output processing of the information processing apparatus, so-called BIOS, is mapped.

The DAA 306 in this embodiment is an area to which an access control program stored in the card 12 described later is mapped, and its control processing is performed by the resource manager stored in the resource manager area 304.

Now, the control operation of the resource manager in using the card will be described below.

FIG. 4 shows the basic structure of the card 204 shown in FIG. The structure is roughly divided into 4
It is divided into a functional unit 01 and a control unit 402.

The function unit 401 is a part that provides a basic function of the card itself, and has a storage function when the card is a memory card and a communication function itself when the card is a communication card.

The control unit 402 is a unit for connecting the card to the system and controlling the function of the card. The control unit 402 includes a card ROM that is a read-only memory that stores and holds the programs and data of 403, and
There is a configuration information storage unit that is a readable / writable memory that stores and holds setting information related to the function of the No. 04 card.

The card ROM 403 is further divided into three areas. A card initialization program storage area 4031 in which a card initialization program for connecting to the system is stored and data input / output when the card is used. An access control program storage area 4032 in which an access control program that functions as a device driver for controlling is stored, and is used when the user sets the card configuration information or changes the already set information. A setup program storage area 4033 in which a setup program to be stored is stored.

Configuration information storage unit 404
In addition to the above-mentioned card setting information, a card ROM 40
The location information of No. 3, the address of each area, and the like are stored.

The card initialization program in the card ROM 403 is called and executed when the card is inserted, the access control program is used when the card is used, and the setup program is called and set when the configuration information is set or changed.

In the case of a relatively simple card having only a serial / parallel data transfer function, the function unit 41 having the data transfer function, the configuration information storage unit 404, and the card initialization in the card ROM 403 are performed. In some cases, the program area 4041 may be sufficient.

Next, the function of the resource manager will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 501 is an initialization unit for initializing the internal data area when the device driver is resident. Further, the initialization unit 501 checks the state of the card slot when the device driver is resident, and if the card is already inserted, initializes the card as well. Reference numeral 502 is a resource table that stores various data for card control. In this resource table 502, the usage status of the slot into which the card is inserted and the device number when the device number is assigned to each slot by the OS or the like. A device assignment table 503 for storing device numbers and the card ROM of FIG.
There are an access control program offset table 504 for storing the call destination address of the access control program stored in 403 and a setup program offset table 505 for storing the call destination address of the setup program also stored in the card ROM 403 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of each table of the resource table 502. As described above, the resource table 502 includes the device assignment table 503, the access control program offset table 504, and the setup program offset table 505, and each table includes a plurality of slots 0 to 0 prepared in the information processing apparatus 11. Various data are stored for each n.

For example, the device assignment table 503.
For each slot 0 to n, a slot use flag storage area 1001 for identifying whether or not the slot is used, that is, whether or not a card is inserted and connected, and a device for each device A device number storage area 1002 that stores a device number that is predetermined. Further, the access control program offset table 504 and the setup program offset table 505 have an access control program offset storage area 1003 for storing and holding each offset for each slot 0 to n, and a setup program offset storage area 1004.

As other functions of the resource manager, a device assigning unit 506 for performing a device assigning process, which will be described later, and an interrupt control unit for receiving an interrupt signal from the card / slot controller 105, and performing an interrupt control process. , 508 for activating the setup processing.

Next, the operation of this resource manager will be described.

In FIG. 6, the slot / card controller 105 is the resource manager of the present invention.
The insertion or removal of the card 103 in the slot 104 is detected, and the interrupt signal corresponding thereto is activated (step 601). Resource manager 3
In 04, it is determined whether this interrupt signal is an interrupt signal due to insertion (step 602) or an interrupt signal due to card removal (step 603). If it is an interrupt signal due to insertion, card initialization processing is performed (step 604). If it is an interruption signal due to pulling out, card release processing is performed (step 605). If it is neither of them, another processing corresponding to the interrupt signal, for example, control processing of the external storage device, the input / output device, or the like is performed (step 606).

FIG. 7 shows a card initialization process (step 6) which is carried out when an interrupt signal due to insertion of a card is received.
Fig. 04) is a flow chart.

First, the resource manager instructs the power supply unit that supplies power to each unit in the information processing apparatus to supply power to the socket and the card (step 70).
1) After power is supplied, when the socket and the card are stable, the location information of the card ROM 403 is acquired from the configuration information storage unit 404 of FIG. 4 (step 702), and the card ROM 403 is displayed based on the location information. Mapping to the DAA 306 of 3 (step 703).

Then, referring again to the configuration information storage unit 404, the mapped card ROM
The address of the card initialization program area in 403 is obtained, and the card initialization program is called and executed according to the address (step 704). After the card initialization program is finished, the resource manager
The device number storage area 100 of the device assignment table 503 corresponding to the slot in which the card is inserted.
The device number of the card is stored in 2 and a flag indicating that the slot is in use is set in the slot use flag storage area 1001 (step 70).
5). Then, from the DAA 306 to the card ROM 40
The part corresponding to 3 is released and the process ends (step 70).
6).

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the card initialization program in the card initialization processing described with reference to FIG.

In this program, first, it is determined whether or not the setup program needs to be activated (step 801). When it is necessary to execute the setup program, for example, when the card is used for the first time, which interrupt and which I / O is to be used are not set on the card side. Doing or interrupting when using other cards simultaneously, I / O
When there is a conflict in the settings, or when it is necessary to change the settings according to the user's instructions. In such a case, a setup process described later is performed (step 802). The setup information is already shown in Figure 4.
Is registered in the configuration information storage unit 404 of, and there is no need to perform setup processing,
Alternatively, the setup process is executed, and when a new setting is made, the configuration process is performed according to the setup information (step 803).

The configuration process is for the functional unit 401 of the card 12 to set the operating environment.
The environment set by this is stored and held in the configuration information storage unit 404.

Then, based on the information stored in the configuration information storage unit 404 of FIG. 4, the access control program storage area 40 of the card ROM 403.
32, the call destination address of each program stored in the setup program storage area 4033 is shown in FIG.
0 is stored in the access control program offset storage area 1003 and the setup program offset storage area 1004 corresponding to the slot (step 804), and control is returned to the resource manager.

The process of storing each call destination address in the offset table (step 804) is shown in FIG.
It may be performed at the time of setting the slot use flag in the card initialization process.

For a more realistic card initialization program, a configuration process (step 80)
After 3), there is one that performs an initial diagnosis process. In such a card initialization program, when an abnormality is found by the initial diagnosis processing, an error code is output and the processing is returned to the resource manager. At this time, the resource manager does not set the slot use flag (step 705) in the card initialization process of FIG.
After releasing the M403 from the DAA 306, the power supply to the slot and the card is stopped.

Next, after the card initialization process is completed,
The operation of the resource manager when an access request is made to the card 12 from the operating system or application program executed by the information processing apparatus 11 will be described. FIG. 9 shows the processing of the resource manager at the time of access request. First, the resource manager refers to the device assignment table 503 of FIG. 5 to determine whether the access request is for the connected card (step 901).

The resource manager searches the device number storage area 1002 for a device number requested by the operating system or application program for access, and if there is a device number match, the access request is made. Is for the card inserted in the slot. On the other hand, if there is no matching device number, it is determined that the requested device is not for the card, control is returned to the operating system (step 902), and the process ends.

On the other hand, as a result of the above search determination, when it is determined that the access request is for the card, the card ROM 403 of the corresponding card is mapped to the DAA 306 (step 903), and the access control program offset table 504 is accessed. The access control program is called and executed from the control program offset storage area 1003 with the offset value corresponding to the slot (step 904).

The access control program executes the processing for the access request from the operating system and the application program, and returns the control to the resource manager after the processing is completed. Resource manager
The card ROM 306 mapped to the DAA 306 is released and the processing is terminated (step 905).

Next, the card releasing process when the card is removed from the slot will be described.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the card release processing in the resource manager when the removal interrupt signal from the slot / card controller card 105 is detected.

First, the resource manager checks which slot the interrupt signal is from, and checks the device number storage area 1002, access control program offset storage area 1003, and setup program offset storage area 1004 of the resource table 502 corresponding to that slot. While clearing each data,
If the card ROM of the slot is mapped to the DAA 306, the area corresponding to the card ROM is released (step 1101).

Next, the flag of the slot use flag storage area 1001 corresponding to the slot is changed from the used state to the unused state (step 1102), and finally the power supply to the slot is cut off (step 1103).

Next, the setup process for registering / changing the card configuration information will be described with reference to FIG.
2 will be described.

As described above, this process is automatically set up because, for example, when the card is used for the first time, which interrupt and which I / O is to be used are not set on the card side. Or when there is a conflict in the simultaneous use of other cards, conflicts in I / O settings, or when it is necessary to change the settings according to a user's instruction or the like.

First, the resource manager receives a request for changing the configuration information from the user through the input / output device 107 of FIG. 1, or when predetermined information is not registered in the configuration information storage unit 404. For example, the card RO in that slot
Map M403 to DAA 306 (step 12
01), the setup program is called and executed by the callee address of the setup program offset table storage area 1004 of the corresponding slot (step 1202).

Setup processing is performed based on the setup program thus started. For example, an input guidance or the like is displayed on a display device connected to the information processing device, and the configuration information is registered or updated according to the input information from the input device.

When the setup process is completed, control is returned to the resource manager, and the resource manager
The area where the card ROM is mapped is opened from A306 (step 1203).

It should be noted that the above initialization program may be continuously executed after the completion of the setup program. That way, after the setup process is complete,
It is possible to use the card with the new configuration without having to perform a restart procedure such as pulling out the card once, reinserting it again, and making the card available with the newly set configuration information.

Further, in order to reduce the overhead when a large amount of processing is continuously performed on the card, the resource manager may be provided with a lock / unlock function for the mapping of the card ROM. The lock / unlock function means that the card ROM of the card remains mapped to the DAA 306 from when the operating system or application program issues a lock request to the card until the unlock request is issued to the card. It is a function to change to the state. As a result, once the card device is locked, the card mapping process or opening process in the above-described embodiment is not performed, so that the access process to the card can be performed at high speed.

When an access request is made to a card other than the lock-requested card, the resource manager may deny the access and return an error code, but the lock is temporarily released. Alternatively, another card ROM may be mapped to the DAA 306 for access, and after the processing is completed, the ROM of the card for which the lock is requested may be remapped.

At this time, an area for storing that the card is temporarily in the unlocked state is provided in the above-mentioned device assign table 503, and when an access request to a card other than the locked state is received, the locked state is set. Data indicating that the temporary release state is set is written in the area corresponding to the card, and the card ROM area mapped in the DAA 306 is released. Then, the card ROM of the card for which the access request is made is mapped to the DAA 306, and the processing according to the access request is performed. When the processing is completed, the resource manager refers to the area for storing that the temporary unlocked state is stored and searches for a card in the temporary unlocked state. If so, DAA the card ROM of that card
The process of mapping again to 306 and returning to the locked state is performed.

In this way, it is possible to access another card even if the card ROM is locked. The card lock interrupt function may be performed only for a special access request different from the normal access request. Further, a level may be provided in the temporarily released state so that the lock / unlock function can be utilized for a plurality of cards.

In the above embodiment, the call destination of the card initialization program stored in the card initialization program storage unit 404 inside the card is read from the configuration information storage unit 404. Without referring to the memory
The program may be called by a predetermined specific fixed address.

For example, FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a memory map of a card used in a personal computer. According to this, the resource manager looks at the first 2 bytes, and if it is a specific value, for example AA55h, it corresponds to the card initialization program stored in the memory holding means (for example, ROM) inside the card. When it is determined that the checksum of the card ROM is calculated from the size shown in the 3rd byte and that the checksum is correct, the address stored in the 4th byte is called. To By this processing, the card initialization program of FIG. 7 may be called (step 704).

A plurality of card ROMs may be simultaneously mapped depending on the size of the DAA 306.

[0072]

According to the present invention, the memory required for setting and controlling the configuration information of the card can be used without waste. In addition, since the card itself has various programs necessary for connecting and accessing the card, and the necessary programs are called and executed when necessary, so the user can call these programs and execute them. It eliminates the need for registration, reduces the burden on the user, and facilitates card usage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing basic functions of a slot card controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory map according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing basic functions of a card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of basic functions of the resource manager in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing interrupt processing by inserting and removing a card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing processing of a resource manager at the time of inserting a card in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a process of a card initialization program when a card is inserted in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing processing of a resource manager at the time of card access according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a concept of a resource table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a resource manager process at the time of inserting / removing a card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a resource manager process during a setup request according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a memory map of a card ROM according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 information processing device 12 card 101 CPU 102 RAM
103 ROM 104 slot 105 slot / card controller 106 external storage device 107 input / output device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus using a card having an extension function capable of hot-line insertion / removal, use control means for performing processing for enabling the card in the information processing apparatus, and use for the card. A usage monitoring means for monitoring a request, activating the usage control means when there is the usage request, and canceling the usage control means when the usage request for the card is completed; Information processing equipment. 2. An information processing apparatus using a card having an extension function capable of hot-line insertion / removal, and card detection means for detecting insertion / removal of the card, and the card can be used in the information processing apparatus. When the insertion of the card is detected by the card detecting means, the card is registered in the information processing device, and when the card is removed from the registered card, A registration releasing means for releasing the card from the information processing device, and a use request for the card registered by the registration releasing means are monitored, and when the use request is made, the use control means is activated to An information processing apparatus comprising: a usage monitoring unit that releases the usage control unit when a usage request ends. 3. The processing procedure of each of the use control means and the registration opening means is stored in a card storage means provided in the card, and each means in the information processing apparatus is stored according to each case. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is read and executed by the method. 4. An information processing apparatus that uses a card having an expansion function that can be connected by hot-plugging, in which a slot for inserting the card and a program for using the expansion function of the card are stored. Information having a first storage area, a first storage means including a second storage area for storing information necessary for using the card, and an execution means for executing the program of the first storage means In an information processing device having a processing device, the card has at least an initialization function for registering the card in the information processing device, in addition to an expansion function unit for realizing an expansion function provided by the card. A second storage means for storing and holding an initialization program for performing processing, and a use control program for performing control processing for using the extended function of the card in the information processing apparatus.
A card having a storage unit, the information processing device, a card detection unit that detects insertion and removal of the card, a usage request monitoring unit that monitors a request to use the card in the information processing device, When the insertion of the card is detected by the card detection means, the initialization program is read from the second storage means into the first storage area of the first storage means and executed by the execution means, Registration information by the initialization program is stored in the second storage area, and when the initialization program ends, the first area in which the initialization program is stored is released, and the use request monitoring means causes the card to be released. When a use request for the card is detected, the use request retrieves the registration information stored in the second storage area, and the already registered card is searched. Then, the usage control program of the corresponding card is read into the first storage area of the first storage means and executed by the execution means, and the end of the usage request is detected by the usage request monitoring means. When the card detection means detects that the card has been pulled out, the card that has been pulled out from the second storage area is cleared. And a card control unit that clears registration information corresponding to the information processing device.