JPH09128164A - Device and method for reproducing stored information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to instantaneously start a reproducing device when a power supply for the device is turned on again in the inserted state of the same disk or the disk is reset after temporarily turning off the power supply for the started device. SOLUTION: A computer game machine is provided with a storing memory 8 for storing initial program data read out from a disk 4, and at the time of starting the game machine, the initial program data are stored in the memory 8. When the power supply is turned on again in the inerted state of the same disk 4 after temporarily turning off the power supply or the disk 4 is reset, the initial program data are read out from the memory 8, and while displaying a menu picture, a series of initializing processing such as the movement of a pickup for the game machine to a prescribed position, focus search and the rotation of the disk is executed, so that the time required for the start of the game machine can be sharply shortened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for reproducing stored information and further a CD-ROM (Compact Disc).
Read Only Memory) and MD (Mini)
Disc), LD (Laser Disc) and MO
The present invention relates to a technique that is particularly effective when applied to reproduction of information stored in a disc-type storage medium such as a (Magneto-Optical) disc, for example, a technique that is useful when used in a game machine using a CD-ROM.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when reproducing information stored in a disk-shaped storage medium (disk) such as a CD-ROM, after the disk is placed in the tray of the reproducing device and the power is turned on, the reproducing device is The data reading pickup is moved to the innermost circumference of the data recording portion of the disc, focus search (focusing) is performed, and the disc is rotated. After that, the start-up start program for displaying the menu screen, the initial screen, and the like is read from the disc, and the reproducing apparatus is started up.

For example, in a computer game machine that plays a game based on a program stored in a CD-ROM,
When the disc is placed in the tray and the power of the game console is turned on, the system control unit performs a series of processing such as moving the pickup, focus search and rotating the disc, and then the top program for displaying the menu screen from the disc. Read out. The read initial program is sent to the game machine body, and the menu screen is displayed.

[0004]

However, it has been clarified by the present inventors that the above-described technology has the following problems.

That is, even if the power is turned off after the reproducing apparatus has been started up once and the apparatus is powered on again with the same disc still in place, as described above,
Since the startup program is read after the series of processing such as moving the pickup to a predetermined position, focus search, and disk rotation is completed, the device does not start up instantly, and it does There was a problem that it took time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to instantly start up when the power of the reproducing apparatus that has been started up is turned off and then the same disk is turned on again or reset. The main purpose is to provide a reproduction device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reproducing method for instantly starting up the apparatus for the same disc for the second time and thereafter.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0009]

The outline of a typical invention among the inventions disclosed in the present application is as follows.

That is, a reproducing device for stored information on a disc is provided with a storage means composed of a non-volatile semiconductor memory capable of writing and erasing data, and the storage means reads the disc from the disc when the device is started up. When the power is turned off and then the power is turned on again with the same disc still inserted after the power is turned off, the device start-up program is stored from the storage means. The program data was read and the device was started up. At that time, a series of initial setting processes such as moving the pickup of the apparatus to a predetermined position, focus search, and rotation of the disk are performed while starting the reproducing apparatus.

According to the above-mentioned means, if the tray is opened and closed and the disk is not exchanged until the power of the reproducing apparatus in operation is turned off once and then the power is turned on again, the disk is replaced again. When the power is turned on, the program for starting the device is immediately read out from the storage means and the process for starting the device is performed without waiting for a series of initial setting processes, so the time required for starting the device is greatly reduced. It

In particular, since the access speed and the data transfer speed at the time of reading the data stored in the semiconductor memory are higher than that of reading the data from the disk, by using the semiconductor memory as the storage means, the same disk can be used. The second and subsequent start-ups of the device are performed at a higher speed.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An example in which the present invention is applied to a computer game machine for playing a game based on a program stored in a CD-ROM will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this computer game machine has a tray 3 for accommodating a disk 4, a tray detection circuit 2 for detecting opening / closing of the tray 3, and a program read from the disk 4. A cache memory 7 for storing data and transferring the stored program data to the CPU (central processing unit) of the game machine main body 9, which is first read from the disk 4 when the device is started up, for example, a menu screen is displayed. An initial program data store memory (hereinafter referred to as a store memory) 8, which is a storage unit for storing data of a leading program (hereinafter referred to as an initial program) for performing
A switch 5 for permitting or prohibiting the transfer of the program data read from the disk 4 to the store memory 8, and the transfer source of the program data transferred to the game machine body 9 is either the cache memory 7 or the store memory 8. To selectively switch the switch 6, a mechanical control microcomputer 10 for controlling the operation of mechanical components such as a tray 3 and a pickup (not shown) for reading data of the disk 4 and a ROM (not shown). The system control unit 1 has a system control microcomputer 11 for controlling the switching operation of the switches 5 and 6 based on a program stored in the system control unit 1.

The tray detection circuit 2 constantly monitors the open / closed state of the tray 3, generates a detection signal when the tray 3 is opened / closed, and sends it to the system control section 1. System control microcomputer 11 of system control unit 1
When a detection signal is input from the tray detection circuit 2, the tray 3 is determined to have been opened / closed and the disc 4 has been replaced.

When the system control unit 1 reads the program data from the disk 4 placed on the tray 3 for the first time, as shown in FIG. 1, the switch 5 is closed and the initial program data read from the disk 4 is stored. The data is transferred to the store memory 8. As a result, the initial program data is stored in the store memory 8. When the initial program data is stored in the store memory 8, the system control unit 1 opens the switch 5. Therefore, the store memory 8 stores only the data of the initial program of the disk 4.

The store memory 8 is a batch erasing type electrically erasable and writable read-only memory (so-called flash memory), an electrically erasable and writable read-only memory (EEPROM), and a nonvolatile ferroelectric memory (FR).
It is composed of a semiconductor memory such as AM). These semiconductor memories are writable and erasable nonvolatile memories. Therefore, the disk 4 stored in the store memory 8
The initial program data of 1 continues to be retained even when the main power of the game machine is turned off. Further, a battery for a backup power source may be built in the game machine separately from the main power source, and the store memory 8 may be configured by a DRAM or SRAM capable of holding data even when the main power source is turned off. Alternatively, the hard disk device is used as the store memory 8
Can also be used. If a hard disk device is used, the storage capacity of the store memory 8 can be increased.

The initial program data read from the disk 4 is also stored in the cache memory 7. Then, the cache memory 7 and the store memory 8
As shown in FIG. 1, the changeover switch 6 for and is normally adapted to select the cache memory 7 by the system control unit 1, and the initial program data is sent from the cache memory 7 to the game machine body 9. As a result, the CPU of the game machine body 9 performs the process of displaying the menu screen.

The cache memory 7 stores the program data read from the disk 4 and sends it to the game machine body 9 even after the display of the menu screen is finished and the game is started. At that time, when the storage capacity of the cache memory 7 becomes full, for example, the data read in old order is discarded and new data is read. C of game console 9
When reading the program data, the PU reads the corresponding data from the cache memory 7 if there is the corresponding data.

When the tray 3 is not opened or closed, for example, when the power is turned off and then turned on again while the game of the disc 4 is being executed, or when the game machine is reset (that is, the disc 4 is not opened or closed). 2 is not exchanged), the system control unit 1 switches the switch 6 to the store memory 8 side, as shown in FIG. As a result, the CPU of the game machine body 9 reads the data of the initial program from the store memory 8 instead of from the disk 4.

When the tray detection circuit 2 detects the opening / closing of the tray 3, the initial program data of the disk 4 stored in the store memory 8 is stored in the system control microcomputer 11 of the system control unit 1 and the store memory erase control unit 12 of the system control unit 11 is operated. It is erased by the erase signal generated by.

Next, the operation of the game machine having the above structure will be described. When the power of the game machine is turned on for the first time after the disc 4 is replaced or when the game machine is reset, the pickup of the game machine is first moved to the innermost circumference of the disc 4, and the focus search is performed. The disk 4 is rotated. After that, as shown in FIG. 1, the switch 5 is closed by the system control unit 1, and the switch 6 is connected to the cache memory 7 side. At that time, the store memory 8 is in a state in which the stored data has been erased by the store memory erasing control unit 12 when the tray detection circuit 2 detects that the tray 3 is opened or closed.

In this state, the data of the initial program for displaying the menu screen read from the disk 4 is stored in the store memory 8 and the cache memory 7 via the switch 5. The data stored in the cache memory 7 is transferred to the game machine body 9 via the switch 6. Based on the initial program data transferred from the cache memory 7, the CPU of the game machine body 9 displays a menu screen.

On the other hand, when the initial program data has been stored in the store memory 8, the switch 5 is opened by the system control unit 1 and the subsequent program data is prohibited from being input to the store memory 8 from the disk 4. Therefore, the program data of the disk 4 sequentially read out after the initial program data is sent only to the cache memory 7, is stored in the cache memory 7, and is sent to the game machine body 9.
Thereby, the game is executed.

After the initial program data is stored in the store memory 8, if the power supply of the game machine is once turned off and then turned on or reset again, if the tray 3 is not opened and closed and is kept as it is, as shown in FIG. As shown in
The changeover switch 6 between the cache memory 7 and the store memory 8 is switched to the store memory 8 side by the system control unit 1. At that time, the switch 5 remains open. Then, the initial program data stored in the store memory 8 is transferred from the store memory 8 to the game machine body 9. The menu screen is displayed based on the initial program data transferred from the store memory 8.

In parallel with the display processing of the menu screen, the mechanical control microcomputer 10 of the system control section 1 carries out a series of operations such as movement of the pickup of the game machine, focus search and rotation of the disc. Therefore, when the power is turned on again or reset, the game machine is instantly started, the menu screen is displayed, and the game can be executed.

When the initial program data has been transferred from the store memory 8 to the game machine body 9, the system control unit 1 switches the switch 6 to the cache memory 7 side again. After that, the program data sequentially read from the disk 4 is sent to the game machine body 9 via the cache memory 7 and the game is executed.
The switch 5 remains open.

After the initial program data is stored in the store memory 8, when the power of the game machine is once turned off and then turned on or reset again, if the tray 3 is opened and closed, the tray detection circuit 2 detects that the tray 3 is open or closed. A detection signal is sent to the system control unit 1. When the detection signal is input, the system control unit 1 determines that the disk 4 has been replaced, and outputs an erase signal from the store memory erase control unit 12 to erase the stored data in the store memory 8.

Then, the movement of the pickup of the game machine,
After a series of operations including focus search and disk rotation, the switch 5 is closed and the switch 6 is connected to the cache memory 7 side, as shown in FIG. As a result, the data of the initial program is stored in the store memory 8 and the cache memory 7, and is also transferred from the cache memory 7 to the game machine main body 9
And the menu screen is displayed. And
When the switch 5 is opened, only the initial program data is stored and held in the store memory 8. In addition, the game is executed by the program data sent from the disk 4 to the game machine body 9 via the cache memory 7.

FIG. 3 shows another example in which the present invention is applied to a computer game machine. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that the cache memory 7
When storing the initial program data in the cache memory area of the cache memory 7 and the area of the store memory 8 and reading the initial program data from the area of the store memory 8 while providing the area of the store memory 8 in each The point is that an address signal designating an area is generated by the system control microcomputer 11 of the system control unit 1 and the corresponding memory area is selected by the address signal. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the switches 5 and 6 of FIGS. 1 and 2 are unnecessary.

In the second embodiment, the store memory 8
Is a part of the area of the cache memory 7, and therefore it is desirable that the area is formed of a semiconductor memory, particularly an SRAM normally used as a cache memory. When the area of the store memory 8 is made of SRAM, the SRAM of the area of the store memory 8 needs to be supplied with the power required to hold the data when the main power is turned off by the battery built in the game machine. is there.

As described above in detail, according to each of the above-described embodiments, the computer game machine is provided with the store memory 8 for storing the initial program data read from the disk 4, and the store memory 8 is stored when the game machine is started up. Store the initial program data in the store memory 8 and read the initial program data from the store memory 8 when the power is once turned off and then the power is turned on again with the same disk 4 still inserted or when the power is reset. While performing the menu screen display processing, a series of initial setting processing such as moving the pickup of the game machine to a predetermined position, focus search and rotating the disk is performed, so the time required to start the game machine is greatly reduced. To be done.

In particular, if the store memory 8 is composed of a semiconductor memory, the access speed and the data transfer speed at the time of reading the data stored in the semiconductor memory are higher than the speed of reading the data from the disk 4, and therefore the same. The second and subsequent startups of the disk 4 are performed at a higher speed.

Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

For example, a game machine may include a plurality of discs 4
In the case of an apparatus configured so that the disk can be exchanged without opening and closing the tray 3 by storing the disk 4 in the tray 3, the disk 4 that can be stored in the tray 3
The number of store memories 8 corresponding to the number of sheets of the disk 4 is provided, and the initial program data of each disk 4 is stored in each store memory 8. If the game machine is turned on after being turned off or reset, the data is read from the store memory 8 storing the initial program data of the disk 4 which was being executed when the power was turned off, and the data is executed. Good.

In this case, each of the store memories 8 is composed of a memory chip, and the memory chip of the store memory 8 corresponding to the disk 4 which was executed when the power was turned off,
The selection may be performed by the chip select signal CS generated by the system control unit 1.

Alternatively, the single store memory 8 having a large storage capacity is divided into a plurality of areas, and the area of the store memory 8 corresponding to the disk 4 which is being executed when the power is turned off is generated by the system control unit 1. The address signal may be selected.

In the above description, the case where the invention made by the present inventor is mainly applied to a computer game machine which is a field of application which is the background of the invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and can be attached and detached. It can be used for a computer device equipped with a disc reproducing device.

[0039]

The effects obtained by typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.

That is, if the tray is opened and closed and the disc is not exchanged until the power of the reproducing apparatus in operation is once turned off and then the power is turned on again,
When the power is turned on again, the device starts up instantly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of a reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another example of a reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of reference signs] 2 tray detection circuit 3 tray 4 disk (disc-shaped medium) 5 open / close switch 6 changeover switch 7 cache memory 8 initial program data store memory (storage means) 9 game machine main body (device main body) 11 system control Microcomputer (control unit for judging that the medium has been replaced) 12 Store memory erasing control unit (control unit for erasing data held in the storage means)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Hiromasa Takahashi 5-22-1 Kamisuihonmachi, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo Inside Hitachi Microcomputer System Co., Ltd.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A device for reading and reproducing information stored in a removable disc-shaped medium, and a cache memory for storing data read from the medium, and a cache memory for reading data from the medium at startup. And a writable and erasable non-volatile storage means for storing the data of the leading program, and the storage means for storing the data of the leading program read from the medium which is turned on when the medium is first reproduced. When the power supply is turned on again after the power supply has been turned off and the same medium is held after the power supply is turned off, the open / close switch for sending to the CPU and the storage means and the cache memory can be switched. Alternatively, a change-over switch that connects the storage means to the CPU only when reset and reads out the data held in the storage means and sends the data to the CPU. A device for reproducing stored information, comprising: 2. A device for reading and reproducing information stored in a removable disk-shaped medium, a cache memory for storing data read from the medium, and a standby memory provided in the cache memory. Writable and erasable non-volatile storage means for storing the data of the first program read from the medium at the time of raising, and the storage means by designating the address of the storage means when the medium is first reproduced. The data of the first program read from the medium is stored in the storage means, and the storage means is provided only when the power is turned off and then the same medium is held and the power is turned on again or reset. And a control unit for reading out the data held in the storage means and sending it to the CPU of the main body of the apparatus. Raw equipment. 3. A tray for storing the disk-shaped medium,
2. A control unit having a circuit for detecting the opening / closing of the tray, and comprising a control unit for judging that the medium has been exchanged when the tray detection circuit detects that the tray is opened. Alternatively, the storage information reproducing apparatus described in 2. 4. The reproduction of stored information according to claim 3, further comprising a control unit for erasing data held in the storage means when the tray detection circuit detects that the tray is opened. apparatus. 5. A selection for selecting a storage means corresponding to the medium selected when the power is turned off, provided with a means for detachably holding a plurality of media and a plurality of storage means corresponding to each medium. 2. The apparatus for reproducing stored information according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that generates a signal, reads out the held data in the storage means selected by the selection signal, and sends the data to the CPU. 6. A unit for detachably holding a plurality of media is provided, and a plurality of storage units corresponding to the respective media are provided in the cache memory to correspond to the medium selected when the power is turned off. 3. The storage information reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit that generates an address signal of the storage unit, reads out the held data of the storage unit selected by the address signal, and sends it to the CPU. 7. The memory means is a batch erasing type electrically erasable and writable read-only memory, an electrically erasable and writable read-only memory, a non-volatile ferroelectric memory, or a volatile memory backed up by a battery. 3. The reproducing device for stored information according to claim 1, wherein the reproducing device is a semiconductor memory. 8. The apparatus for reproducing stored information according to claim 1, wherein the storage means is a magnetic disk device connected to the main body of the apparatus. 9. When reading and reproducing the information stored in a disk-shaped medium which can be attached and detached by a reproducing device for stored information, the data of the leading program read from the medium when the reproducing device is started up is written and written. Data stored in the erasable non-volatile storage means, and when the power is turned off and then the same medium is held and the power is turned on again or reset, the held data of the first program is stored in the storage means. Is sent to the CPU of the main body of the reading device to start up the reproducing device. 10. The initial setting process of the reproducing apparatus is performed while the reproducing apparatus is started up based on the held data of the leading program read from the storage means. How to play back stored information.