JPH096709A - Method for controlling electronic device with extension slot, and its device and extension medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce the cost of an entire device by decreasing the number of programs previously prepared in an electronic device and to improve the degree of freedom for designing an extension medium such as extension board or card. CONSTITUTION: A multitask OS 25 is integrated into a main body 21 of the electronic device, programs 29 and 31 for controlling the extension media are mounted on extension media 28 and 30 loaded in extension slots 26 and 27, and it is detected whether the extension media are loaded in the extension slots 26 and 27 or not. When the extension media 28 and 30 are loaded, the programs for controlling the extension media and information for executing the programs on the OS of the main body are read out of the extension media 28 and 30, and the read programs are executed as tasks on the multitask OS integrated into the main body. The extension slots 26 and 27 are an electrically live wire insertable/ejectable type and when the extension media are unloaded from the extension slots 26 and 27 during the operation of device, the execution of tasks read out of the extension media 28 and 30 and executed is stopped. Then, resources are released and the tasks are deleted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling an electronic device with an expansion slot, and its device, and an expansion medium, in particular, an electronic device with an expansion slot having a multitask OS installed in the main body of the device. The present invention relates to a device control method, the device, and an expansion medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the conventional control of an electronic device with an expansion slot, a program for inspecting and controlling a board or card to be installed in the expansion slot is installed in advance in a ROM or the like inside the electronic device, or the expansion board or card is installed. In addition to this, the expansion slot control was realized by adopting a configuration in which it is sent into the electronic device main body by some method.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, there are drawbacks such that the program installed in advance is wasted and it takes time to send the control program to the main body. In addition, when designing an expansion board or card, there is a drawback that the functions are limited by services and programs prepared in advance by the main body.

A first object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of the apparatus main body by reducing the programs prepared in the electronic apparatus in advance, and to improve the degree of freedom in designing an expansion medium such as an expansion board or a card. is there. The second object of the present invention is to
By mounting an expansion medium such as an expansion board or a card, it is possible to improve the performance and to eliminate the overhead when it occurs.

A third object of the present invention is to enable the device to dynamically and appropriately switch the operation by inserting / removing an expansion medium such as an expansion board or a card. A fourth object of the present invention is to widen the selection range of expansion media such as expansion boards and cards that can be installed in expansion slots.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, a control method for an electronic device with an expansion slot according to the present invention is a control method for an electronic device having an expansion slot, wherein In the case where the task OS is incorporated, a program for controlling the expansion medium is installed in the expansion medium mounted in the expansion slot, whether the expansion medium is mounted in the expansion slot is detected, and the expansion medium is mounted , A program for controlling the expansion medium is read from the expansion medium, and the read program is
It is characterized in that it is executed as a task on a multi-task OS incorporated in the main body.

Here, the extension medium is further loaded with information for executing the program on the OS of the main body, and when the extension medium is loaded, the information is further read. Further, the installed program includes a program for inspecting the expansion medium. The task is executed by replacing the read program with another task prepared in advance in the main body. Also,
The expansion slot is an electrically hot-pluggable type, and further detects whether or not an expansion medium is loaded in the expansion slot during operation of the apparatus. The expansion slot is an electrically hot-pluggable type, and further detects whether or not the expansion medium is removed from the expansion slot during operation of the device, reads out from the expansion medium, and executes it. Stop the execution of the current task, release the resource, and delete the task. Further, it is further determined whether or not the read program is written in the code or virtual code of another type of CPU, and if the code is written in the code or virtual code of another type of CPU, the code is written. Emulate.

A control method for an electronic device with an expansion slot according to the present invention is a control method for an electronic device having an expansion slot, which detects whether an expansion medium is loaded in the expansion slot and When installed,
It is detected whether or not the expansion medium has a program for controlling the expansion medium, and if the expansion medium is present, the program is read from the expansion medium, and the read program is a task on a multitasking OS incorporated in the main body. It is characterized by executing as.

Here, the extension medium is further loaded with information for executing the program on the OS of the main body, and when the extension medium has the program, the information is further read. Further, the electronic device with an expansion slot of the present invention has a multi-task OS incorporated in the main body, and in the electronic device with an expansion slot having an expansion slot, at least the expansion medium on which a program for controlling the expansion medium is installed, A detection unit that detects whether or not an expansion medium is mounted in the slot, a reading unit that reads out the program from the expansion medium when the expansion medium is mounted, and the read-out program incorporated in the main body. And a means for executing as a task on the multitasking OS.

Here, the expansion medium further carries information for executing the program on the OS of the main body, and the reading means further reads the information. Further, the installed program includes a program for inspecting the expansion medium. Further, the execution means includes substitution means for replacing the read program with another task prepared in advance in the main body. Further, the expansion slot is an electrically hot-pluggable type, and the detecting means further detects whether or not an expansion medium is mounted in the expansion slot during operation of the apparatus. Further, the expansion slot is of a type that can be electrically hot-plugged and unloaded, and the detection means is
Furthermore, while the device is operating, it is detected whether or not the expansion medium is removed from the expansion slot, the execution of the task being read from the expansion medium is stopped, the resources are released, and the task is deleted. Means are further provided. Further, in the case where the read program is described by a code or virtual code of another type of CPU, and a code determining means for determining whether the read program is described by a code or virtual code of another type of CPU. , Emulating means for emulating the code. The expansion medium includes an expansion board and an expansion card.

The electronic device with the expansion slot of the present invention is
In an electronic device with an expansion slot having a multi-task OS incorporated in the main body and having an expansion slot, a first detecting means for detecting whether or not an expansion medium is installed in the expansion slot, and an expansion medium are installed. In this case, a second detecting means for detecting whether or not the expansion medium has a program for controlling the expansion medium, a reading means for reading the program from the expansion medium when having the program, and the read program , And executing means for executing as a task on the multi-task OS incorporated in the main body.

Here, the expansion medium further carries information for executing the program on the OS of the main body, and the reading means further reads the information. Further, the expansion medium of the present invention is an electronic device with an expansion slot, in which a multitasking OS is incorporated in the main body and has an expansion slot
An expansion medium mounted in the expansion slot, and at least a program for controlling the expansion medium is installed.

Here, the extension medium is further loaded with information for executing the program on the OS of the main body. The expansion medium includes an expansion board and an expansion card.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <Configuration Example of Electronic Device with Expansion Slot> FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the electronic device with an expansion slot controlled by this embodiment.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes an electronic device main body, 22
Is a program (multitask O
CPU for controlling the electronic device 21 in accordance with S and tasks 1 to n), 23 is a RAM used as a work area for the CPU 21 to operate a program, and 24 is the electronic device 21.
If the printer is a printer, the image recording mechanism is shown, and if it is a scanner, the image reading mechanism is shown.

Further, 26 and 27 are electronic devices 21 respectively.
And 26 and 27 may or may not have the same specifications. Reference numerals 28 and 30 denote expansion boards and cards that can be installed in the expansion slots 26 and 27, respectively, and have ROMs 29 and 31 storing programs for inspecting and controlling the boards and the like. The expansion board / card here is a CPU
A new function is added to the electronic device 21, such as a RAM board / card that increases the capacity of RAM that can be used by the CPU 22, a CPU board / card that assists the processing of the CPU 22, an I / F board / card such as SCSI or TCP / IP. It is to add or replace or enhance the function of the electronic device 21.

<Operation Example when Power is Turned On> FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing when the power is turned on in this embodiment. The operation of this embodiment will be described in order with reference to FIG. First, in controlling the electronic device 21, a power source O
At N time, each hardware of the apparatus main body is inspected (step S11). At this time, it is checked whether or not an error is detected (step S12), and if an error is detected, the error is notified (step S14), and an error state is entered to ask the user to take a countermeasure. At the time of hardware inspection, it is also checked whether or not a board or card is attached to the expansion slots 26 and 27.

Next, if no error is detected in step S12, a multi-task OS program (hereinafter referred to as OS) stored in the ROM 25 is loaded and initialization is performed (step S13). At this time, ROM2
Tasks corresponding to some task programs stored in 5 are also generated in the RAM 23. Next, step S
It is judged from the result of the inspection of 11 whether the expansion board is actually attached (step S15). If the presence of the expansion board / card 28 or 30 is confirmed, it is checked whether or not the board / card has a program for inspecting its own hardware (step S16). O if no board / card is installed
Start S to enter the multitasking operation state (step S
22), the electronic device 21 is controlled only by the task program stored in the ROM 25.

In order to check whether or not there is a program for inspecting hardware on the board / card, it is necessary to record the presence or absence of the inspection program in the area where the address is counted from the beginning of the address assigned to the expansion slot. It is realized by pre-deciding on different standards. It should be noted that such an agreement on the standard is absolutely necessary in designing an expansion board / card that is functionally free, and does not limit the functions of the expansion board / card. If the hardware inspection program is not found in step S16, the process proceeds to step S19, and a program for controlling the hardware on the board / card exists by using the same method as that for checking the existence of the program for inspecting the hardware. It is checked whether or not (step S19).

When the inspection program is found in step S16, the CPU 22 requires the RAM 2 if necessary.
Run this program using 3 (step S1
7). Then, it is checked whether or not an error is detected at this time (step S18). If an error is detected,
An error is notified as in step S12 (step S
14). If no error is detected in step S18, it is checked whether or not there is a program for controlling the hardware on the board / card (step S1).
9).

If present, this program in ROM
The information (required stack size, execution priority, etc.) necessary for executing as an independent task on the OS stored in the OS 25 is read from a predetermined address (step S20), and the task is stored on the RAM 23. (Step S21). At this time, the generated task information (OS management number, etc.) is stored. There may be a plurality of programs that generate tasks.
When all the tasks have been generated, the OS is activated (step S22).

Now the ROM 2 on the expansion board / card
Similarly to the programs stored in the ROM 21, the programs stored in the CPUs 9 and 31 are O as tasks.
Operations can be started on S. Further, as described above, by generating the program for the expansion board / card as a task after the program on the main body, the task generated from the program in the main body can be used as the task in the program on the expansion board / card. It is also possible to replace it with the task generated from. However, the device 21 having a plurality of expansion slots is provided with a mechanism for avoiding a situation where the device 21 does not operate by replacing the replaced task with another task.

As described above, when the electronic device having the expansion slot is started up, the program for inspecting and controlling the expansion board and the card is checked and operated, so that there is no need to store unnecessary programs in the main body of the device. . Therefore, the capacity of the ROM for storing the program can be minimized, and the cost of the apparatus main body can be expected to be reduced. Further, by making it possible to freely replace a program prepared in the main body in advance, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in designing an expansion board or a card.

<Operation Example During Operation> FIG. 3 shows the electronic device 21.
The expansion board / card, the expansion slot 26,
It is a flow chart which shows a flow of processing when being inserted in 27. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the expansion board / card is taken out from the expansion slots 26 and 27 while the electronic device 21 is operating.
Each will be described below in order. In any case, the electronic device 21 must have an expansion slot of the type that can be hot-swapped electrically.

(Operation Example When Expansion Board / Card Is Inserted During Operation) First, the case where the expansion board / card is inserted during the operation of the apparatus will be described. While the electronic device is operating, it is controlled by the multitasking OS. At this time, the task of monitoring the state of the expansion slot can be kept running, or an interrupt can tell that a board / card has been inserted into the expansion slot ( Step S3
1). At this time, a task for performing the following series of work is activated on the OS.

In this task, it is first checked whether a program for checking the hardware of the board / card exists on the board / card (step S32). If there is, it is checked whether it is a code that can be directly executed by the CPU of the main body (step S33). To check this, a mechanism for recognizing what kind of CPU code the program is written on the board / card is necessary, but only the board / card created for this main unit can be identified. It is also possible to set a certain fixed mark for, and to discharge those without a mark. In this case, no emulation task is needed.

If an executable inspection program is found in step S33, a check task is generated (step S34), and this program is executed (step S).
35). If a test program that can be emulated is found in step S33, an emulation task is generated (step S36), and the found program is passed as data to activate the emulation task (step S37).

As a result of the processing in step S35 or step S37, if a hardware error is detected (step S38), the inserted board / card is invalidated, and if mechanically ejectable, this is ejected. (Step S39), and waits for a new board / card to be inserted. If no error is detected in step S38, it is checked whether or not a program for controlling the error exists on the board / card (step S40). If it exists, it is checked whether it is a code that can be directly executed by the CPU of the main body (step S41), and if it is a directly executable code, this is generated as a task (step S42). Is generated and the above code is passed as data (step S4
3). At this time, the generated task information (OS management number, etc.) is stored. After that, the multitasking operation state is returned to, and the control task or the emulation task is called as necessary to control the board / card mounted in the expansion slot.

(Example of Operation When Expansion Board / Card Is Removed During Operation) Next, a case where the expansion board / card is removed during operation of the apparatus will be described. While the electronic device is operating, it is controlled according to the multitasking OS.
At this time, keep the task to monitor the status of the expansion slot, or interrupt the board / board from the expansion slot.
It is possible to know that the card has been removed (step S51).

At this time, on the OS, tasks for performing the following series of work are activated. In this task, first, it is checked whether or not the task controlling the board / card mounted until now exists on the OS (step S52). This can be determined from the information stored when the control task was created. As a result, if the control task exists on the OS, this execution is stopped, the resource is released and deleted (step S53), and the resource in the main body can be effectively used.

At this time, it is judged from the information about the control task whether or not the apparatus needs to be restarted (step S54), and if it is judged that the apparatus is restarted (step S54). S55). However, in order to prevent accidental rebooting, the task
In an electronic device having an expansion slot in which card ejection can be controlled, it is desirable to prevent ejection while the board / card is being accessed. If you do not need to restart the device after removing the board / card,
Return to multitasking mode and wait for a new board / card to be inserted.

As described above, when the electronic device having the expansion slot is operated, the insertion / removal of the expansion board or the card is detected,
By dynamically incorporating the task stored in this board or card into the OS in the main body and executing it, there is no need to store useless programs in the main body of the device, and it is possible to further save the time and effort for connection. it can. Further, by providing a task having a function of emulating the code of another type of CPU or the virtual code, it is possible to widen the selection range of the function expansion of the main body.

The present invention may be applied to either a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Automatically and only when necessary, load and run a program that inspects and controls expansion media such as expansion boards and cards, so programs that have been installed in advance are eventually wasted or the control program is sent to the main unit. It is possible to eliminate the drawback that it takes time and effort.

Further, when the expansion medium such as an expansion board or a card is designed by freely replacing the program prepared in advance in the main body, the function is limited by the service or program prepared in advance in the main body. Can also be resolved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure when power is turned on.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of an electronic device of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure when an expansion card is attached during operation.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure when an expansion card is removed during operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 electronic device main body with expansion slot 22 CPU 23 RAM 24 functional block (image recording mechanism, image reading mechanism, etc.) 25 ROM 26, 27 expansion slot 28, 30 expansion card 29, 31 ROM on expansion card

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A control method for an electronic device having an expansion slot, wherein a multitasking OS is incorporated in a main body of the electronic device, and a program for controlling the expansion medium is installed in an expansion medium mounted in the expansion slot. Detecting whether or not an expansion medium is mounted in the expansion slot, and when the expansion medium is mounted, reads a program for controlling the expansion medium from the expansion medium, and incorporates the read program into the main body Method for controlling an electronic device with an expansion slot, characterized in that it is executed as a task on a multitask OS. 2. The expansion medium further carries information for executing the program on the OS of the main body, and further reads the information when the expansion medium is mounted. A method of controlling an electronic device with an expansion slot according to claim 1. 3. The control method for an electronic device with an expansion slot according to claim 1, wherein the installed program includes a program for inspecting the expansion medium. 4. The method for controlling an electronic device with an expansion slot according to claim 1, wherein the task is executed by replacing the read program with another task prepared in advance in the main body. 5. The expansion slot is an electrically hot-pluggable type, and further detects whether or not an expansion medium is loaded in the expansion slot during operation of the apparatus. 2. A method of controlling an electronic device with an expansion slot according to 1. 6. The expansion slot is of a type that can be hot-swapped electrically, and further detects whether or not an expansion medium is removed from the expansion slot during operation of the device, and reads from the expansion medium. 2. The method for controlling an electronic device with an expansion slot according to claim 1, wherein the execution of the task being executed is stopped, the resource is released, and the task is deleted. 7. Further, it is determined whether or not the read program is written in the code or virtual code of another type of CPU, and when it is written in the code or virtual code of another type of CPU, The control method for an electronic device with an expansion slot according to claim 1, wherein the code is emulated. 8. A control method in an electronic device having an expansion slot, comprising: detecting whether or not an expansion medium is mounted in the expansion slot; and when the expansion medium is mounted, the expansion medium is the expansion medium. It is detected whether or not there is a program for controlling, and when the program is included, the program is read from the expansion medium, and the read program is executed as a task on a multi-task OS incorporated in the main body. Control method for electronic device with expansion slot. 9. The expansion medium further carries information for executing the program on the OS of the main body, and further reads the information when the expansion medium has the program. Item 9. A control method for an electronic device with an expansion slot according to item 8. 10. An electronic device with an expansion slot having a multitasking OS incorporated in the main body, the expansion medium having at least a program for controlling the expansion medium, and the expansion medium being mounted in the expansion slot. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the extension medium is loaded, a reading means for reading the program from the extension medium when an extension medium is attached, and a task on the multitask OS incorporated in the main body for the read program. An electronic device with an expansion slot, comprising: 11. The expansion slot according to claim 10, wherein the expansion medium further carries information for executing the program on the OS of the main body, and the reading means further reads the information. Electronic device. 12. The electronic device with an expansion slot according to claim 10, wherein the installed program includes a program for inspecting the expansion medium. 13. The electronic device with an expansion slot according to claim 10, wherein the execution means includes substitution means for replacing the read program with another task prepared in advance in the main body. 14. The expansion slot is of a type that can be hot-swapped electrically, and the detection means further detects whether an expansion medium is mounted in the expansion slot during operation of the apparatus. The electronic device with an expansion slot according to claim 10. 15. The expansion slot is an electrically hot-pluggable type, and the detection means further detects whether or not an expansion medium is removed from the expansion slot during operation of the device, 11. The electronic device with an expansion slot according to claim 10, further comprising task deleting means for deleting the task by stopping the execution of the task being read from the expansion medium and being executed. 16. A code determining means for determining whether or not the read program is written in a code or a virtual code of another type of CPU, and a code determining means written in a code or a virtual code of another type of CPU. 15. The electronic device with an expansion slot according to claim 10, further comprising an emulation means for emulating the code when the electronic code is present. 17. The electronic device with an expansion slot according to claim 10, wherein the expansion medium includes an expansion board or an expansion card. 18. In an electronic device with an expansion slot having a multi-task OS built in the main body and having an expansion slot, a first detecting means for detecting whether or not an expansion medium is mounted in the expansion slot, and an expansion medium. Detecting whether or not the expansion medium has a program for controlling the expansion medium when the
And a reading means for reading the program from the expansion medium when the program is included, and an executing means for executing the read program as a task on a multitask OS incorporated in the main body. Electronic device with expansion slot. 19. The expansion slot according to claim 18, wherein the expansion medium further carries information for executing the program on the OS of the main body, and the reading means further reads the information. Electronic device. 20. An electronic device with an expansion slot having a multi-task OS built in the main body and having an expansion slot, wherein the expansion medium is installed in the expansion slot, and at least a program for controlling the expansion medium is installed. An expansion medium characterized in that 21. The expansion medium according to claim 20, further comprising information for executing the program on the OS of the main body mounted on the expansion medium. 22. The expansion medium according to claim 20, wherein the expansion medium includes an expansion board or an expansion card.