JPH10105297A - Portable information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress power consumption by performing exclusive control and also to minimally restrain the lowering of processing performance by performing power supply processing only when there is an input-output request and reducing useless inquiries as much as possible. SOLUTION: Any of input-output device control programs 21 to 23 issues a power use request to a power exclusive control program 20. The program 20 decides a registration ID for the power use request, notifies an input-output program that issues the power supply request of the registration ID, and also, when it checks a list structure to find that other power use requests already exist, the program 20 adds the power use request to the last of the list structure. And the program 20 notifies the function which registers the input-output control program that issues the power use request that is registered at the heat of the list structure of power use permission. The input-output control program which receives the notice of power use permission performs input-output processing and notifies the program 20 of the end of power use.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable information terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a plurality of input / output devices used intermittently are incorporated in a portable information terminal, if the power supply capability is provided so as to cover the maximum power consumption, the physical size of the battery contained therein is reduced. The size and weight of the terminal are enlarged by the increase. Therefore, a system is configured with a smaller battery by exclusively operating a plurality of input / output devices.

[0003]

However, exclusive control is performed by inquiring of an exclusive control management program periodically whether the power supply can be used based on a high frequency unrelated to the input / output request of the input / output device. Is performed, an overhead is generated in the inquiry, and the processing performance is reduced.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable information terminal capable of suppressing power consumption by performing exclusive control and minimizing a decrease in processing performance.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A portable information terminal according to the present invention includes a plurality of input / output devices used intermittently, and a power management means for managing electric power transmitted to each section of the portable terminal. Exclusive control management means for exclusively supplying power to a plurality of input / output devices used for input / output, input / output management means for managing input / output requests to the input / output devices and information for exclusive control, and When a system is configured with a smaller battery by providing input / output means for performing data input / output processing and storage means for storing data necessary for processing of the exclusive control function, by performing exclusive operation of a plurality of input / output devices. Then, the I / O device control program corresponding to each I / O device registers a power use request to the exclusive control management program, and the exclusive control management program Relative output device control program, and to notify the authorized power use.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides a power supply management means for incorporating a plurality of input / output devices used intermittently and managing power transmitted to each section of a portable terminal.
Exclusive control management means for exclusively supplying power to a plurality of intermittently used input / output devices, input / output management means for managing input / output requests for input / output devices and information for exclusive control, and input / output devices Equipped with an input / output means for performing data input / output processing and a storage means for storing data required for processing of the exclusive control function, and when a plurality of input / output devices are exclusively operated, when configuring a system with a smaller battery, The I / O device control program corresponding to each I / O device registers a power use request with the exclusive control management program, and the exclusive control management program controls the I / O device control when the power becomes available. A portable information terminal with a function that can prevent processing performance from decreasing by notifying the program of power use permission. For, has for input and output control program when the power supply exclusive control management program becomes available, the effect of notifying the permission of the power used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a power supply request to the exclusive control management program includes information indicating the priority of the exclusive operation, so that the input / output device having a higher priority than the currently operating input / output device. When a power use request is issued from a device, the exclusive control management program sends a request for suspending power use to the operating input / output device, and after receiving a power release notification, performs a higher priority input / output operation. The operation can be switched by issuing a power use permission to the device, and by including information indicating the priority of the exclusive operation in the power use request to the exclusive control management program, the priority is given to the currently operating I / O device. When a power supply request is issued from an input / output device with a higher rank, the exclusive control management program sends a power supply stop request to the operating input / output device, and After receiving the release notification has the effect that issues a permission of the power supply using switches the operation to a higher priority output device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the power supply release request from the input / output device control program includes status information of the power supply use request of the input / output device so that the power supply request for the interrupted operation is re-started. A portable information terminal that removes overhead to be performed, and performs a power release notification from an input / output device control program including status information of a power use request of the input / output device (continuation or discard of the request) to an exclusive control management program. It has the action of:

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when a power failure occurs during the operation of the input / output device, the information on the power failure is utilized by utilizing a calling mechanism from the exclusive control management program to the input / output device control program. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the portable information terminal can notify an input / output device control program of the input / output device and perform a corresponding process.
The exclusive control management program has the function of notifying the power supply abnormality to the input / output device control program.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 relates to the invention described in claim 1.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a signal transmission / reception bus connecting each unit, 2 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) for controlling each unit of the portable information terminal, and 3 denotes a processing procedure of each unit, an application, and a control program. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 4 is an RA in which the control of each part of the portable terminal, an application and a control program temporarily store information.
M (random access memory), 5 a touch panel device for operating an application, etc., 6 a liquid crystal display device for notifying a user of the processing result of the application, 7
Is an FDD device for storing a large amount of data, 8 is an HDD device for storing a large amount of data, 9 is a scanner device for inputting image information, and 10 is a power supply device having a function of supplying power to each unit of the portable terminal. It is.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes power management means for managing power transmitted to each section of the portable terminal, and 12 denotes exclusive control management for exclusively supplying power to a plurality of input / output devices used intermittently. Means 13, input / output management means for managing input / output requests to the FDD device 7 and information for exclusive control; 14, input / output means for performing data input / output processing on the FDD device 7; 15, HDD device An input / output management unit 16 for managing input / output requests to the HDD 8 and information for exclusive control; an input / output unit 16 for performing input / output processing of data to / from the HDD device 8; Management means for managing information for the scanner device, input means for performing data input processing to the scanner device 9, and 19 stores data required for processing of the exclusive control function. Is a 憶 means. Exclusive power control
This is realized by exchanging information (communication) between the power exclusive control program 20 and the input / output device control programs 21, 22, 23 (device drivers) corresponding to the respective input / output devices.

The operation when one of the input / output device control programs 21, 22, and 23 registers a power use request with the power exclusive control program 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 1, the power exclusive control program 20 determines whether there is an input / output request. The check of the occurrence of the I / O request is repeated until the request occurs. When the occurrence of the request is found, the process proceeds to step 2.

In step 2, one of the input / output device control programs 21, 22, and 23 issues a power use request to the power exclusive control program 20. In step 3, the input / output device control programs 21, 22,
23 waits for a notification of completion of registration of a power use request from the power exclusion control program 20. Repeat the check until you receive the registration completion notice.

Next, a list structure for managing a power use request will be described with reference to FIG. This list is composed of two types of elements. The first is a power use request element including call information of the input / output device control programs 21, 22, and 23 and pointers P31 and P32 to the next element, and the second is a list head identification code. And a list management element 30 including a pointer P30 to a power use request element. In particular, 31 indicates a device currently using a power supply.

Next, an operation when the power exclusive control program 20 receives a power use request from the input / output device control programs 21, 22, 23 and adds the power use request to the list structure shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 11, the power exclusive control program 20 determines a registration ID for the power use request,
The registration ID is notified to the input / output device control program that has issued the power use request.

In step 12, if the list structure shown in FIG. 4 is checked and there is no other power use request, step 13
If there is another power use request, the process proceeds to step 14.

In step 13, a power use request is added to the end of the list structure of FIG.

In step 14, a power use request is added to the head of the list structure of FIG. In step 15, the power use permission is notified to the registered function of the input / output device control program which has issued the power use request registered at the top of the list structure in FIG.

Next, the input / output device control programs 21 and
2 and 23, upon receiving the notification of the power use permission from the power exclusive control program 20, perform the operation when performing the input / output processing.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 21, input / output processing is performed until there is no more data to be input / output, and in step 22, the power exclusion control program is notified of the end of power use.

Next, when the power exclusive control program 20 receives the power use end notification from the input / output device control program and updates the management information of the power use request,
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 31, the power use request is removed from the list structure of FIG. In step 32,
The list structure shown in FIG. 4 is examined, and if a power use request exists, the process proceeds to step 33. If no power use request exists, the process ends.

In step 33, the power supply permission is notified to the input / output device control program corresponding to the first element of the list structure in FIG.

(Embodiment 2) Embodiment 2 relates to the second aspect of the present invention.

Next, differences from the first embodiment will be described.
The operation when the power exclusive control program 20 receives a power use request from the input / output device control program and adds the power use request to the list structure shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

At step 41, if the list structure shown in FIG.
If there is another power use request, the process proceeds to step 44.

In step 42, a power use request is added to the head of the list structure of FIG. In step 43, the power use permission is notified to the registered function of the input / output device control program which has issued the power use request registered at the top of the list structure in FIG.

In step 44, the execution priority of the input / output operation included in the power use request from the input / output device control program is changed to the currently executed power supply request element included in the power use request element registered at the top of the list structure in FIG. If the priority of the request is higher than that of the request currently being executed as compared with the execution priority of the input / output device, the process proceeds to step 45.

In step 45, a power use request is registered as the second in the list structure of FIG.

In step 46, the interruption of the power supply is notified to the registered functions of the input / output device control programs 21, 22, and 23 which issued the power use request registered at the top of the list structure in FIG.

In step 47, a power use request is registered as the second in the list structure of FIG.

In step 48, a registration ID is determined for the power use request, and the registration ID is notified to the input / output device control program which has issued the power use request.

Next, the input / output device control programs 21 and
2 and 23, upon receiving the notification of the power use permission from the power exclusive control program 20, perform the operation when performing the input / output processing.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 51, one of the requested input / output processing is divided into smaller processing units.

In step 52, it is confirmed whether or not the interruption notification of the input / output processing from the power exclusive control program 20 has arrived.
If it has arrived, go to step 55.

In step 53, it is confirmed whether or not the input / output processing has been completed. If the input / output processing has been completed, the process proceeds to step 54. If not, the process proceeds to step 51.
Proceed to.

In step 54, the power exclusive control program 20 is notified of the destruction of the power use right.

In step 55, the input / output processing is interrupted, and the flow advances to step 54. (Embodiment 3) Embodiment 3 relates to the invention described in claim 3.

Next, differences from the first embodiment will be described.
Next, the operation when the input / output device control programs 21, 22, and 23 receive the power use permission notification from the power exclusive control program 20 and perform the input / output processing will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 61, one of the requested input / output processing is divided into small processing units.

In step 62, it is confirmed whether or not the interruption notification of the input / output processing from the power exclusion control program 20 has arrived.
If it has arrived, go to step 65.

In step 63, it is confirmed whether or not the input / output processing has been completed. If the input / output processing has been completed, the process proceeds to step 64. If not completed, the process proceeds to step 61.
Proceed to.

In step 64, the power exclusive control program 20 is notified of the destruction of the power use right.

In step 65, the input / output processing is interrupted, and the flow advances to step 66. In step 66, the power exclusion control program 20 is notified of the continuation of the power use right.

Next, the power exclusive control program 20 receives the notification of the end or continuation of the power use from the input / output device control programs 21, 22, 23, and updates the power supply request management information. This will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 71, if the notification is a request to discard the power use right, the process proceeds to step 72; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 75.

In step 72, the power use request is removed from the head of the list structure in FIG.
Proceed to.

At step 73, the list structure shown in FIG. 4 is examined.
Proceeding to step 4, if there is no power use request, the process ends.

In step 74, the input / output device control program 2 corresponding to the first element of the list structure of FIG.
The power supply permission is notified to 1, 22, and 23.

If it is determined in step 75 that the notification is a request for continuation of the power use right, the process proceeds to step 76; otherwise, the process ends.

In step 76, the arrangement of the first element and the second element in the list structure in FIG.

(Embodiment 4) Embodiment 4 relates to the invention described in claim 4.

Next, differences from the first embodiment will be described. The operation when the power supply exclusive control program 20 notifies the power supply abnormality to the input / output device control programs 21, 22, and 23 of the currently operating input / output device when detecting the power supply abnormality will be described with reference to FIG. explain.

In step 81, it is confirmed whether there is any abnormality in the power supply, and the flow advances to step 82.

In step 82, if a power supply abnormality is detected, the process proceeds to step 83, and if there is no abnormality,
The process ends.

In step 83, the power supply abnormality is notified to the registered function of the input / output device control program for managing the currently operating input / output device registered at the head of the list structure in FIG.

Next, the input / output device control programs 21 and
2 and 23, upon receiving the notification of the power use permission from the power exclusive control program 20, perform the operation when performing the input / output processing.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 91, it is checked whether the notification indicates a power supply abnormality. If the notification does not indicate a power supply abnormality, the process proceeds to step 92. If the notification indicates a power supply abnormality, the process proceeds to step 94.

In step 92, input / output processing is performed until there is no more data to be input / output, and the flow advances to step 93.

In step 93, the power exclusion control program is notified of the end of power use.

In step 94, the input / output processing is interrupted, and the flow advances to step 93.

[0065]

According to the present invention, a portable information terminal having a plurality of intermittently used input / output devices is provided, and a plurality of input / output devices are exclusively operated to form a system with a smaller battery. In this case, power supply processing is performed only when there is an input / output request, and unnecessary queries are reduced as much as possible, so that a reduction in processing performance when performing exclusive control can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a list structure diagram for managing a power use request of the portable information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 power management means 12 exclusive control management means 13 input / output management means 14 input / output means 15 input / output management means 16 input / output means 17 input management means 18 input means 19 storage means 20 power supply exclusive control program 21 input / output device control program 22 input Output device control program 23 Input device control program

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A power supply management means which contains a plurality of intermittently used input / output devices and manages electric power transmitted to each section of a portable terminal, and a plurality of input / output devices which are used intermittently. Exclusive control management means for supplying power to the I / O device, I / O management means for managing information for I / O requests and exclusive control for I / O devices, When a system is configured with a smaller battery by providing storage means for storing data necessary for processing of the exclusive control function and performing exclusive operation of a plurality of input / output devices, input / output devices corresponding to each input / output device The control program registers a power use request with the exclusive control management program, and the exclusive control management program notifies the I / O device control program when the power becomes available. A portable information terminal, characterized in that it has to notify the permission of use. 2. A request for power use from an I / O device having a higher priority than an I / O device that is currently operating is included by including information indicating a priority of an exclusive operation in a power use request to the exclusive control management program. If this occurs, the exclusive control management program sends a request to suspend power use to the operating I / O device, and after receiving the power release notification, allows the higher priority I / O device to permit power use. Out,
The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein an operation can be switched. 3. An overhead of re-executing a power use request for an interrupted operation by removing the power supply request from the input / output device control program and including the status information of the power use request of the input / output device. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein 4. An I / O device of an operating I / O device that uses information of a power supply abnormality when a power failure occurs during operation of the I / O device using a calling mechanism from the exclusive control management program to the I / O device control program. 2. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the portable information terminal notifies the control program to perform a corresponding process.