JPH11134283A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor corresponding to both standards of LEGACY (PC card 16-bit standard) and ZVP(zoom video port standard). SOLUTION: This processor is provided with a host connection means 1 connected to a CPU, a control means 2 accessible by the CPU, a control setting means 3 provided with plural storage areas for storing control information specified by the CPU and setting control to the control means 2, a first storage means 4 provided with the independent plural storage areas controlled by the control means 2 for storing the plural pieces of the control information and a group specifying means 5 for specifying the area group of the control setting means 3 and the first storage means 4. Then, the address area of the CPU and the control means 2 is allocated to a part of the storage areas of the control setting means 3 and at least a part of the storage areas of the first storage means 4 and is made directly accessible by them. By specifying group specifying information to the group specifying means 5 by the CPU and the control means 2 for the other storage areas of the control setting means 3 and at least a part of the storage areas of the first storage means 4, the specified respective areas are made accessible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus which performs data transfer processing and audio / image signal processing as a peripheral device of a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a personal computer, a memory card, and an international association have been used to perform data transfer processing and image / audio signal processing in, for example, a portable personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a "personal computer"). (Hereinafter, "PCM
CIA. " ) And the Japan Electronic Industry Development Association (hereinafter
It is called "JEIDA". PC conforming to the specifications specified in)
A plurality of PC card slots (hereinafter, referred to as "slots") of a personal computer based on a card 16-bit standard (hereinafter, referred to as "LEGACY") or a recently established zoom video port standard (hereinafter, referred to as "ZVP"). The mainstream was to attach a card-type information processing device to a computer.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional technique, there is a difference in the area of the memory space and the I / O space between the LEGACY and the ZVP, and a difference in the control method of the data bus width. Therefore, it has been difficult to realize an information processing apparatus that satisfies both standards at the same time.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to prepare information processing apparatuses having different specifications for LEGACY compatible personal computer users and ZVP compatible personal computer users.

[0005] In this case, not only the cost of the information processing apparatus is increased, but also the usability of the user is not good because of incompatibility of data.

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention relates to LEGACY and ZV.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus compatible with both P standards.

[0007]

In order to solve this problem, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention uses a CP of an external computer.
A host connection unit electrically connected to U, a control unit accessible by a CPU, and a control setting unit having a plurality of storage areas for storing control information designated by the CPU and setting control in the control unit A first storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of control information and has a plurality of independent storage areas controlled by the control unit; a group setting unit that specifies an area group of the control setting unit and the first storage unit; And an address area of the CPU and the control means is assigned to a part of the storage area of the control setting means and at least a part of the storage area of the first storage means so that the CPU and the control means can directly access the storage area. The CPU and the control means specify the group designation information in advance to the group designation means for the storage area of at least a part of the storage area of the first storage means. The designated areas respectively is obtained by accessible.

As a result, the LEG can be performed by a single information processing device.
Automatic recognition of device attributes and automatic setting of devices in the ACY-compatible computer and the ZVP-compatible computer can be performed.

Further, in the above-mentioned case, the information processing apparatus of the present invention, in the above-described case, stores the audio / image signal processing means for performing a predetermined process on the audio signal and the image signal, and a different address area from the first storage means. And a second storage unit that is arranged and controlled by the CPU, the control unit, and the audio / image signal processing unit, and stores the second storage unit in the CPU based on the information specified by the CPU and the control setting unit. Activate or deactivate.

[0010] Thus, L can be obtained by a single information processing device.
Image processing can be performed by an EGACY-compatible computer and a ZVP-compatible computer.

Further, the information processing apparatus of the present invention further comprises a transfer means for storing and replacing the voice / image data sent from the CPU in the above case, and transferring the same to the voice / image signal processing means. CP for audio and video data
U is recognized as a 16-bit resource, and the stored audio / video data is expanded by audio / video signal processing means.

Thus, data transfer processing of audio / video signals in 16-bit width can be performed, and audio / video data decompression processing can be performed on a LEGACY-compatible computer and a ZVP-compatible computer by a single information processing device. Become.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides a host connection means electrically connected to a CPU of an external computer, a control means accessible by the CPU, and a control designated by the CPU. A first storage having a plurality of storage areas for storing information and setting control in the control means, and a first storage having a plurality of independent storage areas for storing a plurality of control information and controlled by the control means Means, and a group designating means for designating an area group of the control setting means and the first storage means, wherein a CPU and a CPU are provided in a partial storage area of the control setting means and at least a partial storage area of the first storage means. An address area of the control means is allocated so that the CPU and the control means can directly access the storage area, and another storage area of the control setting means and at least a part of the first storage means An information processing apparatus in which each specified area can be accessed by the CPU and the control means designating the group designation information in advance to the group designation means, and the LEGACY-compatible computer and the ZVP-compatible computer are constituted by a single information processing apparatus. Has an effect that the automatic recognition of the device attribute and the automatic setting of the device can be performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, an audio / image signal processing means for performing predetermined processing on an audio signal and an image signal; Is provided in a different address area and includes a CPU, a control unit, and a second storage unit controlled by the audio / image signal processing unit. Based on information specified by the CPU and the control setting unit, a This is an information processing device that activates or deactivates the second storage means, and has an effect that image processing can be performed on a LEGACY-compatible computer and a ZVP-compatible computer by a single information processing device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the audio / video data transmitted from the CPU is stored / replaced and transferred to the audio / video signal processing means. Means for converting audio / video data to CP
U is an information processing device that is recognized as a 16-bit resource by U and expands stored audio / video data by audio / video signal processing means.
The data transfer process can be performed by the bit width, and the single information processing device has the effect that the decompression process of the audio / video data for the LEGACY-compatible computer and the ZVP-compatible computer can be performed.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In these drawings, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an internal configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the information processing apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an address map of the device.

The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a card shape and performs data transfer processing and audio / image signal processing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a central processing unit) of an external personal computer.
It is called “CPU”. )), The host connection means 1 electrically connected to the control means 2, the control means 2 accessible from the CPU,
A control setting means 3 having a plurality of storage areas for storing control information designated by U and setting control in the control means 2, and a plurality of independent control means for storing a plurality of control information and controlled by the control means 2. First storage means 4 having a storage area, control setting means 3, and first storage means 4
Group designation means 5 for designating an area group. Further, audio / image signal processing means 6 for processing audio signals and image signals, CPU and second storage means 7 controlled and accessed by audio / image signal processing means 6, audio / image data sent from CPU Is stored and replaced, and is transferred to the audio / video signal processing means 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the host connecting means 1
A PCMCIA connector 9 is connected to the host CPU in the personal computer. The PCMCIA address bus is used to specify a host address. The PCMCIA data bus is used to send and receive data to and from the host. PCMCI that performs each control
A control bus is connected. The control means 2 includes an interface controller 10. Then, the control setting means 3 transmits a configuration register (hereinafter referred to as “C”) configuring the interface controller 10.
CR ”. 1) From the group 11, the group specifying means 5 comprises an address converter 13 and an address decoder 14 which also constitute the interface controller 10. Further, the first storage means 4 includes a nonvolatile random access memory (hereinafter, referred to as "RAM") group 12, and stores information relating to the functions of the present apparatus and I / O space information necessary for control. ing.

The audio / image signal processing means 6 comprises an image compression controller 15 and an MPEG2 decoder 16, and is connected to an image / audio signal line for transmitting / receiving audio / image data display / reproduction signals. The second storage means 7 comprises an image memory 17. Further, the transfer means 8 uses the SCS
It comprises an I-Small Computer System Interface-Protocol Controller (hereinafter referred to as "SPC") 18, a card connector 19 and a digital video disk (hereinafter referred to as "DVD") player 2.
0. Note that, instead of the DVD player 20, a storage device such as a CD-ROM or a hard disk device may be used.

The operation of the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. Here, the operation of automatic recognition of device attributes and the automatic setting of the device, the operation of image processing, and the operation of decompression processing of audio / image data will be sequentially described.

(1) Operation of Automatic Recognition of Device Attributes and Automatic Setting of Device Control means 2 (interface controller 10) and C
FIG. 3 shows an address map when data is exchanged with the PU.

The address map shown in FIG. 3 represents a direct attribute memory space, a direct common memory space, a RAM physical space, and a CCR storage area. Addresses 0000 to FFFF in the direct attribute memory space are address regions that can be directly accessed by the CPU. This address region has a direct attribute region 21 and a direct CCR region 22. Similarly, the address 0000 of the direct common memory space is
Addresses to addresses FFFF are address areas directly accessible to the CPU, and are located in a space different from the direct attribute memory space. The direct common memory space includes indirect access control register 23, indirect access data register 24, SP
It has a C-FIFO 25 and an image memory storage area 26.

The direct attribute memory space and the direct common memory space are identified by the REG signal, and the REG signal specifies a high-level voltage to directly specify the attribute memory space.

The RAM physical space in which the nonvolatile RAM group 12 is located includes a first attribute information storage area 27, a second attribute information storage area 29, a third attribute information storage area 30,
It is divided into each area of the VP attribute information area 32. Then, the first attribute information storage area 27 and the second attribute information storage area 29 are divided by the indirect offset address 28, and the third attribute information storage area 30 and the ZVP attribute information area 3
2 is divided by the ZVP offset address 31.

The control setting means 3 (CCR group 12) is stored in the CCR storage area 33 inside the control means 2 (interface controller 10).

When the information processing apparatus is connected to a personal computer, an interruption to the CPU by the information processing apparatus occurs. As a result, the CPU reads the information relating to the function of the information processing apparatus and the address space information necessary for control stored in the first storage unit 4 (RAM 12) via the memory space dedicated to the information processing apparatus, and reads the host address space. The above unused area is detected, and an activation process for permitting use of an area usable by the device is performed. In this apparatus, after the power is turned on, the control setting means 3 (CCR group 11) is in an initial state, and this information is transmitted to the group specifying means 5 (address converter 13 / address decoder 14).

The address converter 13 transmits the address information of the address lines A0 to A15 connected via the host connecting means 1 to the address decoder 14 in the attribute information memory space based on the information. The address decoder 14 decodes the received address information to arrange the first attribute information storage area 27 and the second attribute information storage area 29 directly and directly on the attribute area 21 as shown in FIG. CCR storage area 33
Are placed directly on the CCR region 22. Thereby, the CP
U is the first attribute information storage area 2 via the attribute area 21 directly.
LEGA stored in the seventh and second attribute information storage areas 29
Read the attribute information necessary for Y-compatible PC and
The control setting value is written to the control setting means 3 (CCR group 11) in the CCR storage area 33 via the R area 22. And control means 2 (interface controller 10)
Recognizes the LEGACY setting state based on the control setting value set in the control setting means 3 (CCR group 11).

Thus, the activation process in the LEGAY-compatible personal computer is completed. Here, according to the ZVP standard, after the ZVP is set, the address lines A4 to A25 are used as video signals, so that the address lines cannot be used. Therefore, the memory space is accessed by the indirect access control register 23 and the indirect access data register 24 shown in FIG. That is, after designating an address space to be accessed in the indirect access control register 23, access is made through the indirect access data register 24.

In the present apparatus, after the power is turned on, the address converter 13 transmits only the address information of the address lines A0 to A3 directly connected to the common memory space via the host connecting means 1 to the address decoder 14, and All the remaining address lines A4 to A15 are assigned zero, and this address information is transmitted to the address decoder 14. The address decoder 14 decodes the received address information to form the indirect access control register 23 and the indirect access data register 2.
Only 4 are continuously arranged directly on the common memory space. Further, by adding the indirect offset address 28 to the address information set in the indirect access control register 23 and transmitting it to the address decoder 14, the second attribute information storage area 29, the third attribute information The storage area 30 and the CCR storage area 33 are continuously arranged via the indirect access data register 24. Thereby, C
The PU reads attribute information necessary for the ZVP-compatible personal computer stored in the second attribute information storage area 29 and the third attribute information storage area 30 via the indirect access data register 24, and similarly via the indirect access data register 24. The control setting means 3 (CCR group 1) in the CCR storage area 33
Write the control set value in 1).

After the ZVP is set, the control setting means 3 (CCR
Based on the ZVP control set value set in the group 11), the address converter 13 sends the address line A connected to the attribute information memory space via the host connection means 1 to the address line A.
ZVP offset address 3 in address information of 0 to A3
1 is added and transmitted to the address decoder 14. By decoding the received address information, the address decoder 14 continuously arranges only the ZVP attribute information storage area 32 directly in the entire attribute memory space. Thereby, the control means 2 (interface controller 10)
Recognizes the ZVP setting state based on the control setting value set in the control setting means 3 (CCR group 11).

With the above, the activation process in the ZVP-compatible personal computer is completed. As described above, according to the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment, by controlling the indirect offset address 28 and the ZVP offset address 31, the first attribute information storage area 27, the second attribute information storage area 29, and the third attribute Information storage area 30 and ZVP attribute information 3
2 is set arbitrarily. Thereby, LEGAZY and ZVP can be performed by a single information processing device.
It becomes possible to automatically recognize the device attribute for the standard and to set the device.

In the present invention, the first attribute information storage area 27 stores attribute information required when using a LEGACY-compatible personal computer, and the second attribute information storage area 29 stores LEG information.
Attribute information necessary for the ACY-compatible personal computer and the ZVP-compatible personal computer can be stored, and the attribute information necessary for using the ZVP-compatible personal computer can be stored in the third attribute information storage area 30.

(2) Operation of Image Processing Control means 2 (interface controller 10) and C
In FIG. 3 showing an address map when the PU exchanges data, in the case of the activation processing by the LEGACY-compatible personal computer, the CPU sets the control setting means 3 as described above.
The LEGACY set value is written to (CCR group 11). Then, based on this information, the address converter 13 transmits the address information of the address lines A0 to A15 connected to the common memory space via the host connection means 1 to the address decoder 14 as it is. By decoding the received address information, the address decoder 14 directly arranges the second storage means 7 (image memory 17) directly in the image memory storage area 26 in the common memory space.

Then, the audio / image signal processing means 6 (image compression controller 15 / MPEG2 decoder 16) uses the arranged second storage means 7 (image memory 17) to compress / decompress the audio / image data. I do. Also,
The CPU accesses the audio / image data stored in the second storage means 7 (image memory 17) and reproduces the data on a display device or the like on a personal computer as necessary.

On the other hand, in the case of the activation processing by the ZVP-compatible personal computer, the control setting means 3 is controlled by the CPU as described above.
The ZVP set value is written to (CCR group 11). Then, based on this information, the address converter 13 does not transmit the address information of the address lines A4 to A15 directly connected to the common memory space via the host connection means 1 to the address decoder 14. As a result, the address decoder 14 stores the second storage means 7 (the image memory 1).
7) The image memory storage area 2 in the direct common memory space
Do not place in 6. In this case, since the present apparatus is set as a ZVP, audio / image data is supplied to the personal computer via the address lines A4 to A25, and is reproduced on a display device or the like on the personal computer.

As described above, by activating or deactivating the second storage means with respect to the CPU based on the information designated by the CPU and the control setting means, LEGAZY and ZVP can be performed by a single information processing apparatus. Image processing for the standard becomes possible.

(3) Operation of Decompression Processing of Audio / Video Data Control means 2 (interface controller 10) and C
In FIG. 3 showing an address map in the case where the PU exchanges data, the audio / image data transmitted / received between the CPU and the DVD player 20 is stored / replaced and transferred to the audio / image signal processing means. -In-first-out memory (hereinafter referred to as "FIFO")
Are stored in the SPC-FIFO storage area 25 inside the transfer means 8 (SPC 18).

When the activation process is performed by the LEGACY-compatible personal computer and the ZVP-compatible personal computer as described above, the group specifying means 5 (the address converter 13 and the address decoder 14) places the SPC-FIFO storage area 25 directly on the common memory space. I do.

Here, in the case of the LEGACY standard, the IOI
By transmitting the S16 signal to the personal computer, the access bit width in word units and byte units is notified. On the other hand, Z
In the case of the VP standard, this signal cannot be used because it is used as an image system clock signal. Therefore, in the activation process at the time of ZVP, the CPU reads out the attribute information stored in the third attribute information storage area 30 to make the personal computer recognize this device as a 16-bit resource. At the same time Z
At the time of VP, when the CPU stores the transfer data in the SPC-FIFO storage area 25, the control means 2 (interface controller 14) arranges a swap buffer for exchanging the upper data D15 to D8 and the lower data D7 to D0. Therefore, the CPU can always execute a word access command to the SPC-FIFO storage area 25, and functions as a storage area for high-speed data from the transfer means 8 (SPC 18).

As a result, L can be
Word access to the EGACY and ZVP standards becomes possible. Further, the data transfer processing of the audio / video signal with a 16-bit width can be performed, and the expansion processing of the audio / video data stored in the audio / video signal processing means 6 can be performed.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, a LEGACY-compatible computer and a ZVP
An effective effect that automatic recognition of the device attribute and automatic setting of the device in the corresponding computer can be obtained is obtained.

Also, LEGA can be performed by a single information processing device.
An effective effect of enabling image processing in the CY-compatible computer and the ZVP-compatible computer is obtained.

Then, the LEG is performed by a single information processing device.
An advantageous effect is obtained in that it is possible to perform audio / image data decompression processing for the ACY-compatible computer and the ZVP-compatible computer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an internal configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the information processing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an address map of the information processing apparatus of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host connection means 2 Control means 3 Control setting means 4 First storage means 5 Group designation means 6 Audio / image signal processing means 7 Second storage means 8 Transfer means

Claims (3)

[Claims] A host connection means electrically connected to a CPU of an external computer; a control means accessible by the CPU; control information designated by the CPU; and control setting in the control means. Control setting means having a plurality of storage areas for performing the following operations: a first storage means storing a plurality of control information and having a plurality of independent storage areas controlled by the control means; the control setting means and the first And a group designation unit for designating an area group of the first storage unit, wherein addresses of the CPU and the control unit are stored in a partial storage region of the control setting unit and at least a partial storage region of the first storage unit. An area is allocated so that the CPU and the control means can directly access the storage area. And also the information processing apparatus is the CPU and the control unit for a part of the storage area characterized by being accessible to each of the specified area and by specifying in advance the group designation information to the group specifying means. 2. An audio / image signal processing means for performing predetermined processing on an audio signal and an image signal; and an address area different from the first storage means, wherein the CPU, the control means, and the audio A second storage unit controlled by an image signal processing unit; and activating or deactivating the second storage unit with respect to the CPU based on information specified by the CPU and the control setting unit. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. A transfer means for storing and replacing audio / video data sent from the CPU and transferring it to audio / video signal processing means, wherein the audio / video data is recognized as a 16-bit resource from the CPU. 3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said audio / image signal processing means expands the stored audio / image data.