JPH1115772A - Computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a computer system which does not need the change of software, etc., to feature expansion and change and automatically performs system construction. SOLUTION: A computer body 1 asserts read as many signals as the number of slots for expansion or back-planes at the time of initialization of a system. Expansion boards 21 to 2N which are inserted into slots and back-planes receive read signals in daisy chain connection with auto-configuration correspondence controlling parts 3, outputs self-attribute code to a data line, synchronizing with the read signals and performs through pass of subsequent read pulses to a subsequent stage. The computer body receives an attribute code, grasps the kind, quantity, mounting position, etc., of an expansion board and performs necessary system configuration.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system which constitutes a microcomputer system or a controller, and in particular, expands or changes functions by inserting or adding an expansion board to a function expansion backplane or an expansion slot. To an automatic construction system for the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a computer constituting a microcomputer system or a controller having general versatility as hardware, an option board or module for expanding various functions meeting the functions or specifications required for the application to be applied is expanded. By inserting and adding to the backplane or expansion slot for
In many cases, the intended system is built.

In this case, generally, different system software and drivers are installed according to different option board configurations for each application to construct a system.

[0004]

The conventional system construction method has the following problems.

[0005] (1) Since the installed software including the individual extended optional functions has a one-to-one correspondence with the hardware, it is difficult to standardize the system software.
This requires time and effort to select and install software, particularly hardware control, according to the system form each time, and is extremely disadvantageous in terms of product cost.

(2) Modification or addition of a system with addition of an option or the like involves modification or addition of on-board software. Is also disadvantageous in terms of maintaining the reliability of the system.

An object of the present invention is to provide a computer system capable of automatically performing system construction without changing software or the like for function expansion / change.

[0008]

According to the present invention, at the time of system initialization, the computer body asserts read pulses as many as the number of expansion slots, and the expansion boards connected in a daisy chain sequentially receive the read pulses and receive their own attribute codes. Are sequentially output to the data line so that the computer body recognizes the configuration of the expansion board and automatically configures the system. The system is characterized by the following method.

(First Invention) In a computer system having slots for function expansion / modification and a backplane, the computer itself has means for asserting a read signal by the number of expansion slots or backplanes at system initialization. The expansion board inserted in the slot or the backplane receives the read signal by daisy chain connection, outputs its own attribute code to the data line in synchronization with the read signal, and outputs the subsequent read pulse. Provide a means to pass through in the subsequent stage,
The computer body receives the attribute code, grasps the type and quantity of the expansion board, the mounting position, and the like,
A means for performing necessary system configuration is provided.

(Second invention) The connector or the plug of the slot or the backplane is arranged such that, when an extension board occupying a plurality of adjacent slots or the backplane is inserted, the readout is performed in a portion where the extension board is not mounted. A short-circuit mechanism for short-circuiting a signal and transmitting the signal unconditionally to a subsequent slot or backplane is provided.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an interface between a backplane or a base board provided with a function expansion slot and an expansion board.

Signals related to the present embodiment are input from the computer main unit (or host controller main unit) 1 to each expansion slot together with other bus signals via a backplane or the like. These signal lines include a signal line for notifying a timing control signal and an attribute code for reading an attribute of a board previously mounted as an option (variable element) or a newly added one.

The expansion boards 2 ₁ to 2 _{N which} are optionally connected to the expansion slots each have an auto-configuration-compatible control unit 3 for automatically constructing a system via a signal line with the computer main body 1. Input and output the attribute code and the timing control signal.

The auto-configuration-compatible control unit 3 configured as hardware or software is configured as shown in FIG.
The configuration shown in FIG. The read pulse input, with daisy-chaining capability timing controller 3 ₁ formed in the shift register configuration to read the pulse output to the subsequent stage of the expansion slot at a timing corresponding to the expansion slot position. Attribute code generator 3 ₂ outputs the code setting input or the like the attribute code of the own signal line. Reset controller 3 ₃ resets the timing controller 3 ₁ at the time of system start-up.

In such a system configuration, at the time of system initialization, the computer main body 1 grasps the type and quantity of the expansion board, which is a variable factor in the system construction, the mounting position, etc., and includes the necessary system including software. Perform configuration.

That is, when the system is started up, for example, immediately after the power is turned on, the computer main body 1 reads the optional configuration using the initialization program and the like, and initializes the configuration including the setup of the control contents of the system software. Do. FIG. 3 shows a timing at which information (attribute code of the extension board) necessary for the configuration is read.

During the initialization process, the computer main unit 1 asserts a read pulse corresponding to the number of expansion slots to an expansion bus having a plurality of expansion slots. These read signal lines are daisy-chained between adjacent slots, received by each expansion board, synchronized with the signal (pulse command), and sequentially transmitted to the subsequent slot. Each expansion board 2 ₁ to 2 _N in the autoconfiguration control unit 3 receives the attributes read signal
Corresponds to the first pulse, and puts its own attribute code on the general-purpose data bus of the system or the data line for reading the attribute code.

The expansion board 2 ₁ which is added to the nearest place on the computer main unit 1 is configured to assert its code in the first read pulse, blocks the pulses daisy chained connected, downstream of the slot Do not transmit. However, since the own code has already been transmitted after the second pulse, the code is passed to the expansion slot at a stage subsequent to itself without any intervention.

[0019] Other expansion board 2 ₂ to 2 _N also have the same auto-configuration control unit 3, as long as it is implemented packed from the side near to the computer main body 1, expansion board which attributes to which slots are added The computer main body 1 can automatically determine whether the configuration is correct, the system software can surely detect the configuration of the applied hardware, and the automatic configuration can be performed.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a system configuration showing another embodiment. 1 differs from FIG. 1 in that a read signal line daisy-chained around a slot or connector where no extension board is mounted is always short-circuited by the connector.

When an optional expansion board is mounted in an optional expansion slot, the short-circuit line is separated by the structure of the connector or the plug portion, and the above-described auto-configuration control section 3 of the expansion board is inserted. Becomes

[0022] This method, unlike the embodiment described above, there is no necessarily constraints that must implement additional expansion board in the form of adjacent all from the side close to the computer main body 1, as expansion boards 2 ₁ or 2 ₃ It is also possible to apply a large-sized one occupying two slots. This is effective in the case where it cannot be added to the adjacent slot in terms of physical restrictions such as the size of the expansion board or measures against heat generation.

In this case, the computer body 1 similarly asserts a read pulse for the expansion slot. However, in this embodiment, the position of the mounted slot cannot be specified.

In any of the embodiments, if the expansion slot is not fully populated, there is no expansion board responding to the read signal after receiving all the existing attribute codes. Here, in a state where the data line is not electrically driven, the level determination processing of the attribute code data line is performed by pull-up or pull-down resistor to the power supply so as to be all H level or L level. Attribute codes such as all H level and all L level are not assigned. By doing so, the computer main body 1 can reliably read the last of the expansion board when receiving the all-H level or all-L level code.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, at the time of system initialization, the computer main unit asserts read pulses as many as the number of expansion slots, and the expansion boards connected in a daisy chain sequentially receive the read pulses and receive their own pulses. By sequentially outputting the attribute codes to the data lines, the computer main body recognizes the configuration of the expansion board and automatically configures the system.

(1) In a system that requires versatility and expandability, it becomes possible to automatically recognize the hardware configuration of an expansion board such as various I / Os which differs for each application.

(2) The software installed in the product can be standardized, including the hardware driver. Also,
At the time of system initialization, it is possible to relocate and optimize the installed software modules according to the configuration of each system.

(3) Since it is not necessary to install and set software each time the configuration meets the required specifications, it is possible to reduce man-hours and product cost.

(4) Since the system initialization program uses the established attribute code and the auto-configuration program, human errors such as discrepancies between images of hardware and system software are eliminated.

(5) In order to add an existing system to the existing system using the expansion board of the present invention, as long as standardization and optimization have been performed in advance in consideration of the case of additional software, re-installation and resetting of software are particularly required. It is possible to upgrade the system in a very simple and reliable manner only by adding the hardware to the expansion slot without performing the procedure. Therefore, maintenance becomes easy.

(6) According to the preceding paragraph, the software is basically not modified even when the function is extended, which is advantageous from the viewpoint of maintaining the reliability of the system.

(7) The present invention can be applied to an expansion board that does not have a hardware register for each device whose address is set in advance, that is, that is not mapped at the time of initialization.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram (part 1) showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration of an auto-configuration corresponding control unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an operation timing in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention (part 2).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... computer 2 ₁ to 2 _N ... extension board 3 ... autoconfiguration corresponding control unit 3 ₁ ... timing controller 3 ₂ ... attribute code generator 3 ₃ ... reset controller

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A computer system having a function expansion / modification slot and a backplane, wherein the computer main body includes means for asserting read signals as many as the number of expansion slots or backplanes at the time of system initialization. Or an expansion board inserted in the backplane receives the read signal in a daisy chain connection, outputs its own attribute code to the data line in synchronization with the read signal, and passes the subsequent read pulse through to the subsequent stage. Means, the computer body receives the attribute code, grasps the type and quantity of the expansion board and the mounting position,
A computer system comprising means for performing necessary system configuration. 2. A connector or connector of the slot or the backplane short-circuits the read signal in a portion where the extension board is not mounted when an extension board occupying a plurality of adjacent slots or the backplane is inserted. 2. The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising a short-circuit mechanism for unconditionally transmitting the signal to a slot or a backplane in a subsequent stage.