KR20060036654A - Automatic back-up device and method for computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic backup apparatus and method for a computer system that can perform a stable backup operation and reduce costs by using a flash memory and a related power supply method as a medium for data backup. The apparatus includes a north bridge for controlling the main memory in association with the central processing unit; A south bridge controlling a hard disk in association with the north bridge; A flash memory for storing data stored in a main memory and an internal cache memory of the CPU when data is backed up in association with the north bridge; And a power control unit for supplying power to each of the components.

Description

Automatic back-up device and method for computer system

1 is a block diagram of a conventional computer system.

2 is a block diagram of a computer system in accordance with the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic backup and recovery method in accordance with the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

200: central processing unit 210: north bridge

220: main memory 230: south bridge

240: hard disk 250: flash memory

260: power control unit 261: power switch control unit

262: first switch 263: regulator

264: second switch 265: third switch

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic backup apparatus and method for a computer system, and more particularly, to an automatic backup apparatus and method for a computer system which reduces costs by using a flash memory and a related power supply method as a medium for data backup.

1 shows a block diagram of a conventional computer system.

The conventional computer system includes a north bridge 110 that controls the main memory 120 in cooperation with the central processing unit 100, a south bridge 130 that controls the hard disk 140 in conjunction with the north bridge 110, And a power control unit 150 for supplying power to each of the components.

The power control unit 150 receives a power switch control unit 151 which outputs first to fourth control signals VCC3M_ON, VCC5M_ON, VCC3A_ON and VCC5A_ON, and a first to receive the first and second control signals VCC3M_ON and VCC5M_ON. When the first switch 152 and the first switch 152 are turned on, the regulator 153 receives a voltage of 12V from the outside and outputs first and second voltages VCC3M and VCC5M having voltage levels of 3V and 5V, respectively. ) And a second receiving the first and second voltages VCC3M and VCC5M and outputting third and fourth voltages VCC3A and VCC5A when the third and fourth control signals VCC3A_ON and VCC5A_ON are enabled. And a switch 154. Here, the first and second voltages VCC3M and VCC5M are driving power sources for driving the CPU 100, the north bridge 110, and the main memory 120, and the third and fourth voltages VCC3A and VCC5A. ) Is a driving power source for driving the south bridge 130 and the hard disk 140.

When the power is normally supplied, the hard disk 140 transmits data to the main memory 120 and the cache memory of the CPU 100 to perform data processing. If the power is not supplied, the power detection unit inside the application program detects this and operates the battery power to store the cache memory information of the main memory 120 and the CPU 100. However, in the conventional computer system configured as described above, in order to back up the data stored in the internal cache memory of the main memory 120 and the central processing unit 100, a south bridge and a hard disk with high current consumption are required. Accordingly, there is a disadvantage in that a high capacity battery and an accompanying driving circuit should be used in an unexpected power off such as a power failure. In addition, there is a problem that a physical error of the hard disk and holding of the system occurs during data backup.

Accordingly, the present invention was created to solve the problems inherent in the prior art as described above, and an object of the present invention is to ensure stable storage of data during data backup and to reduce costs in system configuration. The present invention provides an automatic backup device and method.

In order to achieve the above object, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic backup device of a computer system, comprising: a north bridge for controlling a main memory in association with a central processing unit; A south bridge controlling the hard disk in association with the north bridge; A flash memory for storing data stored in a main memory and an internal cache memory of the central processing unit during data backup in association with the north bridge; And a power control unit for supplying power to each of the components.

According to another aspect of the invention, the power control unit, the power switch control unit for outputting the first to sixth control signal; A first switch enabled by the first and second control signals; A regulator receiving the output signal of the first switch and outputting first and second voltages having the external voltage down to a predetermined level; A second switch receiving the first and second voltages and outputting third and fourth voltages when the third and fourth control signals are enabled; And a third switch configured to receive the first and second voltages and to output fifth and sixth voltages when the fifth and sixth control signals are enabled. Used as the driving voltage of flash memory.

According to another aspect of the invention, the step of determining the power supply state by monitoring the state of the control signal transmitted from the power control unit in the power detection unit inside the application program; When the power is normally supplied, bringing data from the hard disk into the main memory and the cache memory of the central processing unit to perform data processing; If the power is not supplied, turning off the hard disk and applying automatic backup power to back up information of the main memory and the cache memory of the CPU to the flash memory; Shutting down the automatic backup power to terminate the entire system when the backup is completed; And returning the backup data in the flash memory to the main memory and the cache memory of the CPU when the power is normally supplied again.

(Example)

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 shows a block diagram of a computer system according to the present invention.

The computer system of the present invention includes a north bridge 210 that controls the main memory 220 in cooperation with the central processing unit 200 and a south bridge that controls the hard disk 240 in cooperation with the north bridge 210. 230, a flash memory 250 for storing data stored in the main memory 220 and the internal cache memory of the central processing unit 200 when data is backed up in association with the north bridge 210; And a power control unit 260 for supplying power to each of the components.

The power control unit 260 includes: a power switch control unit 261 which outputs first to sixth control signals VCC3M_ON, VCC5M_ON, VCC3A_OFF, VCC5A_OFF, VCC3B_ON, and VCC5B_ON; A first switch 262 which receives the first and second control signals VCC3M_ON and VCC5M_ON; A regulator 263 which receives a voltage of 12V from the outside and outputs first and second voltages VCC3M and VCC5M having voltage levels of 3V and 5V, respectively, when the first switch 262 is turned on; A second switch receiving the first and second voltages VCC3M and VCC5M and outputting third and fourth voltages VCC3A and VCC5A when the third and fourth control signals VCC3A_OFF and VCC5A_OFF are enabled; 264); And receiving the first and second voltages VCC3M and VCC5M, and outputting fifth and sixth voltages VCC3B and VCC5B when the fifth and sixth control signals VCC3B_ON and VCC5B_ON are enabled. Three switches 265 are provided. Here, the first and second voltages VCC3M and VCC5M are driving power sources for driving the central processing unit 200, the north bridge 210, and the main memory 220, and the third and fourth voltages VCC3A and VCC5A. ) Is a driving power source for driving the south bridge 230 and the hard disk 240, and fifth and sixth voltages VCC3B and VCC5B are auxiliary power sources for driving the flash memory 250.

Hereinafter, the operation of the computer system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic backup and recovery method according to the present invention, which is divided into a normal operation, an automatic backup operation, and an automatic recovery operation of a computer system.

First, in the normal operation, AC 110-220V power is supplied to the adapter to the computer system and converted into DC 12V, and the converted DC 12V is supplied to the power control unit 260 (step 300 and step 310). The power control unit 260 receives the DC 12V and converts it into the DC voltage required in the system, and the converted voltages VCC3M, VCC5M, VCC3A, VCC5A, VCC3B, and VCC5B are supplied to the system to activate the system (step 320). . South Bridge 230, which controls automatic backup and recovery, activates the automatic backup and recovery software program stored in North Bridge 210 to operate the automatic backup control (steps 330 and 340). The power detector in the activated program monitors the first to sixth control signals VCC3M_ON, VCC5M_OFF, VCC3A_OFF, VCC5A_ON, VCC3B_ON, and VCC5B_ON transmitted from the power controller 260 (step 350). At this time, the power detection unit, the first, second, fifth and sixth control signals (VCC3M_ON, VCC5M_ON, VCC3B_ON, VCC5B_ON) maintain a high level and the third and fourth control signals (VCC3A_OFF, VCC5A_OFF) are low level. If it is maintained, it is determined to be normal operation and the next operation is performed. The central processing unit 200 imports data from the hard disk 240 into the main memory 220 and the cache memory and executes an application program to perform data processing (step 360).

Next, in the case of the automatic backup operation, the power detector monitors the control signals VCC3M_ON, VCC5M_ON, VCC3A_OFF, VCC5A_OFF, VCC3B_ON, and VCC5B_ON transmitted from the power control unit 260 (step 350). At this time, the first, second, fifth, and sixth control signals VCC3M_ON, VCC5M_ON, VCC3B_ON, VCC5B_ON maintain the low level, and the third and fourth control signals VCC3A_OFF, VCC5A_OFF maintain the high level. Auto Backup will be activated. When the automatic backup function is operated, information of the cache memory inside the main memory 220 and the central processing unit 200 is backed up to the flash memory 250 (step 370). When the backup is not completed, the backup is continuously performed, and when the backup is completed, the automatic backup power is cut off and the entire system is shut down (steps 380 and 390).

 Finally, in the case of the automatic recovery operation, when restarting the backup system proceeds, power is supplied to the system and the automatic backup and recovery program is activated (step 340). At this time, the data backed up to the flash memory 250 is restored to the main memory 220 (steps 400 and 410). In this case, when the restoration is not performed, the CPU 200, as in normal operation, imports data from the hard disk 240 into the main memory 220 and the cache memory, executes an application program, and executes data processing. (Step 360). Here, the battery charge detector detects whether the auxiliary power is charged and performs charging until the charging is completed. After the charging is completed, the battery charge detector transmits the charging completion control signal to the source bridge 230 (steps 420 and 430).

Hereinafter, a comparison will be made between a conventional computer system and the computer system of the present invention.

While the conventional computer system shown in FIG. 1 stores data on a hard disk at the time of data backup, the computer system of the present invention is provided with a separate flash memory for backup and uses a related power supply method. Due to these differences, the computer system of the present invention can be expected to reduce costs by using a high capacity battery and accompanying circuits according to the use of a hard disk, and a physical error or system of a disk frequently occurred during hard disk backup. The problem of holding can be prevented.

According to the configuration as described above of the present invention, by using the flash memory as a medium for data backup and the power supply method associated therewith, it is possible to implement a computer system that ensures a stable backup operation and reduces the cost.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, the invention is not so limited, and the invention is not limited to the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that these various modifications and variations can be made.

Claims (3)

In the automatic backup device of a computer system, A north bridge for controlling the main memory in association with the central processing unit; A south bridge controlling the hard disk in association with the north bridge; A flash memory for storing data stored in a main memory and an internal cache memory of the central processing unit during data backup in association with the north bridge; And And a power control unit for supplying power to each of the components. The method of claim 1, The power control unit, A power switch controller configured to output first to sixth control signals; A first switch enabled by the first and second control signals; A regulator receiving the output signal of the first switch and outputting first and second voltages having the external voltage down to a predetermined level; A second switch receiving the first and second voltages and outputting third and fourth voltages when the third and fourth control signals are enabled; And And a third switch receiving the first and second voltages and outputting fifth and sixth voltages when the fifth and sixth control signals are enabled. And the fifth and sixth voltages are used as driving voltages of the flash memory. In the automatic backup method of the computer system, Determining a power supply state by monitoring a state of a control signal transmitted from a power control unit in a power detection unit inside an application program; When the power is normally supplied, bringing data from the hard disk into the main memory and the cache memory of the central processing unit to perform data processing; If the power is not supplied, turning off the hard disk and applying automatic backup power to back up information of the main memory and the cache memory of the CPU to the flash memory; Shutting down the automatic backup power to terminate the entire system when the backup is completed; And Restoring backup data in the flash memory to the main memory and the cache memory of the central processing unit when the power is normally supplied again.

Images