JP2001202321A - Communication system of computer system and peripheral equipment usable for the communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] A communication system of a computer system that allows a user to use a peripheral device by connecting the computer and the peripheral device irrespective of the context of the OS of the computer and the peripheral device at the time of release. A peripheral device usable for the communication method is provided. In a computer system in which a computer and a peripheral device are connected, the peripheral device stores therein a driver program for the computer to control the peripheral device. Reads the driver program and sends it to the computer 1,
The computer 1 reads out the transmitted driver program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system of a computer system in which a computer and a peripheral device are connected, and a peripheral device usable for the communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the input and output functions of voice, still image and moving image have been developed with the improvement of processing capability of computers, and various peripheral devices for these functions have been remarkably enhanced. In particular, with the expansion of the home computer market, there is a demand for easy connection and operation of these peripheral devices.

Under such circumstances, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) has been proposed as a technology example for realizing a so-called "plug and play" that enables various peripheral devices to be connected without complexity. A representative example is a connection example of peripheral devices according to a general-purpose communication standard.

[0004] The following describes a conventional technique for a display as a peripheral device for a computer.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 3, 1 is a computer, 2 is a display, 3 is a deflection circuit, 4 is a video amplifier circuit, 5 is a deflection yoke, 6 is a CRT (CRT), 7 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), 8 is EEPROM (electrically erasable non-volatile ROM), 9 is an interface circuit, 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes an auxiliary storage device represented by a fixed disk or the like.

Next, the operation of the display 2 will be described. When a set of a horizontal synchronization signal, a vertical synchronization signal, and a video signal from the computer 1 is input to the display 2, the synchronization signal is input to the deflection circuit 3 and the video signal is input to the video amplification circuit 4. The deflection circuit 3 performs a horizontal and vertical deflection operation by generating saw-tooth wave currents synchronized with the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal, respectively, and flowing these currents to the deflection yoke 5. Also, the video amplification circuit 4
Then, the video signal is amplified and output to the CRT 6. In this way, a target image is displayed on the screen of the display 2.

Next, the operation when the user adjusts each adjustment item of the display 2 will be described. Here, the display 2 has an adjustment function using a communication function. Commands from the computer 1 are received by the CPU 7 via the interface circuit 9. The CPU 7 controls each circuit of the display 2 to change each adjustment item according to the received command. For example, when adjusting the size and position of the display screen, the deflection circuit 3 may be controlled to change the amplitude of the sawtooth wave current flowing through the deflection yoke 5 and the phase with respect to the synchronization signal, respectively. In order to adjust the contrast of the video signal, the video amplifier circuit 4 may be controlled to change the amplitude of the video signal. Also,
These adjustment states are written to the EEPROM 8 as adjustment data, and when the display 2 is used next time,
This adjustment data is read out from the EEPROM 8, and the previous adjustment state is reproduced.

Next, a recognition function when the computer 1 and the display 2 are connected will be described. In the general-purpose communication standard, various peripheral devices including the display 2 are connected to the computer 1, so that the computer 1 needs to recognize what the connected peripheral device is. In order to solve this, the display 2 has in the EEPROM 8 data for specifying the type of device (indicating that it is a display), the maker and the model. When the computer 1 and the display 2 are connected, the display 2 reads out these data from the EEPROM 8 and sends the data to the computer 1 via the interface circuit 9.
Send to The computer 1 can recognize what the connected peripheral device is from these data.

Here, the computer 1 is connected to the display 2
In order to control each peripheral device including the above, a driver program for the computer 1 to control the corresponding device is required for each type or model of each device. These driver programs are recorded in the auxiliary storage device 10 in advance. The computer 1 selects the appropriate one of the various driver programs according to the above-described recognition result and reads it out from the auxiliary storage device 10, whereby the display 2 can be adjusted thereafter.

The peripheral device recognition procedure is standardized by a communication standard, and is common regardless of the type and model of the peripheral device to be connected. That is, since the computer 1 can automatically recognize the peripheral device, it is not necessary for the user to perform operations such as selection and setting of a driver program. Therefore, the user can use the peripheral device only by connecting the computer and the peripheral device, which greatly contributes to improvement of usability.

[0011]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems.

Usually, a driver program depends on an operating system (hereinafter referred to as an OS) of a computer and is supplied together with the OS. Therefore, the peripheral devices existing at the time of release of the OS can be used when the OS is introduced.

However, if the driver program is not supplied at the same time as the OS because, for example, a peripheral device is released after the OS, the driver program is stored in a medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or CD-ROM. Need to be supplied separately. In this case, the user needs to operate a disk drive, a mouse, and the like.

Conversely, no consideration is given to the handling (use) of peripheral devices when the driver program of the computer is improved.

Further, when a digital still camera, a portable printer, or the like is considered as a peripheral device, a use form in which the peripheral device is connected to a plurality of computers by carrying the peripheral device can be assumed. However, since each computer is not equipped with a driver program for this peripheral device, it is necessary to carry the medium together with the peripheral device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a communication system of a computer system which enables a user to use a peripheral device by connecting the computer to the peripheral device regardless of the relationship between the OS of the computer and the peripheral device at the time of release. An object of the present invention is to provide a peripheral device that can be used for the communication method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication system of a computer system capable of coping with a peripheral device when a driver program for controlling the peripheral device from a computer is improved, and a peripheral system usable in the communication system. To provide equipment.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a communication system of a computer system usable in correspondence with a plurality of types of computers and a plurality of types of OSs, and a peripheral device usable in the communication system.

[0019]

According to the present invention, in a computer system in which a computer and a peripheral device are connected, a driver program for the computer to control the peripheral device is stored in the peripheral device.
The peripheral device transmits the driver program to the computer, and the computer reads the received driver program.

According to the present invention, in a computer system in which a computer and a peripheral device are connected, a driver program for the computer to control the peripheral device is stored in the peripheral device, and the peripheral device stores the driver program. A peripheral device usable for a communication system of a computer system, wherein a driver program is transmitted to the computer, and the driver program is received, read, and used by the computer.

Also, according to the present invention, the computer has a second driver program different from the driver program, and the computer transmits the second program to the peripheral device, and the peripheral device A communication method for a computer system, wherein the currently stored driver program is updated to the second driver program.

The present invention also includes a step of receiving a second driver program transmitted from the computer, which is different from the driver program, and replacing the driver program currently stored in the peripheral device with the second driver program. This is a peripheral device that can be used for a computer system communication method characterized by being updated to a program.

According to the present invention, there is provided a communication system for a computer system, wherein the peripheral device stores two or more driver programs, and a peripheral device usable for the communication system.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, each of the components denoted by reference numerals 1 to 10 is the same as that described in the above-described conventional FIG. Here, 11 is a flash ROM. Also, the operation of the display 2,
The operation when the user adjusts the display 2 is the same as that in FIG.

Next, a recognition function when the computer 1 and the display 2 are connected will be described. The display 2 has data in the EEPROM 8 for specifying the type of device (indicating that the device is a display), the maker, and the model. When the computer 1 and the display 2 are connected, the display 2 reads out these data from the EEPROM 8 and
To the computer 1 via The computer 1 can recognize what the connected peripheral device is from these data.

The display 2 has a flash RO
A driver program necessary for the computer 1 to control the display 2 is stored in M11.

Hereinafter, a procedure for reading the driver program from the display 2 by the computer 1 will be described.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the storage area of the flash ROM 11 has a plurality of areas (area 1, area 2,.
..), And a driver program is stored for each area. In addition, for each area, as the management information on each driver program, the type (name or data enabling discrimination) of the OS corresponding to the driver program, and up to which point the OS needs to be revised if necessary , The revision information of the driver program and the program size are stored.

After recognizing the display 2, the computer 1 requests the display 2 to transmit the management information of each area. On the other hand, the display 2 has a flash RO
The management information of each area is sequentially read out from M11 and transmitted to the computer 1. Next, computer 1
Determines the most suitable driver program that can be used based on the received management information.
Request transmission of this driver program. On the other hand, the display 2 reads out the driver program stored in the corresponding area of the flash ROM 11 and sends it to the computer 1. Computer 1
Thus, the driver program is displayed on the display 2.
, The display 2 can be adjusted thereafter.

Here, if a driver program for controlling the display 2 is recorded in the auxiliary storage device 10, the computer 1 stores the driver program in the auxiliary storage device 10 when determining the management information received from the display 2. An optimum driver program is selected based on the above-mentioned driver program revision information including the recorded one. If the driver program usable by the computer 1 is not stored in any area of the flash ROM 11, the driver program recorded in the auxiliary storage device 10 or the floppy disk or CD -Use a driver program supplied by a medium such as a ROM.

Therefore, regardless of the relationship between the OS of the computer and the peripheral device at the time of release, the user can connect the computer and the peripheral device to use the peripheral device, which greatly contributes to improvement in usability.

The procedure for recognizing the peripheral device, the procedure for determining the usable driver program, and the procedure for reading the driver program are described below.
It is common regardless of the model. Therefore, by standardizing these procedures as a communication standard, the computer 1 can automatically recognize the peripheral device, and therefore, even if the peripheral device is released after the OS, the user can use the computer 1 In particular, since there is no need to perform operations such as selection and setting of a driver program, it greatly contributes to further improvement in usability.

Also, even when the peripheral device is carried and connected to a plurality of computers 1, a medium in which a driver program is recorded is unnecessary, and only the peripheral device needs to be carried.

Further, by storing the corresponding driver programs in the respective areas of the flash ROM 11 for a plurality of types of computers 1 and OSs, the above-described driver programs are not dedicated to a certain type of computer 1 and OS. Benefits can be obtained.

Next, the update function of the driver program will be described.

When a driver program is separately supplied from a medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM,
The computer 1 requests the display 2 to transmit management information of each area. On the other hand, the display 2 sequentially reads out the management information of each area from the flash ROM 11 and transmits this to the computer 1.

Next, the computer 1 uses the OS being used.
Based on the type and revision information of the driver program, the supplied revision information of the driver program, and the management information previously received from the display 2, it is determined whether the driver program stored in the display 2 can be updated.

For example, if the corresponding driver program is newer than the supplied driver program, there is no need to update the corresponding driver program. Thus, the computer 1 is connected to the display 2
Only when it is determined that the driver program stored in the driver 1 can be updated, the computer 1 transmits the update request of the driver program and the supplied driver program and the management information thereof to the display 2.

The display 2 receives these, determines from the received management information in which area of the flash ROM 11 the driver program to be updated is stored, and writes and updates the received driver program in the corresponding area.

It is assumed that the driver program needs to be revised when the function of the driver program is improved or when the OS is revised.

In such a case, the revised driver program is supplied from a medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM by the same procedure as in the prior art. And
The driver program after the revision is transmitted from the computer 1 to the peripheral device, and the peripheral device stores the driver program. When the peripheral device is carried and connected to a plurality of computers 1 as described above, the peripheral device is stored together with the peripheral device. The revised driver program can be used without carrying the medium storing the driver program.

Also, by storing the management information and the driver program read out from the display 2 by the computer 1 in the auxiliary storage device 10 in advance, even if the content of the flash ROM 11 is destroyed, it can be restored. can do.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the user can connect the computer to the peripheral device and use the peripheral device irrespective of the relationship between the OS of the computer and the peripheral device at the time of release, thereby improving the usability. Greatly contributes to

Further, according to the present invention, when a driver program for controlling a peripheral device from a computer is improved, it is possible to cope with the peripheral device, and the improved peripheral program can be used. It becomes possible.

Further, according to the present invention, it can be used corresponding to a plurality of types of computers and a plurality of types of OSs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents of a storage area of a flash ROM 11 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... computer, 2 ... display, 3 ... deflection circuit,
4 video amplification circuit, 5 deflection yoke, 6 CRT (CRT), 7 CPU (central processing unit), 8 EE
PROM (electrically erasable non-volatile ROM), 9 ...
Interface circuit, 10 ... Auxiliary storage device represented by a fixed disk, etc., 11 ... Flash ROM.

Claims (6)

[Claims] In a computer system in which a computer and a peripheral device are connected, the computer stores a driver program for controlling the peripheral device inside the peripheral device, and the peripheral device stores the driver program in the peripheral device. A communication system for a computer system, wherein the driver program is transmitted to a computer, and the computer reads the received driver program. 2. In a computer system in which a computer and a peripheral device are connected, the computer stores a driver program for controlling the peripheral device inside the peripheral device, and the peripheral device stores the driver program in the peripheral device. A peripheral device usable in a communication system of a computer system, wherein the peripheral device is transmitted to a computer, and the driver program is received, read, and used by the computer. 3. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the computer has a second driver program different from the driver program, and the computer transmits the second program to the peripheral device, and transmits the second program to the peripheral device. The driver program currently stored in the device is stored in the second
A communication method for a computer system, wherein the communication method is updated to a driver program. 4. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 2, wherein said second program is different from said driver program and transmitted from said computer.
And receiving the driver program and updating the driver program currently stored in the peripheral device to the second driver program. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device comprises:
A communication system for a computer system, wherein two or more driver programs are stored. 6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the peripheral device includes:
A peripheral device usable for a communication system of a computer system, wherein two or more driver programs are stored.