JPH04160514A - Method for starting personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To immediately start a simple AP (application) by executing only initialization and self-diagnosis of irreducible minimum fundamental hardware required for the start of only the simple AP in the case of starting the simple AP. CONSTITUTION:This method consists of a CPU 1, a main memory 2, an extended memory 2a, a fundamental input/output software ROM 3, a non-volatile RAM (random access memory) 4, a backup power source 4a, etc. Normal power-on or start of only the simple AP is discriminated; and in the latter case, only initialization and self-diagnosis of minimum fundamental hardware required for start of only the simple AP are executed. After the end of this process, the simple AP is started when the simple AP is preliminarily stored in the RAM 4. Thus, a computer superior in start responsiveness for the use of the simple AP is obtained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for starting a personal computer,
In particular, it relates to a method of activating only a simple AP.

[Prior Art] Conventional electrical and electronic devices for office automation such as personal computers and word processors are progressing year by year in two directions: higher functionality and smaller size and lighter weight.

In particular, the reduction in the size and weight of word processors that execute only programs stored in read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM), such as document creation, address management, and schedule management, has led to the miniaturization of personal computers that emphasize general-purpose usage. This is slightly ahead of weight reduction.

Moreover, such word processors run programs in R.
Since they are built into the OM, many of them have the feature that they can be used as soon as the power is turned on.

On the other hand, personal computers, which place emphasis on versatility and compatibility, first perform a self-diagnosis of each hardware component after turning on the power, and then run the operating system (hereinafter referred to as O8) and application programs (hereinafter referred to as O8).
It has generally been possible to use the AP by reading the AP from a floppy disk (hereinafter referred to as FDD) or a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as IDD).

[Problem a to be solved by the invention] (1) Conventional personal computers run relatively simple application programs (hereinafter referred to as simple A).
Even when using a simple AP (referred to as P), it is necessary to check and self-diagnose all hardware, so there is a problem that the waiting time for starting the simple AP is very long compared to the usage time of the simple AP. there were.

(2) In order to shorten the startup wait time of a personal computer, it is necessary to shorten both the time for self-diagnosis of each hardware component immediately after the power is turned on, and the time for reading various programs thereafter.

However, there is a problem in that shortening the self-diagnosis time may lead to a decrease in the early detection rate of failures and a decrease in reliability.

(3) On the other hand, the program loading time depends on the hard disk, battery-backed RAM (Randa
m Access Memory) or ROM
By storing the program in a storage medium that can be read at high speed, such as However, although it is possible to always start a specific program at high speed, it is not possible to start any program at high speed as needed.

(4) Furthermore, when the simple AP program is stored in the ROM, it becomes difficult to replace the program, which causes a problem in that the versatility of the personal computer is significantly reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a personal computer that maintains reliability and versatility during normal startup, and has excellent startup response when using component APs. The first objective is to provide the following.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The method for starting a personal computer according to the present invention is to start an application program based on the operating system after initializing the hardware and performing self-diagnosis when the power is turned on normally. In the method of starting up a personal computer, there is a method of starting up a personal computer by turning on the power normally or by starting an arbitrary program (hereinafter referred to as simple AP) stored in advance on non-volatile memory.
There is a power-on factor determination process that determines whether the P startup is activated, and if it is determined that the simple AP is being activated in the power-on cause determination process, the minimum hardware initialization required to start only the simple AP is performed. The process includes an initial setting step in which only the initialization and self-diagnosis are performed, and a simple AP starting step in which the simple AP is started if the simple iAP is stored after the initial setting step is completed.

[Function] In the present invention, it is determined whether to turn on the power normally or to start the simple AP, which starts only the simple AP.
In the case of startup, only the minimum necessary basic hardware initialization and self-diagnosis are executed to start up only the simple AP.

After the process is completed, if the simple AP is stored in the nonvolatile memory in advance, the simple AP is activated.

Furthermore, if it is determined that the power is turned on normally, the application program is started based on the operating system after initial setting and self-diagnosis of all hardware.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a personal computer using the present invention.

In the figure, (J) is a CPU. (2) is the main memory, and (2a) is the additional memory.

(3) is a ROM in which basic manual software is stored, and when the power is turned on, a RAM for storing a simple AP, which will be described later.
Write-protected state, check the power-on factor (normal power-on or simple AP startup), omit some of the hardware initialization and self-diagnosis based on that information, and write the program later. It is determined whether to read from the FDD or HDD, or to pass control to a simple AP stored in RAM (4), which will be described later. Simple AP
If the AP is not stored properly or the simple AP processing is completed, a signal is output to turn off the main power.

(4) is a simple A with a backup power supply (4a)
If the simple AP is stored correctly in the RAM in which P is stored, a specific data pattern is set at the beginning of the area where the simple AP is stored.

Additionally, this area is a non-volatile memory area, and is placed in an address space independent of main memory (2) so that it is not subject to self-diagnosis along with main memory (2) when the power is turned on normally. .

Note that the area where the simple AP is stored and its data area are made writable only when a program is executed or stored.

(5a) is an interrupt control unit, (5b) is a system timer, (5C) is a DMA, (6) is a floppy disk (hereinafter referred to as FDD), (6a) is an FDD control unit, (7)
is a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as HDD), (7a) is an HDD control unit, (9) is a keyboard control unit, (9a) is a keyboard, (10) is a display control unit, (10a) is a
) is an LCD, (11) is a serial/parallel interface, and (lla) is a printer.

(15) is a power control unit, which has two types of power-on mechanisms that can identify the power-on cause by software: a normal power-on switch (hereinafter referred to as power-on switch (16)) and a simple AP high-speed startup switch. Power switch (hereinafter referred to as AP)
The main power source is cut off when a signal to cut off the main power source is output from the CPU (1).

Further, the AP start switch (17) can also be used as a simple AP end switch.

The operation of the personal computer configured as described above will be explained below.

The CPU (1) is activated from the ROM by normal power startup by pressing the power on switch (16) of the power supply control unit (17) or by simple AP startup by pressing the AP startup switch (17).
The following processing is performed based on the basic attendance software in (3).

FIG. 2 is a flowchart 1 for explaining the method for starting up a personal computer according to the present invention.

As an initial setting, the CPU (1) prohibits writing to the area of the RAM (4) where the simple AP and its data are stored (Sl).

This is to prevent the simple AP from being rewritten if an unexpected accident occurs after the power is turned on.

Next, determine the power-on factor, whether it is simple AP startup or normal power startup, and if it is determined that it is simple AP startup as a result of this determination, the corresponding simple AP startup flag is set in the flag area (
(S2).

Next, referring to the flag area, it is determined whether the power supply is started normally or the component AP is started, and the program control is branched (S
3). If it is a simple AD activation, the CPU (1) reads the area where the simple AP activation flag is created and stores it in a predetermined area of the main memory (2) (S7).

This flag area is cleared here because it will be used later to determine whether the simple AP is finished (S9).

Next, initialization and self-diagnosis of the basic hardware sections that are at least essential for the simple AP to operate on this device are performed (811).

This basic hardware section is the CPU (1
,), the main memory (
2), a ROM (3) in which the basic human output software section is stored, a RAM in which a simple AP is stored, an interrupt control and a system timer.
(5c), a keyboard control section (9), a display control section (10), etc.

Next, it is determined whether the basic hardware has been initialized normally and the self-diagnosis is normal (513), and if it is determined to be normal, the RAM (4) in which the simple AP is stored is activated (Sl5). .

Next, read the content at the beginning of RAM (4) where the simple AP is stored (S21), and determine whether the simple AP is stored correctly depending on whether there is a specific data pattern (523). If there is a data pattern, it is determined that a simple AP is stored.

Then, it compares the entire checksum of all the stored simple APs and determines whether they are maintained normally (825).
.

If it is determined that the storage is normal, the R A
The simple AP process of M (4) is executed (S27).

Then, when the simple AP processing is completed, turn off the main power.
Outputs a signal causing F to the power supply control section (15) (S2
9).

In addition, if it is determined in step S3 that the simple AP is not activated, it is assumed that the power switch (16) is turned on normally, and the remaining hardware is initialized and self-diagnosed (831), and FDD ( 6) and HDD (7), and transfers control to that program (S
33).

The remaining hardware units in step S31 include the remaining majority of the main memory (2), the DMA (5c),
FDD control section (6), HDD control section (7), serial/
These include a parallel interface section (11) and the like. Note that since RAM (4) in which the simple AP is stored is an independent address space, it is not subject to self-diagnosis and will not be destroyed even by normal power startup.

Further, if it is determined in step 813 that the basic hardware for executing the simple AP and the self-diagnosis are not normal, control is transferred to step S29 described above, and the main power is turned off.

Further, in steps S23 and S25, control is similarly transferred to step S29.

Therefore, unless the device is never used during normal startup, the failure detection rate and reliability of the device will not decrease.

In addition, since the simple AP of this device and its data section are all stored in a RAM area independent of the main memory, the simple AP
By storing , the usable area of main memory does not decrease. That is, when used in a normal startup method, the reliability and versatility of this device as a personal computer are not impaired.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart 1 explaining the simple AP processing.

If it is determined that the simple AP is stored normally, the CP
U (1) executes the following processing based on the simple AP of RAM (4).

First, CPU (1) releases the write protection of the area where data is stored using the simple AP (Slot).

Next, various initialization processes for executing the simple AP process stored in RAM (4) are executed (8103).
).

Here, the explanation will be continued assuming that a simple AP that performs the same processing as a calculator is stored.

It is determined whether a key on the keyboard (9a) is pressed and a key signal is input from the keyboard control unit (9).
).

If it is determined that a key signal has been input, the process corresponding to that key signal is executed (Sl, 1.3), and the control is carried out in step 3.
Transfer to 111.

Specifically, for example, the keyboard (9a) =
12- When the command key (not shown) is pressed when 150+I DO+300- is displayed on the LCD, C
P U (1) reads the calculation formula and calculates it.

Also, if it is determined in step 5111 that there is no key signal input, a simple AP startup flag will be created.Checking the state of the flag area, if a simple AP startup flag has not been created, select the AP startup switch (]7). Assuming that the button has not been pressed again, control is transferred to step 5111 (8115).

Also, if the simple AP startup flag has been created, the RAM
(4) The area in which the simple AP data is stored is set to a write-inhibited state, and control is shifted to step S29 in FIG. 2.

As explained above, when this device is started with the simple AP start switch (17) for fast start of the simple AP,
Initialize and self-diagnose the minimum basic hardware required to start the simple AP, and then create the simple AP stored in advance.
It operates as a dedicated device that starts up the computer at high speed, and when started up with a normal power switch, it can operate as a normal general-purpose personal computer.

Furthermore, since the simple AP of this device and its data portion are all stored in a non-volatile RAM area independent of the main memory, the usable area of the main memory will not be reduced by storing the simple AP. That is, when used in a normal startup method, the reliability and versatility of this device as a personal computer are not impaired.

In this embodiment, an arbitrary simple AP is started up quickly by replacing the simple APs stored in the battery backup RAM area.
A non-volatile memory card may be used instead of the backup RAM area.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is determined whether the power-on factor is normal power-on or simple AP activation, and if the simple AP is activated, only the simple AP is activated. By starting the simple AP by executing only the minimum necessary basic hardware initialization and self-diagnosis, initialization of each hardware part and self-diagnosis program executed after power-on are reduced. Since this section can be omitted, the effect is that the simple AP can be started immediately.

In addition, if it is determined that the power is turned on normally, the application program is started based on the operating system after initial setting and self-diagnosis of all hardware, maintaining reliability as a personal computer during normal startup. The effect is that it can be done.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a personal computer using the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining a method for starting a personal computer according to the present invention,
The figure is a flowchart explaining the simple AP. In the figure, (1) is the CPU, (2) is the main memory,
(2a) is an additional memory, (3) is a ROM, (4) is a non-volatile RAM, (4a) is a power supply for the buffer tube, (5) is a
a) is an interrupt control unit, (5b) is a system timer, (
5c) is DMA, (B) is FDD, (6a) is FDD control section, (7) is HDDl (7a) is HDD control section, (9
) is the keyboard control unit, (9a) is the keyboard, (10
) is the display control unit, (10a) is the LCD, (11
) is a serial/parallel interface, (lla) is a printer, (15) is a power control unit, (16) is a power-on switch, and (17) is an AP start switch. ]〈Using the invention/1P- Figure 1 with a schematic diagram of the sonal conhi0 user

Claims (1)

[Claims] A method for starting a personal computer in which an application program is started based on an operating system after the hardware is initialized and self-diagnosed when the power is turned on normally. a power-on factor determining step for determining whether power is to be turned on to start a special program (hereinafter referred to as a simple AP) stored in the physical memory; If it is determined, there is an initial setting step in which only the minimum required hardware initialization and self-diagnosis are performed to start only the simple AP; and after the initial setting step, the simple AP is stored. A method for starting a personal computer, comprising: a simple AP starting step of starting the simple AP.