JPH075943A - Configuring method for computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To give flexibility to the configuring of a computer system and to easily configure the computer system. CONSTITUTION:A computer system is configured by making the computer system every functional component, and obtaining the coupling of the components 1-6, and 14 by using a communication function. Each component is made to be a box-constitution with standardized size, and the components are connected mechanically and electrically to each other. Also, a power from a common power supply unit 8 can be received by each component. Also, an external memory device driver out of the components is made common by connecting the plural drivers by a multi-handling driver 7 which controls plural external memory devices. Also, application software is made to be an IC card, and registration/deletion on the system can be performed only by loading/unloading it on an IC card housing box 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of constructing a computer system which is a combination of a computer body, its peripheral devices and software.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a computer system includes a computer body such as a personal computer, a keyboard serving as an input device, a pointing device such as a mouse, a CRT serving as an output device, an optical disk device serving as a printer and an external storage device, and the like. A system is constructed by connecting cables to peripheral devices such as a hard disk device and installing software to be used.

The computer main body is provided with an interface unit required for connecting with each peripheral device, and is connected by a cable constructed according to a predetermined standard. In addition, depending on the peripheral device, a method may be adopted in which the interface is not provided in the main body but an interface for each peripheral device is inserted into a slot for adding an interface called an expansion slot to obtain a connection.

Therefore, it is general to construct and expand the system mainly by the computer main body, and the introduction of the peripheral device is carried out in consideration of the connectivity of the interface and the availability of the expansion slot. .

The same thing can be said for a peripheral device developing maker, and the specifications of an external bus (provided by an expansion slot) of the computer main body are grasped and product development is carried out in accordance with this.

[0006]

The conventional computer system construction / expansion has the following problems.

(1) Problems seen from the user side of the computer system.

(1-a) Expansion of the system is restricted by the computer itself, and peripheral devices cannot be added freely.

(1-b) The CPU is speeded up in a very fast cycle (it is said that the performance is improved about 10 times in one and a half years), and an expensive main body is required to realize high-level processing. It is necessary to purchase at such an early cycle. Behind this, there is a substantial amount of software functionality, and it is common for these software to be created depending on the capabilities of the CPU.

(1-c) Even if the peripheral device of a certain manufacturer has good performance, it cannot be matched with the computer main body,
The ideal system configuration cannot be obtained.

(1-d) The entire system has a CPU-based model configuration, and the system becomes obsolete quickly, and the introduction of highly functional software is delayed.

(1-e) If the model is introduced according to the time, if the system is integrated and the information is operated only by increasing the number of individual systems, the LAN or the like is introduced. There is no choice but to carry out unified information management. In the latter case, the old model is generally wasted when it is no longer used.

(1-f) When an application is purchased, it is often assumed that the application is installed and used in a fixed disk device. However, installation work is inevitable before use, and there are many setting items. It becomes a difficult task for general users.

(2) Problems seen from the hardware vendor.

(2-a) The development is always model-dependent, and a specification difference is likely to occur between a computer manufacturer's genuine device and one that is not. In other words, it is highly possible that the genuine device will always have high performance for specific application software.
Third-party devices are not fully functional.

(2-b) The peripheral device maker cannot develop a new model until the CPU vendor clarifies the specifications of the external bus (expansion slot).

(3) Problems seen from the software vendor.

(3-a) In particular, in order to speed up the drawing relation, a software configuration specialized for the CPU and CRT interface is often adopted. In this case, it cannot be used when the model is changed. Therefore, it is necessary to develop products for each model.

(3-b) The development of application software requires the creation of a manual related to its installation, and the time and effort of inquiries regarding installation and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system construction method that makes a computer system construction flexible and facilitates system construction.

[0021]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention divides a computer system into functional units and constructs a system by obtaining a connection between the components by using a communication function provided in each component. It is characterized by

Further, each component of the present invention is provided with a device for each function in a box having standardized dimensions,
The box is characterized by being provided with a coupling means for mechanically coupling the components in parallel, a power connector for receiving power supply, and a communication connector for communicating between the components.

Further, each component of the present invention is characterized in that power is supplied by coupling with a common power supply unit.

Further, among the components of the present invention, the display driver is a multi-display driver for controlling a plurality of displays by connecting a plurality on the bus.

Further, among the components of the present invention, the external storage device driver is a multi-handling driver for controlling a plurality of external storage devices by connecting a plurality of them on the bus.

Further, each component of the present invention is characterized by having a caching memory and performing communication between the components.

An IC card component is provided as one of the components of the present invention, and application software is used as an IC card to perform registration / deletion to / from the system by attaching / detaching to / from the IC card component.

[0028]

[Function] The system is constructed by forming the components into functional units including various functions of the computer main body and providing the communication function between the components. As a result, it is possible to obtain an arbitrary one by combining components in the system construction, and also to develop hardware and software in component units.

Further, by standardizing the box structure of the components, the boxes can be combined to combine the components for constructing the system.

Further, by sharing the power supply and device driver of each component, the system function expansion and component combination can be simplified.

Further, each component is provided with a caching memory so that the component can be handled in the same manner as a memory device.

The application supply form is IC
As a card, it can be used in the system simply by mounting it on the IC card component, and can be erased from the system by simply removing it from the IC card component.

[0033]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. The system of this embodiment is made into a component in functional units, and a free system configuration is obtained by combining them.

In the system configuration shown in the figure, the CPU 1, the multi-CRT driver 2, the multi-input driver 3, the floppy disk driver 4, the hard disk driver 5, each component of the magneto-optical disk device 6, the multi-handling driver 7, and the power supply unit 8 are connectors. Combined, the CRTs 9 and 10 are cabled to the multi-CRT driver 2, and the keyboard 11, the mouse 12 and the pen input device 13 are cabled to the multi-input driver 3.

Further, the IC card storage box 14 is connected to the connector as a component for incorporating the application software into the system.

Each of the components 1 to 6 and 14 and the multi-handling driver 7 has a power supply interface and a communication interface of standardized specifications, and an intelligence function of providing its own service in response to a request from another component. Have.

FIG. 2 shows a standardized common box configuration for each component. In the figure, (a) shows a front view of the component, (b) shows a side view, and (c) shows a top view.

In FIG. 2, the height H of the component box is set to the same unified value, and the depth DEP and the width W are determined for each component from its mountability.
However, the size of the box is limited to two or at most three to standardize the box. Further, the front plate A and the rear plate C of the component box are subjected to box processing for mounting components such as indicators for each component and mounting connectors for connecting a cable to a CRT or the like.

On the front plate A of FIG.
1 shows a case in which a media insertion port A2 and a ventilation port A3 are provided.

On the side plate B of the component box, the male member B1 of the coupler is placed on the right side plate, and the female member B2 is placed on the left side and right side of the left and right upper and lower sides, respectively, in order to obtain mechanical coupling with other component boxes that are adjacent to each other during system construction. It is provided at four locations.

Further, the side plate B is provided with a communication connector B3 for communicating with other adjacent components, and is further provided with an option opening lid B4.

On the rear plate C of the component box,
A power connector C1 for receiving power from the power unit 8 is provided. Further, the rear plate C has a communication connector C for communicating with the multi-handling driver 7.
Two are provided.

The top plate D of the component box is provided with a ventilation opening D1, and the bottom plate E is provided with a foot member E1.

With such a component box structure, each component is arranged in parallel according to the system structure, and mechanical coupling is obtained by fitting the male member B1 and the female member B2 of the coupler, and data transfer by the communication connectors B3, C2. Get communication functions such as.

Further, the power source required by each component can be obtained by coupling with the power source unit by the power source connector C1. Further, electrical connection with the CRTs 9 and 10 and the keyboard 11 is obtained by cable connection via a connector.

Next, the function of each component shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail.

(1) CPU component: A CPU (including an optional CPU mounted), an internal memory, and an external communication port are provided, and each component is controlled according to a request of an application and data processing is performed.

(2) Multi-CRT driver: CRT type display, liquid crystal type display, and further ELD (Electro Luminescence)
Data transfer to a plurality of displays such as Display) is controlled, and multi-screen and multi-display correspondence can be obtained regardless of the CPU 1.

(3) Multi-input driver ... A keyboard interface, a driver for a keyboard, etc.
It is composed of an input device interface such as a mouse interface and a touch panel interface, and an external communication port. Data acquired by the input device interface is transferred to a CPU component or the like using the communication port.

(4) External storage component: A storage device unique to each component 4, 5, 6 such as a floppy disk and an external communication port are provided, and storage data is input according to the control of the storage device itself and the instruction of the communication port. Output.

(5) Multi-handling driver: Having one device drive section and an external communication port, it drives the storage device of each external storage component and controls data transfer with other components.

(6) IC card storage box ... Plural I's
Equipped with C card interface and external communication port,
The inserted IC card is connected to the system. This IC
As an IC card for application software, the application software can be supplied in the form of an IC card. Reference numeral 14 ₁ indicates an IC card insertion port, and 14 ₂ indicates an IC card ejector.

(7) Power supply unit: A commercial power supply distributes and supplies the necessary power (5V system, 12V system, 15V system, etc.) to each component. This power supply unit is added by connector connection according to the number of installed components.

In the above system configuration, the system is activated by the following procedure.

When the power is turned on, the CPU of the CPU component 1 and other device driver components 2, 3 and 7 to be connected perform self-check and communication check.

After that, the CPU receives the check result of each driver and performs a summary. Then, the CPU determines the minimum device start-up required for operation and the defective portion, and when it is operable, notifies the display device that it is normal.

Next, the CPU searches for a boot device (startup device) and notifies the device of program provision. Then, the boot device transfers the necessary program to the memory device according to the instruction of the CPU.

The CPU executes the program (basically the OS) installed in the memory. The following executes a normal application according to the user's instructions (keyboard, mouse, etc.).

Here, the use of the application software by the IC card means that when the IC card incorporating the application software is inserted into the IC card storage box 14, the CPU confirms its existence and registers it in the system, and the use condition thereof. Arrange.

Then, the CPU notifies the user that the application can be used in the form of a menu or icon. In addition, from the IC card storage box 14 to the IC
When the card is removed, the CPU erases the menus and icons of the application software registered until then, and releases the application from the usable state.

As a result, when the user uses the application software, I
The C card can be registered and used in the system simply by mounting it in the box 14, and the installation procedure is unnecessary. On the contrary, the application software is automatically erased by removing the IC card from the box 14. Also, the vendor side is freed from the preparation of manuals and inquiries regarding installation.

Although not shown in the system configuration of FIG. 1 according to the embodiment, the components of the extended memory driver are connected by a communication port (extended memory connector) different from the CPU component and are connected to other components. The communication port for the connection of the above is configured to be used for exchanging data (DMA) with the external storage component.

Similarly, a component having a function of a modem or ISDN is also configured as an external communication unit to enable communication between computer systems.

Further, in the embodiment, the case where the multi-input driver 3 in which only the device drivers are integrated and the multi-handling driver 7 of the external storage device are provided is shown, but this prepares each device and the component composed of the driver individually. It can be a system configuration.

For example, a keyboard and its driver and an external communication port make one component, or a floppy disk drive and a communication port make one component, and each component is made into a standardized box configuration to realize a system configuration in which they are connected to each other. can do.

Further, by providing each component with a caching memory, the communication between the components can be handled in the same manner as the access to the memory device through the memory.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the computer system is configured by connecting the components of the functional units, the computer system can be constructed flexibly and the system construction can be facilitated. To do. Specifically, there are the following effects.

(1) Effects seen from the user.

(1a) To facilitate the system configuration according to the required scale and function.

(1b) Resources can be effectively utilized.

(1c) A plurality of CPUs can be used to perform sophisticated processing.

(1d) A company-level LAN system can be created on an individual basis.

(1e) In the future, it will be possible to easily cope with this by introducing a home electric appliance interface at the time of turning the computer into a home.

(1f) Registration of application software /
For erasing, the IC card can be attached and detached, the installation procedure which requires specialized knowledge is unnecessary, and the application can be used very easily.

(2) Effects seen from the hardware vendor.

(2a) Especially, a third party can realize the development of a component that fully utilizes his or her own technology.

(2b) Since the component development emphasizes performance, it is easy to clarify the selling point.

(2c) The market is liberalized.

(3) Effects seen from the software vendor.

(3a) Software that does not depend on hardware can be manufactured.

(3b) Since the control of hardware components is disclosed, more efficient software can be manufactured.

(3c) By converting the application into an IC card, it is freed from the preparation and inquiry of a manual related to its installation.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a box configuration diagram of common components in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... CPU 2 ... Multi-CRT driver 3 ... Multi-input driver 4 ... Floppy disk driver 5 ... Hard disk driver 6 ... Magneto-optical disk device 7 ... Multi-handling driver 8 ... Power supply unit 9 ... IC card storage box

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A method of constructing a computer system, characterized in that a computer system is made into a component in functional units, and a communication function provided in each component is used to obtain a connection between the components to construct the system. 2. Each of the components is provided with a device for each function in a box having a standardized size, and the box has a coupling means for mechanically coupling the components and a power supply. 2. The method for constructing a computer system according to claim 1, further comprising a power connector and a communication connector for communicating between components. 3. The method of constructing a computer system according to claim 1, wherein power is supplied to each of the components by being connected to a common power supply unit. 4. The method for constructing a computer system according to claim 1, wherein among the components, a display driver is a multi-display driver which is connected to a plurality of buses to control a plurality of displays. 5. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein among the components, a plurality of external storage device drivers are connected on a bus to form a multi-handling driver for controlling the plurality of external storage devices. How to build. 6. The method for constructing a computer system according to claim 1, wherein each of the components has a memory for caching and performs communication between the components. 7. An IC card component is provided as one of the components, and application software is used as an IC card to perform registration / deletion with respect to the system by attaching / detaching to / from the IC card component. How to build a computer system.