TWI394046B - An apparatus for simulating a hard disk and a method thereof - Google Patents

Description

Apparatus for simulating a hard disk and method thereof

The present invention is a device for simulating a hard disk and a method thereof, and more particularly to an apparatus for implementing a simulated hard disk in a memory and a method thereof.

As computers become more popular and the functions of computers become more and more powerful, many peripheral devices that support computers are also becoming more and more, such as card readers, USB devices, 1394 devices, and software technology. Various types of software are also diversified, and these factors have attracted users to continue to use computers. Computers have become an indispensable tool in life. Therefore, computers often store a variety of materials for use. Use.

However, for computers, there is a lot of time wasted on searching for data, and many of the data is placed on the hard disk. Due to the structure of the hard disk itself, the access time spent on it is much mobile. The seek time of the head and the rotation time of the spindle motor are the main reasons why the access speed of the hard disk data cannot be compared with the memory. Because of this, when the computer reads and writes the data in the hard disk, the central processing unit has to wait for the internal processing data of the hard disk itself even if the computing speed is fast.

For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,594,926 discloses a system for speeding up the speed of a hard disk, which is to split the IO command issued by the conventional central processing unit into two operations of reading and writing and simultaneously It is executed and the programmable scratchpad is used to adjust the hard disk IO cycle time to be compatible with different hard disks. The aforementioned US patent still keeps the data on the hard disk. Therefore, when reading data on the hard disk, the data seek time (seek-time) of the moving head and the rotation time of the spindle motor (rotation time) cannot be avoided. ) consumption.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a device for simulating a hard disk and a method thereof, which provide an analog hard disk in the main memory to accelerate the overall speed of the computer.

In order to solve the above technical problem, according to an aspect of the present invention, a device for simulating a hard disk is provided for use in a computer system, including: a main memory module including at least one memory; and a setting module for setting main memory The body module has a memory access area and a hard disk access area; and a core logic chip includes: a core logic body for controlling data reading and writing of the main memory module; a memory controller, The signal is connected to the core logic body, and receives a memory read/write signal to control data reading and writing in the memory access area; a conversion interface controller, the signal is connected to the core logic body, and receives a hard disk read/write signal Used to control data reading of the hard disk access area, convert the interface controller and convert the hard disk read/write signal into a memory read/write signal; therefore, when the core logic body receives the computer system to issue a pair of the main memory module When reading and writing signals, it is judged whether the read/write signal is a memory read/write signal or a hard disk read/write signal. When it is judged that the read/write signal belongs to the memory read/write signal, the read/write signal is read and written. Transmitted to the memory controller; and when judged that the write signal to read and write signals belonging Drive, read and write transfer signal to the converter controller interface.

In order to solve the above technical problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a method for simulating a hard disk is provided, which is applied to a computer system, comprising the steps of: setting a main memory module in the computer system to have a memory access And a hard disk access area; providing a core logic chip, wherein the core logic chip is provided with a memory controller for controlling data access of the memory access area and for controlling data access of the hard disk access area a conversion interface controller; and when the core logic chip receives a read/write signal from the main memory module of the computer system, determining whether the read/write signal belongs to a memory read/write signal or a hard disk read/write signal; When the read/write signal belongs to the memory read/write signal, the read/write signal is transmitted to the memory controller; and if it is determined that the read/write signal belongs to the hard disk read/write signal, the read/write signal is transmitted to the conversion interface. Controller.

The apparatus and method for emulating the hard disk of the present invention provide an analog hard disk for use in the main memory module, so that storing the data therein can effectively improve the overall speed of the computer.

In order to enable the reviewing committee to further understand the techniques, means, and effects of the present invention in order to achieve the intended purpose, refer to the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. The invention is to be understood as being limited and not limited by the scope of the invention.

The invention provides a device for simulating a hard disk and a method thereof, so that the memory in the computer system has a function of hard disk access operation, and the memory is read faster than the hard disk, so the present invention utilizes the memory. Part of the space as an analog hard drive, put data into this space to improve the overall speed of the computer.

Please refer to the first figure, which is a system architecture diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment includes a central processing unit 10, a core logic chip 11, a main memory module 12, and a setting. The core logic chip 11 further includes a core logic body 111, a memory controller 112, and a conversion interface controller 113. The memory controller 112 and the conversion interface controller 113 are respectively connected to the core logic body 111, and the core logic body 111 is used to control the reading and writing of the data of the main memory module 12. The memory controller 112 is configured to receive a memory read/write signal and control the reading and writing of the data stored in the main memory module 12 according to the memory read/write signal. The conversion interface controller 113 is configured to receive a hard disk read/write signal, and provide a signal format conversion for the hard disk read/write signal, convert the memory signal into a memory signal compatible with the main memory module 12, and convert according to the The subsequent memory signal controls the reading and writing of the data stored in the main memory module 12. The core logic chip 11 can receive the read/write signal sent by the computer system to the main memory module 12, and determine whether the read/write signal belongs to a memory read/write signal or a hard disk read/write signal, if the memory is read or written. The signal is transmitted to the memory controller 112, and is transmitted to the conversion interface controller 113 if it is a hard disk read/write signal.

The main memory module 12 is connected to the core logic chip 11 and can be used to receive the memory read and write signals output by the memory controller 112 or the conversion interface controller 113. The main memory module 12 is composed of a plurality of memories 121, and the memory 121 is a volatile memory such as SDRAM, DDRAM or the like which has a fast reading speed. The main memory module 12 of the embodiment can be used as an analog hard disk in addition to the data or program storage when the computer system is executed, and how to divide the two usage forms in the main memory module 12. Different storage areas, one is the memory access area used as the main memory in the computer system, and the other is the hard disk access area used as the analog hard disk, which is set by the setting module 13 to the main memory. The module 12 is configured to allow the computer system to recognize the main memory module 12 based on the settings. In addition, since the memory 121 used by the main memory module 12 is a volatile memory, in order to prevent the main memory module 12 from losing power and being unable to memorize data after the computer system is turned off, the present embodiment provides a power source 16 for supply. The main memory module 12 is provided to ensure that the hard disk access area used as the hard disk in the main memory module 12 can continue to save data. The implementation of the power source 16 can be achieved by a backup source in a computer system or a battery (such as a mercury battery).

The setting module 13 of the present embodiment is connected to the south bridge wafer 14 in the process of setting the main memory module 12, and the above-mentioned memory is segmented by the memory 121 in the main memory module 12. Memory access area and hard disk access area. Therefore, after the setting of the module 12 is completed, after the computer system is restarted, the hard disk 15 connected to the south bridge chip 14 and the analog hard disk in the main memory module 12 can be recognized. In this embodiment, the main memory module 12 is used to simulate the hard disk. If the data is to be read on the analog hard disk, the computer system is the same as the data read and write of the general hard disk, and does not need to be used for any Changed, because the hard disk read/write signal sent by the central processing unit 10 is placed on the hard disk 15 if the hard disk read/write signal is to be read and written, the hard disk read/write signal is transmitted to the south bridge chip 14 to If the data to be read or written by the hard disk read/write signal is placed in the hard disk access area of the main memory module 12, the hard disk read/write signal is transmitted to the conversion interface controller 113. A hard disk access area in the main memory module 12.

The core logic chip 11 is a North Korean chip, the conversion interface controller 113 is a controller of a hard disk interface to a memory interface, and the hard disk interface can be an IDE or a SATA interface, and the setting module 13 is a basic input. Output system (BIOS).

Please refer to the second figure, which is a system architecture diagram of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the previous embodiment is that the core logic chip 17 is a chip that integrates the north bridge and the south bridge. The module 13 and the hard disk 15 are respectively connected to the core logic chip 11. The analog disk is operated in the same manner as the previous embodiment, and a hard disk of the analog hard disk can be formed in the main memory module 12. Access area.

Please refer to the third figure, which is a flowchart of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Based on the system architecture disclosed in the foregoing embodiment, regarding the manner of setting the simulated hard disk, the following steps are included: first, after the computer is turned on (S301) Entering the setting module 13 (S303); then setting the size of the simulated hard disk (S305); then the computer divides the main memory module according to the size of the simulated hard disk (S307); and after the above division, the simulation is generated. The hard disk is in the main memory module 12 (S309), and the main memory phantom module 12 includes a memory access area and a hard disk access area. The final setting module 13 stores the above settings (S311). . Therefore, when the computer is restarted next time, the analog hard disk in the main memory phantom 12 can be recognized.

In summary, the foregoing embodiment provides a function of simulating a main memory module in a computer to have a hard disk read/write operation, and can put a large amount of data that needs to be used in the current hard disk to the main device. The analog hard drive in the memory module can greatly increase the overall speed of the computer.

In addition, emulating the hard disk with the hardware structure of the main memory module has the following advantages: 1. The read/write speed of the analog hard disk is synchronized with the processing speed of the main memory, and no waiting time is required.

2. The setting of the analog hard disk is completed by the basic input/output system, and the computer can automatically recognize the simulated hard disk after the setting is completed, and does not need any driver.

3. The data read and write control of the analog hard disk is handled by the conversion interface controller without wasting resources of the computer system.

4. Compatible with any operating system.

5, will not cause a cost burden.

The present invention is capable of providing a design that is quite different from the prior art by the above-mentioned disclosed technology, which can improve the overall use value, and is not found in the publication or public use before the application, and has already met the requirements of the invention patent. , 提出 filed an invention patent application in accordance with the law.

However, the drawings and descriptions disclosed above are only examples of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can make various other modifications according to the above description, and these changes still belong to the inventive spirit of the present invention. The scope of the patents defined below.

10. . . CPU

11, 17, . . Core logic chip

111. . . Core logical ontology

112. . . Memory controller

121. . . Memory

113. . . Conversion interface controller

12. . . Main memory module

121. . . Memory

13. . . Setting module

14. . . South Bridge Chip

15. . . Hard disk

The first diagram is a system architecture diagram of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention; the second diagram is a system architecture diagram of another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and the third diagram is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. One of the flowcharts.

10. . . CPU

11. . . Core logic chip

111. . . Core logical ontology

112. . . Memory controller

113. . . Conversion interface controller

12. . . Main memory module

121. . . Memory

13. . . Setting module

14. . . South Bridge Chip

15. . . Hard disk

Claims (11)

A device for simulating a hard disk is applied to a computer system, comprising: a main memory module including at least one memory; a south bridge chip, the signal is connected to a hard disk; and a setting module for setting the main The memory module has a memory access area and a hard disk access area; and a north bridge chip, comprising: a core logic body for controlling data reading and writing of the main memory module; a memory controller, The signal is connected to the core logic body, which receives a memory read/write signal and controls data reading and writing of the memory access area; a conversion interface controller, the signal is connected to the core logic body, and the system receives a hard a disk read/write signal for controlling reading and writing of data in the hard disk access area, the conversion interface controller converting the hard disk read/write signal into the memory read/write signal; wherein the core logic system receives the computer system Sending a read/write signal to the main memory module and determining whether the read/write signal belongs to the memory read/write signal or the hard disk read/write signal, and when the read/write signal is determined to belong to the memory read Transmitting the read/write signal to the memory controller when the signal is received; and when determining that the read/write signal belongs to the hard disk read/write signal, transmitting the read/write signal to the conversion interface controller; wherein the computer is A hard disk read/write signal sent by a central processing unit of the system. If the data to be read or written by the hard disk read/write signal is placed on the hard disk, the hard disk read/write signal is transmitted to the hard via the south bridge chip. If the data to be read and written by the hard disk read/write signal is placed in the hard disk access area of the main memory module, the hard disk read/write signal is transmitted to the main memory through the conversion interface controller. The hard disk access area in the body module. The device for simulating a hard disk according to claim 1, wherein the memory system is a volatile memory. The device for simulating a hard disk according to claim 1, wherein the setting module is a basic input/output system. The device for emulating a hard disk according to claim 1, wherein the conversion interface controller is a controller of a hard disk interface to a memory interface. The device for emulating a hard disk according to claim 1 further includes a power source connected to the main memory module. The device for simulating a hard disk according to claim 5, wherein the power source is a backup source power source or a battery in the computer system. A method for simulating a hard disk, applied to a computer system, comprising the steps of: setting a main memory module in the computer system to have a memory access area and a hard disk access area; and providing a north bridge chip, wherein The north bridge chip is provided with a memory controller for controlling data access of the memory access area and a conversion interface controller for controlling data access of the hard disk access area; when the north bridge chip receives the computer system When the read/write signal belongs to the memory read/write signal, the read/write signal is transmitted to the memory controller when the read/write signal is read or written by the main memory module, and if the read/write signal belongs to the memory read/write signal, When the read/write signal is a hard disk read/write signal, the read/write signal is transmitted to the conversion interface controller; and when a central processing unit of the computer system issues a hard disk read/write signal, if the hard disk reads and writes a signal The data to be read and written is placed on a hard disk, and the hard disk read/write signal is transmitted to the hard disk via a south bridge chip. If the hard disk read/write signal is to be read or written, the data is placed in the main memory module. The hard disk access area is transmitted to the hard disk access area in the main memory module through the conversion interface controller. The method of simulating a hard disk according to claim 7, wherein the setting step is to set the main memory module by a basic input/output system in the computer system. The method of emulating a hard disk according to claim 7, wherein the conversion interface controller is a controller of a hard disk interface to a memory interface. The method for simulating a hard disk according to claim 7 further includes: providing a power supply to the main memory module. The method of emulating a hard disk according to claim 10, wherein the power source is a backup power source or a battery in the computer system.