JP3483258B2 - Information processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device by connecting to a communication line. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, information processing apparatuses capable of processing data from various information media have been remarkably developed. Conventionally, a telephone line has been used as an information medium, and a telephone line and an information processing device are connected by a modem to exchange data. In a general connection mode, the power of both main devices must be in an on state when performing communication. In this case, the power must always be turned on for unexpected communication requests, which is uneconomical. Therefore, it is necessary to turn on the power of the communication partner by remote control. [0003] A conventional remote controllable information processing apparatus will be described below. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional remotely operable information processing apparatus. 4, reference numeral 201 denotes a central processing unit; 202, a modem device for connecting the central processing unit 201 to the telephone line 204; 203, a power control device for supplying power to the central processing unit 201; A data signal 206 is transmitted to and received from the modem 202.
2, the incoming signal output to the power control device 203,
Reference numeral 207 denotes a power supply line for supplying power from the power supply control device 203 to the central processing unit 201. [0004] The operation of the remotely operable information processing apparatus configured as described above will be described below. First, it is assumed that power is not supplied from the power supply control device 203. First, a call is received from the telephone line 204. The modem device 202 that has detected the incoming call outputs an incoming signal 206 to the power control device 203. The power control device 203 that has received the incoming signal 206 supplies power to the central processing unit 201 via the power line 207. The central processing unit 201 supplied with power from the power supply control unit 203 executes a program necessary for startup, and thereafter starts communication via the modem 202. However, in this conventional example, the power of the central processing unit 201 is unconditionally turned on when a call is received, so that the power is turned on even if the central processing unit 201 is not an appropriate communication partner. Done. This wastes power and shortens the life of the device. It is also very dangerous in terms of data protection. Furthermore, when the power is turned on, it is not possible to identify whether the operation is performed manually or remotely, so that the operating system installed in the central processing unit 201 is powered on by remote operation from the telephone line 204. However, the startup operation is performed in exactly the same procedure as usual. Therefore, there is a problem that a program unnecessary for communication by the modem is executed, which wastes time. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of setting a condition for turning on a power supply and selecting a program to be executed at startup. [0007] In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device by connecting to a communication line. A modem device for detecting that a call has been received from the communication line and inputting / outputting data from / to the communication line; a central processing unit having means for turning on power by an external electric signal; A modem control device operated by a device to control the central processing unit,
The modem control device receives a communication ID from a communication partner and start-up setting data of a central processing unit via the modem device and stores the start-up setting data.
In the case where it is necessary to confirm the communication partner from the communication ID and turn on the power of the central processing unit, it is configured to turn on the power of the central processing unit.
When the power is turned on by an instruction from the modem control device, an initial program loader is executed and the modem control device
Read the contents of the startup setting data stored
Based on this loaded startup configuration data
Select whether to run the program at startup and start
And a communication with an external device via the modem device after the start-up process is completed . According to the present invention, since the modem control device turns on the power of the central processing unit by transmitting and receiving data via the modem device, the present invention is not applicable to the case where the communication is not an appropriate communication partner due to unnecessary incoming calls. It is possible to prevent the power from being turned on. Also, when the system of the central processing unit is started, the initial program loader reads the contents of the storage means in the modem control device, so that a program required at the time of startup can be selected. The problem of having it go is gone. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus that can be remotely operated according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 101 is a central processing unit, 102 is a modem device connected to a communication line,
Reference numeral 103 denotes a modem control device which operates by the modem device 102 and controls the central processing unit 101. Reference numeral 104 is built in the modem control device 103, and transmits data sent from the modem device 102 or sends data from the modem control device 103 to the central processing unit 101. A system control register 105 for storing data is a power control register built in the central processing unit 101 for controlling the power of the central processing unit 101. Reference numeral 106 denotes a telephone line which is a communication line, 107 denotes a data bus connecting the central processing unit 101 with the modem unit 102 and the modem control unit 103, and 108 denotes an incoming signal which indicates that the modem control unit has received a call. The operation of the thus configured remote controllable information processing apparatus of the present embodiment will be described below. First, when a call is received from the telephone line 106, the modem device 102 causes the modem control device 103 to receive the call. The modem control device 103 that has received the incoming call is the modem device 10
Check the communication partner via 2. If it is determined that the power of the central processing unit 101 needs to be turned on, a power-on signal 109 is transmitted to turn on the power of the central processing unit 101. When the power is turned on, the central processing unit 101 executes a number of programs and performs a start-up operation. According to the contents, the initial program loader of the central processing unit 101 determines which program is to be executed, and starts up the central processing unit 101. After starting, the central processing unit 101 communicates via the modem device 102 by an appropriate communication method. The operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, a call is received from the telephone line 106. Modem device 10
2 causes the modem controller 103 to detect that the call is detected by the incoming signal 108. The modem controller 103 receives the incoming signal 10
8 turns off the standby state and turns on the power. The modem control device 103 issues an off-hook command to the modem device 102 and connects the telephone line 106. Modem device 102
Makes a request for necessary data to a communication partner. In response to the call data request, a communication ID and a start-up setting data of the central processing unit are sent from the communication partner. The modem controller 103 receives the two data via the modem 102. The modem control device 103 confirms the communication ID, and at the same time stores the startup setting data in the system control register 104. Thereafter, a power-on signal 109 is transmitted to the central processing unit 101. The central processing unit 101 executes the initial program loader and reads the contents of the system control register 104. Which program is executed at the time of startup is determined by the contents of the system control register 104. After the start-up process is completed, a data notification rule is set, and a data communication path is established. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the modem control device 103. First, it is in a standby state until the incoming signal 108 is received. It receives the incoming signal and turns on its own power. Thereafter, an off-hook command is issued to connect the telephone line to the modem device. Then, it requests data from the communication partner and receives the communication ID. The communication ID is compared with the content of data given in advance, and if they do not match, it is determined that the communication partner is a medium that cannot communicate with the apparatus, and the telephone line is disconnected. If the contents match, a request for startup setting data is further made and accepted. The received start-up setting data is stored in the system control register 104. Next, the central processing unit
A power-on signal 109 is transmitted to 101. The central processing unit 101 that has started the start-up process requests data for determining a start-up program. The modem controller 103 outputs the data stored in the system control register 104. Central processing unit 101 is modem unit 102
Start data communication via. As described above, according to this embodiment, the modem control device confirms the incoming call, so that it is possible to prevent the central processing unit from being turned on even when it is not an appropriate communication partner. . By placing a system control register in the modem control device 103, the central processing unit can select a program necessary for starting. As described above, according to the present invention, by controlling the power supply and start-up procedure of the central processing unit using the modem control unit, the central processing unit when the communication partner is not an appropriate communication partner. It is possible to obtain an excellent effect that it is possible to prevent the power of the apparatus from being turned on and unnecessary programs from being executed at the time of startup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a signal flow in the information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the modem control device in the information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional information processing apparatus. [Description of Signs] 101 Central Processing Unit 102 Modem Device 103 Modem Control Device 104 System Control Register 105 Power Control Register 106 Telephone Line 107 Data Bus 108 Incoming Signal 109 Power On Signal

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page       (56) References JP-A-1-297748 (JP, A)                 JP-A-59-171249 (JP, A)                 JP-A-55-85927 (JP, A)                 JP-A-57-121361 (JP, A)                 JP-A-61-94447 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] An information processing apparatus capable of performing communication with an external device by connecting to a communication line, wherein the information processing device detects that a call is received from the communication line. A modem device for detecting and inputting / outputting data from / to a communication line; a central processing unit having means for turning on a power supply by an external electric signal; and a modem control device which operates by the modem device and controls the central processing device. with the door, the modem controller, Tachinobo said rise setting data of the communication ID and the central processing unit from the communication partner and received through the modem device
While the lower setting data storage, if the check the partner communication from the communication ID is necessary to turn on the power of the central processing unit is configured to turn on the said central processing unit, said central processing unit When the power is turned on by an instruction from the modem control device, an initial program loader is executed, and the modem control device
Read the contents of the startup setting data stored
Based on this loaded startup configuration data
Select whether to run the program at startup and start
An information processing apparatus configured to execute a communication process and to communicate with an external device via the modem device after the startup process is completed .