JP4953595B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information recording medium that use an information recording medium incorporating a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and more particularly to an improvement in initialization processing when writing to or reading from an information recording medium.

  Information recording media such as memory cards, which have the advantage of being small and light, have come to be widely used in various technical fields, particularly consumer AV equipment and communication equipment. Many of these information recording media incorporate a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory called a NAND type.

  In such information recording media, in order to meet the demand for higher speed of writing / reading and larger capacity, information recording media with higher data transfer frequency and larger capacity exceeding 2 GB have been put on the market. .

  On the other hand, since there are many commercially available AV devices and communication devices that do not support such high speed and large capacity of information recording media, it is necessary to ensure compatibility with these existing devices. . For this reason, information recording media that can be used in a plurality of operation modes have been proposed.

  FIG. 5 shows an operation mode used in an information recording medium that can be used in a plurality of operation modes. In such an information recording medium, it is possible to select an operation mode for each item of operating voltage, capacity, and data transfer frequency. If an information recording medium corresponding to low voltage operation is used at a low voltage, power consumption can be suppressed. On the other hand, when using a large-capacity information recording medium exceeding 2 GB, it is necessary to change the address setting method. Regarding the data transfer frequency, the information recording medium that supports high-speed data transmission operates at high speed. Can be made.

  As described above, since the range of usable operation modes differs depending on the host and the information recording medium, a process called initialization for setting the operation mode is performed before the semiconductor recording medium is mounted on the host and used. (See Patent Document 1)

  The contents of the initialization process will be described below based on the flowchart of FIG. When the power is turned on and power is supplied to the information recording medium (step S601), the host first makes an inquiry to confirm whether the information recording medium is a medium that can recognize a command issued by the host. (S602). If there is no response from the medium even after a certain period of time, it is determined that the medium cannot recognize the command issued by the host, and the processing is terminated because the host cannot recognize the medium (S604). .

  On the other hand, if there is a response to the inquiry, it is determined that the medium can recognize the command issued by the host, and the process proceeds to the next step (S603). Note that immediately after the power is supplied, an inquiry is made for a certain period of time even if there is no response, assuming that a response cannot be reliably detected because the voltage is unstable (no step S603).

  Next, the host confirms the operating voltage range of the medium (S605), and if the operating voltage exceeds the operable range of the host (S606 is impossible), the operation is terminated as unusable (S607). If it is within the operable range (Yes in S606), the operating voltage to be used is set (S608).

  Next, the host checks the storage capacity of the medium (S609), and if it is not necessary to set the expansion with the normal capacity, the process proceeds to the next step (no need for S610), and it is necessary to expand the capacity with a large capacity. In some cases (necessity of S610), capacity expansion setting such as changing the address setting method is performed (S611).

  Next, the host confirms whether or not the drive speed of the medium, that is, the high-speed data transfer frequency can be supported (S612). If it is determined that the support is not possible, the initialization process is terminated (S613 is not possible) and the support is possible. If it is determined, the setting is made to drive at high speed (S614).

In this way, the host ends the initialization process, sets the optimum operation mode in accordance with the state of the host and the medium, and then writes to or reads from the medium.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-250204

  FIG. 7 shows a time chart when the host writes to or reads from the information recording medium. In the general host shown in FIG. 7A, after detecting that a medium is loaded and the power supply is turned on to start supplying power to the medium, the above-described initial process is performed according to the command sent from the host. After that, data is written to and read from the medium.

  On the other hand, FIG. 7B shows a time chart when a low power consumption type host used for a portable device or the like is used. When a low power consumption type host is used, power is supplied to the media by turning off the power to reduce power consumption during the period when no command is sent from the host, that is, when data is not written or read. To stop.

  However, when such a process is performed, it is necessary to perform an initialization process every time power supply to the medium is resumed as shown in the figure, which causes a high-speed access to the medium.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and has two types of initialization procedures, and realizes high-speed access to media by using them according to the state of the media.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that writes or reads data to or from an information recording medium that is detachably mounted, and that writes or reads data to or from the information recording medium. Control means for performing control, and detection means for detecting whether or not the information recording medium is mounted, wherein the control means selects one of a plurality of operation modes in which the information recording medium can be used. In the initialization process that is selected and set as an operation mode when data is written or read, a first initialization process and a second initialization process having different procedures can be selected, and the first initialization process includes: After inquiring about an operation mode that can be used for the information recording medium, when one of them is selected to write or read data, The second initialization process reads the operation mode at the time of writing or reading data immediately before being stored in the operation mode storage means of the information recording medium, and this operation mode is set as the current operation mode. of a process of setting a write or read operation mode of the data, said control means, after said mounting of said information recording medium is detected by the detecting means, wherein the first initialization process on the information recording medium When the first initialization process is not performed, the first initialization process is selected, and when the first initialization process is performed for the information recording medium, the second initialization process is selected.

In the information processing apparatus of the present invention, before Symbol control means, the writing or reading of data immediately before is one is executed in the information processing apparatus, and the immediately preceding data write or read after the detecting means wherein when the information attached to the recording medium is detected continuously, it is preferable to select the second initialization process by.

  In the information processing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the control unit instructs the information recording medium to store the current operation mode in the operation mode storage unit after data writing or reading is completed. . Similarly, it is preferable that the power on / off unit stops power supply to the information recording medium after the storage of the operation mode on the information recording medium is completed according to an instruction from the control unit.

  According to the present invention, the host can access the medium at a higher speed than before while suppressing power consumption.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention showing a state where an information recording medium is mounted on a host. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a host which is an information processing apparatus, and 110 denotes a memory card which is a kind of information recording medium. The memory card 110 is detachable from a slot (not shown) provided in the main body of the host 100. It is installed.

  The host 100 includes a host controller 101 that controls writing of data to the memory card 110 or reading of data from the memory card 110. The host controller 101 includes a card control unit 102, a card detection unit 103, and a power on / off unit 104. And a card interface (hereinafter abbreviated as “card I / F”) 105.

  The card control unit 102 controls the operation of the host 100 including writing and reading of data with respect to the memory card 110. The card detection means 103 detects whether or not the memory card 110 is attached to the host 100. The power on / off means 104 controls power supply to the memory card 110. The card I / F 105 transfers data to and from the memory card 110 via the wiring 106.

On the other hand, the memory card 110 includes a card controller 111, a nonvolatile memory 112, an operation mode storage unit 113, and a host I / F 114.
The card controller 111 writes data to the nonvolatile memory 112 and reads data from the nonvolatile memory 112 in accordance with instructions from the host controller 101. The operation mode storage unit 113 stores an operation mode when the host 100 writes or reads data to or from the memory card 110. The host I / F 114 transfers data to and from the host 100 via the wiring 106 provided in the slot of the host 100 main body.

  FIG. 2 shows a time chart when the host 100 writes or reads data to or from the memory card 110. Hereinafter, processing at the time of data writing / reading will be described based on this time chart. To do.

  When the memory card 110 is inserted into the host 100, the card detection means 103 detects it and notifies the card control means 102 of it. Upon receiving this notification, the card control means 102 instructs the power on / off means 104 to turn on the power and supply power to the memory card 110, thereby making the memory card 110 operable. Next, the card control unit 102 performs an initialization process 201 prior to the writing / reading process 202. Since the content of the initialization process 201 has been described with reference to FIG. 6, the description thereof is omitted here.

  After the writing / reading process 202 is completed, the card control unit 102 performs a termination process 203 before stopping the supply of power. Specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the operation mode at the time of writing / reading is transferred to the memory card 110 and the card controller 111 is instructed to store it in the operation mode storage means 113 ( Step S301) After confirming that the operation mode has been saved (S302), the power on / off means 104 is instructed to turn off the power and stop the power supply to the memory card 110 (S303). to go into.

  When writing / reading data to / from the memory card 110 again, the card control means 102 performs an initialization operation according to the flowchart of FIG. Specifically, the card control unit 102 instructs the power on / off unit 104 to turn on the power and supply power to the memory card 110 prior to data writing / reading (S401), and thereafter, as in the conventional case. An inquiry is made as to whether or not the memory card 110 is a card that supports a plurality of operation modes (S402). If there is no response from the memory card 110 even after a predetermined time, a card that supports a plurality of operation modes. If it is determined that the card cannot be recognized, the process is terminated (S404). On the other hand, if there is a response to the inquiry, it is determined that the card is compatible with a plurality of operation modes, and the process proceeds to the next step (S403).

  Next, the card control means 102 continues with a signal from the card detection means 103 whether or not the memory card 110 has been removed from the slot of the host 100 after the previous writing / reading, that is, continuously. It is confirmed whether or not it is attached to the host 100 (S405), and if it is determined that it is continuously attached to the host 100 (there is S406), the operation mode storage means 113 is informed to the card controller 111. The operation mode at the time of the previous writing / reading that was saved is instructed to be transferred to the host 100, the operation mode is set as the current operation mode (S407), and the initialization process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the memory card 110 has been removed from the slot of the host 100 after the previous writing / reading (no step S406), the normal initialization process described in steps S605 to S614 in FIG. (S408).

As shown in the time chart of FIG. 2, in the form status of the present embodiment, after the power is supplied power to the memory card 110 turned on again, attached to the host 100 memory card 110 is continuously In this case, the operation mode at the time of the previous writing / reading recorded in the memory card 110 is read, and the high-speed initialization process 204 for setting the operation mode as the current operation mode is performed. Therefore, unlike the initialization process described with reference to FIG. 6, it is not necessary to confirm the operation mode between the host and the memory card for each item, so that the initialization time can be greatly reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where a memory card is used as an information recording medium has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and there are many demands for reduced power consumption and high-speed access. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to other information recording media.

  Further, in this embodiment, in order to realize faster initialization processing, the operation mode storing means is provided in the memory card to store the operation mode. However, the information for performing initialization at higher speed has been described. If there is, for example, information on a defective block of the nonvolatile memory, address conversion information for converting the address of the memory card and the address of the nonvolatile memory, information on the erased area of the nonvolatile memory, etc. It goes without saying that a high-speed initialization operation can be realized by providing initialization information storage means and performing the same processing.

  In addition to high-speed initialization, information that can speed up data writing and reading after initialization, and information that is useful to the user who uses the host (for example, read at the end) The memory card side, not the host side as in the present embodiment, has a means for saving the address information to realize a resume function for reproducing music files recorded on the memory card. By doing so, it is possible to speed up the writing and reading of data after initialization, or to provide useful information to the user who uses the host.

Information processing apparatus according to the present invention are those having two modes as the initialization (typically initialization and fast initialization), since the high-speed access to suppress the information recording medium of the power consumption can be, they It can be widely applied to information processing devices intended for

The block diagram which shows the structure of the host and memory card in embodiment of this invention Time chart showing the operation of the host in the embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows the process after writing / reading in embodiment of this invention Initialization flowchart in the embodiment of the present invention Illustration of the operation mode of information recording media Flow chart for initializing information recording media Time chart showing host operation in the prior art

Explanation of symbols

100 Host 101 Host Controller 102 Card Control Unit 103 Card Detection Unit 104 Power On / Off Unit 105 Card I / F
106 Wiring 110 Memory Card 111 Card Controller 112 Nonvolatile Memory 113 Operation Mode Saving Means 114 Host I / F

Claims (4)

An information processing apparatus for writing or reading data on an information recording medium that is detachably mounted,
Control means for controlling writing or reading of data with respect to the information recording medium;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the information recording medium is mounted,
In the initialization process in which the control unit selects one of a plurality of operation modes that can be used by the information recording medium and sets the operation mode when data is written or read out, The initialization process and the second initialization process can be selected,
The first initialization process is a process of inquiring about an operation mode that can be used for the information recording medium and then selecting one of the operation modes to set as an operation mode when data is written or read.
In the second initialization process, an operation mode at the time of writing or reading data immediately before being stored in the operation mode storage means of the information recording medium is read, and this operation mode is read as an operation mode for writing or reading data this time. Is set as
The control means selects the first initialization process when the first initialization process is not performed on the information recording medium after the detection means detects the mounting of the information recording medium, An information processing apparatus, wherein the second initialization process is selected when the first initialization process is being performed on the information recording medium. In the control means, writing or reading of the immediately preceding data is executed by the information processing apparatus, and after the writing or reading of the immediately preceding data, mounting of the information recording medium is continued by the detecting means. when it is detected Te, the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selecting the second initialization process. Wherein, after the data writing or reading is completed, with respect to the information recording medium, wherein the current operation mode to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an instruction to store the operation mode storage means Information processing device. Further comprising power on / off means for controlling power supply to the information recording medium,
The power-off means in accordance with an instruction of said control means, after the storage of the operation mode to the information recording medium has been completed, according to claim 1, characterized in that stops power supply to said information recording medium The information processing apparatus according to any one of the above.

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