JPH0137766B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a protection device for a floppy disk device, which minimizes the on/off switching of a floppy disk device in a computer system, and further protects the floppy disk device from turning on and off during shutdown processing due to an off request. This is intended to extend the life of the floppy disk device and improve its reliability by preventing shocks to the hardware of the floppy disk device in the event of damage.

In computer systems, floppy disk devices (hereinafter referred to as FDD) are used as auxiliary storage devices and object input media. In addition to this usage, recently there has also been a usage method that can be called a semi-auxiliary storage device. For example, in a multi-loop control system for process control, special parts of the program are stored in semi-ROM format.
The method used is to store it on FDD. In such systems, the storage part of the FDD is made into a half-ROM and is used as a special part and an image area of the main memory part required for system startup.

When using an FDD as a conventional auxiliary storage device, from the control unit (not shown) in the computer
The computer issues an always-on request to the FDD to read and write data. When used as an input/output medium for objects, the FDD is manually turned on only when loading objects or dumping memory contents, for example.

On the other hand, when the FDD is used as a semi-ROM storage device as described above, it is not necessary to keep the FDD in the on state all the time, but it is sufficient to normally keep it in the off state and turn it on only when necessary. However, when used for process control, the response will be slow if the switch is turned on manually as in the past, so it is necessary to control the on-off state using an online program. In such on/off control, if the on/off control is repeated more than necessary, or if the on request is started immediately when an on request is added during the shutdown process due to an off request, the life of the device will be shortened, and the reliability of the entire system will be reduced. resulting in a decrease in

This invention has been made based on the above points, and aims to appropriately protect the device by minimizing the on/off operations of the FDD.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a computer system for realizing the present invention.
FDD2 is connected to computer 1 via a signal line and is normally in an off state. When controlling process 4 or in some special cases, computer 1 uses FDD2
is turned on to transfer the special function program to the main memory and execute the function. The results are output to the process 4 through the process input/output device 3 for control.

The biggest feature of the above-mentioned system is that it is not known when a transition from an off state to an on state or from an on state to an off state will be required, nor can the frequency be predicted. In the method of the present invention, the state is automatically switched to on or off, and the frequency of on/off repetition is suppressed as much as possible, and the floppy disk device In order to prevent a shock to the hardware side, and at the same time, perform startup processing immediately after the stop is completed to satisfy the on request, the following configuration is adopted.

That is, the computer 1 is equipped with three internal timers: a monitoring timer 10, a startup timer 11, and a stop timer 12. The startup timer 11 is used when transitioning from an off state to an on state, and the monitoring timer is used when transitioning from an on state to an off state. Using 10 and stop timer 12
It controls the start and stop of FDD2.
It is assumed that the on request and the off request to the floppy disk device are generated by software as appropriate from the control section (not shown) in the computer at necessary times during the execution process, as described above.

The following four transition states can be considered for the state transition between on and off. First, transition from on to off, second, transition from off to on, third, continuous transition where an off request is issued in the on state, but an on request is issued again while the monitoring timer 10 is counting. 4, there is a continuous transition in which an off request is issued in the on state and an on request is issued again while the stop timer 12 is counting.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the transition of the FDD 2 from the on state to the off state and from the off state to the on state. FDD2 in on state
When there is an off request A1, computer 1 sets monitoring timer 1.
Set to 0. Count time of monitoring timer 10
When _T1 has elapsed, the stop timer 12 is set and the FDD 2 enters a stopped state. After the stop time corresponding to the count time _T2 of the stop timer 12 has elapsed, the FDD 2 is turned off. Further, when there is an on request D1 to the FDD 2 which is in the off state, the computer 1 sets the startup timer 11, and the FDD 2 enters the startup state. After the activation time corresponding to the count time _T3 of the activation timer 11 has elapsed, the FDD is turned on.

In this manner, a monitoring time of ₁ minute, which is a count time T1, by the monitoring timer 10, which is called a buffer time, is provided for the off request, thereby avoiding an operation where the off operation is performed immediately upon the off request.

The time chart in FIG. 3 shows a case where a turn-off request is made to the FDD 2 which is in the on-state, and a subsequent turn-on request is made before the stop processing is completed.
When the off request A2 is received for the FDD 2 which is in the on state, the computer sets the monitoring timer 10. If an on request D2 is received while the monitoring timer 10 is counting, the computer 1 immediately resets the monitoring timer 10. As a result, the process of setting the stop timer 12, which is performed when the monitoring timer 10 finishes counting, that is, when the timer expires, is not executed. Therefore, FDD2
If an on request is issued continuously after an off request, the on state is maintained without transitioning to the off state.

Next, the final step of the stop processing, that is, the stop timer 12
A case where an on request is received while the FDD 2 is in the state of being stopped during counting will be explained based on FIG. 4.

Monitoring timer 1 set by off request A3
When the count of 0 is completed, the stop timer 12 is set and counting starts, and the FDD 2 enters the stopped state. If there is an on request D3 in this stopped state, the computer 1 continues counting the stop timer 12 while storing the fact that the request has been made in the on request storage means. Then, at the same time as the count ends, the activation timer 11 is set, and the FDD 2 is placed in the activated state. When the count of the startup timer 11 is completed, the FDD 2 is turned on. Therefore, even if an ON request is made when the stop timer 12 is counting, the FDD 2 substantially maintains the ON state without shifting to the OFF state. Further, while the stop timer 12 is counting, even if there is an on request, the stop timer 12 does not start, but waits for the end of the count and immediately starts the start process.

In addition, in FIGS. 2 to 4 above, the stop timer 12 corresponds to the stopped and started states of the FDD 2.
Data transfer from the FDD ₂ to the computer 1 is prohibited during the count time T 2 of the start timer 11 and the count time T ₃ of the startup timer 11. Also, during the count time _T1 of the monitoring timer 10, the FDD 2 is in the ON state from a system perspective.

As described above, in this embodiment, by providing three types of timers for on/off requests, especially the monitoring timer 10, it is possible to quickly respond to an on request, and to quickly prevent an on request that may be issued subsequently in response to an off request. Since it is configured to process requests while monitoring them,
On/off repetitions can be reduced to a minimum. Additionally, if an on request is received while the stop timer 12 is counting during the stop process, it will not be activated until this count ends.
Shocks to the hardware side of FDD2 can be prevented. Furthermore, since the start-up process is started immediately after the stop process is completed and no shock is given to the hardware side, the on-request can be satisfied with virtually no time delay.

It is also possible to set the three types of timers to appropriate values depending on the process, and also to use a startup monitoring timer for startup processing.
It may be determined individually depending on the computer system required for the target process.

Further, in the above embodiment, an internal timer of the computer 1 is used as the timer, but it goes without saying that an external mechanical or electrical timer can also be used.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the floppy disk device is always in the off state and turned on only when necessary, thereby preventing unnecessary on-off repetitions. The operating time of the floppy disk device can be greatly reduced compared to the conventional method. In addition, it is possible to quickly respond to process requests, reduce the number of on/off cycles, and prevent shocks to the hardware by not starting startup processing during shutdown processing. Therefore, it is possible to obtain excellent effects such as being able to prevent a decrease in the mechanical and electrical life of the device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are time charts for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the invention. 1... Computer, 2... Floppy disk device, 3... Process input/output device, 4... Process, 10... Monitoring timer, 11... Start timer,
12...Stop timer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a protection device for a floppy disk device in a system that outputs the storage contents of the floppy disk device via a computer, in response to a turn-off request to the floppy disk device generated from the computer. a monitoring timer having a first counting time that is set to start timing operation when the floppy disk device is turned on, and whose timing operation is reset in accordance with an on request to the floppy disk device generated from the computer; having a second counting time set corresponding to the time required for stopping the device;
A stop timer that is set when the monitoring timer finishes the clocking operation and starts the clocking operation and also instructs the floppy disk device to turn off, and a time period required for starting the floppy disk device. has a third counting time set by
a start timer that is set in response to the on request to start a timing operation and instruct the floppy disk device to turn on; and a start timer that is set in accordance with the on request and instructs the floppy disk device to turn on; . A protection device for a floppy disk device, comprising: on-request storage means that generates an on-request at the same time the stop timer completes counting.