JP2004199708A - Storage medium with electronic circuit and computer system with this storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage medium enabling its owner to arbitrarily construct a necessary system, by using the storage medium with an electronic circuit part as the heart of the system and a main body as a peripheral device; and to provide a computer system having the storage medium, e.g., a personal computer, a car navigation system, or a multifunction television. <P>SOLUTION: An intelligent disk 1 has a disk part 3 which stores information and an electronic circuit part 2 which processes this information. At least a program for controlling an external device 10 as a peripheral device is stored in the disk part 3. The electronic circuit part 2 reads a program adapted to the external device 10, and executes the program to control the external device 10 as the peripheral device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage medium having an information storage unit for storing information and an electronic circuit unit for processing information, such as an optical disk (hereinafter referred to as an intelligent disk (ID)). Computer system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, there have been proposed an IC card having a disk having a memory and a CPU mounted on a cartridge, a storage of a magnetic stripe, and a processor including the memory and the CPU. However, these intelligent storage media have been used to assist computer systems or to carry information, and have not recently fallen short of one peripheral device of computer systems.

  The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and makes it possible to arbitrarily construct a system required by the owner of the storage medium by using the storage medium having the electronic circuit unit as the heart of the system and using the main unit as a peripheral device. Provided are a storage medium and a computer system having the storage medium, for example, a personal computer, a car navigation system, a multifunctional television, and the like.

  In order to solve this problem, a storage medium and a computer system according to the present invention employ the following characteristic configurations.

(1) A storage medium used as a removable disk,
The storage medium has an information storage unit that stores information and an electronic circuit unit that processes information,
The information storage unit stores a plurality of programs for controlling an external device,
The electronic circuit unit includes: a determination function for determining characteristics of the external device; and an instruction to select an optimal program corresponding to the determination result of the determination unit from the plurality of programs, and instruct the external device to load the program. A storage medium having a function.

  (2) The storage medium according to (1), wherein the information storage unit further stores data used for the program.

  (3) The information storage unit stores a plurality of programs and data used in the plurality of programs, respectively, while the programs and / or data are stored separately from other programs and / or data. The storage medium according to the above (1) or (2), which stores the program and / or data so as to protect the secret and not to destroy the secret.

  (4) The electronic circuit unit communicates with the host computer via a communication unit that performs wireless communication with the host computer, and when the desired program or data is not present in the information storage unit, the communication unit transmits the desired program or data via the communication unit. The storage medium according to the above (1), further comprising: a load unit for downloading from a host computer.

  (5) The storage medium according to (1), wherein the external device is an input / output device constituting a personal computer, and the program includes a system program and / or an application program.

(6) A computer system including a storage medium used as a removable disk,
The storage medium has an information storage unit that stores information and an electronic circuit unit that processes information,
The information storage unit stores a plurality of programs for controlling an external device,
The electronic circuit unit includes: a determination function for determining characteristics of the external device; and an instruction to select an optimal program corresponding to the determination result of the determination unit from the plurality of programs, and instruct the external device to load the program. Computer system having functions.

  (7) The computer system according to (6), wherein the information storage unit further stores data used in the program.

  (8) The information storage unit stores a plurality of programs and data used in the plurality of programs, respectively, while the programs and / or data are stored separately from other programs and / or data. The computer system according to the above (6), which stores the program and / or data so as to protect the secret and not to destroy the program and / or data.

  (9) The electronic circuit unit includes a communication unit that performs wireless communication with a host computer and, when the desired program or data does not exist in the information storage unit, transmits the desired program or data to the host computer via the communication unit. The computer system according to the above (6), further comprising: a loading means for downloading from a computer.

  According to the present invention, a storage medium having an electronic circuit unit becomes the heart of the system, and the main body side is used as a peripheral device. A computer system, for example, a personal computer, a car navigation, a multifunctional television, etc. can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that some of the examples given here do not directly and clearly correspond to the claims, but each contain important disclosures in relation to the present invention.

<Example of ID configuration>
FIG. 1 is an external view of an intelligent optical disk which is a kind of ID used in the embodiment of the present invention.

  The ID 1 includes a disk unit 3 which is a disk surface for storing information, and an intelligent circuit unit 2 mounted at the center of the disk unit, for example, as shown in FIG. Here, in FIG. 1, the circuit section 2 is arranged at the center of the disk. However, the circuit section 2 may be occupied on one side of the disk, or the disk may be manufactured in a plurality of layers and arranged on the layers therein. There is no limitation.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the concept of the configuration of ID1. In the figure, the intelligent circuit section 2 includes a ROM 22 for storing fixed information, a RAM 23 for temporary storage if necessary, and a CPU 21 for executing a program stored in the ROM 22 or the RAM 23. Reference numeral 26 denotes a photocell required when the ID side has a power source independently.

  The intelligent circuit unit 2 exchanges information with an external device via the system interface 24. The interface contacts may be contact or non-contact, and may be bus-coupled or communication-coupled. As the communication, radio wave communication, optical communication, or the like can be considered. Further, the ID of the present embodiment has a wireless communication unit 25, and a function of performing an automatic call when information needs to be transmitted to the outside or when data or a program needs to be loaded from the outside. Also have.

  The reason why the system interface 24 is indicated by a dashed line is that the connection between the ID and the system is performed by a bus connection in terms of data transfer speed and reliability, especially when the ID is used in a personal computer. This indicates that the system interface 24 can be omitted in this case.

<Example of ID for building a personal computer system>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example when the ID according to the present invention is used for building a personal computer system.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 denotes a personal computer kit, which comprises only bus-connected peripheral devices. Among them, those shown by solid lines are the minimum essential elements, and those shown by broken lines are additional elements that are not essential. Indispensable elements include a pickup for reading (writing) data from the disk unit 3 having the ID of the present example, an optical disk drive unit 11 including a drive circuit for the pickup, and the current system status or information. A display unit 13 (preferably an LCD), a keyboard 14 for inputting user instructions (this is replaced with a touch panel on the display unit 13), and a mouse 15 for inputting user instructions similarly (in a portable personal computer, Omitted).

  Non-essential elements include a buffer memory 16 (either a RAM or a hard disk) for temporarily storing programs and data during transfer, and a direct memory access controller (DMAC) 18 for independently and quickly performing transfers. The printer 17 for copy output and the ID interface 12 in the case of the bus connection described in the description of the ID.

  In the above description, a set that can be used as a personal computer has been described. However, for example, dedicated devices such as only display on the display unit 1, only print output from the printer 7, and only storage of information on the hard disk 16 are used. You may think. However, also in this case, the optical disk drive unit 11 is always an essential element. In this case, in order to improve the conventional equipment, it is necessary to match the system side and the ID side via the ID interface 12 and the system interface 24. In some cases, it is preferable that any ID can be standardized so that any ID can be easily connected to any system.

  Although FIG. 3 shows an example in which the system side is only a peripheral device, the present invention can be applied even if the system example is one of the conventional personal computers. It becomes clear from the description. FIG. 4 is a configuration example of information stored in the disk unit 3 of the ID when configured as a normal personal computer.

  At each position pointed to by the directory 3a, a plurality of OSs (OS1, OS2...) 3b, a plurality of applications (applications 1, applications 2,...) 3c, and data 3d are stored. Although one OS or application may be used, it is preferable that a plurality of IDs are stored in order to use the ID of the present invention effectively, and the ID can be selectively used by the user.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an operation procedure of the personal computer system. This example is a transitional form in which the OS depends on the structure of the system until the system is standardized. First, the circuit unit 2 of ID1 checks whether ID1 has been inserted into the drive in step S51. When it is inserted into the drive, the process proceeds to step S52 to check the model of the system side. Here, the system example may be a case of only peripheral devices or a case of a conventional personal computer. In the case of only peripheral devices, the CPU 21 of ID1 checks the characteristics and capabilities of each peripheral device, If it is a personal computer, check what type of manufacturer and what version, etc.

  When the partner model or the like is determined in step S52, the optimum OS corresponding to the partner model is selected in step S53, and the optical disk drive unit 11 is instructed to load the OS. The selected OS is loaded on the hard disk which is the buffer memory 16 by, for example, DMA. The circuit unit 2 of ID1 waits for the end of the loading of the OS in step S54, and upon completion of the loading, activates the OS in step S55.

  Thereafter, the operation as a personal computer system controlled by the CPU 21 is realized. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the operation procedure of the personal computer system. This example is an example in which the system is standardized and can be started as a system desired by the user. First, in step S61, the circuit unit 2 of ID1 checks whether or not it has been inserted into the drive. If it is determined that the circuit unit 2 has been inserted, the process proceeds to step S62 to instruct the display unit 13 to display a selection screen of various existing OSs. put out. In response to the user's instruction to select a desired OS, the process exits from step S63, and checks in step S64 whether the OS selected by the user exists on the disk unit 3. If it exists, the optical disk drive unit 11 is instructed to load the OS selected in step S65. The OS read from the disk unit 3 is loaded into the buffer memory 16 (hard disk) by DMA. On the other hand, if the selected OS does not exist in the disk unit 3, the process proceeds to step S66, where the wireless communication unit 25 connects to the external host and downloads the desired OS.

  In step S67, completion of the loading is waited. When the loading is completed, the OS is started in step S68. In this case, the storage location of the program may use the buffer memory 16 or the RAM 23 of the ID.

<Example of ID for building car navigation system>
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example when the ID according to the present invention is used in a car navigation system.

  In the example of the car navigation system, a speaker 35 for audio output and a microphone 36 for audio input are incorporated in addition to the optical disk drive unit 31, the display unit 33, and the touch panel 34. Also in this example, the ID interface 32 and the buffer memory 37 are not essential. FIG. 8 shows an example of data stored in the disk unit 3 of the ID in the car navigation system.

  The OS, the application, and the map data are stored at the point points of the directory. The applications include a zoom process, a final route search process, a predicted time calculation process, and the like. Further, a catch program such as information on a resort or a weather forecast may be included. In this example, one OS is used. However, a plurality of OSs may be provided so as to support a plurality of systems. On the other hand, although not shown, the circuit unit 2 of ID1 stores a table of telephone numbers used by the ACU of the wireless communication unit 25.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation example of the car navigation system including the ID. First, in step S91, the circuit unit 2 of ID1 checks whether the ID has been inserted into the drive. When inserted, the flow advances to step S92 to instruct loading of the OS and the program. Although not shown in detail here, the selection of the application is actually performed after the initial selection display, for example, as in steps S62 to S63 in FIG. 6 described above.

  The optical disk drive unit 31 loads the program selected by the DMA from the disk unit 3 into the buffer memory 37 according to the instruction, and the circuit unit 2 executes this in step S93. In step S94, for example, region selection is performed. In this area selection, for example, when a region, a destination, or the like is transmitted by voice through the microphone 36, voice recognition is performed and the content is transmitted to the circuit unit 2. Proceeding to step S95, it is checked whether or not the selected map is on the disk unit 3. If so, in step S96, a new map data is instructed to the optical disk drive unit 31 and read into the buffer memory 37.

  On the other hand, if it is not on the disk, the process proceeds to step S97, where a telephone call is automatically made to the host by the wireless communication unit 25 of the ID, and if loading is possible, it is downloaded from the host to the buffer memory 37. If the download is not possible, inform the driver. In addition, this automatic telephone call stores the various telephone numbers necessary for driving as a table, so that the driver can instruct the information, such as traffic information and weather forecast, etc. Alternatively, it can be used by an external interrupt or the like. Although not described in detail in this example, commercial information such as commercials may be displayed in addition to information such as traffic information and weather forecast.

  When the map data is loaded, navigation information is output from the display unit 33 and / or the speaker 35 using the OS, application, program, and map data on the buffer memory 37 in step S99. The update of the map data is performed in accordance with the driver's instruction or the movement of the position of the automobile.

<Example of ID for building an automatic sales and settlement system>
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an automatic vending and settlement system using an ID according to the present invention. In this example, an example in which all the functions are performed by one ID will be described. However, an inexpensive ID card for selling goods and an ID card owned by individuals for settlement can be separated. In this system, an example using a television is shown, but the system may be realized by a mobile phone ID device including an ID drive unit, an LCD display unit, and a keyboard (or touch panel).

  In FIG. 10, the television 42 is used as an ID display unit, and a selection and an instruction on the television screen are performed by the remote control 43. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of data stored in the ID disk unit 3 in the present system. The OS, application, and product catalog data are stored at the location pointed to by the directory. The product catalog data also stores an order telephone number and the like for each product input. Further, personal information necessary for ordering shoes and clothes sizes may be stored. The application includes, for example, a catalog output process for outputting a catalog on a television screen, a product order process for automatically ordering a product selected by a user to a maker and reporting the order to a credit company, An automatic settlement process for using the ID as an electronic wallet, and an electronic wallet process for using the real ID as an electronic wallet for electronic money can be considered.

  In the case where a plurality of applications are put in one ID, the catalog output process and the product ordering process, the automatic settlement process, and the electronic wallet process need to be independently protected for confidentiality. Completely isolated. Similarly, the data used by each is managed so that the common part and the completely separated individual part coexist. Although not particularly described in the above-described system, similar management is required between a plurality of OSs in the system of FIG. 3 so that programs and data are not broken. This is achieved using digital signatures and password technology.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an outline of a series of procedure examples from the ordering of a product to the termination of control in the present system. First, in the user ID device in which the ID card is inserted, the product catalog stored in the disk unit 3 is displayed, and when the user selects a desired product, the circuit unit of the ID card uses the wireless communication unit 25 to Make an auto call to the product manufacturer and place an order (circled number 1). When the order is received, the ID card makes an auto call to the credit company used and reports that the order has been completed (circled numeral 2). When the maker sends out the ordered product (circled numeral 3), a product shipping report is made to the credit company (circled numeral 4), and in response to this, remittance is performed from the credit company to the maker (circled numeral). 5). The credit company issues a control request to the user together with the remittance to the manufacturer (circled numeral 6). When the user who has received the control request transfers the credit card to the credit company account using the automatic payment function of the IC card or the electronic wallet function (circled number 7), the bank reports the controlled state to the credit company (circled box). Numeral 8), a series of sales and settlement processing ends.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an operation procedure of the ordering process in the series of processes. First, the insertion of the ID1 into the drive is checked in step S131, and when it is inserted, the loading of the OS and the desired application from the disk unit 3 is instructed in step S132. The selection of the application is realized as in steps S62 and S63 in FIG.

  The optical disk drive unit 41 transfers the designated program and catalog data to the buffer memory 45 on the TV side or the RAM 23 of ID1. The circuit unit 2 of ID1 instructs the television 42 to display a catalog in step S134. Before the display, there is processing such as selection of a display catalog, but the description is omitted here. In step S135, the user waits for a product selection by the remote controller 43. When the user selects the product, in step S136, the telephone number of the corresponding maker is sent to the wireless communication unit 25 to perform an auto call, and an automatic order for the selected product is placed. Do. When the order is accepted, the process proceeds from step S137 to 138, where the order OK is displayed on the television 42, and the order completion is recorded on the disk unit 3 or the RAM 23. In steps S139 and S140, an automatic call to the credit company to be used and an order report are made.

  On the other hand, if the order has not been accepted, the process proceeds to step S141, and an order unavailable message is displayed. Another example similar to the present system is an automatic reservation system for recording a program. In this case, one week's worth of program data is stored in place of the product catalog data in FIG. 3, and application display processing, program recording reservation processing, recording management processing, and the like are stored.

  With the above-mentioned ID, the computer industry is released from the oligopolistic control of the CPU and the OS, and an ID having a built-in CPU most suitable for each software is sold from a software maker. In addition, hardware manufacturers are forced to make model changes three or four times a year due to frequent improvements in CPUs, so that they can escape from the current situation where profits are not generated.

  For the user, the ID greatly improves the convenience. For example, the existing software is inconvenient if it is not copied from a CD-ROM or the like to a hard disk once, so the capacity of the hard disk quickly fills up, and the hard disk needs to be added or the computer itself must be replaced. In that case, it is not necessary, and troubles associated with attachment and detachment can be avoided.

  That is, according to the ID, it is possible to flexibly cope with a change in specifications such as improvement of a CPU, and to avoid a situation that significantly impairs user convenience such as insufficient hardware compatibility due to a difference in OS or format. can do. By using the ID, the hardware conventionally regarded as a computer itself becomes only a man-machine interface (a combination of a display and a keyboard, etc.), and home appliances such as TVs and VTRs, that is, endurance consumption. It will be positioned as a good, greatly improving the convenience for the user, and increasing the added value for the manufacturer in the direction of elaborating the design and functions.

  In addition, the disposal of computer waste is becoming a social problem, which is caused by an unusual model change in the computer industry that becomes obsolete in three months. It removes the computer industry from oligopolies and greatly enhances user convenience. Although not described in the present embodiment, an ID-GAME in which a game dedicated CPU and various game software are combined is also possible.

  The ID in the present invention becomes a more useful storage medium by combining various functions as a multifunctional ID card.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an intelligent disk used in the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an intelligent disk used in the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a personal computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in a disk unit of an ID in the system of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure in the system in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another example of the operation procedure in the system of FIG. 3. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a car navigation system as an application example of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of contents stored in a disk unit of an ID in the system of FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure in the system in FIG. 7. It is a figure showing the example of composition of the automatic vending and settlement system as an example of application of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in a disk unit of an ID in the system of FIG. 10. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an automatic vending / settlement procedure in the system of FIG. 10. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure in the system in FIG. 10.

Claims (9)

A storage medium used as a removable disk,
The storage medium has an information storage unit that stores information and an electronic circuit unit that processes information,
The information storage unit stores a plurality of programs for controlling an external device,
The electronic circuit unit includes: a determination function for determining characteristics of the external device; and an instruction to select an optimal program corresponding to the determination result of the determination unit from the plurality of programs, and instruct the external device to load the program. A storage medium having a function.   2. The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the information storage unit further stores data used for the program.   The information storage unit stores a plurality of programs and data used in the plurality of programs, respectively, while the programs and / or data are stored separately from other programs and / or data. The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is stored so as to protect the secret of the data so as not to be destroyed.   The electronic circuit unit includes a communication unit that performs wireless communication with the host computer, and downloads the desired program or data from the host computer via the communication unit when the desired program or data is not present in the information storage unit. 2. The storage medium according to claim 1, further comprising: a loading unit that performs loading.   2. The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the external device is an input / output device included in a personal computer, and the program includes a system program and / or an application program. A computer system including a storage medium used as a removable disk,
The storage medium has an information storage unit that stores information and an electronic circuit unit that processes information,
The information storage unit stores a plurality of programs for controlling an external device,
The electronic circuit unit includes: a determination function for determining characteristics of the external device; and an instruction to select an optimal program corresponding to the determination result of the determination unit from the plurality of programs, and instruct the external device to load the program. A computer system having a function.   7. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the information storage unit further stores data used in the program.   The information storage unit stores a plurality of programs and data used in the plurality of programs, respectively, while the programs and / or data are stored separately from other programs and / or data. 7. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the data is stored so as to protect the secret of the data so as not to be destroyed.   The electronic circuit unit includes a communication unit that performs wireless communication with the host computer, and downloads the desired program or data from the host computer via the communication unit when the desired program or data is not present in the information storage unit. 7. The computer system according to claim 6, further comprising a loading unit that performs loading.

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