JPH04200039A - Modem card controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control a MODEM card even when an extension unit is connected to a computer system by deciding a MODEM control register used to discriminate the presence of the connection of the extension unit at the initializing state of the computer system. CONSTITUTION:The MODEM controller is provided with an extension unit discrimination register 8 used to discriminate whether or not an extension unit 4 is connected to a computer system 1 and a MODEM control register 9' to control a MODEM card connected to a MODEM slot in the extension unit 4, and the computer system 1 is provided with a MODEM control register 9 to control a MODEM card 6 connecting to the extension slot 4 in the computer system. Then based on the result of discrimination of the presence of the connection of the extension unit, a MODEM control register to be used is decided. Thus, even when an extension unit is connected to the computer system, it is possible to control the MODEM card.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a modem card control device in a computer system to which an expansion unit can be connected. , (Prior Art) In the field of personal computers, the aim is to make them smaller, lighter, and cheaper, so many functions cannot be included as standard equipment, so they are provided to users as options. An expansion unit is a typical example.

By the way, modem cards are also provided to users as an option. Typically, a modem card 33 is installed in an expansion slot 3 in a computer system 31, as shown in FIG.
Connected directly to 2. In the figure, 34 is a CMOS memory, and 35 is a modem control register.

In such a hardware configuration, modem card 3
The operation of the computer system 31 when using the computer system 3 will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In step 101, the storage contents of the CMOS memory 34 are read out, and the storage contents are determined. If the stored content is information indicating "use a modem card," the stored content of the modem control register 35 is read out in step 102, and the modem card 33 is connected to the expansion slot 32 based on this stored content. If the modem card 33 is connected to the expansion slot 32, in step 103, information indicating "modem usable" is set in the modem control register 35.

On the other hand, if the stored content of the CMOS memory 34 is information indicating "do not use the modem card" in step 101, or if the modem card 33 is not connected to the expansion slot 32 in step 102, the modem control register Information indicating that "modem cannot be used" is set in 35 (step 104).

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Expansion slots in computer systems are used to connect modem cards or interface cards of expansion units. Here, when the interface card of the expansion unit is connected to the expansion slot, the modem card is used by connecting it to the modem slot in the expansion unit, but conventionally, the modem card connected to the expansion unit is used in the computer system. The problem was that it was out of control.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it determines whether or not an expansion unit is connected at the time of initializing a computer system, and uses a modem control register (a register in the computer system or an expansion unit) to be used based on the determination result. An object of the present invention is to provide a modem card control device that can control a modem card even when an expansion unit is connected by determining the registers in the unit.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems)] A modem card control device of the present invention includes a modem control register that can determine whether or not a modem card is connected and can set information indicating whether the modem card can be used or not. A computer system having an expansion slot for connecting a modem card or an interface card of an expansion unit, a battery-backed memory in which information indicating the use/non-use of the modem card is stored, and whether the modem card is connected or not. a modem control register in which information can be set to determine whether the modem card can be used or not;
an expansion unit having an expansion unit determination register used to determine whether or not it is connected to a computer system; a modem slot for connecting a modem card; and an interface card for connecting to an expansion slot of a computer system. When the computer system is initialized, it is determined whether an expansion unit is connected to the computer system based on the storage contents of the expansion unit identification register, and if the expansion unit is connected, the modem control register in the expansion unit is The modem card is controlled according to the stored contents of the modem control register in the computer system, and when the expansion unit is not connected, the modem card is controlled according to the stored contents of the modem control register in the computer system.

(Function) According to the present invention, in a computer system that has an expansion slot for connecting a modem card or an interface card of an expansion unit, and can expand the functions of the system by connecting the expansion unit, the expansion unit is connected to the computer system. an expansion unit identification register used to determine whether the expansion unit is connected; a modem control register used to control a modem card connected to an expansion slot in the computer system; and a modem control register used to control a modem card connected to an expansion slot in the expansion unit. A modem control register for controlling the modem card is provided, and the modem card is controlled by determining the modem control register to be used based on the result of determining whether or not an expansion unit is connected.

As a result, conventionally, only the modem card connected to the expansion slot in the computer system could be controlled, but with the present invention, it is now possible to control the modem card even when the expansion unit is connected to the computer system. Users can use the system efficiently.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a computer system, which has an expansion slot 2 to which a modem card 6 or an interface card 3 of an expansion unit 4 is connected. The interface card 3 is attached to the expansion unit 4 and is used to connect the expansion unit 4 to the computer system 1. The expansion unit 4 has a modem slot 5 for connecting a modem card 6, and is used to expand the functions of the computer system 1. Note that when the expansion unit 4 is used, the modem card 6 cannot be connected to the expansion slot 2, so it is also connected to the modem slot of the expansion unit 4.

A CMOS memory 7 stores information indicating whether or not the modem card 6 is used. Reference numeral 8 denotes an expansion unit determination register, and by reading the stored contents of this register, it is determined whether or not the expansion unit 4 is connected to the computer system 1. 9.9- is a modem control register, in which information indicating whether the modem is used or not is set depending on whether the modem card 6 is connected or not.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. Note that FIG. 2(a) shows the modem control routine when no expansion unit is connected, and FIG. 2(b) shows the modem control routine when the expansion unit is connected. In FIG. 2(b), step 201 is a step of determining whether or not the expansion unit 4 is connected. It is determined whether the expansion unit 4 is connected or not.

Step 202 is a step of determining the storage contents of the CMOS memory 7, and in the computer system 1,
The storage contents of the CMOS memory 7 (modem card used/not used) are read and the storage contents are determined.

Step 203 is a step of determining whether or not the modem card 6 is connected. Depending on whether or not the expansion unit 4 is connected, the modem control register A (9) or B (9') to be used is determined. The storage contents of the register determined to be used are read and the storage contents are determined.

Steps 204 and 205 are steps for setting the memory contents of modem control registers A and B, including whether or not the expansion unit 4 is connected, whether the modem card 6 is connected, and whether the CM
According to the contents stored in the OS memory 7, the modem control registers A and B are set to “modem available” or “modem not available”.
Set information indicating.

On the other hand, in FIG. 2(a), steps 206 to 209
Now, the same processing as the conventional process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed.

Here, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step 201, the storage contents of the expansion unit discrimination register 8 in the expansion unit 4 are read out, and the contents of the expansion unit discrimination register 8 in the expansion unit 4 are read.
It is determined whether the computer is connected to the computer system 1 or not. In step 201, the expansion unit 4
is not connected to the computer system 1, the CMOS memory 7 of the computer system 1
The modem card 6 is controlled according to the contents stored in the modem control register A. This operation is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2(a).

In step 201, if the expansion unit 4 is connected to the computer system, the storage contents of the C'MOS memory 7 of the computer system 1 and the modem control register B of the expansion unit 4 are determined (step 20
2.203). In this case, steps 204 and 205
As shown in , information indicating "modem not available" is always set in the modem control register A of the computer system 1.In addition, the modem control register B of the expansion unit 4 contains the CMOS memory 7 and the modem control register. B
Information indicating "modem usable" or "modem unusable" is set according to the stored contents.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, conventionally, in a computer system, only the modem card connected to the expansion slot of the computer system can be controlled. Therefore, when an expansion unit is connected to the computer system, the connection inside the expansion unit However, according to the present invention, it is now possible to control the modem card even when an expansion unit is connected, thereby allowing the user to use the system efficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the conventional configuration, and Fig. 4 shows the conventional operation. It is a flowchart. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Computer system, 2... Expansion slot, 3... Interface card, 4... Expansion unit, 5... Modem slot, 6... Modem card, 7... CMOS memory, 8...Extension unit identification register, 9.9'...Modem control register. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A modem control register in which information can be set to determine whether a modem card is connected and to indicate whether the modem card can be used or not; an expansion slot for connecting a modem card or an interface card of an expansion unit; A computer system having a battery-backed memory that stores information indicating use/non-use of a modem card, and a modem capable of determining whether a modem card is connected and setting information indicating whether the modem card can be used or not. a control register; an expansion unit determination register used to determine whether or not it is connected to the computer system;
an expansion unit having a modem slot for connecting a modem card and an interface card for connecting to an expansion slot of the computer system; determines whether or not the expansion unit is connected to the computer system, and if the expansion unit is connected, controls the modem card according to the contents stored in the modem control register in the expansion unit; A modem card control device, characterized in that when the modem card is not connected, the modem card is controlled according to the contents stored in a modem control register in the computer system.