JPH05334227A - Assignment system for input/output device for computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Automatically allocate I / O devices without being aware of them. [Structure] A workstation ID table 11 storing identification numbers for identifying a plurality of workstations WS00, WS01, WS02 that can use an input / output device, and each workstation WS00, WS01, W
The device ID table 12 that sets the type of the input / output device used in S02 using the classification symbol, and the identification number of the input / output device assigned by the program for each input / output device set in the device ID table 12 in order of priority. And a device number table 13 to be stored.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an allocation system for automatically allocating input / output devices such as printers and floppy disk devices in computer systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a computer system, an input / output device such as a printer or a floppy disk device uses a device fixed in advance for each program (static allocation), or a user arbitrarily selects it while executing the program. The method of specifying the device (dynamic allocation) was common.

[0003]

However, the assignment of the input / output devices as described above has a possibility that a large number of input / output devices are connected and the input / output devices are commonly used by a plurality of workstations. In some systems, there were the following problems.

That is, in the dynamic method in which the input / output device to be used is designated and assigned from the user workstation during execution of the program, the user must always be aware of the name of each input / output device. In particular, when the I / O devices are distributed over a wide area, the user needs to select and specify the I / O devices in the vicinity of the user, but the I / O devices used by the program are printers, floppy disk devices, etc. When there are many types, it is complicated to specify the name of each input / output device.

On the other hand, in the method of fixedly allocating the input / output device to be used, the burden on the user is eliminated, but when the input / output device desired to be used is used by another program, or this input / output device fails. However, there is an inconvenience that it cannot be used when

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input / output device in a computer system capable of automatically allocating the input / output device without being aware of the input / output device. It is to provide the allocation method of.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a computer system having a plurality of input / output devices commonly used by a plurality of workstations, which is used for each workstation. A device control table that is provided to determine the output device and that can be referenced from each workstation, a unit that is provided for each workstation and that refers to the device control table, and an input / output that can be used according to the reference result And assigning means for assigning the device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, when each workstation uses an input / output device, it accesses the device control table from its own program and refers to the available input / output device. Available input / output devices are automatically assigned according to the reference result.

[0009]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an input / output device allocation system in a computer system according to the present invention.

This embodiment comprises three printers and a floppy disk device which can be used by three workstations WS00, WS01, WS02.

A device control table 10 is provided in order to use these devices.
Includes a workstation ID table 11, a device ID table 12, and a device number table 13, and these tables 11, 12, 13 are set in a common memory area accessible from the workstations WS00, WS01, WS02. It is possible.

The workstation ID table 11 is
6 is a table in which identification numbers for identifying a plurality of workstations (three in this embodiment) that can use input / output devices are stored.

The device ID table 12 is a table for setting the type of the input / output device used by each of the workstations WS00, WS01, WS02 by using a classification symbol. As the classification symbol, for example, GP is a printer and FD is a floppy disk device.

The device number table 13 shows the device I
It is a table for storing the identification numbers of the input / output devices assigned by the program for each input / output device set in the D table 12 in order of priority. For example, three printers GP00,
If GP01 and GP02 are available and the priority is in this order, the identification numbers 00, 01 and 02 are stored.

Each workstation WS00, WS0
1, WS02 can automatically assign the input / output device to be used from the program being executed by referring to each of the tables 11, 12, and 13.

As the input / output device which can be used in this embodiment, various devices such as a magnetic disk device, a scanner device, an optical disk device, a fax machine and the like can be considered in addition to the printer and the floppy disk device.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Now, a case will be described in which an input / output device is automatically assigned from a program running on the workstation WS01. When the program of the workstation WS01 is started, the workstation WS01
First, the own workstation number is confirmed by referring to the workstation ID table 11 (step ST
1). When the confirmation is completed (step ST2), the I / O device used by the program currently in use is searched. In this case, from the workstation ID number in the workstation ID table 11, the usable input / output device corresponding to this ID number can be searched from the device ID table 12 (step ST).
3). In this example, workstation WS01 has
Since GP (printer) and FD (floppy disk device) are assigned, if the I / O device used in the program is a magnetic disk device, the message "The magnetic disk device cannot be used" is output ( Steps ST4 and ST5).

When it is determined which input / output device is to be used (YES in step ST4), it is then searched whether or not the input / output device is currently usable (step ST6). This search processing is searched by referring to the device number table 13. In this example, the printer is initially assigned GP01, and when the GP01 is in use or unavailable, GP02 is assigned. Also,
The allocation of the floppy disk device is FD01 only. If all input / output devices are in use or unavailable, a message to that effect is output (step ST5).

In this way, the assignment of the input / output device of the workstation is completed (step ST7YE).
S), the input / output process of the workstation WS01 is executed (step ST8), the printing process using the printer GP01 is executed, and the saving process using the floppy disk device FD01 is executed. When the series of input / output processing is completed (YES in step ST9), the input / output device used is released and the processing is completed (step ST10).

As described above, according to this embodiment, each workstation can automatically assign and set which input / output device it can use from its own program, so that the laborious assignment work is manually performed. Can be done without going through.

Further, when the input / output devices are distributed over a wide area, the identification numbers of the devices existing near the own workstation can be preferentially assigned.
The work load on the user can be reduced.

Further, by setting a plurality of candidates for one type of input / output device, the user can make another input when the input / output device is being used by another program or the input / output device is out of order. You can switch to an alternative device and use it without specifying the output device.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, each workstation automatically assigns and sets which input / output device can be used from its own program without the user being aware of the input / output device. Therefore, it is possible to perform a complicated assignment work without human intervention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an input / output device allocation system in a computer system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 device control table 11 workstation ID table 12 device ID table 13 device number table WS workstation GP printer FD floppy disk device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A computer system having a plurality of input / output devices commonly used by a plurality of workstations, the computer system being provided for determining the input / output device to be used for each workstation, and being referable from each workstation. A device control table, a means for referencing the device control table provided for each workstation, and an allocating means for allocating an available device according to a reference result. I / O device allocation method.