Connection method and device for auxiliary storage device

When connecting an auxiliary storage device to an information processor by way of an interface, a buffer circuit is provided in the interface that responds to the information processor with the name and type of auxiliary storage device in place of the auxiliary storage device, thereby connecting even when the name of the auxiliary storage device is not recognized by the information processor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to an auxiliary storage device connection
 method and associated device that allow connection of an unregistered
 auxiliary storage device to an information processor.
 2. Description of the Related Art
 Conventionally, when connecting an auxiliary storage device to an
 information processor, the type and name of the auxiliary storage device
 are read to verify on the information processor side what type of
 auxiliary storage device is being connected. This prior art, however, has
 the following problems: Names of auxiliary storage devices are registered
 by the information processor, and an auxiliary storage device thus cannot
 be used if its name does not agree, even if its type agrees with a
 registered type.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 In view of the above-described problems of the prior art, it is an object
 of the present invention to provide an auxiliary storage device connection
 method and associated device that, when connecting an auxiliary storage
 device to an information processor, allow connection of an auxiliary
 storage device that is not registered in the information processor.
 In order to solve the above-described problems, the auxiliary storage
 device connection method and associated device according to the present
 invention provide a buffer circuit in an interface, and this buffer
 circuit responds to an information processor with the type and name of the
 auxiliary storage device in place of the auxiliary storage device, thereby
 enabling connection even when the information processor does not recognize
 the name of the auxiliary storage device.
 The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present
 invention will become apparent from the following description based on the
 accompanying drawings which illustrate examples of preferred embodiments
 of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 Explanation is now presented regarding the embodiments of the present
 invention with reference to the figures.
 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an embodiment of the
 present invention.
 In the present embodiment, when information processor 1 is connected to
 auxiliary storage device 2 by way of interface 3, buffer circuit 4 is
 connected between information processor 1 and auxiliary storage device 2,
 as shown in FIG. 1. Interface 3 is thus divided into two parts, interface
 3-1 on the information processor 1 side and interface 3-2 on the auxiliary
 storage device 2 side.
 Buffer A 5 and buffer B 6 are provided inside buffer circuit 4 for joining
 interface 3-1 and interface 3-2, buffer A 5 effecting signal transfer from
 interface 3-2 to interface 3-1, and buffer B 6 effecting signal transfer
 from interface 3-1 to interface 3-2. In addition to these buffers,
 interface controller 7 is connected to interface 3-1, and interface
 controller 7 is in turn controlled by CPU 8. In addition, CPU 8 is both
 connected to memory 9 and controls the operation of buffer A 5 and buffer
 B 6 by means of additional control signal line 10.
 In this embodiment, when interface controller 7 within buffer circuit 4
 detects a command issued from information processor 1 to auxiliary storage
 device 2 to verify the type and name of the auxiliary storage device, CPU
 8 places buffer A 5 and buffer B 6 in an inactive state and responds to
 information processor 1 with the type and name of the auxiliary storage
 device in place of auxiliary storage device 2, thereby enabling connection
 even in a case in which the auxiliary storage device is not registered in
 the information processor.
 A concrete explanation is next presented regarding the connection operation
 in this embodiment with reference to FIG. 1.
 In normal operation, signals sent to information processor 1 from auxiliary
 storage device 2 pass by way of interface 3-2, are once stored in buffer A
 5, and then are sent to information processor 1 by way of interface 3-1.
 Signals sent from information processor 1 to auxiliary storage device 2
 pass by way of interface 3-1, are once stored in buffer B 6, and then are
 sent to auxiliary storage device 2 by way of interface 3-2.
 This exchange of signals is monitored in interface controller 7 within
 buffer circuit 4, and the results of. monitoring are sent to CPU 8. When a
 command from information processor 1 to auxiliary storage device 2 urging
 the transfer of inquiry data indicating the type and name of auxiliary
 storage device 2 is recognized by this monitoring operation, CPU 8 both
 halts the operation of buffer A 5 and buffer B 6 by way of additional
 control signal line 10 and responds to information processor 1 by means of
 interface controller 7 with inquiry data that have been stored in memory 9
 and that information processor 1 can recognize.
 Explanation is next presented regarding another embodiment of this
 invention with reference to the FIG. 2.
 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction in another embodiment of
 the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, this embodiment replaces the
 above-described interface controller with a combination of a memory map
 and CPU.
 Inside buffer circuit 4, buffer A 5 and memory map 11, as well as buffer B
 6 are provided to join interface 3-1 and interface 3-2, buffer A 5 and
 memory map 11 effecting signal transfer from interface 3-2 to interface
 3-1, and buffer B 6 effecting signal transfer from interface 3-1 to
 interface 3-2. Memory map 11 is controlled by CPU 8, and CPU 8 is further
 connected to, memory 9.
 Explanation is next presented regarding a concrete example of the
 connection operation of this embodiment with reference to the FIG. 2.
 Signals sent from auxiliary storage device 2 to information processor 1 are
 expanded in memory map 11. CPU 8 analyzes signals stored in memory map 11,
 and if, by this process, CPU 8 recognizes these signals as inquiry data in
 advance, CPU 8 rewrites the inquiry data on the memory map. This rewriting
 is carried out using a table that is maintained in memory 9. The data
 after this rewriting are sent to information processor 1 as the inquiry
 data in place of auxiliary storage device 2.
 By first responding with the content of the rewriting of memory 9 from CPU
 8 in place of the auxiliary storage device in the event of a request from
 information processor 1 to connect to auxiliary storage device 2,
 information processor 1 can recognize a specific auxiliary storage device
 2 as a predetermined auxiliary storage device.
 As described in the foregoing explanation, the present invention has the
 merit of enabling connection even in the case of an auxiliary storage
 device that is not recognized as a device capable of connection by an
 information processor by having a buffer circuit respond with inquiry data
 that the information processor can recognize in place of the auxiliary
 storage device.
 While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described
 using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only,
 and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without
 departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.