Apparatus and method for information processing

Abstract: An apparatus and method to put in a ready state regardless of error existence in default information. The default information read from an external storage unit is analyzed, judged whether or not the apparatus can be put in a ready stated based on the default information, and if not, the default information is invalidated and determined as error. An error skip is instructed where the error has occurred, default information is read from an internal memory or another external memory and set as default information. Furthermore, the default information can be modified so as to correspond to the current configuration.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for information processing and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for information processing which sets various initial-value information when power is supplied to the apparatus or a system including the apparatus. At a boot-up processing in a conventional apparatus, a default file which stores initial-value information (default values) of the apparatus (generally stored in an external storage unit such as a hard disk and floppy disk) is accessed, the initial-value information is read out from the file, and the read-out values are set as initial values for the apparatus. In the process of the initial-value being read out and set, when the default file cannot be read out or an error in the default file is detected, initialization processing along with the boot-up processing cannot be proceeded and is, thus, interrupted. In the conventional apparatus, in the case where an error occurs an operator has to repeat the boot-up operation by setting the other default file storing correct default values to the external storage unit, which results in inconvenience. EP-A-0 364 115 discloses a personal computer which is capable of dynamically reconfiguring its system without user interaction by determining the status of peripheral equipment connected thereto and, if required, updating the configuration data so as to permit the use of the computer to begin without executing a user prompted initialization sequence or manual switch or jumper set operations. The reconfiguration capabilities are however limited to external drives of the same type and modems being connected or not. In the first case, i.e. when externally and internally connected drives are of a different type, a setup error message will be generated requesting the user to run a specific system setup program. In the second case, a communication port status is determined and a peripheral configuration register is set depending on whether a modem is connected or not. EP-A-0 364 127 discloses a bootstrap loading mechanism for a data processing system, wherein upon power-up or system restart a defined bootstrap routine is first of all loaded from a non-volatile memory. The defined bootstrap routine compares an expected system configuration with the actual system configuration. If these configurations do not match, an undefined bootstrap routine is entered automatically, in which a central services routine searches for possible bootstrap load paths and attempts to load a suitable bootstrap from one of these paths. Paths in this sense are thereby suitable modules that are connected to peripheral devices or network interfaces, from which a bootstrap program might be loaded. Accordingly, the system searches for locations from which an undefined (and as such very basic) bootstrap routine can be loaded in case that a standard defined bootstrap routine can not be used. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to cope with the above-described drawback by providing an apparatus and method for information processing which executes a boot-up processing regardless of existence of errors in initial-value information. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for information processing which continues the boot-up processing (initial-value setting processing) without a power on/off operation in a case where an error in the default information is detected in a process of reading the default information from the external memory unit. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for information processing which can proceed the apparatus boot up, when an error is detected in the process of initial-value information reading or analysis, by ignoring the error and executing an initialization of the apparatus with the initial values which are internally stored in the apparatus. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for information processing which can correct the default information so as to correspond to the configuration of an apparatus or system, when the default information and configuration are compared and they do not correspond to each other. According to the present invention, the foregoing objects can be achieved by an apparatus or method as specified in the attached claims. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the information processing apparatus of an embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of the controlling operation of the present embodiment; and Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of the controlling operation of the other embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings. At the boot-up processing for the apparatus or system in the present embodiment, when default information is read from an external storage unit and analyzed, even if an error in the default information is detected, the boot-up processing can be continued by ignoring information including the error, reading default values which are internally stored with the control program in the apparatus, and setting them as initial values. The default information in a printing unit, for example, includes information on configuration of the system, system control, character sets, and printing data format. Examples of the default information are as follows: I. Information on Configuration A. The type of external memory and memory capacity of a connected hard disk, floppy disc, or magnetic tape. B. Information on the type of connected host computer. C. Memory capacity setting for input/output buffer and page buffer. D Storage area setting for character sets. II. Information on System Control A. Control information for input medium for inputting printing data, i.e., data format of a magnetic tape, recording format, or code system. B. Warning alarm on/off and billing information storage. III. Information on Character Set A. Designation of character set to be registered and loading area in a memory. B. Method for processing when an undefined code or unregistered code occurs, e.g. the order of external memory searching for a pertinent code. IV. Printing Data Format A. Printing data recording format B. Functional code selection (depending on a host computer) C. Default character type-style setting [The First Embodiment] Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. In Fig. 1, numeral 1 is an information processing apparatus comprising the components which are respectively numbered from 2 to 9. Numeral 2 is a CPU which performs control operation over the whole apparatus in accordance with a control program (shown in Fig. 2) which is stored in ROM 3 in advance. The ROM 3 stores data such as constant values other than an error processing program and control programs including the program according to the flowchart in Fig. 2. Numeral 4 is a RAM which is used for a work area where various data are temporary stored in the process of the processing executed by the CPU 2. The RAM 4 comprises a buffer 4a which temporary stores content of the file read from a fixed hard disk unit 8 or floppy disk unit 9, an initial-value table 4b which sets initial values of the apparatus, that is, default values, based on the content of the buffer 4a, a buffer 4c which temporary stores command series inputted from a keyboard 7, and diagnosis information 4d which stores data indicating a configuration of the apparatus detected by a self-diagnosis function (to be described later). Numeral 5 is a display unit such as CRT, however, it can be replaced by an LCD. Numeral 6 is a bus which respectively connects each of units. The keyboard 7 has various keys for an operation to continue the processing regardless of the presence of an error in the default information or to interrupt the processing in addition to character keys and function keys. The fixed hard disk unit 8 stores a default file and floppy disk unit 9 is used in a similar way to the fixed disk unit 8. Numeral 10 is a power supply unit which supplies power to each unit of the apparatus 1. Numeral 11 is a power switch which turns on/off the power supply to the power supply unit 10, and numeral 12 is an alternating current power source. Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of the controlling operation of the CPU 2 when the power is supplied to the apparatus 1 by turning on/off the power switch 11. When the processing for default file reading is executed at the boot-up, the routine of the default file processing as shown in Fig. 2 is executed. At step S1, when power of the system or apparatus is turned on, it is examined whether or not the default file exists either in the fixed hard disk unit 8 or floppy disk unit 9. If the default file exists in one of these, the process proceeds to step S2 where the content of a pertinent default file is read out from the fixed hard disk unit 8 or floppy disk unit 9 and stored in the buffer 4a in the RAM 4. When the default file exists neither in the hard disk unit 8 nor the floppy disk unit 9, the process proceeds to step S9 where an error display processing is executed. In the error processing, an operator is required to set a medium containing the default file to the floppy disk unit 9 by a message on the CRT 5. At step S10, if a command for re-execution is inputted from the keyboard 7, the process returns to step S1 where the existence of the default file is examined. If a command for processing interruption is inputted from the keyboard 7 by the operator at step S10, the process proceeds to step S11 where a predetermined power-off processing is performed to turn off the power of the apparatus. On the other hand, at step S3, processing for default file analysis is performed based on the content stored in the buffer 4a at step S2. At step S4, it is judged whether or not there is an error in the default file. If there is no error, the process proceeds to step S5 where default setting values are written in the initial-value table 4b of the RAM 4 based on the content of the buffer 4a. When an error is detected by the judgement at step S4, the process proceeds to step S6 where a message that the error is detected in the default file is displayed on the CRT 5. The process then proceeds to step S7 where an instruction inputted by the operator is waited. If the operator inputs an error skip command by using the keyboard 7, at step S8 the error is ignored and the default values which are stored in the ROM 3 with internal programs are set in the initial-value table 4b and the initial-value setting processing is ended. If the operator inputs a processing interruption command from the keyboard 7, the process proceeds to step S11 where power-off processing is performed to turn off the power of the apparatus 1. In the above embodiment, when an error is detected during the analysis of the default file which is read from the floppy disk 9, the error skip is executed and the initial values of the control program which is stored in the ROM 3 are automatically set. In addition to this, it can be arranged so that the standard default file of the fixed hard disk unit 8 is read out and analyzed. An example of errors which can be detected at step S4 is a case where a code system which is not supported by the host computer designated by the default file, case where the capacity of character set information which is set by default information exceeds the memory area for the character set which is set by the default information, or case where another external memory is designated by the default information as an object for search, even if only a hard disk is connected as an external memory unit. In these cases, error information is displayed. For example, when the code system which is not supported by the host computer is designated, information on the code system is determined as error and an appropriate code system which is stored in the internal memory or in the other external memory unit is set as initial information. When the capacity of the character set exceeds the memory area for the character sets, the character set information for a portion which exceeds the memory area is not registered in the memory and starts the apparatus. Furthermore, when the external memory unit which is not connected is designated, the external memory unit which is actually connected can be detected by the self diagnosis or the like. In case of setting of the initial-value information based on the self diagnosis, if input printing data through an off-line mode is designated by the default information, but condition for the off-line input is not set and a communication board for on-line mode is set, it can be arranged so that the setting information for the off-line mode in the default information is ignored and it is switched to the printing data input through the on-line mode. Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the above-mentioned procedure. This processing is executed after the processing at step S3 of the flowchart in Fig. 2 and the control program which executes this processing is stored in the ROM 3. When the default file is analyzed at step S3 of Fig. 2, the process proceeds to step S20 where configuration of the hardware is examined by self-diagnosis function and the result is stored in the RAM 4 as diagnosis information 4d. The process then proceeds to step S21 where it is examined whether or not the self-diagnosis information 4d corresponds to the content instructed by the default file. If coincided, the process proceeds to step S4 (Fig. 2) where the above-described processing is executed. On the other hand, if not, the process proceeds to step S22 where the error information is displayed and the designation for the error skip is inputted from the keyboard 7 in similar manner to steps S6 and S7 (step S23). When the error skip is designated, the process proceeds to step S24 where default information is corrected so as to correspond to the configuration of the apparatus 1 which is stored in the diagnosis information 4d. As described above, according to the present embodiments, when the default file is analyzed at the system boot-up, if data error in the default file is detected, errors can be ignored by a simple operation and the boot-up processing can be continued. The present invention can be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices, or to an apparatus comprising a single device. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the invention is applicable also to a case where the object of the invention is attained by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In summary, the application discloses an apparatus and method to put in a ready state regardless of error existence in default information. The default information read from an external storage unit is analyzed, judged whether or not the apparatus can be put in a ready state based on the default information, and if not, the default information is invalidated and determined as error. An error skip is instructed where the error has occurred, default information is read from an internal memory or another external memory and set as default information. Furthermore, the default information can be modified so as to correspond to the current configuration.

Claims: An information processing apparatus, comprising: reading means ( 2 ) for reading out first initializing information which sets initial values in said information processing apparatus from first storage means ( 8, 9 ); and analyzing means ( 2 ) for analyzing the first initializing information read out by said reading means and for detecting an error; characterized by determination means ( 2 ) for, when said analyzing means has detected an error, waiting for an input of a command and for determining whether or not the command is a command to avoid the error; and control means ( 2 ) for, when said determination means determines that the command to avoid the error is input, reading out second initialization information different from the first initializing information from second storage means ( 3 ), and for setting the second initialization information in said information processing apparatus as initial values of the apparatus, wherein the first and second initializing information includes data concerning the capacity of a memory. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said second storage means is an internal memory of said information processing apparatus or an external memory. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first storage means is an external memory device ( 9 ) with an exchangeable memory medium and attached to said information processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the command is input into said information processing apparatus by using a keyboard ( 7 ). An information processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by further comprising: self-diagnosis means ( 2 ) for diagnosing the configuration of the apparatus; judgment means ( 2 ) for judging whether or not the diagnosed configuration corresponds to the initial value information; detection means ( 2 ) for, when said judgment means has judged that the diagnosed information does not correspond to the initial value information, waiting for an input of a command and for detecting whether or not the command is a skip command to skip utilizing the initial value information; and modify means ( 2 ) for, when said detection means detects that the skip command is input, modifying the initial value information so as to correspond to the diagnosed configuration. An information processing method, comprising the steps of: reading out first initializing information which sets initial values in said information processing apparatus from first storage means ( 8, 9 ); and analyzing the first initializing information read out by said reading step and detecting an error; characterized by the steps of: waiting, when an error has been detected in said analyzing step, for an input of a command and determining whether or not the command is a command to avoid the error; and reading out, when it is determined that the command to avoid the error is input, second initialization information different from the first initializing information from second storage means ( 3 ) and setting the second initialization information in said information processing apparatus as initial values of the apparatus, wherein the first and second initializing information includes data concerning the capacity of a memory. An information processing method according to claim 6, characterized in that said reading out step refers to said second storage means as an internal memory of said information processing apparatus or an external memory. An information processing method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said reading out step refers to said first storage means as an external memory device ( 9 ) with an exchangeable memory medium and attached to said information processing apparatus. An information processing method according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the command is input into said information processing apparatus by using a keyboard ( 7 ). An information processing method according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 9, characterized by comprising the further steps of: self-diagnosing the configuration of the apparatus; judging whether or not the diagnosed configuration corresponds to the initial value information; waiting, when it has been judged in said judging step that the diagnosed information does not correspond to the initial value information, for an input of a command and detecting whether or not the command is a skip command to skip utilizing the initial value information; and modifying, when it is detected in said detecting step that the skip command is input, the initial value information so as to correspond to the diagnosed configuration.

Inventors: ONO KENCHI, ONO, KENICHI, Ono, Kenchi, c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G06F11
IPC codes: G06F11, G06F9