WO1990006554A1

WO1990006554A1 - Computer and starting-up process of said computer

Info

Publication number: WO1990006554A1
Application number: PCT/FR1989/000613
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierre Willard
Original assignee: Laboratoire Europeen De Recherches Electroniques Avancees
Priority date: 1988-11-30
Filing date: 1989-11-28
Publication date: 1990-06-14
Also published as: KR900702452A; FR2639734A1

Abstract

The invention relates essentially to a computer and a process for starting up said computer. The invention concerns a computer provided with the possibility of booting from external input-output peripherals as, for example, a reader (8) of 5 1/4 inch diskettes. Loading the operating system from an external diskette reader (8) makes possible the use of software comprising its own operating systems (known as self-booting) together with computers comprising internally only diskette readers of a different format. The invention is applicable, in particular, in the production of high-performance computers. Application: in particular, for the design of computers based on the MS-DOS operating system.

Description

COMPUTER AND METHOD FOR STARTING A COMPUTER

The main object of the invention is a computer and a method for starting a computer.

More and more computers use an operating system, for example disk operating systems. Some computers are definitively abandoned shortly after being put on the market. Others, on the contrary, become standards whose durability can last for several decades. In such a case, during the life of a standard there are improvements to the hardware as well as the operating system. For example, computers working under PC-DOS marketed by the IBM Company as well as compatible computers working under the operating system MF-DOS marketed by the Microsoft Company are offered with various formats of floppy disks which are incompatible with each other. In particular, use is made of floppy disk drives using floppy disks in the format of 3.5 inches in diameter as well as floppy disk drives using floppy disks in the format of 5 1/4 inches in diameter. On the other hand, publishers offer better, faster and more secure operating systems. It is therefore imperative to be able to adopt a new operating system on an existing computer.

Increasingly, as micro-informatics spread to increasingly broad sections of society, the consumer demands on the one hand the sustainability of investments in hardware and especially software and on the other hand convenience of use. Thus, even if for reasons of internal congestion some manufacturers prefer to offer inside their computer only 3.5 inch floppy drives, it may prove imperative to be able to read for example by connecting a external floppy drive, the

REPLACEMENT SHEET 5 1/4 inch floppy disks. However, the mere possibility of reading 5 1/4 inch floppy disks may not be sufficient to operate protected software, such as games. Many games have their own operating system and special formatting to prevent files from being copied to another disc. Such a game, called self-booting, can only work from a floppy drive from which the computer is capable of loading the operating system (to boot in 0 English terminology).

However, a computer of known type can load the operating system of MS-DOS type only from the first floppy drive called A or the first hard drive called C. The floppy drive A as well as the hard drive C are necessarily internal to said computer. Computers of known type are therefore not capable of preserving the investment or software of a consumer.

On the other hand, it is known to make computers comprising the operating system in read-only memory (ROM in ® English terminology). Such a system has the convenience of automatically changing the operating system when the computer starts. However, it has the disadvantage of not allowing upgrading to the operating system and of not offering the user the performance of the latest versions of the operating system available.

The computer according to the present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the known type of device. For this, it includes means allowing the connection of the input-output device (I / O in English terminology) or only input to the computer. The input-output devices are for example floppy drives. The input devices are for example ROM cartridges. In addition, the device according to the present invention makes it possible to boot on a plurality of input-output peripherals

REPLACEMENT SHEET (or only an input device. In the rest of this patent, we will call input devices, devices capable, at least, of communicating information to the computer). In addition, the device according to the present invention makes it possible to automatically choose a peripheral from which the operating system will be loaded. For this, a hierarchy of input-output devices is established, the computer first of all searches for the operating system on the device having the order of

10 highest hierarchy. If it is not found there, it goes to the device with the immediately lower hierarchy order and so on to the input-output device containing the operating system.

Advantageously, the computer according to the present * - invention assigns the highest hierarchical order to at least one of the external input-output devices. Thus, even if an operating system is present in one of the internal peripherals such as for example read only memory or the hard disk, the starting of a software such as for example a game having its own operating system is possible on a reader external floppy disks or on a permanent memory cartridge reader. This is particularly important when the internal floppy drives are not able to receive the game disk, for example because they are of a different size ^5.

The main object of the invention is a computer comprising part of the operating system and input / output members, characterized in that it includes means for checking the presence of the operating system on the ~ hierarchical input to load the operating system from the input organ comprising the operating system having the highest hierarchical order and that at least one external input organ to a hierarchical order superior to all internal input organs.

The invention also relates to a computer

REPLACEMENT SHEET characterized in that it includes a port capable of being connected to an external floppy drive having a hierarchical order higher than the internal floppy drives.

The invention also relates to a computer characterized in that it comprises a connector for external read-only memories having a hierarchical order higher than internal permanent memories.

The invention also relates to a computer characterized in that it includes means for assigning a hierarchy of priorities to input or input / output devices.

The invention also relates to a computer characterized in that it comprises a microprocessor of the 8086 family or means of emulating such a microprocessor in order to be able to operate under the "MS-DOS" operating system. The invention also relates to a computer characterized in that it comprises at least one floppy disk drive accepting "3 1/2" floppy disks.

The subject of the invention is also a computer characterized in that it includes a random access memory in which the operating system can be written.

The subject of the invention is also a method for starting a computer, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: scanning of the external input devices to verify the possible presence of an operating system and its loading s 'he is there

- if the operating system has not been loaded from an external organ, scanning of the internal input organs to verify the possible presence of an operating system and its loading if it is present.

The invention also relates to a method characterized in that the external input member is a floppy disk drive.

The invention also relates to a method characterized in that the external input member is a read only memory. The invention also relates to a computer comprising a part of the operating system and input / output members, characterized in that it includes means for checking the presence of the operating system on input members prioritized to load the operating system from the input device comprising the operating system with the highest hierarchical order from an external floppy drive.

The invention will be better understood by means of the

10 description below and appended figures given as nonlimiting examples among which: FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a computer according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a flowchart explaining the operating principle of the computer according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a central processing unit 1 of a computer according to the present invention and of some input or input-output peripherals can be seen. Only the input or input / output devices from which the computer 1 can load the operating system have been represented in FIG. 1. It is understood that the computer can be connected to other input and / or output peripherals such as "a keyboard, a mouse, a digitizer, an optical pen, joysticks, screens comprising cathode ray tubes and / or flat screens, for example liquid crystal , barcode readers, magnetic tape cartridge readers, printers, 0 interfaces or plotters.

In FIG. 1, line 41 delimits the internal peripherals included in the case of the central processing unit of the computer, external peripherals such as for example the floppy drive 8 or the read-only memory cartridge 13. In addition to the processor not shown, computer 1 comprises a permanent memory 2 containing a part of the operating system allowing the loading of the entire operating system or at least the parts necessary for the operation of the computer. This part of the operating system is called BIOS in English terminology. The computer 1 also necessarily includes random access memory elements 5 intended in particular to load the operating system and to allow the execution of programs. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the computer also comprises a read only memory 3 containing the operating system, an internal hard disk 9, a connector 30 allowing the use of external read only memory cartridges 13, one or more floppy drives 6 and 7 as well as means 4 allowing the default configuration of the computer 1. On the other hand, the computer 1 is connected to an external floppy drive 8. The arrows on the Figure 1 shows the flow of data. It is of course possible to use buses and controllers of known type to achieve the physical interconnection of the various elements.

The microprocessor (not shown) executes the programs stored in the memory 2. The memory 2 contains the scanning orders of the input devices likely to contain the operating system. Scans are carried out in hierarchical order. In a first embodiment of the computer according to the present invention, the hierarchical order has been fixed once and for all by the program stored in memory 2. In a second variant embodiment, the hierarchy order can be modified by information stored in the device 4. The device 4 can be either a permanent programmable memory, or advantageously switches (dip s itch in English terminology).

In a third variant embodiment, the order of the hierarchy can be modified by external orders such as, for example, holding a key on the keyboard before and during the computer start-up phase. For example, by holding the I key during the start-up phase, you can cause the operating system to be loaded from an internal device, while holding down the E key will cause the operating system to be loaded from an external device.

By executing the program stored in memory 2 the microprocessor checks the presence of connected input-output devices such as for example the presence of a

10 internal ROM containing the operating system 3, the presence of a hard disk 9, the presence of one or two internal floppy drives referenced 6 and 7, the presence of ROM cartridges 13 and / or the presence of an external floppy disk drive 8. If the operating system is used from permanent memories 3 or 13, it is possible to use the program directly stored in read-only memory. This has the advantage of not occupying the RAM space 5 by copying the operating system. However, it is advantageous to copy, even from the ^< - ^> read only memories 3 or 13 of the operating system into random access memory 5. Thus the management of the memory address is simplified and the operation is accelerated. In fact, the random access memories 5 have shorter access times than those of the read only memories 3 or 13. In the case of other peripherals 6, 7, 8 or 9 the operating system is systematically loaded into random access memory 5.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the computer internally includes one or two diskette drives 6 and / or 7 in the 3.5 inch format. It also includes the possibility of connecting an external floppy drive 8, for example in the 5 1/4 inch format. Thus, the user is allowed to operate all the software and in particular the software which he has had for a long time or software not yet published in 3.5 inch format. This possibility is particularly advantageous when using protected software. Indeed, it is not possible for the user to copy this 8

software on 3.5 inch floppy disks. In addition, there is software, including games with part of the operating system necessary for operation. Such software can only work if the computer is capable of performing initialization by loading the operating system ^r from the floppy disk drive in the proper format, 8 in the case of Figure 1. The investment in software is a very important selling point for microcomputer users.

In an exemplary embodiment of the device illustrated in FIG. 1, the priorities are assigned in descending order: to the external floppy drive 8, to the external read-only memories 13, to the floppy drive 6, to the floppy drive 7, to the disc internal hard 9 and internal ROM 3. It is of course not necessary that all these input / output devices are connected. Similarly, it is possible to assign other hierarchies without departing from the scope of the present invention, for example in descending order, the external read-only memory 13, the floppy drive 6, the external floppy drive 8, the hard disk 9, the read only memories 3. It should be noted on the other hand that it is possible to avoid that the computer loads the operating system from the floppy drives 6,7 or 8 or from the edge 30 of memories external dead 13 simply by avoiding placing a support containing the operating system there. On the other hand, the user does not have simple means of inhibiting the loading of the operating system from the hard disk 9 or from the read only memory 3.

Advantageously, the device according to the present invention comprises means making it possible to avoid conflicts between various input / output devices. For example if you use an operating system which is not capable of managing more than two floppy drives, such as for example MS-DOS, the simple connection of the external floppy drive disconnects a possible second internal floppy drive 7. This disconnection is effected by a presence signal from an external floppy drive 8.

In FIG. 2, a flow diagram of an example of scanning of the input / output peripherals by a device according to the present invention can be seen.

An initialization of the computer system begins at 20. The start consists, for example, of timers allowing the stabilization of the electrical supplies and possibly of hardware tests, for example random access memories 5 of FIG. 1.

We go to 21.

At 21, a reading of the priorities is carried out, that is to say of the hierarchical order assigned to the various input / output peripherals.

We go to 22.

In 22 we test the presence of the input / output device having the highest priority.

In his absence we go to 31.

If yes we go to 23.

In 23 we test the presence of the operating system on the device with the highest priority.

In his absence we go to 31.

If yes we go to 24.

In 24, the operating system is loaded.

We're going to 25.

In 25, the complete computer is ready to run.

In 31 we test the presence of the input / output device having the second order of priority. In its absence, we go to the presence tests of the peripheral having an immediately lower order priority (not shown in the figure).

If yes, we go to 32.

In 32 we test the presence of the operating system 10

on these devices.

In its absence we will test the presence of the device having an immediately lower priority.

If yes we go to 33. In 33 we load the operating system.

We're going to 34.

In 34 we will start the computer.

So on all the devices are tested until we find a device present with an operating system.

Advantageously, in case we have not found an operating system on any of the peripherals, we go to 40 and we display a message on the screen for example: "No operating system" or "Place a system floppy in drive A ".

Advantageously, in the case of a boot on one of the floppy drives 6,7 or 8, the drive on which the boot was carried out becomes the first drive for the operating system. For example, in the case of the MS-DOS operating system, the drive on which the boot was performed is named A. It is of course possible that a plurality of operating systems is present on various input / output devices. from the computer. For example the hard disk 9 can include Unix. This does not prevent the MS-DOS operating system from loading from a floppy drive, for example.

The invention is particularly applicable to the production of computers per ormants. The invention is particularly applicable to the production of computers running on the MS-DOS operating system.

Claims

1. Computer comprising storage means comprising part of the operating system (2) and input / output members (3,6, 7,8, 9, 13) characterized in that it comprises means to check the presence of the operating system on input organs (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13) hierarchical to load the operating system from the input organ comprising the system operation with the highest hierarchical order and that at least one external input member (8, 13) has a higher hierarchical order than all internal input members (3, 6, 7, 9).

2. Computer according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a port capable of being connected to an external floppy disk drive (8) having a hierarchical order greater than the internal floppy disk drives (6, 7).

3. Computer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a connector (30) for external read-only memories (13) having a hierarchical order higher than internal permanent memories (3).

4. Computer according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises means (4) to assign a hierarchy of priorities to input or input / output organs.

5. Computer according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a microprocessor of the 8086 family or means of emulating such a microprocessor to be able to operate under the operating system "MS-DOS ".

6. Computer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one floppy drive (6, 7) accepting floppy type "3 1/2 inches".

7. Computer according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it includes a random access memory (5) in which the operating system can be written.

8. Method for starting a computer, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

- scanning of the external input devices (8, 13) to verify the possible presence of an operating system and its loading if it is present

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the external input member is a floppy disk drive (8).

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the external input member is a read only memory (13).

11. Computer with. part of the operating system (2) and input / output members (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13) characterized in that it includes means for checking the presence of the operating system on hierarchical input devices (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13), for loading the operating system from the input device comprising the operating system with the highest hierarchical order high and able to load the operating system from an external floppy drive (8).