Peripheral device

Abstract

To prevent a peripheral device which operates as an external storage device from being selected as a boot device even when the peripheral device is connected before a PC is started.SOLUTION: The peripheral device is connected to an information processing apparatus via a connection cable and is operable in a first operation mode as an external storage device and a second operation mode as a device that is not an external storage device, and when the peripheral device is connected to the information processing apparatus and receives a communication signal for identifying a device from the information processing apparatus, the peripheral device responds to the communication signal as either the first operation mode or the second operation mode according to an elapsed time from detection of supply of a voltage from the connection cable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a peripheral device such as an image scanner, a printer, or a multifunction peripheral. [Background technology]

[0002] Peripheral devices such as image scanners, printers, and multifunction peripherals are widely used. Known interfaces for connecting to these peripheral devices include serial interfaces, parallel interfaces, USB, IEEE1394, and LANs.

[0003] Before connecting a peripheral device to a computer (PC) that is an information processing device, a device driver must be installed in advance. In other words, in the past, a peripheral device could not be used without a device driver installed in the PC.

[0004] Therefore, an image reading device such as a scanner is made to be recognized by an information processing device as an external storage device, and an image file is written to this external storage device, which the information processing device reads out. This invention utilizes the property that the operating system (OS) that controls the information processing device does not have a device driver for the image reading device, but does have a device driver for the external storage device (Patent Document 1).

[0005] Although there is no need to install a device driver, it is still necessary to use a dedicated capture application. On the other hand, on PCs where device driver installation is permitted, it is expected that there will be a desire to use a popular general-purpose capture application.

[0006] For this reason, there is an invention that has a scanner operation mode in which the device is recognized as a scanner device and requires the installation of software such as a dedicated device driver, and a memory operation mode in which the device is recognized as an external storage device (memory device) and does not require installation, and allows switching between the two modes (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-113702 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5513018 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, if a peripheral device is used as an external storage device (memory device), it will interfere with booting the PC's OS image. For example, when a PC starts up, the boot order of boot devices is determined by the motherboard's BIOS settings. Generally, hard disks and SSDs containing OS images are prioritized and therefore often boot first, but there are also cases where an OS image stored on an external storage device needs to be used, so the external storage device may be prioritized higher in the BIOS settings.

[0009] In such cases, if you connect a peripheral device that does not have an OS image before the PC starts up, the wrong boot device will be selected, and the PC will not start from the desired OS image, resulting in the OS not loading. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In view of the above, a peripheral device according to the present invention comprises: A peripheral device that is connected to an information processing device via a connection cable and that can operate in a first operation mode in which it operates as an external storage device and in a second operation mode in which it operates as a device other than an external storage device, When the device is connected to the information processing device and receives a communication signal for identifying the device from the information processing device, it responds to the communication signal in either the first operating mode or the second operating mode depending on the elapsed time since detecting the supply of voltage from the connection cable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, even if a peripheral device that operates as an external storage device is connected before the PC is started up, it can be prevented from being selected as a boot device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a software block diagram of a PC as an example of a personal computer and a scanner as an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] Hardware block diagram of a PC and scanner as examples of personal computers [Figure 3] Transition timing diagram when connecting a scanner to a PC after startup [Figure 4] Transition timing diagram when connecting a scanner to a pre-boot PC (without power-off charging function) [Figure 5] Transition timing diagram when connecting a scanner to a pre-boot PC (with power-off charging function) [Figure 6] Flowchart showing the process of selecting the operating mode of the scanner DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Each embodiment described below will be useful for understanding various concepts, such as higher-level concepts, middle-level concepts, and lower-level concepts, of the present invention. The technical scope of the present invention is determined by the claims, and is not limited by the following embodiment.

[0014] <Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a software block diagram of an information processing apparatus exemplified as a personal computer (PC) and a scanner serving as an image reading device as an example of a peripheral device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] An operating system 101, a file system 201, a USB mass storage driver 202, a capture application 222, a scanner driver 102, and a USB interface driver 103 are installed on a PC 100, which is an example of an information processing apparatus.

[0016] The operating system 101 is the so-called OS, and is the basic software for the PC 100. The file system 201 is software for storing files in a storage device such as a hard disk drive.

[0017] The USB mass storage driver 202 is software for controlling mass storage devices such as hard disk drives, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, CD-Rs, DVD-Rs, and USB memories.

[0018] The capture application 222 is software that is pre-installed in the PC 100 and is used to read images using the scanner device 106, which is an example of a peripheral device.

[0019] The scanner driver 102 is a device driver for connecting the scanner device 106 via a USB interface. This is a dedicated device driver that is not provided as standard in the OS.

[0020] The USB interface driver 103 is software for controlling a USB device connected to the USB interface. Note that this software may be part of the OS.

[0021] On the other hand, the scanner device 106 is provided with a control program for causing the PC 100 to control the scanner device. For example, in this embodiment, a capture application 210, a control file 204, a USB disk drive interface 205, a USB mass storage class interface 206, a scanner class interface 108, and an operation mode selection application 109 are provided.

[0022] The capture application 210 includes a driver program and is software that is executed by the PC 100 to control reading of images from the PC 100. The control file 204 is a file into which control commands and the like from the PC 100 that is executing the capture application 210 are written.

[0023] The USB disk drive interface 205 is software for using the memory (RAM, flash memory, EEPROM, etc.) provided in the scanner device 106 as a disk drive.

[0024] The USB mass storage class interface 206 is software for using a memory as a USB mass storage via the USB disk drive interface 205, and is used to have the PC 100 recognize it as a memory device.

[0025] The scanner class interface 108 is software for use as a scanner device, and is used to have the PC 100 recognize it as a scanner device.

[0026] The operation mode selection application 109 is software that can determine and select the operation mode of the scanner device 106, and can switch between the USB mass storage class interface 206 and the scanner class interface 108. Note that the operation mode selection application 109 may be configured so that a switching signal can be input to it using a switch (hard key such as a tactile switch) provided on the scanner device 106.

[0027] When the USB mass storage class interface 206 is set to be valid, the scanner device 106 operates as a memory device in a memory operation mode, which will be described later, and images are read through the USB mass storage driver 202 .

[0028] When the scanner class interface 108 is set to be valid, the scanner device 106 operates as a scanner device in a scanner operation mode, which will be described later, and the image is read through the scanner driver 102 .

[0029] Fig. 2 is a hardware block diagram of an information processing device exemplified as a personal computer (PC) and an image reading device exemplified as a scanner device 106. In Fig. 2, the PC 100 is equipped with a CPU 121, a ROM 123, a RAM 124, a hard disk drive 122, a USB host controller 125, and a USB interface 104, all of which are mounted on a motherboard. The PC 100 operates by receiving power from a power supply unit (not shown).

[0030] The USB interface 104 is connected to a scanner device 106 via a USB cable 105. The CPU 121 is also connected to a keyboard / mouse 128 and a display 126.

[0031] When some device is connected to the USB interface 104 via the USB cable 105, the USB host controller 125 accesses the device having the USB interface and sends and receives signals to determine the type of USB device.

[0032] On the other hand, the scanner device 106 includes a CPU 110 , a ROM 127 , a RAM 203 , an image reading unit 112 , a USB interface 107 , a Vbus voltage detection unit 213 , a timer 214 , and an operation mode selection unit 215 .

[0033] The Vbus voltage detection unit 213 can detect the voltage received by the USB interface 107. The timer 214 counts various times related to the scanner device 106. In this embodiment, the timer 214 measures, for example, from the timing when the Vbus voltage detection unit 213 detects the voltage. This will be described in detail later.

[0034] The operation mode selection unit 215 has the software operation mode selection application 109 shown in Figure 1, and by switching between the USB mass storage class interface 206 and the scanner class interface 108, it is possible to select the operation mode of the scanner device 106 as either the memory operation mode or the scanner operation mode.

[0035] Next, a connection process when the operation mode of the scanner device 106 is selected will be described.

[0036] When the scanner device 106 is connected to the PC 100 , the USB host controller 125 detects the connection of some peripheral device via the USB interface 104 , and accesses the USB interface 107 of the scanner device 106 via the USB cable 105 .

[0037] In the memory operation mode, when the USB interface 107 is accessed by the PC 100, the CPU 110 of the scanner device 106 switches the operation mode selection unit 215 to the USB mass storage class interface 206 used in the memory operation mode, and allows the PC 100 to access the USB mass storage class interface 206.

[0038] The operating system 101 of the PC 100 detects that the USB mass storage class interface 206 of the scanner device 106 has been accessed, enables the USB mass storage driver 202, and accesses the scanner device 106 from the USB interface 104 via the USB cable 105.

[0039] On the other hand, when the scanner device 106 is in the scanner operation mode, it is recognized as a scanner device by the PC 100. The operation mode selection unit 215 is switched to the scanner class interface 108 used in the scanner operation mode, and the scanner class interface 108 is accessed.

[0040] The operating system 101 of the PC 100 detects that a scanner class interface 108 of the scanner device 106 has been accessed, enables the scanner driver 102, and accesses the scanner device 106 from the USB interface 104 via a USB cable 105. Note that, although a USB cable is used as an example in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this as long as power can be supplied via a connection cable.

[0041] Next, a description will be given of device recognition processing when a USB device is connected to the PC 100. When the USB host controller 125 detects the connection of a USB device, it issues a GET_DESCRIPTOR standard device request, which is a communication signal for acquiring the type of device.

[0042] When the scanner device 106 receives a GET_DESCRIPTOR standard device request, it responds with the requested descriptor. The descriptor is used to express information such as the type, characteristics, and attributes of the device, and has a defined format.

[0043] The USB host controller 125 of the PC 100 obtains information such as the type, characteristics, and attributes of the connected device from the standard device descriptor, standard configuration descriptor, and standard interface descriptor of the GET_DESCRIPTOR standard device request received from the scanner device 106.

[0044] Next, we will explain the operation of PC 100 when it is powered on. When power is applied to PC 100, CPU 121 starts firmware from ROM 123 and starts the operating system from the boot order of the storage devices set on the motherboard. For example, if hard disk drive 122 is selected, operating system 101 is started. At this time, the necessary software is loaded into RAM 124.

[0045] However, if the scanner device 106 is connected before the power of the PC 100 is turned on, the hard disk drive 122 may not be selected as the boot device, and the PC 100 may be booted by the scanner device 106 that has memory operation mode. As a result, a situation may occur in which the PC 100 cannot boot from the originally desired OS image.

[0046] Therefore, when connecting the scanner device 106 to the PC 100, if the PC 100 has already started up, the PC 100 will be started up regardless of the operating mode of the scanner device 106. However, if the scanner device 106 is connected in memory operating mode before the PC 100 starts up, the scanner device 106 may be selected as the boot device. Therefore, by determining whether the PC 100 is in a pre-startup or post-startup state and setting the operating mode of the scanner device 106, it is possible to prevent the PC 100 from being erroneously booted from the scanner device 106. This will be described in more detail later.

[0047] Next, we will explain the process of determining whether the PC is in a pre-boot or post-boot state based on the Vbus voltage detection time and the reception time of a standard device request signal for identifying a USB device, which is a feature of this patent, and selecting the operating mode.

[0048] First, an example will be described in which the scanner device 106 is connected after the PC 100 has started up, with reference to Fig. 3. The PC 100 has already started up, the boot device has been selected, and the OS image has been loaded.

[0049] When the scanner device 106 is connected to the PC 100, Vbus power is supplied from the PC 100, and the scanner device 106 detects the Vbus voltage (t2). Then, the PC 100 transmits a standard device request signal for identifying the USB device, and the scanner device 106 receives this signal (t3). The elapsed time t (t2 to t3) depends on the characteristics of the hardware, and is generally a predetermined time of several milliseconds to several tens of milliseconds.

[0050] At this time, if the standard device request signal is received within a time shorter than the predetermined time T1 after detecting the Vbus voltage, it can be determined that the PC 100 is already in a booted state. In this state, the scanner device 106 will not be selected as a boot device, and may therefore operate in memory operation mode. In other words, it returns a descriptor signal identifying it as a "memory device" to the PC 100 (t4).

[0051] Next, an example in which the scanner device 106 is connected before the PC 100 is started (power is off) will be described with reference to FIG.

[0052] When the scanner device 106 is connected to the PC 100, Vbus power is not immediately supplied because the PC 100 is not powered on. After that, when the PC 100 is powered on, Vbus power is supplied and the Vbus voltage is detected (t2). The PC 100 issues a standard device request signal to identify the device, and the scanner receives that signal (t3). This elapsed time t (t2 to t3) is longer than the above-mentioned predetermined time T1 because it includes start-up and initial operations from when the PC 100 is powered on until the standard device request signal is sent.

[0053] If the standard device request signal is received longer than the predetermined time T1 after detecting the Vbus voltage, the PC 100 can be determined to be in a pre-boot state. That is, if the scanner device 106 is in memory operation mode, it may be mistakenly selected as a boot device. Therefore, in this state, the scanner device 106 is set to scanner operation mode, and a descriptor signal identifying it as a "scanner device" is sent back to the PC 100 (t4). This prevents the scanner from being selected as the boot device for the PC 100 (t5). Thereafter, as described below, the scanner device 106 may be set to memory operation mode when it is determined that the PC 100 has completed booting. However, if the scanner device 106 is configured to allow switching of operation modes using a switch or the like and is set to operate in scanner operation mode, it may remain in scanner operation mode. That is, when the scanner device 106 is set to the memory operation mode by a switch or the like, if the PC 100 has not yet started up as described above, the scanner device 106 is set to the scanner operation mode and a descriptor signal is returned to the PC 100, and then, when it is determined that the startup of the PC 100 has been completed, the scanner device 106 is set to the memory operation mode.

[0054] Next, we will explain the case where the PC 100 has a power-off charging function. In this case, Vbus power can be supplied even if the PC 100 is not turned on, but the standard device request signal for identifying the device is not transmitted. Figure 5 shows an example of connecting a scanner device 106 in this case.

[0055] Because the PC 100 supports a power-off charging function, when the scanner device 106 is connected to the PC 100, Vbus power is immediately supplied and the Vbus voltage is detected (t2). However, because the start-up and initial operations of the PC 100 are not completed, the standard device request is not transmitted as described above with reference to Figure 3, and the scanner device 106 waits for its reception. After that, when the PC 100 is powered on, a standard device request signal is transmitted and received by the scanner device 106 (t3). This elapsed time t (t2 to t3) is naturally longer than the example in Figure 3 and longer than the predetermined time T1.

[0056] In this way, if the standard device request signal is received longer than the predetermined time T1 after detecting the Vbus voltage, it can be determined that the PC 100 is in a pre-boot state in either case. Therefore, even if the scanner device 106 is set to the scanner operation mode and a descriptor signal identifying it as a "scanner device" is sent back to the PC (t4), it is possible to prevent the scanner device 106 from being selected as the boot device for the PC 100 (t5).

[0057] Next, a flow chart showing the process from when the scanner device 106 to be used as a memory device in the memory operation mode is connected to the PC 100 to when the operation mode is selected will be described with reference to FIG.

[0058] First, in S100, the scanner device 106 is turned on, and then the scanner device 106 is connected to the PC 100 with a USB cable (S101). Then, in S102, it is confirmed whether the Vbus voltage of the connected USB port has been detected. If it has been detected (YES in S102), the process proceeds to S103.

[0059] In S103, counting of time t begins. In S104, it is detected whether a standard device request signal has been received. If it has been received, in S105 it is determined whether time t is shorter than a predetermined time T1. If it is shorter (YES in S105), it can be determined that the PC 100 has already started up. In this case, in S106, the memory operation mode is set, and in S107, a descriptor signal for "memory device" is returned.

[0060] On the other hand, if the time t is longer than the predetermined time T1 in S105 (NO in S105), the scanner operation mode is set in S108, and a descriptor signal for the "scanner device" is returned in S109. In this case, it can be determined that the standard device request received in S104 occurred after the PC 100 was connected to the scanner device 106 before startup, so by operating in the scanner operation mode, it is possible to prevent the OS from being booted from the scanner device 106.

[0061] Next, in S110, the memory operation mode is set when it is determined that booting of the PC 100 has been completed. For example, it is determined that booting of the PC 100 has been completed when a preset time has elapsed since the descriptor signal was returned in S109, and the memory operation mode is set. Thereafter, in S111, it is determined again whether a standard device request has been received. If it is detected that a standard device request has been received (YES in S111), the "memory device" descriptor is returned and the process ends.

[0062] As described above, when connecting the scanner device 106 to be used as a memory device to the PC 100, it is possible to determine whether the PC 100 is in a pre-boot or post-boot state and set the operating mode so that the scanner device 106 is not selected as a boot device.

[0063] Next, returning to FIG. 1, the image scanning operation of the scanner device 106 in the memory operation mode will be described.

[0064] The CPU 110 of the scanner device 106 monitors the control file 204. When the CPU 110 detects that scan settings and scan start command data have been written in the control file 204, it reads the control file 204, controls the image reading unit 112 in accordance with the scan settings written therein, and starts scanning.

[0065] When the scanner device 106 starts scanning, it writes the image data read by the image reading unit 112 into a control file 204. This control file 204 may be the same as the control file 204 that enables scan settings, or it may be a different file.

[0066] Next, the processing of image data scanned by the scanner device will be described with reference to FIG.

[0067] In this embodiment, the scanner device 106 can read images while remaining recognized as an external storage device by the OS 101 of the PC 100. That is, when the capture application 210 is loaded into the RAM 124 of the PC 100 and executed, the CPU 121 writes various control commands for the scanner device 106 to the control file 204 in accordance with the capture application 210.

[0068] The CPU 110 of the scanner device 106 monitors write access to the control file 204, and when a command is written to the control file 204, executes a scan process in accordance with the command. The CPU 110 writes image data of the image read in accordance with the command to the control file 204.

[0069] The CPU 121 extracts image data from the control file 204 in accordance with the capture application 210 and combines the image data to create an image file. In other words, by using the control file 204, it becomes possible to read images while the OS recognizes the scanner device 106 as a USB memory or the like.

[0070] As described above, in the memory operation mode of this embodiment, it becomes possible to read images with the scanner device 106 without installing software such as a device driver or an application on the PC 100. For example, even a user who does not have administrator privileges and cannot log in to the installer in the operating system 101, or a user who uses a personal PC away from home, can easily read images.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the scan settings are written to the control file 204 in the RAM 203, and therefore the RAM is cleared after use of the scanner device 106 is finished, and the scan settings are not saved in the scanner device 106. However, the scan settings that have been set may be stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) within the scanner device 106. Also, different scan settings may be stored for each user of the operating system 101.

[0072] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an image reading device has been described as an example, but it may also be a printer, or a multifunction device that has both an image reading function and an image forming function.

[0073] As a result of the above, even if a peripheral device that operates as an external storage device is connected before the PC is started up, it can be prevented from being selected as a boot device and the PC can be booted from the originally desired OS image.

[0074] The aspects described in the above-described embodiment are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications can be applied within the scope of the gist thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 100 Information processing device (PC) 103 USB interface driver 106 Scanner (peripheral device) 108 Scanner Class Interface 109 Operation Mode Selection Application 206 USB mass storage class interface 213 Vbus power supply detection unit 214 Timer 215 Operation mode selection section

Claims

1. A peripheral device that is connected to an information processing device via a connection cable and operates by switching between a first operation mode in which it operates as an external storage device and a second operation mode in which it operates as a device other than an external storage device, A peripheral device that is connected to the information processing device and, when it receives a communication signal from the information processing device to identify the device, responds to the communication signal in either the first operating mode or the second operating mode depending on the elapsed time since detecting the supply of voltage from the connection cable.

2. 2. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device responds to the communication signal in the first operating mode when the elapsed time is shorter than a predetermined time, and in the second operating mode when the elapsed time is longer than the predetermined time.

3. 3. The peripheral device according to claim 2, wherein the peripheral device is set to the first operation mode when it is determined that booting of the information processing device has been completed after responding to the communication signal in the second operation mode.

4. 4. The peripheral device according to claim 3, wherein after responding to the communication signal in the second operating mode, it determines that booting of the information processing device has been completed when a predetermined time has elapsed, and sets the peripheral device to the first operating mode.

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