Computer system having resume function

Claim 2

The computer system according to claim 1, characterized in that said nonvolatile memory means has a data storage area for storing various data items other than said resume data, and the resume storage area is prevented from being accessed as long as the system performs operations other than the resume operation.

Claim 3

The computer system according to claim 1, characterized in that said nonvolatile memory means is a disk storage device or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.

Claim 4

A computer system having resume function which executes a resume operation when a power supply is switched off or on, said system comprising: disk storage device used as an external storage device to the system and having a data storage area for storing various data items while the power supply remains off; reserving means for providing a resume storage area in said disk storage device, said resume storage area being large enough to save resume data when the resume operation is performed, said resume data representing operating conditions of the system; and resume means for performing a resume operation to access the resume storage area, thereby to save the resume data in the resume storage area, when said power supply is switched off, and to access the resume storage area, thereby to restore the resume data from the disk storage device, when the power supply is switched on, whereby the system resumes the operating conditions which the system assumed before the power supply was switched off.

Claim 5

The computer system according to claim 4, characterized in that said reserving means provides the resume storage area in said disk storage device, such that said resume means accesses the resume storage area as a storage area distinguished from other storage areas provided in said disk storage device which are controlled by a control means incorporated in the computer system.

Claim 6

The computer system according to claim 4, characterized in that the resume storage area consists of a predetermined number of consecutive tacks or sectors which are provided in said disk storage device and which have physical addresses.

Claim 7

A computer system having resume function which executes a resume operation when a power supply is switched off or on, said system comprising: a power supply; a volatile memory for storing resume data representing operating conditions the system assumed before the power supply is switched off; nonvolatile storage means having a resume storage area for holding resume data stored in said volatile memory even after the power supply is switched off; suspend means for saving the resume data in the resume storage area of said storage means when the power supply is switched off; standby means for keep supplying power to said volatile memory for a specified period after the power supply is switched off and for reading the resume data from the resume data storage area when the power supply is switched on, so as to cause the system to resume the operating conditions; and means for restoring the resume data from said storage means and causes the system to resume the operating conditions, when the power supply is switched on.

Claim 8

The computer system according to claim 7, characterized in that said standby means has means for switching off said power supply to said volatile memory when said power supply remains off throughout the specified period, so as to stop the power supply to said storage means upon lapse of the specified period.

Claim 9

The computer system according to claim 7, characterized in that said standby means saves the resume data in a backup memory supplied with power from a battery and also in the resume storage area, when said power supply is switched off, and restores the operating conditions of the system from the resume data saved in the backup memory when said power supply is switched on.

Claim 10

A computer system having resume function which executes a resume operation when a power supply is switched off or on, said system comprising: a power supply; a volatile memory for storing resume data representing operating conditions the system assumes when the power supply is switched off; nonvolatile storage means having a replaceable recording medium for saving the resume data stored in said volatile memory even after the power supply is switched off; memory means for storing address data representing an address at which the resume data is saved in said recording medium means; set means for setting the address data in said memory means in accordance with predetermined conditions when the power supply is switched off; suspend means for saving the resume data in a storage area provided on said recording medium, which has been designated by the address data set in said memory means, when the power supply is switched off; means for identifying the storage area of said recording medium on the basis of the address data set in said memory means when said power supply is switched on; and means for restoring the resume data from the identified storage area when the power supply is switched on, thereby to cause the system to resume the operating conditions which the system assumed before said power supply was switched off.

Claim 11

The computer system according to claim 10, characterized in that said memory means is a nonvolatile memory or a backup memory supplied with power from a battery, and keeps storing the address data while said power supply remains off.

Claim 12

The computer system according to claim 10, characterized in that said nonvolatile storage means is a replaceable hard disk device or a disk storage drive incorporating a replaceable recording medium.

Claim 13

The computer system according to claim 10, which further comprises means for generating time data representing the time at which said power supply was switched off, and said set means sets the address data in said memory means in accordance with the time data.

Claim 14

The computer system according to claim 1, which further comprises detecting means for detecting a total storage capacity of all memories provided in the system to save the resume data, when the system is activated, and said reserving means provides a resume storage area in said nonvolatile memory means, said resume storage area being as large as the total storage capacity detected by said detecting means.

Claim 15

The computer system according to claim 4, which further comprises detecting means for detecting a total storage capacity of all memories provided in the system to save the resume data, when the system is activated, and said reserving means provides a resume storage area in said nonvolatile memory means, which is as large as the total storage capacity detected by said detecting means and which consists of consecutive storage areas provided in said disk storage device.

Claim 16

The computer system according to claim 4, further comprises: a battery used as a power supply for the system; estimating means for estimating a minimal amount of power which said resume means needs to perform a resume operation, on the basis of a minimal power required to drive said disk storage device and rate at which the system is consuming power at present; and check means for monitoring an amount of power remaining in the battery as long as the system is operating, characterized in that said resume means accesses the resume storage area of said disk storage device, thereby saving the resume data in the resume storage area, when the amount of power remaining in said battery, which is detected by said check means decreases to the minimal amount estimated by said estimating means.

Claim 17

The computer system according to claim 4, further comprises: a battery used as a power supply for the system; a backup memory supplied with power from said battery, for storing the resume data to be saved in the resume storage area of said disk storage device; normal resume means for performing a normal resume operation by using said backup memory; check means for monitoring an amount of power remaining in said battery as long as the system is operating; and control means activating either either said normal resume means or said disk storage device in accordance with the about of power remaining in said battery, thereby to perform the resume operation, before said power supply is switched on.

Claim 20

The computer system according to claim 2, further comprises: a BIOS for performing the resume operation and in which the resume storage area is controlled by only the BIOS.