I/o control system for a plurality of peripheral devices

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, further including the step of: executing a single basic input and output program system to operate the input-output device means after the kind of the input-output controller means connected to the personal computer system is determined.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1, further including the step of: interfacing the input-output device means to communicate with the personal computer system with one of an m-bit width and an n-bit width interface, where m and n are both integers, after the kind of the input-output controller means connected to the personal computer system is determined.

Claim 5

In an input and output control system for a computer system to which one of at least first and second input and output (I/O) devices is alternatively connected, said first and second I/O devices being of a same category and having an I/O controller controlling said first and second I/O device with a different control procedure, said computer system having a memory for storing a single basic input and output system program including a first input and output (I/O) control routine corresponding to said first I/O device and a second input and output (I/O) control routine corresponding to said second I/O device, and an input and output (I/O) port connected to only one of said first and second I/O devices, a method for executing an operation comprising the steps of: writing specified data to said I/O port; reading data from said I/O port; comparing the data read out from said I/O port with the specified data; determining that one of said first and second I/O devices, connected to said I/O port, is connected to said computer system, when the comparison indicates a coincidence between the data read out and the specified data; and executing one of said first and second I/O control routines corresponding to said one of said first and second I/O devices determined to be connected to said I/O port.

Claim 6

In an input and output control system for a computer system to which one of at least first and second input and output (I/O) devices is alternatively connected, said first and second I/O devices being of a same category and having an I/O controller controlling said first and second I/O device with a different control procedure, said computer system having a memory for storing a single basic input and output system program including a first input and output (I/O) control routine corresponding to said first I/O device and a second input and output (I/O) control routine corresponding to said second I/O device, and an input and output (I/O) port connected to only one of said first and second I/O devices, a method for executing an operation comprising the steps of: writing specified data to said I/O port; reading data from said I/O port; comparing the data read out from said I/O port with the specified data; determining that one of said first and second I/O devices, connected to said I/O port, is connected to said computer system, when the comparison indicates a coincidence between the data read out and the specified data; and executing one of said first and second I/O control routines corresponding to said one of said first and second I/O devices determined to be connected to said I/O port.

Claim 7

An input and output (I/O) control method for a personal computer system to which a first I/O device, having an m-bit width, where m is an integer, and a first interface means, and a second I/O device, having an n-bit width, where n is an integer and m>n, and a second interface means, are alternatively connected, said personal computer system having a single basic input and output system program (BIOS) including a first I/O control routine corresponding to said first I/O device and a second I/O control routine corresponding to said second I/O device, said method comprising the computer steps of: writing specified data to one of said first and second interface means; reading data from said one of said first and second interface means; comparing the data read out from said one of said first and second interface means with the specified data; determining whether said first I/O device or said second I/O device is connected to the computer system when coincidence or no coincidence, respectively, is obtained in the comparing step; and executing one of the first and second control routines includes in the BIOS corresponding to one of the first and second I/O devices determined to be connected to the personal computer system.

Claim 8

An input and output (I/O) control method for a personal computer system to which a first I/O device, having an m-bit width, where m is an integer, and a first interface means, and a second I/O device, having an n-bit width, where n is an integer and m>n, and a second interface means, are alternatively connected, said personal computer system having a single basic input and output system program (BIOS) including a first I/O control routine corresponding to said first I/O device and a second I/O control routine corresponding to said second I/O device, said method comprising the computer steps of: writing specified data to one of said first and second interface means; reading data from said one of said first and second interface means; comparing the data read out from said one of said first and second interface means with the specified data; determining whether said first I/O device or said second I/O device is connected to the computer system when coincidence or no coincidence, respectively, is obtained in the comparing step; and executing one of the first and second control routines includes in the BIOS corresponding to one of the first and second I/O devices determined to be connected to the personal computer system.

Claim 9

In a personal computer system including input-output device means, which is removable therefrom, an apparatus for determining a type of input-output controller means comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of program instructions; first processing means, coupled to the memory means, for controlling the personal computer system in accordance with the plurality of program instructions, the first processing means including input-output address port means for assigning an address space to communicate with an input-output controller means coupled between the first processing means and the input-output device means; the input-output controller means, for controlling the input-output device means and for receiving specified data from the first processing means at power-on of the personal computer system; and second processing means, coupled to the input-output address port means, including: means for reading data from the input-output controller means through the input-output address port means; comparing means, coupled to the reading means, for comparing the data read out by the reading means with the specified data, and for outputting a comparison result; and determining means, coupled to the comparing means, for determining the type of input-output controller means which is coupled to the input-output device means, in accordance with the comparison result output from the comparing means.

Claim 10

In a personal computer system including input-output device means, which is removable therefrom, an apparatus for determining a type of input-output controller means comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of program instructions; first processing means, coupled to the memory means, for controlling the personal computer system in accordance with the plurality of program instructions, the first processing means including input-output address port means for assigning an address space to communicate with an input-output controller means coupled between the first processing means and the input-output device means; the input-output controller means, for controlling the input-output device means and for receiving specified data from the first processing means at power-on of the personal computer system; and second processing means, coupled to the input-output address port means, including: means for reading data from the input-output controller means through the input-output address port means; comparing means, coupled to the reading means, for comparing the data read out by the reading means with the specified data, and for outputting a comparison result; and determining means, coupled to the comparing means, for determining the type of input-output controller means which is coupled to the input-output device means, in accordance with the comparison result output from the comparing means.

Claim 11

The personal computer system according to claim 6, wherein the input-output controller means has one of an m-bit width and an n-bit width interface, where m and n are both integers.

Claim 12

The personal computer system according to claim 7, wherein the input-output device means comprises a hard-disk drive.

Claim 13

The personal computer system according to claim 6, wherein the memory means comprises a read-only memory means for storing a single basic input and output system program to operate the input-output device means.

Claim 14

The personal computer system according to claim 9, further comprising: means, coupled to the determining means and the read-only memory means, for executing the single basic input and output system program to operate the input-output device means.

Claim 15

An input and output control system for a computer system to which one of at least first and second input and output (I/O) devices is alternatively connected, said first and second I/O devices each being of a same category and having an I/O controller controlling said first and second I/O devices with different control procedures, comprising: memory means for storing a single basic input and output system program including a first input and output (I/O) control routine corresponding to said first I/O device and a second input and output (I/O) control routine corresponding to said second I/O device; input and output (I/O) port means for connecting only one of said first and second I/O devices; means, coupled to said I/O port means, for writing specified data to said I/O port means; means, coupled to said I/O port means, for reading data from said I/O port means; means, coupled to said writing means and to said reading means, for comparing data read out by said reading means with said specified data; means, coupled to said comparing means, for determining that one of said first and second I/O devices, connected to said I/O port means, is connected to said computer system, when a coincidence between said data read out by said reading means and said specified data is obtained by said comparing means; and means, coupled to said determining means and said memory means, for executing one of the first and second I/O control routines corresponding to said one of said first and second I/O devices determined to be connected to said I/O port means.

Claim 16

An input and output control system for a computer system to which one of at least first and second input and output (I/O) devices is alternatively connected, said first and second I/O devices each being of a same category and having an I/O controller controlling said first and second I/O devices with different control procedures, comprising: memory means for storing a single basic input and output system program including a first input and output (I/O) control routine corresponding to said first I/O device and a second input and output (I/O) control routine corresponding to said second I/O device; input and output (I/O) port means for connecting only one of said first and second I/O devices; means, coupled to said I/O port means, for writing specified data to said I/O port means; means, coupled to said I/O port means, for reading data from said I/O port means; means, coupled to said writing means and to said reading means, for comparing data read out by said reading means with said specified data; means, coupled to said comparing means, for determining that one of said first and second I/O devices, connected to said I/O port means, is connected to said computer system, when a coincidence between said data read out by said reading means and said specified data is obtained by said comparing means; and means, coupled to said determining means and said memory means, for executing one of the first and second I/O control routines corresponding to said one of said first and second I/O devices determined to be connected to said I/O port means.

Claim 17

A system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second I/O devices are hard-disk drives.

Claim 18

An input and output (I/O) control system for a personal computer system to which first and second I/O devices are alternatively connected, the first I/O device having a m-bit width, where m is an integer, and a first interface means, and the second I/O device having a n-bit width, where n is an integer and m>n, and a second interface means, comprising: a single basic input and output system program (BIOS) means for storing a first I/O control routine for said first I/O device and a second I/O control routine for said second I/O device; means, coupled to one of said first and second interface means, for writing specified data to said one of said first and second interface means; means, coupled to said one of said first and second interface means, for reading data from said one of said first and second interface means; means, coupled to said writing means and to said reading means, for comparing the data read out by said reading means with the specified data; means, coupled to said comparing means, for determining that said first I/O device and said second I/O device are connected to said computer system, when a coincidence and no coincidence, respectively, are obtained by said comparing means; and means, coupled to said determining means and said BIOS means, for executing one of the first and the second I/O control routines in the BIOS means corresponding to one of said I/O devices determined to be connected to said personal computer system.

Claim 19

An input and output (I/O) control system for a personal computer system to which first and second I/O devices are alternatively connected, the first I/O device having a m-bit width, where m is an integer, and a first interface means, and the second I/O device having a n-bit width, where n is an integer and m>n, and a second interface means, comprising: a single basic input and output system program (BIOS) means for storing a first I/O control routine for said first I/O device and a second I/O control routine for said second I/O device; means, coupled to one of said first and second interface means, for writing specified data to said one of said first and second interface means; means, coupled to said one of said first and second interface means, for reading data from said one of said first and second interface means; means, coupled to said writing means and to said reading means, for comparing the data read out by said reading means with the specified data; means, coupled to said comparing means, for determining that said first I/O device and said second I/O device are connected to said computer system, when a coincidence and no coincidence, respectively, are obtained by said comparing means; and means, coupled to said determining means and said BIOS means, for executing one of the first and the second I/O control routines in the BIOS means corresponding to one of said I/O devices determined to be connected to said personal computer system.