Information processing system

Claim 2

An information processing system including a CPU, a volatile main memory, and a non-volatile external storage device and supporting a hibernation function by which, upon the occurrence of predetermined conditions, a task is suspended and the contents of said main memory is saved to said external storage device before the power to said memory is turned off, characterized in that said external storage device is removable and that all historical information indicative of powering-off via a series of saving operations for entering a hibernation mode is stored in a predetermined location within said external storage device only, which allows said external storage device to be placed in a second information processing system and allow a resume operation in said second information processing system to occur utilizing said historical information in response to an automatic access of said predetermined location within said external storage device which occurs as a result of an application of power to said second information processing system as if said external storage device had been returned to said information processing system.

Claim 3

An information processing system according to claim 1 wherein said historical information is stored in a predetermined region on said external storage device.

Claim 4

An information processing system including a CPU, a volatile main memory, a non-volatile external storage device and supporting a hibernation function by which, upon the occurrence of predetermined conditions, a task is suspended and the contents of said main memory is saved to said external storage device to power off said memory, characterized in that said external storage device is removable and said system includes a means for saving all configuration information of said system which is saved to a predetermined location within said external storage device, which allows said external storage device to be placed in a second information processing system and allow a restore operation in said second information processing system to occur utilizing only said configuration information in response to an automatic access of said predetermined location within said external storage device which occurs as a result of application of power to said second information processing system as if said external storage device had been returned to said information processing system.

Claim 5

An information processing system including a CPU, a volatile main memory, a non-volatile external storage device and supporting a hibernation function by which, upon the occurrence of predetermined conditions, a task is suspended and the contents of said main memory is saved to said external storage device to power off said memory, characterized in that said external storage device is removable and said system includes a means for saving all configuration information of said system which is saved to a predetermined location within said external storage device, which allows said external storage device to be placed in a second information processing system and allow a restore operation in said second information processing system to occur utilizing only said configuration information in response to an automatic access of said predetermined location within said external storage device which occurs as a result of application of power to said second information processing system as if said external storage device had been returned to said information processing system.

Claim 6

An information processing system according to claim 3 wherein said system configuration information is stored in a predetermined region on said external storage device.

Claim 7

An information processing system according to claim 3 wherein said configuration information of the system is the size of the main memory.

Claim 8

An information processing system according to claim 3 wherein said configuration information of the system is both a type of I/O device and the number thereof.

Claim 9

An information system according to claim 3 wherein said configuration information of the system is the base I/O address of the I/O device.

Claim 10

An information processing system including a CPU, a volatile main memory, and a detachable non-volatile external storage device, and a supporting a wake-up function by which a task is resumed which has been interrupted in said system in which said external storage device had been installed in response to the power-on of said system, said task saving necessary information on said external storage device, characterized in that: storage in a predetermined area in said external storage device all historical information indicating that hibernation was executed in said system in which said external storage device had been installed in the past; and said system including means for automatically checking said predetermined area in said external storage device which occurs as a result of an application of power to an information processing system for said historical information and executing wake-up such that said external storage device can be placed in a second information processing system so as to provide a hibernation restoration operation in said second information processing system as if said external storage device had been returned to said information processing system.

Claim 11

An information processing system including a CPU, a volatile main memory, and a detachable non-volatile external storage device, and a supporting a wake-up function by which a task is resumed which has been interrupted in said system in which said external storage device had been installed in response to the power-on of said system, said task saving necessary information on said external storage device, characterized in that: storage in a predetermined area in said external storage device all historical information indicating that hibernation was executed in said system in which said external storage device had been installed in the past; and said system including means for automatically checking said predetermined area in said external storage device which occurs as a result of an application of power to an information processing system for said historical information and executing wake-up such that said external storage device can be placed in a second information processing system so as to provide a hibernation restoration operation in said second information processing system as if said external storage device had been returned to said information processing system.

Claim 12

An information processing system according to claim 8 characterized in that said system includes means for invalidating said historical information at the last step of a series of processing for the wake-up.

Claim 13

An information processing system containing a CPU, a volatile main memory, and a removable, independent, non-volatile external storage device which supports a wake-up function which, in response to the coming on, restarts the task which has been placed and interrogated in a system where said external storage device has been installed in the past, the necessary data having been saved in a predetermined location within said external storage device, control information, including system configuration information on the interruption time of said task being included in said external storage device, said system comprising; (a) a means for comparing system configuration information stored in said external storage device with system configuration information of itself; (b) a means for restoring necessary information upon the restarting of said task from said external storage device to said main memory in response to the match of said configuration information in response to an access of said predetermined location within said external storage device which occurs as a result of an application of power whether or not said system where said external storage device has been installed in the past is the same as said information processing system; and (c) a means for rejecting restoration of the information to said main memory from said external storage device, in response to the mismatch of said configuration information.

Claim 14

An information processing system containing a CPU, a volatile main memory, and a removable, independent, non-volatile external storage device which supports a wake-up function which, in response to the coming on, restarts the task which has been placed and interrogated in a system where said external storage device has been installed in the past, the necessary data having been saved in a predetermined location within said external storage device, control information, including system configuration information on the interruption time of said task being included in said external storage device, said system comprising; (a) a means for comparing system configuration information stored in said external storage device with system configuration information of itself; (b) a means for restoring necessary information upon the restarting of said task from said external storage device to said main memory in response to the match of said configuration information in response to an access of said predetermined location within said external storage device which occurs as a result of an application of power whether or not said system where said external storage device has been installed in the past is the same as said information processing system; and (c) a means for rejecting restoration of the information to said main memory from said external storage device, in response to the mismatch of said configuration information.

Claim 15

An information processing system according to claim 10 prompting the user to change the system configuration of itself by powering off the system.

Claim 16

An information processing system according to claim 11 wherein said prompt means presents system configuration information stored in said external storage device to the user.

Claim 17

An information processing system according to claim 10 wherein said system configuration information is the size of the main memory.

Claim 18

An information processing system according to claim 10 wherein said system configuration information is the type or number of the I/O devices.

Claim 19

An information processing system according to claim 10 wherein said system configuration information is the base I/O address of the I/O device.

Claim 20

An information processing system according to claim 10 wherein said control information includes historical information showing that hibernation was effected in a system in which said external storage device has been installed in the past.

Claim 21

An information processing system according to claim 16 wherein said means (c) includes a prompting means that invalidates said history information.

Claim 22

An information processing means according to claim 10 characterized in that said system includes means for invalidating said control information at the last stage of a series of processing for wake-up.