JP2002175192A - Program loading method, and recording medium with program for execution of the method recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program loading method capable of loading a program in a desired storage device even without repeating the loading several times at the time of loading the program. SOLUTION: In this program loading method for loading the program in information equipment which operates on the program, a program loading target position is determined (S1) at the time of loading the program. If a free space is not large enough to load the program in the storage device including the loading target position (No in S2), and there is a free space in another storage device for storing the program tentatively (Yes in S8), the program is stored in the storage device (S15). After that, a monitoring program is started up (S16), it is monitored whether a free space is ensured in the storage device to be loaded, and the program stored in another storage device is automatically loaded to the storage device for loading the program, at least when a free space is ensured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program mounting method for mounting a program on an information device such as a personal computer which operates using the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in order to mount an application program on a storage device such as a hard disk in a personal computer, a program stored in a removable storage medium such as a CD-ROM is read and mounted (installed). In recent years, programs to be mounted have been transferred via networks and mounted.
An image processing apparatus such as a multifunctional digital copier capable of executing a plurality of applications is disclosed in
As in the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-91453, at the time of updating a program, an operator does not go to an installation location and implements a program of an image processing apparatus via a network. Also, in such a mounting, for example, a CD-ROM
For example, when an application program is mounted on a storage device such as a hard disk in a personal computer from a removable storage medium, if the storage device to be mounted does not have enough free space required for mounting, the conventional information device is If you want to implement the program in another storage device, or give up the implementation at that time, try to implement the program again after a while, Repeat to give up.

[0003]

As described above, in the prior art, when a program is mounted, the free space of a storage device to be mounted is insufficient, and it is necessary to mount the program on another storage device. In order to implement a program in a storage device, there is a problem that the implementation must be repeated many times. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem of the related art, and to provide a program mounting method capable of mounting a program on a desired storage device without repeatedly trying to mount the program. It is in.

[0004]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program mounting method for mounting a program on an information device which operates using the program. When it is not possible to secure the free space for mounting the program in the storage device to be mounted, the program is temporarily stored in another storage device, and then the free space is stored in the storage device to be mounted. It is configured such that whether or not the program is secured is monitored, and when at least free space is secured, the program stored in another storage device is automatically mounted on the storage device in which the program is to be mounted. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the user is allowed to specify a mounting time before the program is mounted. The program stored in the device is automatically mounted on a storage device to be mounted. Also,
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when free space is secured, the user is instructed whether to implement a program stored in another storage device, and the program is implemented. The program is automatically mounted on the storage device to be mounted only when instructed to do so. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a program for implementing the program mounting method according to the first, second, or third aspect is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an attempt is made to mount a program, if a free space for mounting the program cannot be secured in a storage device on which the program is to be mounted, the method is executed. The program is temporarily stored in another storage device, and thereafter, when free space is secured in at least the storage device to be mounted, the storage device to be mounted by the program stored in another storage device Is implemented automatically. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the mounting time is designated before the program is mounted, and when the free time is secured and the mounting time is reached, the storage time is stored in another storage device. The above-mentioned program is automatically mounted on the storage device to be mounted. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when free space is secured, it is instructed whether to implement a program stored in another storage device, and the program is implemented. The program is automatically mounted on the storage device to be mounted only when it is instructed. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a program programmed according to the program mounting method of the first, second or third aspect is stored in, for example, a removable storage medium.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention. 1, the information processing apparatus includes a memory 1 for temporarily storing programs and data, a CPU 2 operating according to the programs, an external storage device 3 for storing programs and data, a keyboard and a mouse, and the like. And an input device 4 for inputting data, programs, various instructions, and the like. The external storage device 3 is composed of, for example, a plurality of hard disk devices. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an installer (program mounting means) 10 which is realized by the hardware and the program shown in FIG. 1 and shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the installer 10 is a normal / reservation dual-purpose installer (hereinafter referred to as a dual-purpose installer) for performing a normal implementation that does not depend on a reservation installation (reservation implementation) described later or a full installation (main implementation) of a program that is reserved and implemented. This is provided with a reservation installer 12 for performing a reservation installation, and a monitoring unit 13 for monitoring whether or not free space is secured in a storage device (hard disk device) to be mounted.

FIG. 3 shows an operation flow of a program mounting process using the reservation installer 12. Hereinafter, a part of the operation of the program implementation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the dual-purpose installer 11 is started,
As a result, the wizard (here, means for setting conditions and the like using a screen) displays a dialog, and as a program installation destination (installation destination), for example, one of a plurality of hard disk devices and the hard disk device. The path name (eg folder name,
If the file is stored in a hierarchically structured folder, the path name of the path leading to the end becomes hierarchical (S1). Then, when the user designates the program mounting destination, the free space of the specified hard disk device is checked (S2). If the free space exceeds the storage capacity necessary for mounting the program (Yes in S2)
s) As in the case of the conventional program implementation, a dialog for inputting user information and the like is displayed, and after a single response from the user, the right to use the input user information is checked (S3). Subsequently, the program to be mounted is read from, for example, a removable storage medium (not shown), and the program is written to a designated program mounting destination and the program is registered (S4). This is called normal installation. Thus, when the program mounting is completed (S5), the operation flow is terminated. On the other hand, if the free space is not secured (No in S2), the installer prompts the user whether to perform the reservation installation (reservation mounting) (S6). Note that the reserved installation is a task of temporarily mounting a program to be mounted on another storage device (in this case, another hard disk device) on the assumption that the program is later mounted on a desired mounting destination storage device. If the user specifies not to perform the scheduled installation (No in S6), the process returns to step S1 to have another mounting destination storage device specified as in the case of the conventional installer, and perform the conventional mounting.

[0008] On the other hand, if it is specified that the scheduled installation is to be performed (Yes in S6), the scheduled installer 12 is started, and
The reservation installer 12 continuously displays three dialogs for setting the reservation installation. However, the contents set in this dialog can be reset after implementation. In the first dialog, the implementation destination to be reserved (if not specified, it will be the one entered first by the user), the implementation destination to temporarily implement the program to be implemented (if not specified, the program to be implemented Is specified (S7). Then, it is determined whether or not there is free space in the designated hard disk device for provisional mounting (S8). Although there is no free space in the hard disk device (No in S8), there is another hard disk device with free space. In this case (Yes in S9)
Returning to step S7, if there is no hard disk device on which the program to be mounted can be provisionally mounted (No in S9), a message to that effect is displayed, and this operation flow ends. In the above, if a free area for storing the program to be mounted is secured (Yes in S8)
s) In the second dialog, the installation mode for the actual installation (real implementation) is set to the installation destination to be reserved (S10). In other words, if free space is secured, the user can set whether to implement automatically without inquiring, implement at a specified time, or not perform automatic implementation (manual implementation). (S10). Then, if the specified time implementation is set in the second dialog (Yes in S11), the user is allowed to set the scheduled installation time in the third dialog (S11).
12).

Subsequently, the reservation installer 12 displays a dialog to input user information and the like in order to determine whether or not the user is permitted to use (S13), and stores a series of the input information. . The contents to be stored are the response contents of a series of dialogs such as license information and user information. After a series of dialog operations, the contents set in the three dialogs and the response contents of the dialogs are written into the INI file for the monitoring program together with the storage capacity required for the mounting (S14), and the program to be reserved and mounted And monitoring programs (executable programs
(EXE program) file and INI file)
Is written in the storage location set by the user (S15). Further, the storage address information of the monitoring program (EXE) is transferred to the startup section of the OS (S16). INI
FIG. 4 shows an example of the file. As shown in the figure, the installation mode, the path name of the installation destination for this installation,
The scheduled mounting time is written. In the example shown,
The path name has three levels, "C" shown at the highest level.
This is a code indicating one hard disk device (drive). Scheduled implementation time is March 31, 2000
It indicates that it is 18:30. The above is the operation flow up to the completion of the reservation installation, and thereafter, the monitoring unit 13 according to the monitoring program registered in the startup unit.
Works. The monitoring unit 13 operates in the OS, and secures a free space in the hard disk drive on which the designated real installation is mounted, whenever it becomes available, and makes it possible to reach the storage capacity required for the real installation. Monitor. Although the user cannot visually see the movement itself, in this embodiment, the user can see the status of the storage capacity by looking at the property (attribute) of the monitoring program. Also, during the scheduled installation, the settings set in the three dialogs as described above can be changed on the property screen.
FIG. 5 shows an example of the property screen. As shown, the installation mode, implementation destination (installation destination),
It shows the remaining free space that must be secured.

The above description has been given of the reserved installation. Next, a description will be given of the actual installation that is finally mounted on the mounting destination where the program that has been reserved and mounted is to be mounted. This installation is performed when the monitoring unit 13 operating in accordance with the monitoring program detects that the free space is secured, and performs one of the three modes according to the method set by the user as described above. Implemented automatically. When it is detected that sufficient free space is available for implementation, the method specified by the user
Confirm whether or not the method involves restarting, and display a message asking if implementation is to be performed only if it is involved. Everything else is done internally (automatically). In the case of the notification mode, a message is first displayed to the user asking whether the mounting operation can be started. And
When it is specified that the operation can be started, the mounting operation is started.

The operation flow shown in FIG. 6 is in the case of the no-notification mode. In this mode, as shown in the figure, first, the preset installation (installation) method to be performed by the dual-purpose installer 11 is to restart the OS. Is determined (S21). Then, if the method does not involve the restart of the OS (No in S21), the program that has been reserved and mounted is automatically mounted on the mounting destination in the specified hard disk device according to the information written in the INI file. (S22), and when the mounting is completed (S22)
23), this operation flow is terminated. On the other hand,
If the method involves restarting the OS (Yes in S21)
s) The dual-purpose installer 11 allows the user to specify whether or not to perform automatic mounting (S24). If it is specified that automatic mounting may be performed (Yes in S24), the program that has been reserved and mounted (provisionally mounted) is mounted in the specified hard disk device according to the information written in the INI file. Automatic mounting first (S25),
When the mounting is completed (S23), the operation flow ends. If it is specified that automatic mounting is not performed (S2
No in 4), this operation flow ends without performing automatic mounting.

Next, according to the operation flow shown in FIG.
The notification mode will be described. In this mode, as shown in the figure, first, the dual-purpose installer 11 allows the user to specify whether or not to start the mounting operation (S
30). If it is specified not to start (S3
(No at 0), this operation flow is terminated without mounting. On the other hand, when it is specified that the processing may be started (S
(Yes in 30), the dual-purpose installer 11 determines whether the preset mounting (installation) method to be performed is a method that involves restarting the OS (S31). And O
If the method does not involve restarting S (N in S31
o) The program that has been reserved and mounted is automatically mounted on the mounting destination in the specified hard disk device according to the information written in the INI file (S32), and when the mounting is completed (S33), the operation flow is changed. Terminate. On the other hand, if the method involves restarting the OS (Yes in S31), the user is asked whether or not automatic mounting is allowed (S34). Then, if it is specified that automatic mounting is permitted (Yes in S34), the program that has been reserved and mounted is automatically mounted on the mounting destination in the specified hard disk device according to the information written in the INI file. Then, when the mounting is completed (S33), the operation flow ends. If it is specified not to perform automatic mounting (No in S34), the operation flow is terminated without performing automatic mounting. In addition, there is a time designation mode as a third mode. In this mode, the dual-purpose installer 11 monitors whether or not the specified mounting time set in advance as described above has been reached, and when it has reached, the program that has been reserved and mounted is written to the INI file. According to the information
Automatically mount to the mounting destination in the specified hard disk device.

In this way, when the mounting in any one of the modes is completed, the program that has been reserved (tentatively mounted) may be deleted according to the user's specification. However, you may leave it as a backup so that it is not accessed. Thus,
The program to be mounted is mounted on the desired mounting destination in the same manner as when the program is mounted by a normal method. As described above, the program mounting method of the present invention has been described.
By storing a program programmed in accordance with the program mounting method as described, for example, in a removable storage medium, by mounting the storage medium to an information device such as a personal computer that could not previously implement the program according to the present invention, The program according to the present invention can also be implemented in the information device.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention,
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an attempt is made to mount a program, if free space for mounting the program cannot be secured in the storage device in which the program is to be mounted, the program is temporarily stored in another storage device. Thereafter, when at least a free space is secured in the storage device to be mounted, the program stored in another storage device is automatically mounted in the storage device to be mounted. In addition, the program can be mounted on a desired storage device without having to repeatedly perform the mounting because the free space cannot be secured. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a mounting time is designated before the program is mounted, and when a free space is secured and the mounting time is reached, another storage device is set. Since the program stored in the storage device is automatically installed in the storage device to be mounted, various processing can be performed by setting the mounting time to nighttime, for example, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1. The load on the CPU shared by the CPUs can be equalized, and thus the apparent performance can be improved. Claim 3
In the invention described in the first aspect, when the free space is secured, it is instructed whether or not to implement a program stored in another storage device, and it is instructed to implement the program. Since the program is automatically installed in the storage device that is to be installed only when
The intention of the user can be reflected in the program implementation, and therefore, it is possible to flexibly respond to a schedule change or the like. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a program for implementing the program mounting method according to the first, second, or third aspect is stored in, for example, a removable storage medium. By being mounted on an information device, such as a personal computer, which has not been able to implement the program according to the first, second, or third aspect of the present invention, the information device also has the first, second, and third aspects. Alternatively, the effect of the invention described in claim 3 can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of an installer showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of a program mounting method showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a program mounting method showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another explanatory diagram of a program mounting method showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another operation flowchart of the program mounting method according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is another operation flowchart of the program mounting method according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: memory 2: CPU 3: external storage device 4: input device 5: display device 10: installer 11: installer for both regular and reservation 12: reservation installer 13: monitoring unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] In a program mounting method for mounting a program on an information device operating using the program, when a program is to be mounted, free space for mounting the program on a storage device to be mounted cannot be secured. In this case, the program is temporarily stored in another storage device, and thereafter, it is monitored whether or not free space is secured in the storage device to be mounted. A program mounting method, wherein the program stored in the storage device is automatically mounted on a storage device to be mounted. 2. The program mounting method according to claim 1, wherein a mounting time is designated before the program is mounted, a free space is secured, and when the mounting time is reached, the program is stored in another storage device. A program mounting method for automatically mounting the stored program in a storage device in which the program is to be mounted. 3. The program mounting method according to claim 1, wherein when free space is secured, the user is instructed whether to mount a program stored in another storage device,
A program mounting method, wherein the program is automatically mounted on a storage device to be mounted only when it is instructed to mount the program. 4. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for implementing the program mounting method according to claim 1, 2 or 3.