Portable computer having an updatable table of starting addresses for accessing those stored programs having been previously executed

• US 5,203,001 A
• Filed: 09/05/1989
• Issued: 04/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takano, Yasuhiko, Yanagiuchi, Shigenobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Lawrence E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrity, Paul
• Application Number:
  US07/403,020
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/706, 364/709.14, 395/425, 395/800
• US Class Current: 711/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/02 manually operated with input through keyboard and computation using a built-in program, e.g. pocket calculators

Abstract

A portable computer that is capable of storing one or more application programs and designating one or more program running-start lines by a key input for each application program is provided. The portable computer includes a memory for storing the addresses of the program running-start lines for the previously executed programs, a decision unit for determining whether or not the memory has stored the address of the program running-start line that corresponds to the key input, a first processor for executing the program when the decision unit determines that the address of the program running-start line corresponding to the key input exists in the memory and a second processor for storing the address of the program running-start line corresponding to the key input in the memory when the decision unit determines that the address does not exist in the memory.

Claims

1. A portable computer for storing a plurality of program running-start lines in a buffer of a random access memory, each of the plurality of program running-start lines defining location for a different one of a plurality of programs stored in a read only memory, said plurality of program running-start lines stored in said buffer corresponding to a number less than said plurality of programs stored in said read only memory;

the portable computer comprising;

said buffer;

said read only memory;

key input means for selecting a designated program running-start line;

decision means, coupled to said key input means, said buffer, and said read only memory, for determining whether said designated program running-start line is stored in the buffer;

first processing means, coupled to said decision means, for searching said read only memory for said designated program running-start line, storing said designated program running-start line in the buffer, which defines the location of a designated program from the plurality of programs in the read only memory, and executing said designated program when said decision means determines that said designated program running-start line fails to exist in the buffer; and

second processing means, coupled to said decision means, for locating said designated program running-start line in the read only memory without retrieving said designated program from the plurality of programs in said read only memory and immediately executing said designated program when said decision means determines that said designated program running-start line exists in the buffer.

2. A portable computer for storing a plurality of application programs in a program memory comprising:

key input means for generating a key address which designates program running-start lines for the plurality of application programs, each of said plurality of program running-start lines corresponding to a different one of said plurality of application programs;

memory means for storing addresses of said program running-start lines for each of the plurality of programs having been previously executed, said plurality of program running-start lines corresponding to a number less than said plurality of application programs stored in said program memory;

decision means, coupled to said key input means, said program memory, and said memory means, for determining whether the key address designated by said key input means exists in the program running-start lines stored in said memory means for a corresponding designated program from the plurality of application programs stored in the program memory;

first processing means, coupled to said decision means, for immediately executing said designated program when said decision means determines that the key address exists in said memory means; and

second processing means, coupled to said decision means, for searching said program memory for said key address designating one of said program running-start lines, storing said key address in said memory means, and executing said designated program, when said decision means determines that said key address fails to exist in said memory means.

3. A portable computer comprising:

a first memory for storing a plurality of programs, each of said plurality of programs being defined by a different program running-start line;

a second memory for storing a plurality of addresses, each said plurality of addresses designated each said program running-start line for each of said plurality of programs, said plurality of addresses corresponding to a number less than said plurality of programs stored in said first memory;

key input means for designating a key input address;

decision means, coupled to said key input means and said first and second memories, for determining whether said key input address is equal to one of said plurality of addresses stored in said second memory;

program executing means, coupled to said decision means, for immediately executing a corresponding one of said plurality of programs stored in the first memory defined by said program running-start line designated by one of said plurality of addresses when said decision means determines that said key input address equals one of said plurality of addresses stored in said second memory;

processing means, coupled to said decision means, for searching a plurality of program addresses of said plurality of programs stored in said first memory for one of said program addresses equal to said key input address when said decision means determines that said key input address fails to equal one of said plurality of addresses stored in said second memory;

storing means, coupled to said processing means, for storing said key input address in the second memory, when said decision means determines that said key input address fails to equal one of said plurality of addresses stored in said second memory; and

executing means, coupled to said processing means, for executing the program in said first memory found at the program address equal to said key input address, when said decision means determines that said key input address fails to equal one of said plurality of addresses stored in said second memory.

4. A portable computer according to claim 3, wherein said second memory comprises a RAM for storing said plurality of programs and the first memory comprises a buffer for storing the plurality of addresses, each said plurality of addresses designating each said program running-start line for each of said plurality of programs.

5. A method for storing a plurality of addresses in a first memory, each of said plurality of addresses corresponding to a different one of a plurality of programs stored in a second memory of a portable computer, the plurality of addresses stored in said first memory corresponding to a number less than said plurality of programs stored in said second memory;

the portable computer comprising said first memory, said second memory, key input means, decision means coupled to said key input means, said first memory, and said second memory, first processing means coupled to said decision means, and second processing means, coupled to said decision means, the method comprising the steps of;

(a) designating a key input address by said key input means;

(b) determining, by said decision means, whether said key input address is equal to one of said plurality of addresses stored in said first memory;

(c) when said decision means determines that said key input address is equal to one of said plurality of addresses stored in said first memory,

(ci) immediately executing, by said first processing means, a corresponding one of said plurality of programs stored in said second memory and designated by said key input address;

(d) when said decision means determines that said key input address is not equal to one of said plurality of addresses stored in said first memory,

(di) searching, by said second processing means, said second memory for a program address of said plurality of programs equal to said key input address,

(d2) storing, by said second processing means, said key input address in said first memory, and

(d3) executing, by said second processing means, the program having said program address equal to the key input address.