Computer system with multiple operating system operation

• US 6,615,303 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Endo, Yoshinori, Nakamura, Kozo, Ohno, Hiroshi, Nakamura, Tomoaki, Saito, Masahiko, Kamiwaki, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/574,839
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 710/260-264, 342/357-1-3, 701/33, 701/31, 701/39
• US Class Current: 710/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/45579 I/O management, e.g. providing access to device drivers or storage
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4812 by interrupt, e.g. masked
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system

Abstract

A computer system is provided with a scheme to making the input and output device provided in a computer in common for a plurality of operating system, in a multiple operating system control unit operating a plurality of mutually distinct operating systems on one computer system. The computer system includes a plurality of operating systems, and OS switching unit for switching a plurality of operating systems. The OS switching means makes reference to a preferential interrupt table on the basis of an interrupt factor for switching to corresponding operating system and calls interrupt processing means incorporated in the operating system.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

concurrently operating plural operating systems; and

an operating system switch having a preferential interrupt table for storing an indication of an operating system to be actuated for each of a plurality of interrupt factors and an interrupt signal selector for sending out an interrupt signal to one of said concurrently operating plural operating systems, wherein

said operating system switch switches to an operating system which corresponds to an interrupt factor, in reference to said preferential interrupt table, an interrupt signal is sent out to said operating system that is switched to by said interrupt signal selector, and an interrupt handler of said operating system is called.

2. A computer system comprising:

an operating system switch for switching a plurality of operating systems, said operating system switch making reference to a preferential interrupt table on the basis of an interrupt factor for switching to a corresponding operating system and calling an interrupt processor incorporated in said operating system, wherein said preferential interrupt table stores whether the interrupt is from a peripheral device common in a plurality of operating systems or not in addition to the operating systems to be actuated based on the interrupt factor.

3. A computer system as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the operating system switch makes reference to the preferential interrupt table on the basis of the interrupt factor, makes a judgement whether the interrupt demand is for an interrupt common for a plurality of operating systems, determines an operating system to be an object for interrupt by parsing the content of the peripheral device generating interrupt as judged to be a common interrupt, for switching the operating system, and in conjunction therewith for calling an interrupt processor provided in said operating system.

4. A computer system comprising:

a plurality of operating systems;

an operating system switch for switching the plurality of operating systems;

a peripheral device that is common for a plurality of the operating systems;

a data inputting and outputting server for inputting and outputting data with the peripheral device that is used in common, provided in one of the operating systems; and

a data inputting and outputting client for inputting and outputting data with an operating system other than said one operating system, requesting inputting and outputting data by said data inputting and outputting server and executing inputting and outputting of data by receiving a result of data inputting and outputting with the peripheral device in the data inputting and outputting server.

5. A computer system as set forth in claim 4,

which further comprises a preferential interrupt table storing an operating system to be actuated per interrupt factor and a preferential interrupt table re-writer for re-writing the preferential interrupt table,

said operating system switch making reference to the preferential interrupt table per interrupt factor, making a judgement whether the interrupt demand is for an interrupt that is common for a plurality of operating systems, and calling an interrupt processor included in said data inputting and outputting server if judged as a common interrupt.

6. A computer system as set forth in claim 4, wherein

said data inputting and outputting server is provided in a region managed by the operating system having a highest preferential order.

7. A computer system as set forth in claim 4,

which comprises inter-operating system communication device for mutual communication between a plurality of operating systems,

said data inputting and outputting server and said data inputting and outputting client are in communication.

8. A computer system as set forth in claim 5, wherein

said data inputting and outputting server is provided in a region managed by the operating system having a highest preferential order.

9. A computer system as set forth in claim 5,

which comprises inter-operating system communication device for mutual communication between a plurality of operating systems,

said data inputting and outputting server and said data inputting and outputting client are in communication.

10. A vehicle mounted navigation system, on which a plurality of operating systems are operative, comprising:

a plurality of switches for generating an interrupt factor for at least one operating system among said plurality of operating systems;

an OS selector for switching among said plurality of operating systems;

said OS selector switching among operating systems for making one of the operating systems corresponding to an operated switch active on the basis of a switch information indicative of an operating system selected through operation of one of said plurality of switches, and calling interrupt processing means incorporated in said operating system.