What is claimed is:
1. An information processing apparatus capable of communication with an external unit connected thereto, comprising:
a connection unit for connecting said external unit;
a first control unit connectable with said external unit for controlling communication between said connected external unit and said information processing apparatus;
a second control unit connectable with said external unit for controlling communication between said connected external unit and said information processing apparatus; and
a switching unit for selecting said first control unit or said second control unit as control unit connected with said external unit, for communication between said connected external unit and said information processing apparatus.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said switching unit has:
a determination unit for determining the type of said connected external unit; and
a selection unit for selecting said first control unit or said second control unit as said control unit connected with said external unit, for controlling the communication between said external unit and said information processing apparatus, in correspondence with the determined type of said external unit.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first control unit is a device controller,
and wherein if said determination unit determines that said external unit is a USB host unit in conformity with the Universal Serial Bus communication standards, said selection unit selects said first control unit so as to connect said first control unit with said external unit.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said connection unit is an AB type connector in conformity with the Universal Serial Bus communication standards,
and wherein if a B type connector is connected with said connection unit, said determination unit determines that said external unit is said USB host unit.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second control unit is a host controller,
and wherein if said determination unit determines that said external unit is a USB device unit in conformity with the Universal Serial Bus communication standards, said selection unit selects said second control unit so as to connect said second control unit with said external unit.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connection unit is an AB type connector in conformity with the Universal Serial Bus communication standards,
and wherein if an A type connector is connected with said connection unit, said determination unit determines that said external unit is said USB device unit.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a use status determination unit for determining a use status of said first control unit and said second control unit; and
a warning unit for, if said use status determination unit determines that said first control unit or said second control unit is in use, and said control unit, selected from said first and second control unit in correspondence with the type of said external unit determined by said determination unit and connected with said external unit, is in use, giving a warning to an operator of said information processing apparatus,
wherein said selection unit selects said control unit in use as said control unit connected with said external unit.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein if said use status determination unit determines that said control unit in use has become not in use, said selection unit selects said control unit that has been in use as said control unit connected with said external unit.
9. A control method for an information processing apparatus capable of communication with an external unit connected thereto via a connection unit, comprising:
a first control step of controlling communication between said connected external unit and said information processing apparatus;
a second control step of controlling communication between said connected external unit and said information processing apparatus; and
a switching step of selecting said first control step or said second control step as a control step of controlling communication between said connected external unit and said information processing apparatus.
10. The control method according to claim 9, wherein said switching step has:
a determination step of determining the type of said connected external unit; and
a selection step of selecting said first control step or said second control step as said control step for controlling the communication between said external unit and said information processing apparatus, in correspondence with the determined type of said external unit.
11. The control method according to claim 10, wherein said first control step is a device control step,
and wherein if it is determined at said determination step that said external unit is a USB host unit in conformity with the Universal Serial Bus communication standards, said first control step is selected at said selection step, so as to perform communication between said external unit and said information processing apparatus at said first control step.
12. The control method according to claim 11, wherein said connection unit is an AB type connector in conformity with the Universal Serial Bus communication standards,
and wherein if a B type connector is connected with said connection unit, it is determined at said determination step that said external unit is said USB host unit.
13. The control method according to claim 10, wherein said second control step is a host control step,
and wherein if it is determined at said determination step that said external unit is a USB device unit in conformity with the Universal Serial Bus communication standards, said second control step is selected at said selection step, so as to perform communication between said external unit and said information processing apparatus at said second control step.
14. The control method according to claim 13, wherein said connection unit is an AB type connector in conformity with the Universal Serial Bus communication standards,
and wherein if an A type connector is connected with said connection unit, it is determined at said determination step that said external unit is said USB device unit.
15. The control method according to claim 10, further comprising:
an execution status determination step of determining an execution status of said first control step and said second control step; and
a warning step of, if it is determined at said execution status determination step that said first control step or said second control step is in execution, and said control step, selected from said first step and said second control step in correspondence with the type of said external unit determined by said determination step and controlling communication between said external unit and said information processing apparatus, is in execution, giving a warning to an operator of said information processing apparatus,
wherein at said selection step, said control unit in execution is selected as said control step of controlling communication between said external unit and said information processing apparatus.
16. The control method according to claim 15, wherein if it is determined at said use status determination step that said control step in execution has become not in execution, said control step that has been in execution is selected at said selection step as said control step of controlling communication between said external unit and said information processing apparatus.
17. A control program for information processing apparatus for executing by a computer the control method according to claim 9.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A method of characterizing a logical storage object, the method comprising:
storing information characterizing quiesce capabilities and split characteristics for the logical storage object; and
transmitting the information characterizing quiesce capabilities and split characteristics for the data storage object to a processor.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information characterizing quiesce capabilities and split characteristics includes information identifying methods for placing the logical storage object in a state of transactional consistency.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying methods for placing the logical storage object in a state of transactional consistency includes a quiesce-type attribute and a quiesce-node attribute
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information characterizing quiesce capabilities and split characteristics includes information identifying methods for deriving a point in time image from the logical storage object.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying methods for deriving a point in time image from the logical storage object includes a split-type attribute and a split-node attribute.
6. A data structure for characterizing a logical storage object, wherein the data structure comprises:
a quiesce characterization, wherein the quiesce characterization includes a method for placing the logical storage object in a state of transactional consistency; and
a split type characterization, wherein the split type characterization includes a method of deriving a point in time image from the logical storage object.
7. The data structure of claim 6, wherein the quiesce characterization includes a quiesce-type attribute and a quiesce-node attribute.
8. The data structure of claim 6, wherein the split type characterization includes a split-type attribute and a split-node attribute.
9. A storage object, comprising:
means for storing data;
means for storing information characterizing quiesce capabilities and split characteristics for the data storage object; and
means for transmitting the information characterizing quiesce capabilities and split characteristics for the data storage object to a processor.
10. The storage object of claim 9, wherein the information characterizing quiesce capabilities includes a quiesce-type attribute and a quiesce-node attribute.
11. The storage object of claim 9, wherein the information characterizing split characteristics includes a split-type attribute and a split-node attribute.
12. The storage object of claim 9, wherein the means for storing includes a file manager.
13. The storage object of claim 9, wherein the means for storing includes a volume manager.
14. The storage object of claim 9, wherein the means for storing includes nonvolatile memory.
15. A plug-in component for providing data representative of quiesce behavior of a logical storage object, the component comprising:
configuration information;
tactical syntax information describing how a frozen image of the logical storage object is generated; and
information describing quiesce capabilities within the logical storage object.
16. The plug-in component of claim 15, wherein the information describing quiesce capabilities includes a quiesce-type attribute and a quiesce-node attribute.
17. The plug-in component of claim 15, wherein the information describing quiesce capabilities includes a split-type attribute and a split-node attribute.