Information processing device

[0067]FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the internal configuration of an information processing device 10 according to this embodiment. The information processing device 10 is one of various information processing devices each including a card slot, for example, a small-sized portable information terminal or digital camera, a notebook or desktop computer, or the like.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 24, a hard disk drive 26, a user interface 30, a video decoder 32, and a display screen 34.

[0069] The CPU 20, the RAM 22, the ROM 24, and the hard disk drive 26 are interconnected via an internal bus. Therefore, the CPU 20 can arbitrarily access these RAM 22, ROM 24, and hard disk drive 26 via the internal bus.

[0070] Image data is outputted from the CPU 20 to the video decoder 32, decoded by the video decoder

[0115] A second embodiment is designed to reduce a time from when the need for reading / writing data from / to the card-type medium arises until the data can be actually read from and written to the card medium by making a modification to the above first embodiment. Portions different from those of the above first embodiment will be described below.

[0116] The hardware configuration of the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment is the same as that according to the above first embodiment. Card access preprocessing constantly performed by the information processing device 10 will be described usingFIG. 12, FIG. 13, and FIG. 14. This card access preprocessing is realized by the CPU 20 reading and executing a card access preprocessing program stored in the ROM 24 or the hard disk drive 26. This card access preprocessing is automatically started when the power of the information processing device 10 is turned on.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 12, the information processing

[0146] In the above second embodiment, the communication speed supported by the CF card 50 is checked by executing the IdentifyDevice command in the TrueIDE mode, but in a third embodiment, the communication speed supported by the CF card 50 is checked by executing the IdentifyDevice command in the memory mode. Portions different from those of the above second embodiment will be described below.

[0147]FIG. 16 is part of a flowchart for explaining the contents of card access preprocessing according to this embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 in the above second embodiment. The processing up to step S2032 shown in FIG. 16 is the same as that in the above second embodiment.

[0148] As shown in FIG. 16, when judging in step S2032 that the CF card 50 inserted into the card slot 40 supports the TrueIDE mode (step S2032: YES), the information processing device 10 checks the communication speed supportable in the TrueIDE mode (step S2100). Namely, in this embodiment, the supporta