Adaptive poking of an external storage unit

摘要

A host apparatus has examination-period changing means for monitoring the state of use of a data input unit, such as how frequently a user is using the keys on a keyboard, and for changing, in dependence upon the monitored state of use, a period at which a check is performed to determine whether a recording medium has been loaded in an external storage unit and medium-loading monitoring means for performing the check, at the checking period decided. The examination-period changing means lengthens the checking period if frequency of use of the data input unit is high and shortens the checking period if frequency of use is low. In a case where a plurality of external storage units have been connected to the computer system, the checking of medium loading is executed only with regard to external storage units in which a recording medium has not been loaded. The host apparatus executes predetermined processing upon detecting that a recording medium has been loaded in an external storage unit. <IMAGE>