TWI473027B - Computer system, integrated chip, super io module and control method of the computer system - Google Patents

Description

Computer system, integrated chip, super input and output module, and method of controlling computer

The present invention relates to management techniques for computer resources, and more particularly to techniques for controlling a computer based on a user's location.

The use of a computer to share more and more people is becoming more and more common, such as offices, schools, Internet cafes and other public places, even if at home, many people may share a computer. In an environment where multiple users share a computer, resource allocation problems arise. For example, if the user leaves the computer and the computer is always on, it will cause a waste of power. If someone arbitrarily locks the computer before leaving the computer, it will affect the use rights of other users and increase the workload of the administrator.

To address the problem of such resource allocation, traditional methods include increasing the available resources or limiting resource usage conditions. The management method commonly used in school computer classrooms is to use the restore card. As long as the forced restart is performed, the originally occupied computer resources can be restored and released for the next person to use. However, restoring the card does not solve the problem of power loss, and it will force the deletion of any updated user data. In case the user only leaves for a short time instead of actually maliciously occupying the computer, forcing the reboot is a problem for the user.

Another problem is that when we use a computer in a public place, we always encounter a need to leave the computer for a short time, but we often ignore the need to lock the computer. Such situations often lead to the exposure of our computers (data) to danger.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for controlling a computer.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a computer system is provided, the computer system comprising a wireless module and a super input/output module (Super I/O). The wireless module can wirelessly communicate with a mobile device and detect whether the mobile device and the computer system are within a certain distance. The super input/output module is electrically coupled to the wireless module, and controls the state of the computer system according to the detection result of the wireless module. When the mobile device leaves a certain distance, the super input/output module sends a first management signal to put the computer system into a non-executive state. When the mobile device enters a certain distance from a certain distance and the computer system is in the non-executive state, the super input/output module issues a second management signal to return the computer system to the power on or normal state.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of controlling a computer is presented for use in a computer system. First, configure the wireless device and the super input and output module in the computer system. Then, the wireless device detects whether the mobile device is within a certain distance of the computer system. When the mobile device is away from a certain distance, the first power management signal is sent through the super input/output module to a power module of the computer system, so that the computer system enters a non-executive state. When the mobile device enters the specific distance from a certain distance and the computer system is in a non-executive state, the second power management signal is sent to the power module through the super input and output module, so that the computer system returns to the normal state.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, an integrated wafer is proposed for use in a computer system. The integrated chip contains power control pins, wireless modules and controllers. The power control pin is electrically coupled to the power module in the computer system to control the power state of the computer system. The wireless module is used to detect whether a mobile device is within a certain distance of the computer system. The controller is electrically coupled to the wireless module and the power control pin. When the mobile device leaves a certain distance, the controller sends a first power management signal to the power module through the power control pin, so that the computer system enters a non-executive state. When the mobile device enters a certain distance from a certain distance and the computer system is in a non-executive state, the controller sends a second power management signal to the power module through the power control pin to restore the computer system to the power-on or normal state. .

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a super output input module is provided for use in a computer system. The super output input module controls the serial port, parallel port, PS/2 terminal and keyboard control module of the computer system. The super output input module includes a wireless module and a controller, and the wireless module can be used to detect whether a mobile device is within a certain distance of the computer system. The controller is electrically coupled to the wireless module. When the mobile device leaves a certain distance, the controller disables the sequence, the parallel port, the PS/2 terminal, and the keyboard control module of the computer system; Within a certain distance, the controller restores the serial input, parallel port, PS/2 terminal, and keyboard control module of the computer system to a normal input state.

The embodiment of the present invention proposes a method and apparatus for controlling a computer based on the concept that "if the user is in the vicinity of the computer, the computer is safe; otherwise, it must be specially protected."

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a structural diagram of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The computer system 120 basically includes basic units such as a central processing unit 102, a north bridge wafer 104, a south bridge wafer 106, a main memory 112, and a firmware 114, each of which is responsible for different levels of operation. Since the detailed implementation of various aspects has many known practices as the technology evolves, it is beyond the scope of this embodiment.

In this embodiment, computer system 120 can communicate wirelessly with a mobile device 110. Since the general user will carry the mobile device 110 on the body, the mobile device 110 can be used to determine whether the user is in the vicinity of the computer system 120. The computer system 120 includes a wireless module 140 that can transmit and receive wireless signals through the antenna 130 and wirelessly communicate with the mobile device 110 to detect whether the mobile device 110 is within a certain distance of the computer system 120. The wireless module 140 can be an infrared transmission module, a radio frequency identification module (RFID) or a Bluetooth module, or even a magnetic card sensor. The mobile device 110 can be a wireless device with credential information, such as a Bluetooth mobile phone, an infrared remote control, a radio frequency identification card, or a magnetic card. The foregoing detection may be performed by the wireless module 140 actively transmitting a broadcast beacon signal and monitoring the echo, or passively waiting for the mobile device 110 to send a wireless signal. For example, Bluetooth is a broadcast communication protocol, and RF identification is a non-contact sensing mechanism. Therefore, various possible detection methods can be applied in this embodiment.

The wireless module 140 may further include a verifier 142. The mobile device 110 may further include a credential (not shown). The credential may include various information for verifying access rights, and the verification device 142 verifies the mobile device 110. The credentials determine the permissions of the mobile device holder to access the computer system 120. The foregoing rights may be, for example, permission/inhibition of the application, or permission/inhibition of peripheral devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a CD player, a floppy disk drive, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the embodiment, the computer system may include an integrated chip such as a Super I/O module 108. The super input/output module 108 is electrically coupled to the wireless module 140, the south bridge chip 106, and the power module 116. More specifically, the super input/output module 108 can further include a controller 150. The wireless module 140 can be integrated into the super input/output module 108 as a subunit of the super input/output module 108. By electrically coupling the wireless module 140 or integrating the wireless module 140- into the super input/output module 108, the super input/output module 108 can control the state of the computer system 120 according to the detection result of the wireless module 140. In another embodiment of the present invention, the super input/output module 108 may further include a firmware 152, and the firmware 152 is electrically coupled to the controller 150. The aforementioned firmware 152 can be used to assist the controller 150 in changing the state of the computer system 120.

For example, when the mobile device 110 is outside a certain distance of the computer system 120, the super input/output module 108 will issue a first management signal to cause the computer system 120 to enter a non-executive state. When the mobile device 110 enters a certain distance from a certain distance, and the computer system 120 is in a non-executive state, the super input/output module 108 sends a second management signal to return the computer system to the power on or normal state. The aforementioned non-execution state may be, for example, a sleep state, a standby state, or a shutdown state.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first management signal and the second management signal are a first power management signal and a second power management signal, respectively. The super input/output module 108 transmits the first or second power management signal #PWR to the power module 116 through its power control pin 118. The power module 116 is electrically coupled to the power control pin 118. The aforementioned power control pin 118 can be the PS-ON pin of the Advanced Technology Extension (ATX) power specification. According to the Advanced Technology Extension (ATX) power supply specification, the power module 116 can be controlled by a specific signal, such as PS-ON, to control the power state of the computer system 120. In this embodiment, the super input/output module 108 can send the first or second power management signal #PWR to the power module 116 through its controller 150. In addition, the computer system 120 can be brought into a non-executive state by the firmware 152 to assist the controller 150, or the computer system 120 can be returned to the power-on or normal state.

The aforementioned super input/output module 108 can operate independently from the control of the operating system and the software. For example, when the computer system 120 is turned off, the central processing unit 102, the south bridge chip 106, and the north bridge chip 104 in the computer system 120 may be stopped due to shutdown, but the super input/output module 108 can remain in operation and continuously detected. The presence or absence of the external mobile device 110. When the mobile device 110 enters a certain distance from a certain distance, the super input/output module 108 can send the first or second power management signal #PWR to the power module 116 through its controller 150 to cause the computer system 120 to enter. Power on state.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the first management signal or the second management signal sent by the super input/output module 108 can be transmitted to the central processing unit 102 through the south bridge chip 106. Through the matching driver (not shown), the central processing unit 102 can convert the state of the computer system 120 according to the content of the first or second management signal (for example, from a non-executive state to a power-on or normal state, or from a normal state transition). Is not in the execution state).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the super input/output module 108 can connect the south bridge wafer 106 and the firmware 114 through a low pin number (LPC) or a Serial Peripheral Interface Bus (SPI). The firmware 114 can be, for example, a Basic Input/Output system (BIOS). With the firmware 114, the super input/output module 108 can also change the state of the computer system 120 through the first or second management signal.

In order to explain the present invention in more detail, the following examples are further illustrated. The wireless module 140 can continuously communicate with the mobile device 110. If the wireless module 140 originally detects the mobile device 110 and then does not detect the mobile device 110, it can be determined that the mobile device 110 is moving away from the effective distance. . Thereby, the super input/output module 108 sends a management signal (for example, power management signal #PWR) to the power module 116, triggering a subsequent related advanced architecture power interface (ACPI) mechanism, so that the entire computer system 120 enters a non-executive state. Assuming that the effective distance of the wireless communication is 10 meters, it means that the user can continue to use the computer system 120 as long as it is within 10 meters of the computer system 120. Within the effective distance, more stringent criteria can also be defined. For example, it is determined that the mobile device 110 is away from the computer system 120 by one meter or more.

In contrast, if the wireless module 140 does not detect the mobile device 110 and then detects the mobile device 110, it can be determined that the mobile device 110 is entering the effective distance from a distance. At this time, if the computer system 120 is in a non-executive state (for example, a shutdown state), the super input/output module can notify the power module 114 through the power management signal #PWR again, triggering the subsequent related ACPI mechanism to cause the computer system 120 to return to the boot. . Of course, the computer system can also define the power control pin by matching the operating system, driver or firmware. For example, when PS-ON is triggered, it should be dormant, standby or shut down. Therefore, the related application manners can be variously changed as needed, and will not be described herein.

Of course, as described in the foregoing embodiment, the super input/output module 108 can also transmit the management signal to the central processing unit 102 to change the state of the computer system 120, and details are not described herein again.

Through the super input/output module 108 and the wireless module 140 described in the above embodiments of the present invention, the computer system 120 can be directly restored from, for example, a shutdown state to, for example, a power-on state, or changed to, for example, a power-off state, for example, a power-off state. In addition, verifying the validity of the credentials of the mobile device 110 via the wireless module 140 provides for more advanced security controls. For example, the output input module 108 can determine the permission of the mobile device 110 to access the computer system according to the verification result of the verification device 142 (for example, an application that is allowed to be executed and an application that is prohibited from executing), or when the verification of the certificate fails. The controller 150 in the super input/output module 108 will not issue, for example, the power management signal #PWR to the power module. In addition, the voucher can also provide identification in public places where multiple people use the computer (for example, a voucher can only correspond to a certain computer).

Referring again to FIG. 1, the super input/output module 108 basically controls the peripheral devices such as the conventional PS/2 terminal, the serial port, the parallel port, the game console, the floppy disk, and the keyboard control module. In another embodiment of the present invention, the super input/output module 108 can also perform permission control on some or all of the peripheral devices according to the result of detecting the mobile device 110 by the wireless module 140. For example, when the mobile device 110 is away from the wireless module 140 by a certain distance, the controller 150 in the super input/output module 108 can input and output data such as the PS/2 terminal, the serial port, the parallel port, the keyboard control module, and the like. The device is disabled. When the mobile device 110 is within a certain distance of the wireless module 140, the controller 150 can restore the data input/output device such as the PS/2 terminal, the serial port, the parallel port, and the keyboard control module to a normal state. When the aforementioned data input/output device is deactivated, the computer system 120 can continue to output a picture or sound. This state is especially suitable for occasions where the computer or presentation is publicly displayed on the exhibition site, which can effectively prevent the unspecified user from contacting and manipulating the computer system 120. Of course, the wireless module 140 can be integrated into the super input/output module 108 as described in other embodiments, and details are not described herein.

In addition, since the input/output module 108 controls the aforementioned data input/output devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, this characteristic can be further utilized to change the aspect of the foregoing embodiment of the present invention. For example, when the mobile device 110 enters a certain distance from a distance, the super input/output module can issue a series of analog keyboard inputs through a keyboard control module (not shown), so that the computer system 120 is restored from the non-executed state to The normal state, or the computer system 120 believes that the password command received by the user is received, so that the screen lock state is automatically released. The foregoing keyboard control module can be directly coupled to the wireless module 140 to react according to the detection result of the wireless module 140. The analog keyboard input can be a set of unlocked passwords stored in firmware 114 that are previously set.

The various applications described above can be implemented in combination. For example, when the mobile device 110 leaves an effective range, the computer system 120 does not immediately stand by or shut down, but first enters a screen lock state or logs out of the operating system. When the screen lock state or the logout state does not reply for a period of time, the super input/output module issues the power management signal #PWR to cause the computer system 120 to further enter the sleep state, the standby state, or the shutdown state.

The above embodiment can be organized into a flow chart as shown in Fig. 2. In step 201, computer system 120 is booted. In step 203, the wireless module 140 detects whether the mobile device 110 is located in the vicinity of the computer system 120. As long as the wireless module 140 does not sense the mobile device 110 or determines that the distance of the mobile device 110 exceeds a certain range, step 205 is performed to switch the computer system 120 to the non-executing state. The so-called non-executive state herein generally refers to restricting various states of the user's normal operation of the computer system 120, including screen lock, logout, standby, or shutdown. If the mobile device 110 is sensed in step 203 and the credentials therein are also identified as having legitimate rights, then step 207 is performed to restore the computer system 120 from the non-executing state to the normal state. If it is detected in step 203 that the next user and the previous user are different, the step of returning to the normal state in step 207 must include at least logging out the previous user to avoid leakage of personal data.

Although the present invention has been described above by way of examples, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not necessarily limited. In contrast, any modifications that are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Therefore, the scope of patent claims must be interpreted in the broadest sense.

102. . . CPU

104. . . North Bridge Chip

106. . . South Bridge Chip

108. . . Super input and output module

110. . . Mobile device

112. . . Main memory

114. . . firmware

116. . . Power module

118. . . Power control pin

120. . . computer system

130. . . antenna

140. . . Wireless module

142. . . Validator

150. . . Controller

152. . . firmware

201, 203, 205, 207. . . step

1 is a structural diagram of a computer system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a flow chart of a method for controlling a computer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

102. . . CPU

104. . . North Bridge Chip

106. . . South Bridge Chip

108. . . Super input and output module

110. . . Mobile device

112. . . Main memory

114. . . firmware

116. . . Power module

118. . . Power control pin

120. . . computer system

130. . . antenna

140. . . Wireless module

142. . . Validator

150. . . Controller

152. . . firmware

Claims (27)

A computer system comprising: a wireless module for wirelessly communicating with a mobile device and detecting whether the mobile device is within a certain distance from the computer system; and a super input/output module (Super I/O) The wireless input module is electrically coupled to the wireless system, and the super input and output module controls the state of the computer system according to the detection result of the wireless module; wherein: when the mobile device leaves the specific distance, the super input and output The module sends a first management signal to cause the computer system to enter a non-executive state; and when the mobile device enters the specific distance from the specific distance, and the computer system is in the non-executive state and the non-executing state is When the power is off, the super input and output module sends a second management signal to restore the computer system from the power off state to the power on state. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the sleep state, the standby state, or the shutdown state is defined by a power supply specification. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a power module for controlling a power state of the computer system and electrically coupling a power control pin of the super input/output module, the first The management signal or the second management signal is a power management signal and is transmitted to the power module through the power control pin. The computer system according to claim 3, wherein the power control pin is a PS-ON of an Advanced Technology Extension (ATX) power supply specification. Feet. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a central processing unit and a driver, wherein the first management signal or the second management signal is transmitted to the central processing unit, and the central processing unit transmits the driver And changing the state of the computer system according to the content of the first management signal or the second management signal. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the wireless module is an infrared transmission module, a radio frequency identification module (RFID) or a Bluetooth module. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the wireless module includes a validator for verifying a voucher included in the mobile device, and the super input and output module determines the verification result according to the verifier The mobile device holder has access to the computer system, which includes the application that is allowed to execute and the application that is prohibited from executing. A computer system comprising: a wireless module for wirelessly communicating with a mobile device and detecting whether the mobile device is within a certain distance from the computer system; and a super input/output module (Super I/O) The wireless input module is electrically coupled to the wireless system, and the super input and output module controls the state of the computer system according to the detection result of the wireless module; wherein: when the mobile device leaves the specific distance, the super input and output The module issues a first management signal to cause the computer system to enter a non-executive state; When the mobile device enters the specific distance from the specific distance, and the computer system is in the non-executive state, the super input and output module sends a second management signal to restore the computer system to the power on or normal state. The super input/output module further includes a keyboard control module. When the mobile device enters the specific distance from the specific distance, the super input and output module sends a series of analog keyboards through the keyboard control module. Input to cause the computer system to resume from the non-executive state to the normal state. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the non-executive state is a screen lock state, and the analog keyboard input is a set of preset unlock codes. The computer system of claim 8, further comprising a sequence, a parallel port, a PS/2 terminal, a game cartridge, and a floppy disk, wherein the non-execution state is to disable the sequence, the parallel埠, the keyboard control module, the PS/2 terminal, and the computer system continues to output the state of the picture and sound. A method for controlling a computer, which is applied to a computer system, comprising: configuring a wireless device and a super input/output module in the computer system; and detecting, by the wireless device, whether a mobile device is within a certain distance of the computer system When the mobile device is away from the specific distance, a first power management signal is sent through the super input/output module to a power mode of the computer system. a group that causes the computer system to enter a non-executive state; and when the mobile device enters the specific distance from outside the specific distance, and the computer system is in the non-executing state and the non-executing state is in a shutdown state, The super input/output module sends a second power management signal to the power module, so that the computer system is restored from the shutdown state to the power on. The method of controlling a computer according to claim 11, wherein the sleep state, the standby state, or the shutdown state is defined by a power supply specification. The method for controlling a computer according to claim 11, further comprising verifying a credential in the mobile device to determine the right of the mobile device holder to access the computer system, the permission includes an application that is allowed to execute. And applications that are forbidden to execute. The method for controlling a computer according to claim 11, further comprising: when detecting that the mobile device enters the specific distance from the specific distance, issuing a series of analog keyboard input to enable the computer system Return from the non-execution state to the normal state. The method of controlling a computer according to claim 11, wherein the step of switching to the non-executive state comprises deactivating a serial port, a parallel port, a keyboard control module, and a PS/2 terminal in the computer system, and The computer system continues to output pictures and sounds. An integrated wafer for use in a computer system comprising: a power control pin electrically coupled to a power module of the computer system for controlling a power state of the computer system; a wireless module for detecting whether a mobile device is specific to the computer system And a controller electrically coupled to the wireless module and the power control pin; wherein, when the mobile device leaves the specific distance, the controller sends a first power through the power control pin Administering the signal to the power module to cause the computer system to enter a non-executive state; and when the mobile device enters the specific distance from the specific distance, and the computer system is in the non-executive state and the non-executing state is one When the power is off, the controller sends a second power management signal to the power module through the power control pin, so that the computer system is returned to the power-on state from the power-off state. The integrated wafer of claim 16, wherein the sleep state, the standby state, or the shutdown state is defined by a power supply specification. The integrated chip of claim 16, wherein the wireless module is an infrared transmission module, a radio frequency identification module (RFID) or a Bluetooth module. The integrated chip of claim 18, wherein the wireless module includes a validator for verifying a credential included in the mobile device, and the controller determines the mobile device according to the verification result of the verifier The holder's access to the computer system, this permission contains the allowable execution Programs and applications that are prohibited from executing. The integrated wafer of claim 19, wherein the mobile device is a radio frequency identification card. The integrated chip of claim 19, wherein the controller does not issue the first power management signal or the second power management signal when the verification of the certificate fails. The integrated chip of claim 16, wherein the power control pin is a PS-ON pin of an Advanced Technology Extension (ATX) power supply specification. The integrated chip of claim 16, further comprising a keyboard control module electrically coupled to the wireless module, wherein: when the mobile device enters the specific distance from the specific distance, The keyboard control module sends out a series of analog keyboard inputs to restore the computer system from the non-executive state to a normal state; and when the wireless module detects that the mobile device is away from the specific distance, the integrated chip emits a series of analog keyboards Input to put the computer system into a screen lock state or log out of the operating system. The integrated wafer of claim 23, wherein the non-executing state is a screen locked state, and the simulated keyboard input is a predetermined set of unlocking passwords. The integrated wafer of claim 16, further comprising a firmware electrically coupled to the controller to assist the controller to bring the computer system into the non-executive state or to cause the computer system Reply to open Machine or normal state. A super output input module is used in a computer system, and the super output input module controls a serial port, a parallel port, a PS/2 terminal and a keyboard control module of the computer system, and the feature is: the super output input mode The group includes a wireless module and a controller, the wireless module is configured to detect whether a mobile device is within a certain distance of the computer system, and the controller is electrically coupled to the wireless module, when the mobile device is removed Outside the specific distance, the controller disables the serial port, the parallel port, the PS/2 terminal, and the keyboard control module of the computer system; when the mobile device is within the specific distance, the controller enables the The serial port, parallel port, PS/2 terminal, and keyboard control module of the computer system resume normal input state. The super output input module of claim 26, wherein the wireless module is an infrared transmission module, a radio frequency identification module (RFID) or a Bluetooth module.