Background technology
Electric power starting when computer, Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) (Basic Input/Output System, BIOS) can be by the inner execution of (such as BIOS Flash ROM) the loading system random access memory (RAM) of the memory body on the motherboard, with wafer set (chipset) and the initialization of memory body subsystem, it is the most basic program code when loading the computer hardware system.BIOS mainly carries out start selftest (POST), whether the state with each parts in the inspection computer system is normal, such as central processing unit (CPU), systematic memory body, controller etc., do initialization action for memory body, motherboard wafer set, display card and peripheral device again.
Please refer to prior art Fig. 1, show a common computer system architecture among the figure, comprise the CPU (central processing unit) 11, north bridge wafer (NB) 12, south emigrant's wafer (SB) 13, the display card module 14 and memory body module 15 that are arranged on the motherboard, each cell module is connected with bus-bar.Comprise the front end bus-bar (FSB) 101 that CPU (central processing unit) 11 is connected with north and south bridge wafer, north and south bridge wafer then can be integrated into a System on chip group (chipset), wherein connecting this north and south bridge wafer by north and south bridge bus-bar 104, mainly is to implement with Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) at present.Other connects memory body module 15 such as north bridge wafer 12 by memory body bus-bar 102, and by showing that data bus-bar 103 connects display card module 14.
In general, computer system is carried out initialized operation to each peripheral equipment by Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) (BIOS) when starting shooting, memory body in the Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) (as shown in Figure 1, utilize the memory space in the south bridge wafer 13, namely the bios memory body 131) usually can utilize CMOS recording system setting value, and the basic setting of each peripheral device of initialization; BIOS also can provide the interruption resident program that resident library and application program are called out in addition, such as INT 10H etc.After from then on BIOS information be decompressed to the primary memory (such as memory body module 15) of system in the bios memory body 131, through each IO interface of initialization, preparation load operation system.
BIOS is after improvement, can carry out more diversified work, for instance, can allow the user select which peripheral device to start computer by, more can derive other and use, comprise with Live CD starting computer, starting in a plurality of operating environments one, the running of the whole computer system of monitoring etc.
When the user wants to be undertaken by the BIOS menu in the computer system basic setting of computer system, usually enter the BIOS menu in the computer system power initiation by the keyboard operation, as pin del key, esc key or specific compound keys.In addition, supported by BIOS because the driving method of the input interface of keyboard is most of, therefore usually use keyboard or mouse to set BIOS.
Yet family's theater computer (the home theater PC take PC as basic engineering, HTPC) then be a kind of product of appliance-based computer, usually use wherein various functions of infrared remote controller control, comprise play multimedia etc., under this framework, the input media of general keyboard and mouse etc. is inapplicable.
Utilize the technology of various functions on the telepilot control computer system, can be with reference to the United States Patent (USP) the 6th of bulletin on May 16th, 2000,064, No. 368, it discloses a kind of User's Interface of computer system, the data that external input device can be transmitted are converted to the discernible data of computer system, wherein there is an interface controller (interface controller) to be connected in remote controller receiver and has the computer system of BIOS, when receiving the data of controller, output system management interrupt (system management interrupt, SMI) to system, the instruction that provides according to system produces key, uses and carries out relative application.
Summary of the invention
Because above-mentioned family's theater computer (HTPC) is in vogue, the standard that appliance-based computer makes infrared remote controller become the control computer is equipped with, under operating system, relevant software has had corresponding infrared remote controller, but, be different from prior art and only control every multimedia function and operation general job of computer system with telepilot, the present invention more discloses the command control method of a kind of Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) (BIOS), can be by an interrupt service routine (Interrupt Service Routine who is stated from the computer system, ISR) continue to read the technology of the control signal that sends from telepilot, the start that telepilot can be applied under the BIOS is simultaneously set in the menu (Setup Menu).
For effectively utilizing infrared remote controller operation BIOS to set menu, and make computer system, such as above-mentioned HTPC, really break away from the control of mouse and keyboard, produce more convenient and the control mode of consistency is arranged, the disclosed Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) command control method of the present invention utilizes the scan code of button on the infrared remote controller to judge and definition is applied in reaches up and down input key on the keyboard originally, then utilize interrupt service routine at the computer system end, such as 8259PIC, the hardware interrupts (interrupt) of button on the monitoring infrared remote controller.When receiving that the defined button of the present invention has triggered, i.e. operation and control identical when utilizing Keyboard Control are carried out in expression, make the infrared remote controller of setting choosing of control BIOS the same with keyboard operation.
The preferred embodiment of command control method of the present invention comprises, after opening a computer system, start above-mentioned interrupt service routine, then continue to read a port,input-output (such as super port,input-output by this interrupt service routine, Super IO) scan code at upper transmission port for telechiric device, scan code particularly sends by consumer infrared ray port (CIR IO), after detecting one interrupt request, receives the scan code that telechiric device produces.Utilize afterwards look-up method, according to scan code identification one steering order, carry out again steering order, comprise entering the relevant setting picture of BIOS, and by the described identification of tabling look-up to this steering order of setting picture that should Basic Input or Output System (BIOS), set this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) to carry out; After finishing the setting of this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS), and the end interrupt requirement, the start self test program carried out.
Preferably, the step system by carrying out this steering order enters one by the shortcut of user by a telechiric device and sets picture.
Preferably, the described setting picture related setting picture that is this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS).
Preferably, the related setting picture of described Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) comprises the setting picture and the menu that produces by an extension firmware interface of this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS).
Preferably, described interrupt service routine is detected the signal that this shortcut produces.
Preferably, described interrupt service routine system continues to read on this port,input-output the scan code for the transmission port of this telechiric device.
Preferably, described port,input-output is the super port,input-output on this computer system.
Preferably, the transmission port for this telechiric device is a consumer infrared ray port on the described port,input-output.
Preferably, by the setting of identification to this scan code of instruction that should the Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) menu of tabling look-up.
Preferably, described computer system is a family's theater computer by this telechiric device control.
Embodiment
Family theater computer (HTPC) is a kind of digital entertainment system take PC as basic engineering, except the function of generally watching various content of multimedia, more characteristic because of the institute that possesses PC (PC), so interaction, network function with the user, also have all originally all can use on family's theater computer at the audio-visual multimedia archives on the PC, more cooperate jumbo storage area, so that family's theater computer produces more polynary entertainment effect.
Since be a kind of product of appliance-based computer, therefore use telechiric device to carry out the especially standard outfit of control of various functions, but because the basic software program code of the Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) (BIOS) of computer system each peripheral equipment I/O of initialization when starting shooting itself, usually be responsible for carrying out the start selftest, peripheral device carried out the default values such as initialization, record display device, keyboard, processor, memory body, and the interruption resident program that provides application program to call out, at last from Storage Media the load operation system to the systematic memory body.
So, the running of BIOS system is before telechiric device (need enter operating system) is driven, the general traditional input equipments such as keyboard, mouse that still need use carry out wherein menu setting, and prior art proposes need not use the standard input devices such as keyboard or mouse control program in addition for BIOS.Therefore the present invention sets the function of the setting menu of Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) especially for Digiplex (embodiment such as infrared remote controller), a kind of command control method of Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) is proposed, can be applied to HTPC etc. similarly in the multimedia system, so that wireless remote controller except the control of the functions such as audio-visual amusement, more can use the option of setting among the BIOS.
Please refer to the schematic diagram that concerns of family's theater shown in Figure 2 and telechiric device, show that wherein a display screen 22 is online to a home theater system main frame 24, this home theater system main frame 24 is above-mentioned HTPC or possesses the multimedia system of similar functions, the user can by the BIOS menu picture 26 of telechiric device 20 these home theater system main frames 24 of control, allow home theater system main frame 24 can break away from the dependence of mouse and keyboard.The preferred embodiment of telechiric device 20 is for using the controlled in wireless means of infra-red remote control, and other all can be the applied scope of the present invention such as wireless telecommunications means such as radio, Bluetooth transmission protocol, WiFi.
Before the load operation system, can use telechiric device 20 to control for reaching above-mentioned home theater system main frame 24, and special set environment for BIOS, the command control method of basic input and output proposed by the invention mainly is interrupt service routine (the Interrupt Service Routine that loads when home theater system main frame 24 is started shooting by, ISR) continue to read the control signal that sends from telechiric device 20 (such as scan code, scan code) technology, the start that telechiric device 20 can be applied under the BIOS menu picture 26 is simultaneously set in the menu (Setup Menu).
This interrupt service routine be one in order to the letter formula of interrupt request processing, running is in the core of computer system, commitment behind electric power starting, await orders (standby) carry out interruption message, to enter Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) (BIOS) when menu is set such as the user, need to be after start soon, in the time of systems inspection CPU (central processing unit) 11 and systematic memory body, press the fast key that enters BIOS (such as del key, esc key or other), computer system will produce interrupt request this moment, and detect this event by interrupt service routine.
Because break in service can require to provide specific service according to the user, such as the generation of key-press event, hardware needs system processor is produced an interrupt request, can insert an event when processing unit operates.The interrupt service routine of use proposed by the invention then is to detect continuously/to read this interrupt request, and particularly from the scan code of telechiric device 20, system can be known an interrupt request.
In addition, above-mentioned interrupt service routine can also be used for checking whether the source of interrupt request is correct, to discharge wrong interrupt request except continuing to read the specific port,input-output (such as the CIR port of Super IO), and after the performed program of interrupt request is finished, the interruption in end/removing hardware.If interrupt request is many, interrupt service routine more can be arranged subsequent interrupt in formation (queue), processes in proper order.
Home theater system main frame 24 utilizes this interrupt service routine, and such as 8259PIC, the hardware interrupts (interrupt) of button reads scan code on the monitoring infrared remote controller after receiving interrupt request, and the defined button of expression the present invention triggers.Judge by the scan code that reads button on the telechiric device 20 again and definition is applied in reaches up and down input key on the keyboard originally, such as carrying out the function correspondence by table look-up (a lookup table) who pre-defines, can carry out and same operation and control when utilizing Keyboard Control, make the telechiric device 20 of control BIOS menu picture 26 the same with keyboard operation.
The step of the disclosed BIOS command control method of the present invention can be with reference to instruction control flow chart of steps shown in Figure 3.
Beginning is such as step S301, after opening computer system, at system initialization, and the stage before entering operating system starts interrupt service routine (ISR), preferred embodiment of the present invention is to be applied to the similarly multimedia system such as family's theater computer, afterwards by this interrupt service routine detecting interrupt request, especially from the interrupt request of telechiric device to system processor, interrupt service routine continues to read a port,input-output (such as a super port,input-output, Super IO) scan code at upper transmission port (as being a consumer infrared ray port, CIR IO) for telechiric device.When the user produces steering order by telechiric device, telechiric device 20 will spread out of scan code, system will produce interrupt request to processing unit this moment, and be interrupted service routine and detect (step S303), receive simultaneously the scan code (step S305) that telechiric device produces.
Because the signal package that transmits by telechiric device is different from the signal that original keyboard or mouse transmit, embodiments of the invention can (be removed the useful code of rear acquisition such as the header with the signal package) and carry out instruction correspondence (mapping) by a table lookup function after decipher, according to scan code identification one steering order (step S307) that receives, comprise corresponding to the button that the upper and lower, left and right that originally utilize Keyboard Control BIOS to set menu, PgUp, PgDn, ESC, Space, Enter, numerical key etc. are usually used in setting.
For instance, BIOS general using interrupt INT 16h reads the scan code of keyboard, the processing that the line correlation of going forward side by side is corresponding, the present invention then utilizes interrupt service routine to read scan code from telechiric device, and assign in the former program that is applied in keyboard, allow among the BIOS except judging the scan code of keyboard, also can judge the scan code that utilizes infrared remote controller, infrared remote controller is controlled the method for BIOS start menu just as keyboard is controlled afterwards.
Afterwards, after drawing steering order, carry out this steering order (step S309), comprise that the selection (as by ESC, Del, the equiprobable shortcut of F8) according to the user enters the setting picture, this sets the setting picture that picture comprises general Basic Input or Output System (BIOS), or by an extension firmware interface (Extensible Firmware Interface, EFI) menu that produces, the multimedia interface that before entering general disc operating system (DOS), provides such as multimedia system.Finish this interrupt request (step S311) at last and by interrupt service routine.
Fig. 4 then describes the present invention in the embodiment flow process that enters the command control method after BIOS sets picture.For reading signal from telechiric device such as the computer system of family's theater computer etc. by a port,input-output, carry out the setting of Basic Input or Output System (BIOS), step starts from carrying out and enters BIOS related setting picture (step S401).This sets picture not necessarily is limited in BIOS when reality is implemented setting menu, can contain BIOS and set menu and wherein extend the menu that the firmware interface produces by one, such as set menu derivative music or other extension function by BIOS.
Then by the control signal (step S403) of interrupt service routine detecting from telechiric device, continue to read on the port,input-output scan code for the transmission port of this telechiric device this moment, in a preferred embodiment, interrupt service routine is the consumer infrared ray port (CIR IO) on the super port,input-output (Super IO) that continues to read on the computer system, after receiving the control signal, interrupt service routine produces an interrupt request (step S405) to system, have no progeny in system produces, interrupt service routine will read a scan code from telechiric device (step S407) again.
No matter whether scan code is effective, all can be according to corresponding identification one steering order (step S409) of tabling look-up, and carry out steering order (step S411), after the execution, no matter whether effective instruction will finish this interrupt request (step S413), and the step of getting back to detecting control signal.
At this moment, if the operation by BIOS judges whether to leave this BIOS and sets picture, if, then directly enter the boot program of computer system, carry out start self test program (P.O.S.T.) supervisor (step S417); If do not really want to leave the setting picture, the expression user will continue the relevant settings such as BIOS, to get back to step S403, interrupt service routine will continue the control signal that detecting produces by telechiric device 20, and repeat above-mentioned interruption, reads scan code, the identification instruction, carries out the step such as instruction.
In sum, the present invention is a kind of command control method of Basic Input or Output System (BIOS), particularly utilizing a break in service that is stated from behind the electric power starting often is the scan code that reads from button on the infrared remote controller, and judge and be defined in and reach up and down input key on the keyboard, allow use and to utilize equally telepilot control such as the BIOS set environment of the multimedia systems such as family's theater computer, no longer rely on traditional input medias such as keyboard and mouse.
The above, only for the better specific embodiment of the present invention, feature of the present invention is not limited to this, anyly in the field of the invention is familiar with this skill person, can think easily and variation or modification, all be encompassed within the claim of the present invention.