JP3623484B2 - Computer system for playing music recording media in power saving mode - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to computer power-saving technology, and more particularly to a computer system having a music recording medium playback mechanism (CD-ROM drive), in which power is not consumed by other elements of the computer system. Thus, a dedicated power source for reproducing a music recording medium (music CD, MD (Mini Disk), memory stick, etc.) is provided.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Current computer systems, especially notebooks and mobile PCs, usually have power saving features to overcome the problem of power shortage and power consumption.
If the computer system is not used for a certain period of time, the system power supply shuts down to save power. In general, the computer system automatically switches to the power saving mode when it is not used for a preset period by the user. If the user wants to resume using the computer, the system will wake up and switch to normal mode to supply power to all elements.
[0003]
Conventionally, when a user wants to play a music CD by a playback mechanism such as a CD-ROM drive, the entire computer has to be started. However, no other functions or devices of the computer system are required while the CD is played. At this time, power supplied to the element is wasted.
It is even more necessary to maintain power when taking into account battery-based systems such as notebooks and mobile personal computers. Although the user only wants to play a recording medium such as a music CD, the power system technology activates the entire notebook or mobile computer.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer system that can play a music CD in a power saving mode, particularly an application for a notebook or a mobile personal computer that limits battery power.
While the computer system is in the power saving mode, the CD-ROM drive is activated, and the power saving mode is set while the other elements in the system are in the power saving state to prevent waste of power.
[0005]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a playback system capable of displaying a music CD or the like in a power saving mode, and particularly capable of displaying an elapsed time.
When a new track is played, or when the user performs fast forward and rewind operations, the playback mechanism plays the music CD in power saving mode and returns the system to normal mode. When returning to normal mode, the system calculates the elapsed time and displays the value.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a computer system for reproducing a music recording medium, a real-time clock device for providing a reference time, and processing music data read by the reproducing mechanism. Therefore, the next audio track is read in the normal mode with the voice processor, CPU (central processing unit), display device, and normal mode connected to the playback mechanism, and then the reference time is added to the next audio track time. Setting a wake-up time, switching the CPU to the power saving mode, waking up the CPU at the set time to switch to the normal mode, and when the CPU is in the power saving mode, the playback mechanism, the voice processor, and the The power supply control device that provides power to the control device. It is a symptom.
With the above configuration, power is supplied only to the playback mechanism, voice processor, CPU, and control device required for music playback, so that power consumption can be saved.
[0007]
Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for reproducing a music CD, and a method for reproducing a music recording medium on a computer by a reproduction mechanism and a real-time clock device, wherein the subsequent track time is read on the music recording medium. Calculating the elapsed time of the computer system with the real-time clock; adding the elapsed time to the subsequent track time to obtain a wake-up time of the computer system; and power for reproducing the music recording medium The system includes a step of switching the system to a power saving mode while the computer is supplied, and a step of waking up the computer system at the wake-up time.
With the above configuration, power is supplied only to devices required for music playback, so that power consumption can be saved.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In order to further clarify the above-described objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below and described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a process of starting a system by playing a music CD as a music recording medium from the power saving mode according to the present invention.
[0009]
First, in step S1, it is confirmed whether or not the CD-ROM drive (playback mechanism) is in a ready state. Here, when the CD-ROM drive is in the ready state, the number of tracks and the audio track time are recorded in the computer system in step S2. If not ready, an error signal is displayed. Next, a music recording medium (music CD) is reproduced in step S3. In step S4, the current state of the music CD is detected. In step S5, the current time is obtained by a real time clock. In step S6, the current audio track time is added to the current time by the CPU.
[0010]
In step S7, the next wake-up time is set in the computer system. After the setting is completed, the computer system is switched to the power saving mode in step S8. Subsequently, in step S9, the computer system is activated when the control of the CD-ROM drive is operated by the user or it is a wake-up time. In step S10, it is determined whether the system is wake-up time or not. If it is determined that the wake-up time is reached, the system is started in step S11. Thereafter, steps S4 to S8 are repeated to prepare for reproduction of the next audio track.
[0011]
In step S10, when it is not the wake-up time, the process proceeds to step S12 to determine whether the system power is off. If the power is turned off as a result of the determination, the CD-ROM drive is stopped in step S13.
If the user activates the previous or next track control, the computer system wakes up by step S11 and executes the requested system. Then, Step S4 to Step S8 are repeated.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The power supply control device 17 provides necessary power to each element. CPU 15 provides power to all other operations. In a specific example, controller 14 and keypad 18 provide a means for performing the operations described in the specific example.
[0013]
First, in the computer system, the music CD data of the reproduction mechanism 11 is read, and the number of tracks and the next track time are obtained by the control device 14. Next, the current time is obtained by the real-time clock device 16. Next, the CPU 15 adds the next track time to the current time and sets the next wake-up time. Thereafter, the computer system executes a power saving mode to play music on the current audio track, and the power control device 17 provides power only to the music CD to be played.
[0014]
The reproduction mechanism 11 reads the data and outputs it to the voice processor 12. The voice processor 12 outputs music data from a loudspeaker 13. When the current time becomes the wake-up time in the real-time clock device 16, preparation for reading the next audio track is made, and the above-described process of calculating the wake-up time is repeated until the wake-up time. If not directed by the keypad 18, this process is repeated until the end of the music.
[0015]
When the user selects any of the functions on the keypad 18, the input signal is detected directly by the controller 14 and activates the CPU. The above-described operation is accomplished by the currently activated CPU, and the system returns to the power saving mode.
In the present invention, preferred embodiments have been disclosed as described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the present invention, and any person who is familiar with the technology can use various methods within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Changes can be made, so the protection scope of the present invention is based on what is specified in the claims.
[0016]
In the above embodiment, the music CD has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to an MD, a memory stick, and the like.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
Since this invention consists of an above-described structure, there can exist an effect which is demonstrated below.
[0018]
The present invention provides a reproduction mechanism for reproducing a music recording medium, a real-time clock device for providing a reference time, a voice processor connected to the reproduction mechanism for processing music data read by the reproduction mechanism, and a CPU (Central processing unit), display device, read the next audio track in normal mode, then set the wake-up time by adding the reference time to the next audio track time, and switch the CPU to power saving mode A control device that wakes up the CPU at a set time and switches to a normal mode; and a power supply control device that provides power to the playback mechanism, the voice processor, and the control device when the CPU is in a power saving mode. Therefore, while supplying power only to the playback mechanism, voice processor, and control device, Music CDs can be played in electric mode.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the present invention showing playback of a music CD and wake-up of a system during a power saving mode.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Playback Mechanism 12 Voice Processor 13 Loudspeaker 14 Controller 15 CPU
16 Real-time clock device 17 Power control device 18 Keypad

Claims (9)

A computer system,
A playback mechanism for playing back music recording media;
A real-time clock device that provides a reference time;
A voice processor connected to the playback mechanism for processing music data read by the playback mechanism;
A central processing unit (CPU);
A display device;
Read the next audio track in normal mode, then add the reference time to the next audio track time to set the wake up time, switch the CPU to power saving mode, wake up the CPU at the set time A control device for switching to normal mode;
A computer system comprising: the playback mechanism, the voice processor, and a power supply control device for supplying power to the control device when the CPU is in a power saving mode. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the computer system is a notebook / mobile personal computer. The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising a loudspeaker that allows the music data processed by the voice processor to be heard around the system. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the music recording medium is a music CD, and the playback mechanism is a CD-ROM drive. A notebook / mobile computer system,
A playback mechanism for playing back music recording media;
A real-time clock device that provides a reference time;
A voice processor connected to the playback mechanism for processing music data read by the playback mechanism;
CPU,
A display device;
Read the next audio track in normal mode, then add the reference time to the next audio track time to set the wake-up time, switch the CPU to power saving mode, wake up the CPU at the set time A control device for switching to normal mode;
When the CPU is in a power saving mode, a power supply control device that provides power to the playback mechanism, the voice processor, and the control device;
A notebook / mobile computer system characterized by comprising: 6. The notebook / mobile computer system according to claim 5, further comprising a loudspeaker that allows the music data processed by the voice processor to be heard around the system. A method of reproducing a music recording medium on a computer by a reproduction mechanism and a real-time clock device,
Reading the subsequent track time on the music recording medium;
Calculating the elapsed time of the computer system with the real-time clock;
Adding the elapsed time to the subsequent track time to obtain a wake-up time for the computer system;
Switching the system to a power saving mode while supplying power to play the music recording medium;
A music recording medium method comprising: waking up the computer system at the wake-up time. The method of claim 7, wherein the computer system is a notebook / mobile computer. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of obtaining the audio track on the music recording medium prior to the step of obtaining the next track time on the music recording medium.

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