KR100528456B1 - Computer system and method including memory for loading plural boot program - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer system and a booting method thereof, comprising an initial user memory for storing an initial user program. When the computer system is powered up, the BIOS sends instructions to the initial user memory to start / end the initial user program. Therefore, the BIOS completes the post process and alleviates the boredom of the user by booting the system and the initial user program in parallel.

Description

A computer system having a plurality of boot programs and a booting method therefor {COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD INCLUDING MEMORY FOR LOADING PLURAL BOOT PROGRAM}

The present invention relates to a computer system having a plurality of boot programs and a booting method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a computer system having an initial user memory having an initial user program, which is processed in parallel with the BIOS, and a booting method thereof.

A typical computer system is shown in FIG.

Referring to the drawings, the computer system 2 includes the components of a typical computer system. For example, although not shown in the drawings, a microprocessor (CPU), a BIOS, and a main memory and auxiliary storage devices are provided. It also has input devices including a display device 4 and a keyboard 6 and a mouse 8.

Accordingly, when the computer system 2 is powered on, an operating system program stored in an auxiliary storage device (eg, a hard disk driver or a floppy disk driver) is booted and loaded into the main memory. The process is shown on the display device 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the computer system 2 is supplied with power in step S10, the BIOS processes a post power on self test (POST) process in step S12. That is, the system checks for abnormalities in order to use the components of the computer system. When the post process ends, the operating system program is loaded into the main memory in step S14 to proceed with the system booting process. In operation S16, when the booting is completed, the initial screen of the operating system program is displayed.

However, the above booting process is actually a short time, but the user is bored, and the user can not do anything during the booting process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem, and provides a computer system that allows a user to eliminate the boring of booting time.

To this end, to implement a booting method of a computer system having a plurality of boot programs.

According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, in a computer system: processing a POST routine of the system, the first and second instructions in parallel to the system boot routine A BIOS for outputting the bios; Storage means for storing an initial user program and for running said program in response to said first command; The bios includes outputting the first command and simultaneously executing the system boot routine, and transmitting the second command to the storage means instructing the end of the program when the system boot routine is completed.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect, the storage means comprises: a ROM for storing the initial user program and allowing a user to rewrite it; RAM for storing any data according to the processing of the program.

In a preferred embodiment of this feature, the initial user program comprises proceeding to output video or audio data.

According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a computer system having an initial user memory for storing the initial user program, and a BIOS for running the program at the same time as the system boot routine A booting method comprising the steps of: going through a POST routine; Determining whether to run the initial user program; Transmitting a first command to drive a progress procedure of the initial user program to the initial user memory when the initial user program is driven as a result of the determination; Proceeding with the system boot routine; And when the system boot routine is completed, transmitting a second command for terminating the progress of the initial user program.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect, the procedure for proceeding with the initial user program comprises: driving a video / audio controller to process specific video / audio data in response to the first command; Processing to output the video / audio data; Ending processing to output the video / audio data in response to the second command.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the computer system is powered on, the BIOS transmits a command to the initial user memory to drive the initial user program when the post process is completed. BIOS handles the system boot process and the initial user program. When booting is complete, the BIOS sends a command to the initial user memory to terminate the progress of the initial user program.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 illustrates a configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a novel initial user memory 120 and a BIOS 106.

And components of a general computer system, such as a microprocessor (CPU) 102, main memory 104, video controller 108, and audio controller 112. In addition, the video / audio controller 108/112 for outputting arbitrary video / audio data is provided with a display device 110 / speaker device 114.

The initial user memory 120 is composed of a rewritable ROM 122 and a RAM 124 for writing / reading video or audio data, which are interconnected through a system bus. The ROM 122 is provided with a program (hereinafter referred to as an initial user program) that stores arbitrary audio or video data, and processes and outputs the audio or video data so as not to be boring at boot time. The initial user program may be rewritten by the user into the initial user memory 120, that is, the ROM 122.

The BIOS 106 may execute instructions for starting or terminating the initial user program in parallel with a system boot routine of an operating system program when the POST routine of the system is completed. 120).

Therefore, if the post process is performed by the BIOS 106 and the components of the system 100 do not cause a problem, the present invention drives the initial user program in parallel with the system booting process. In response, the initial user program is run to output audio data or video data so that the user does not get bored at boot time. When the booting is completed, the BIOS 106 terminates the initial user program.

Therefore, after powering up the computer system, the user spends the boot time without boring by playing the programmed video data or audio data during boot time.

Specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates a processing procedure of the bios 106 shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawing, when the power of the computer system 100 is supplied in step S140, the bios 106 performs a post process of checking the components of the system 100 in step S142. In operation S144, it is determined whether the initial user program stored in the initial user memory 120 is to be driven. For example, the BIOS 106 includes a status flag (not shown) for setting whether to execute the program of the initial user memory 120 in initial setting information and storing the setting information. Accordingly, it is determined whether the initial user program stored in the initial user memory 120 is driven in response to the state information of the flag. As a result of the determination, when the initial user program is executed, the process proceeds to step S146 where the BIOS 106 transmits a program driving command to the initial user memory 120. Subsequently, the system booting process is performed in step S148. When the booting process ends in step S150, a command for terminating the initial user program is transmitted to the initial user memory 120 in step S152.

At this time, the initial user memory 120 proceeds with arbitrary processes corresponding to the processing procedure of the initial user program, as shown in FIG. 5, in parallel with the system booting process of the BIOS 106.

That is, referring to FIG. 5, the program receives a driving command from the BIOS 106 which has completed the post process in step S160. In operation S162, the video controller 108 / audio controller 112 for processing the specific video or audio data of the program is driven. In operation S164, the program outputs specific video or audio data to the display apparatus 110 or the speaker apparatus 114. In step S166, it is determined whether a program termination command is input from the BIOS 106. Therefore, when the shutdown command is input, that is, the booting is completed, the program is terminated.

As described above, the present invention outputs video or audio data by the progress of the initial user program during the booting time of the computer system so that the booting time is not bored for the user.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a general computer system;

2 is a flowchart showing a boot procedure of the computer system shown in FIG. 1;

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart showing a booting procedure by the BIOS of the computer system shown in FIG. 3; And

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of parallel processing with a BIOS by an internal program of the initial user memory shown in FIG. 3.

* Description of symbols on the main parts of the drawings *

100: computer system 102: CPU

104: main memory 106: BIOS ROM

108: video controller 110: display device

112: audio controller 114: speaker device

120: initial user memory

Claims (5)

In a computer system: A BIOS which processes a POST routine of the system and outputs first and second commands in parallel to a system boot routine; Storage means for storing an initial user program and for running said program in response to said first command; The bios outputs the first command and simultaneously executes the system boot routine, and when the system boot routine is completed, transmits the second command to the storage means instructing the termination of the program. . The method of claim 1, The storage means is: A ROM for storing the initial user program and allowing the user to rewrite it; And RAM for writing / reading arbitrary data according to the processing of the program. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And the initial user program proceeds to output video or audio data. A booting method of a computer system having an initial user memory for storing an initial user program and a BIOS for running the program simultaneously with a system boot routine: Proceeding with a POST routine; Determining whether to run the initial user program; Transmitting a first command to drive a progress procedure of the initial user program to the initial user memory when the initial user program is driven as a result of the determination; Proceeding with the system boot routine; And when the system boot routine is complete, transmitting a second command to terminate the progress of the initial user program. The method of claim 4, wherein The procedure of the initial user program is: Driving a video / audio controller to process specific video / audio data in response to the first command; Processing to output the video / audio data; Ending processing to output the video / audio data in response to the second command.