KR20020068857A - A Power Management System Of Computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A computer power management system is provided to manage a power level of a computer with a software by applying a power shut down function to wasted power without other special hardware. CONSTITUTION: The system comprises steps of installing a power management program at an OS(Operating System)(S30), inserting the power management program at a control panel with a program control panel, registering the power management program at a start program of Windows, registering the power management program at a tray icon when bootstrapping a personal computer, selecting one desired power mode by calling the control panel via the tray icon, and setting a power policy by inputting data(S31), recording the set data at a registry and a file of the Windows system(S32), enabling the power management program to monitor the computer system in a state of an automatic execution at the tray icon or an application program(S33), receiving a monitor result, comparing the monitor result with the value set at the registry or the file, processing a system message when the monitor result is identical to the set value, and then performing a power consumption reducing mode(S34).

Description

A power management system of computers

The present invention relates to a power management method of a computer, and more particularly, a power supply of a computer (including a monitor) that adjusts a power level of a computer by using a shutdown function to shut down power consumption of a PC that is wasted without any additional hardware. To a software integrated management.

1 illustrates a power management method according to a power option of a Windows program Win95, Win98, Win2000, or WinME, which is an operating system (OS) of a computer. The conventional power management method using the Windows power option includes setting a Windows power plan (S10), checking a time elapsed in an idle state (S11), and setting a computer hard disk when the idle time has elapsed. Or a standby mode execution step (S12) of turning off the monitor (S12), a step of checking an event occurrence of a mouse or a keyboard (S13), and a step (S14) of releasing the standby mode when an event occurs.

This power management method does not automatically go into power saving mode at lunch time, at work time, or at scheduled time, and enters power saving mode depending on whether or not there is user input, that is, whether an event of mouse or keyboard occurs. . Thus, if the user plans for a short time and goes out with the computer on, then the computer stays in standby mode if the user does not plan for a long time or does not return to you or return home. In this standby mode, the computer main body consumes about 30 W / h and the monitor consumes about 5 W / h. Therefore, many computers waste power regardless of the user's intention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating another conventional computer power management method, wherein power in a PC not used by using a hardware device for power saving and various power consumption of the current Windows is referred to as APM (Advanced Power Management: APM); ACPI (Device / Time Zone Power Level Control) is a screen saver function and power saving function in hard disk or CPU. This method first determines the power status in the PC not in use (S20), the screen saver execution step (S21) using the Windows OS for the PC not in use, the power level is down (standby state, S3 area) Execution of the monitor screen saver is made in step S22.

The power saving technology according to the method disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 shows power saving effect by using power saving effect due to power saving environment setting in Windows and a hardware device for satisfying power saving criteria, and the power in the PC is converted to APM, ACPI (Device / Although the screen saver function and the power saving effect on the hard disk and the CPU are shown by the time-based power level adjustment method, the main body always consumes 30W / h and the monitor consumes about 5W / h.

In addition, the power saving function according to the prior art has the following problems.

First, you can't use the power saving mode at a specified time, such as during lunch or after work. In other words, if the computer does not have any events during the set time, the power saving mode of the Windows will turn off the hard disk or the monitor after the set time has elapsed.

Second, the power saving mode cannot be used with a single key operation. In other words, Windows sleep mode goes into sleep mode when there is no event in the computer for a set time. There is no quick way to use sleep mode when you are away from your computer or during a meeting.

Third, you cannot turn off your computer. So far, Windows's power saving mode is simply turning off the hard disk or turning off the monitor, so it doesn't turn off the computer itself, which continues to consume power.

Fourth, a document that is not saved at the time of powering off the computer cannot be powered off at the same time as saving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method for economically and conveniently integrating and managing a computer's power in software without using hardware.

An object of the present invention is to provide a computer power management method that can obtain a variety of power saving functions according to the user's environment.

1 illustrates a conventional computer power management method;

2 is a view showing another conventional computer power management method;

3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating each computer power management method according to the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating a computer power management method according to the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of executing a shutdown mode of a computer according to the present invention;

6 is a diagram illustrating a time setting menu of a CPL power management setting box of a power management program installed according to the present invention;

7 is a diagram illustrating a plan setting menu of a CPL power management setting box of a power management program installed according to the present invention;

8 is a diagram illustrating a shortcut key setting menu of a CPL power management setting box of a power management program installed according to the present invention;

9 is a diagram showing a power management system between computers connected through a network, and

10 is a diagram illustrating a network power management operation of a power management program according to the present invention.

Software computer power management method of the present invention for achieving the above object, the step of installing a power management program in the operating system (OS) of the computer; A user calling a corresponding application program including a control panel (CPL) through an icon including a tray icon to select a desired power mode, and inputting data to set a power plan; Storing data input by the user to the application in a storage device including a registry of the operating system (OS); Monitoring a system based on the input data; And executing the system power plan already set when the result of the monitoring is input.

The power mode may include a standby mode for turning off a power supply of an accessory or peripheral device such as a hard disk of a computer, a shutdown mode for turning off a computer, a screen saver mode of an operating system, and a power supply for a monitor. And at least one of a monitor off mode to turn off the device.

In addition, the shutdown mode includes a safe shutdown through a shutdown procedure of the computer operating system and a forced shutdown to directly turn off the computer power.

The method may further include inducing or storing the unsaved document when the safe shutdown mode is executed.

In addition, when executing the shutdown mode, it is preferable to execute the shutdown of the computer system after a predetermined time after displaying the shutdown guidance message.

The data may include one of setting time data, an event occurrence time of a computer input device, a keyboard key value set as a shortcut key, or a computer connected via a network.

Hereinafter, a power control device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The power management method of the present invention is performed by setting a desired power saving mode by calling a CPL or an application program through a tray icon after installing ePowerSaver, a power management program of SITECSOFT, on a computer.

The power management program of the present invention is largely divided into a portion that is registered and executed in a tray icon and a CPL (Control Panel) program that is registered and executed in a control panel. It does not have to be in CPL form, but general application forms are possible. At this time, it is also possible to install a program to install a shortcut icon on the desktop to run whenever necessary, but there are some disadvantages. In the tray icon, the relevant DLL (Dynamic Link Library: hereinafter referred to as DLL) is called and used as needed. CPL is executed independently from the control panel. The tray icon is responsible for interfacing with the CPL in the control panel, monitoring the system, and going into sleep mode. All the values set in the CPL of the control panel are recorded in the registry of the Windows programs Win95, Win98, Win2000, and WinME, which are the operating system (OS). At this time, instead of recording the setting values in the registry of the operating system, it is also possible to save and load the file as a separate file and use it.

3A to 3C illustrate each computer power management method according to the present invention, FIG. 3A illustrates a method of executing a specific power saving mode at a set time, FIG. 3B illustrates a method of executing a power saving mode set by a shortcut key, and FIG. 3C. Shows a method of executing a power saving mode by checking an idle state of a user.

The method of executing the power saving mode at the set time of FIG. 3A is to allow the user to enter the power saving mode at the lunch time, the leaving time, or the scheduled time, and when the user sets the value by calling the CPL or the application program from the tray icon, This is recorded in the registry or file, and the internal timer of the program is operated to continuously compare with the values set in the registry and file to enter the power saving mode at the set time. In this case, the power saving mode sets the time by selecting one of the standby, safety shutdown, forced shutdown, screen saver, and monitor off modes.

In the power management method using the shortcut key of FIG. 3B, when a user sets a value by calling a CPL or an application program from a tray icon, the value is recorded in a registry or a file, and the key value of the keyboard is checked after the program DLL is loaded. If the value matches the value recorded in the registry, the user sets one of the power saving modes set by the user: standby, safe shutdown, forced shutdown, screen saver, and monitor off mode.

In the method of executing the power saving mode by checking the idle state of the user of FIG. 3C, when a user sets a value by calling a CPL or an application program from a tray icon, the value is recorded in a registry or a file, If the user recognizes and operates the keyboard event and the user does not generate any event, the timer starts to check the time. If the checked time is the same as the user set value, it sets the power saving mode, i.e. standby, safety shutdown, forced Performs one of the shutdown, screensaver, or monitor off modes.

The standby mode is a suspend state, i.e., a power saving state in which the entire computer turns off peripheral devices or accessories such as a monitor and a hard disk, thereby reducing power consumption of the computer. Trying to use your computer again quickly wakes up and restores your desktop.

Safe Shutdown Mode is a task that turns off the computer. In case of a stable shutdown, the unsaved document is saved when the system is turned off. This method saves the default values such as Hangul, MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Induction method executes warning message window by default when system off command is executed and asks user to save working program.

The forced shutdown mode is forcibly turning off the computer.

Screen saver mode is a screen saver that is supported by Windows and is effective for protecting the monitor.

The monitor power off mode is to turn off the monitor. If the monitor does not support this function, it will not operate.

Among the above power saving modes, Windows supports standby mode, screensaver mode, and monitor power off mode, and Windows does not support the function to turn off the system itself. Also, Windows does not support turning off the computer or entering a power save mode at a specified time. Even if a particular power saving mode is partially supported, each power saving mode is performed individually, which is cumbersome to use.

Hereinafter, the system power management operation related to the computer system will be described in more detail by dividing into various modes.

4 illustrates a power management flow of a computer according to the present invention. First, when the power management program (ePowerSaver) is installed in the operating system (OS) of the computer (S30), the program is inserted into the control panel by the CPL and registered in the Windows startup program and registered in the tray icon when the computer is booted. Next, the user selects one of the desired power modes by calling a control panel (CPL) of the control panel through a tray icon or directly, and inputs data to set a power plan (S31).

6 to 8 show time setting, plan setting, and hot key setting menu of the CPL power management setting box of the power management program installed according to the present invention, respectively.

The data set as described above is recorded in the registry and file of the Windows system (S32). The power management program monitors the system with the tray icon or the application program running automatically (S33), and when the monitored result comes in, compares the settings recorded in the registry and file with the system message when it matches the set values. Processing to perform a power saving mode (S34).

Monitoring the system in step S33 is to check the set time, check the mouse or keyboard events in the program and check the key values of the keyboard.

5 is a process of processing a system message in step S34, and illustrates a method of executing a forced shutdown mode or a safe shutdown mode. First, when a Shut Down command is transmitted by the value set by the user (S40), the program is called (S41). The program calls Exit WindowsEX and distinguishes between forced termination and safety termination according to EWX_FORCE (S42). Next, CTRL_SHUTDOWN_EVENT is generated in the computer operating system by performing a console process operation (S43), and the computer is terminated accordingly (S44). In case of safe shutdown, unsaved word documents such as Hangul, MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint are saved and exited.

To execute the monitor power off mode, send a WM_SYSCOMMAND message to the system, and send SC_MONITORPOWER as a parameter to the computer system. At this time, in order to cut off the power of the monitor, the computer system should include such a function when manufacturing the monitor.

The screen saver mode is executed by sending a WM_SYSCOMMAND message to the system, and sending the SC_SCREENSAVE parameter as a parameter. The computer system then executes the screen saver already configured on the monitor.

Standby mode sends a SetSystemPowerState function to the system, and Shutting power down causes the SetSystemPowerState function to enter standby mode.

In the foregoing description, the flow is omitted in the description of the monitor power off mode, the screen saver mode, and the standby mode. In addition, after the power management program according to the present invention sends a message or a specific function to the system, description of the operation of the computer operating system is omitted.

9 shows power management between remote computers, each of which must be connected to the Internet or a network and have the power management program EPowerSaver of the present invention installed. At this time, the computer communicates by using a port of TCP / IP to control the power of the other computer.

The power management program (EPowerSaver) installed in each computer is divided into a client area that controls the power of other computers connected to the network and a server area receiving power control messages from other computers in a remote location. Network power management operations, i.e., dynamics (program coding) for the server area and the client area. First, in the server area, wait for a message from the server, and when a connection request comes in, it creates a new socket, which connects the client with the current connection. On the contrary, it creates a new socket without setting the port number in the client area, tries to connect by setting its own address and port number, and connects the client that is currently connected in the server area of the remote computer power management program. . As described above, according to the present invention, power management of a networked computer can be easily performed at a remote location.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is an effect of providing a computer power saving system having the convenience that the user can manage the integrated power of the computer by software.

In addition, there is an economic effect that can save a huge amount of power wasted by providing a user-friendly computer power saving system.

The embodiments described so far are apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations are possible within the technical scope of the present invention, and such variations and modifications belong to the appended claims.

Claims (7)

Installing a power management program in an operating system (OS) of the computer; A user calling a control panel (CPL) or an application program through an icon including a tray icon to select a desired power mode, and inputting data to set a power plan; Storing data input by the user in the CPL or application program in a storage device including a registry of the operating system (OS); Monitoring a system based on the input data; And And executing the system power plan already established when the result of the monitoring is input. The method of claim 1, The power mode is a standby mode for turning off the power of an accessory or peripheral device such as a hard disk of a computer, a shutdown mode for turning off the power of a computer, a screensaver mode of an operating system, and powering off a monitor. A method of software integrated management of a computer including at least one of the monitor off mode to (OFF). The method of claim 2, And the shutdown mode includes a safe shutdown through a shutdown procedure of the computer operating system and a forced shutdown to directly turn off the computer. The method of claim 3, wherein And inducing, when the safe shutdown mode is executed, storing and storing the unsaved document. The method of claim 3, wherein And executing a shutdown of the computer system after a predetermined time after displaying the shutdown guidance message when executing the shutdown mode. The method of claim 1, And the data is one of a set time data, an event occurrence time of a computer input device, and a keyboard key value set as a shortcut key. The method of claim 1, A method of software integrated management of the power of a computer, characterized in that the user controls the power of another networked computer from a remote location.