KR20080056451A - Apparatus and method of power control - Google Patents

Abstract

A device and a method for controlling power are provided to use the network efficiently according to user circumstance and prevent power consumption by connecting a network device wanted from a user with priority and blocking the power of other network devices based on an application for setting a network connection priority. A network adaptor(116) comprises more than one network device connecting to the network, and a power controller(118) supplies or cuts off power of the network device. A key input unit(112) receives a user command for setting a network connection priority to the network devices of the network adaptor. A controller(100) enables the network devices to connect to the network sequentially based on the network connection priority, and enables the power controller to cut off the power of the network devices excluding the connected network device when the network device is connected. A network connection priority setting application enables a user to set the network connection priority of the network adaptor directly, or sets the network connection priority to the network device having the fastest connection or use speed.

Description

Power control device and method {Apparatus and Method of power control}

1 is a diagram showing a list of activated network devices present in a conventional system.

2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer system capable of controlling power of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 illustrates a circuit for controlling a power supply of a network device in a computer system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 illustrates a list of only connected network devices according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of turning off power of devices other than the connected network device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an application for prioritizing network devices in a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining whether there is a connection and cutting off power according to a priority set by a user according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

`` Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawings ''

100 ... control unit 102 ... CPU

104 North Bridge 106 South Bridge

108 ... main memory 110 ... video controller

112 Key input 114 Storage unit

116 Network adapter section 118 Power control section

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power supply control apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a power supply control apparatus and method for a system for shutting off power of unconnected network devices among network devices configured in the system.

The computer system includes a main board provided with a central processing unit and a control unit, and a power supply unit for supplying power to various video cards and sound cards and various storage devices connected to the main board.

In particular, as the computer system becomes more mobile, various network connection devices are included.

Each of the network devices, such as Wired LAN, Wireless LAN, high speed downlink packet access, Bluetooth, WiBro, etc., is installed and operated in one computer system. have.

1 is a diagram illustrating a list of activated network devices existing in a conventional system.

Referring to FIG. 1, the actually connected network adapter is a 1394 net adapter and a wired LAN, and the actual wireless LAN network adapter is not connected.

The WLAN network adapter is in a state in which power is applied and consumes power because the WLAN network adapter is not actually connected and can be used.

These network devices consume unnecessary power because they wait to access each network in an activated state even when they are not actually used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a power control apparatus and method for effectively managing power of network devices that are not being used.

Power control apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the power control unit; And a network adapter configured to include one or more network connection devices, and a controller configured to check whether the network device is connected and to control power supply to the network adapter.

Preferably, the power control unit is characterized by consisting of a control signal and a power switch for controlling the power connection to each network device.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a network power control apparatus according to priority may include a network adapter configured of one or more network devices for network connection; A power control unit for supplying and cutting off power of the network device; A key input unit for inputting a user command for the connection priority of the network devices of the network adapter unit; And a control unit controlling to sequentially connect according to the access priority of the network device and to cut off power of the network devices other than the connected device through the power control unit when the network device is connected.

Preferably, the connection priority of the network device is determined by the network connection setting application.

Preferably, the network adapter unit is characterized in that at least one or more network devices of the wired LAN, wired LAN, WiBro.

Preferably, the network connection setting application is characterized in that the user can directly determine the connection priority of the network adapter, or the priority is set to the fastest connection speed or use speed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power control method comprising: performing a connection of a network device; Identifying a connected network device; and disconnecting power of devices other than the connected network as a result of the checking.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling network power according to priority may include: setting a connection priority of a network device by executing a network connection setting application; Determining whether a network device is connected by attempting a network connection according to a set priority; When the network device is connected as a result of the determination, the step of disconnecting the power to other devices other than the connected network device; characterized in that it comprises a.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of attempting to connect the network device according to the connection priority set by the user if the connected network device does not exist.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a power control apparatus and method according to an embodiment of the present invention as described above are as follows.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer system capable of controlling power of a network device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 100 controls the video controller 110, the main memory 108, the power controller 118, and the like, and operates logic and manipulates data. To this end, the control unit 100 controls the North Bridge 104 and the South Bridge 106 connected in series to the Central Process Unit 102 (CPU) 102. Include.

The CPU 102 controls the south bridge 106, the video controller 110, and the main memory 108 via the north bridge 104 and the power control unit via the north bridge 104 and the south bridge 106. The network adapter unit 116 is controlled through 118. In addition, the CPU 12 performs logic operations and data operations.

To this end, the CPU 102 includes an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a control unit, a register, a storage interface, and the like.

The north bridge 104 relays bidirectional data communication with the CPU 102 and each of the video controller 110 and main memory 108, which are relatively fast operating peripherals, including the south bridge 106. In addition, under the control of the CPU 102, the north bridge 104 controls the video controller 110, the main memory 108, and the south bridge 106. This north bridge 106 includes an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a control unit, a register, a storage interface and a PCI bus interface.

South Bridge 106 is a type of register collection that manages the input and output of each of the relatively slow peripherals. The south bridge 106 controls the power supply of the network adapter unit 116 via the power control unit 118 under the control of the CPU 102 connected via the north bridge 104. In addition, the south bridge 106 relays bidirectional data transmission between the CPU 102 connected via the north bridge 104 and peripheral devices (not shown) that may be connected to it. To this end, the south bridge 106 is connected to the north bridge 104 by a PCI bus (not shown). The south bridge 106 also includes an arithmetic logic unit and a control unit for controlling peripheral devices to be connected to the power control unit 118.

The video controller 110 causes the data processed by the controller 100 (ie, the CPU 102) to be displayed on a display device such as a cathode ray tube or a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. To this end, the video controller 110 may be connected to the north bridge 104 by an accelerated graphic port (AGP).

The main memory 108 provides a workspace of the controller 100, specifically, the CPU 102. In other words, the main memory 108 stores operating system programs and application programs to be executed by the CPU 102 in the control unit 100, and temporarily stores data processed or to be processed by the CPU 102. . To this end, main memory 108 is connected to north bridge 104.

The network adapter unit 116 is at least one of a device such as a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, high speed downlink packet access, Bluetooth, and WiBro, which are network devices. Say that.

The power control unit 118 controls the power supply of the network adapter unit 116 by the command of the control unit 100.

The controller 100 determines whether the network adapter 116 is connected to a network device.

The controller 100 controls to cut off power of a network device that is not connected according to whether a network device of the network adapter is connected.

3 is a diagram illustrating a circuit for controlling a power supply of a network device in a computer system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a circuit for controlling a power supply of a network adapter device is provided. When a control signal 200 is input from the south bridge 114, the FET 202 serves as a switching network. Allows you to control the power supply to the device.

4 is a diagram illustrating a list of only connected network devices according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, when looking at the list of network adapters of the device manager shown in the computer system, in FIG. 1, not only the network adapters that are actually connected but also the network adapters that are not connected are activated. Is displayed.

The network adapter that is not actually connected is installed in the system, but since the power supply is blocked, only the list of connected network adapters is displayed.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of shutting off power of devices other than the connected network device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, power is applied to the system and operation starts (S500).

Power is supplied throughout the system and the system keeps the attached hardware active.

At this time, it is checked whether the network adapter devices are activated (S502).

As a result of checking in step 502, if there is a connected network device, power of the adapter devices other than the connected network device is cut off (S504).

In another embodiment, priority is given to turning off the power of the network adapter so that the user can control the power to be turned off by determining the connection order of the desired network adapter.

6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an application for determining the priority of network devices in a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The configuration of an application that allows you to set the network adapter's priority can display information such as the device name to be used, priority, connection status, connection speed, and IP address, and the device name can indicate the type of network adapter that is connected to the system. Make sure

Priority indicates the setting that allows the user to connect the desired network adapter with the highest priority among the connected network devices.

The connection status of the network device according to the priority is displayed, and the connection speed information of the corresponding network adapter is also displayed.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining whether there is a connection and cutting off power according to a priority set by a user according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, a network connection setting application execution command is received from a user and a corresponding program is executed.

When the network connection setting application is executed, a list of network devices installed in the computer system is displayed as shown in FIG.

When the network connection setting application is executed, the connection priority of the network device is set (S700).

Attempt to access the network device according to the set priority (S702).

It is checked whether the network device is connected (S704).

As a result of the determination in step 704, when the network device is connected, the power of devices other than the connected network device is cut off (S706).

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains to the detailed description of the present invention and other forms of embodiments within the essential technical scope of the present invention. Could be implemented. Here, the essential technical scope of the present invention is shown in the claims, and all differences within the equivalent range will be construed as being included in the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to cut off power of network devices other than the connected network device, thereby preventing unnecessary power consumption.

According to the present invention, by using an application that can set the network connection priority, the user can preferentially connect a desired network device and turn off the power of other network devices, thereby efficiently using the network and powering the user according to the user's situation. It is effective to prevent consumption.

Claims (9)

A power control unit; A network adapter comprising at least one network connection device; and And a controller configured to check whether the network device is connected and to control power supply to the network adapter. The method of claim 1, The power control unit is characterized in that the power control device consisting of a control signal and a power switch for controlling the power connection to each network device. A network adapter comprising at least one network device for network connection; A power control unit for supplying and cutting off power of the network device; A key input unit for inputting a user command for the connection priority of the network devices of the network adapter unit; And a control unit controlling to sequentially connect according to the access priority of the network device and to cut off power of network devices other than the connected device through the power control unit when the network device is connected. . The method of claim 3, wherein The connection priority of a network device is determined by the network connection setting application. The method of claim 3, wherein The network adapter unit is a power control device, characterized in that at least one of the network device of the wired LAN, wired LAN, WiBro. The method of claim 3, wherein The network connection setting application may allow a user to directly determine a connection priority of a network adapter, or set the priority of the connection speed or the fastest use speed as a priority. Executing a connection of a network device; Identifying a connected network device; and Disconnecting power to devices other than the connected network as a result of the checking. Executing a network connection setting application to set a connection priority of the network device; Determining whether a network device is connected by attempting a network connection according to a set priority; When the network device is connected, determining that power is disconnected from devices other than the connected network device. The method of claim 8, And if the connected network device does not exist, attempting to access the network device according to a connection priority set by the user through the application.

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