TW200928969A - Data synchronization of auxiliary display - Google Patents

Abstract

A computing apparatus includes a network interface, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), an auxiliary controller and an activation controller. The CPU has active and switched-off operational states and is arranged, when operating in the active operational state, to accept data from a communication network using the network interface. The auxiliary display module is connected to the CPU and is arranged, when the CPU is in the switched-off operational state, to display auxiliary information to a user based on the data accepted by the CPU. The activation controller is coupled to intermittently switch the CPU to the active operational state and to cause the CPU to update the data from the communication network, so as to update the auxiliary information displayed by the auxiliary display module.

Description

200928969 i..doc/n IX. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to computer systems', and more particularly to methods and systems for operating an auxiliary display. [Prior Art] In some computer configurations, when the computer is turned off or hibernated, the auxiliary display module is used to display the selected information. For example, the secondary display module can display email messages, calendar entries, news, and other information. Some auxiliary display modules include an auxiliary display that is separate from the main display of the computer.

Windows Sideshow TW is a product line offered by Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Washington) that enables many types of auxiliary display devices to connect to Windows applications. For example, 'Auxiliary display modules working with Windows Sideshow are described in the following article: Fuller in "Auxiliary Display Platform in Longhorn" (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2005, Seattle, Washington, April 2005) Descriptions made in 25-27) and Polivy's description in "Building Remote and Integrated Auxiliary Display Devices for Windows SideShow" (WinHEC 2006, Seattle, Washington, May 23-25, 2006) This case is for reference. In the patent document, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0007051 describes an auxiliary information display method and system for a computing device. 5 200928969 ------ .doc/n The disclosure of this publication is incorporated into this case for reference. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0243021 describes an architecture by which an application can provide information to an auxiliary display device for display to a user. The disclosure of the disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. Auxiliary display devices are also described in U.S. Patent No. 7,030,837, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0262302, No. 2005/0243019, and No. 2005/0243020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention provide a computing device, including: a network interface; a central processing unit (CPU) having an active and a closed operating state, and configured to be active Receiving data from the communication network using the network interface in the running state;

The auxiliary display module 'connects to the CPU and is configured to display auxiliary information to the user according to data accepted by the CPU when the CPU 'is in the off-running state; and activate the controller, which is coupled to intermittently The CPU switches to the active operating state and causes the CPU to update the data from the communication network to update the auxiliary information displayed by the auxiliary display module. In some embodiments, the secondary display module is configured to evaluate the update condition and issue a request to update the auxiliary message to the activation controller in response to the update condition' and the activation controller is coupled to accept the request and respond to the request 6

200928969 f.doc/n = Can be set to exceed the pre-payment limit (4) f. The inter-office interval ΓΡπίΐ—in the embodiment, the activation control 11 selects the suppression state at a prescribed interval, and activates the control to return the CPU to OFF immediately after the update ==. In an disclosed embodiment, the auxiliary display == control issues a notification 'the notification indicates that the auxiliary has been returned even if the CPU returns to the off-running state. In another embodiment, the network interface has an active and closed operating state and activates (four) n domain into # to switch the CPU domain to the active running state to switch the network interface to the active running state, and when the CPU is in the closed i line In the status, the network interface is switched to the off running state. According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is further provided a computing party comprising: consuming a computer including a central processing unit (CPU) and having the CPU active and shutting down a running state to a communication network to perform active operation on the computer The operating system allows the CPU to receive data from the communication network; when the CPU is in the off state, the auxiliary display module in the computer is operated to display auxiliary information to the user, the auxiliary information is based on data accepted by the CPU; The CPU-disconnected activation controller intermittently switches the CPU to the active operating state and causes the CPU to update the data from the communication network, thereby updating the auxiliary information displayed by the auxiliary display module by 7 200928969 _____________f.doc/n. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer software product for use in a computer is provided. The computer includes: a central processing unit (CPU) that has an active and a closed operating state, and is coupled to be in an active running state of the CPU. Receiving data from a communication network; and a secondary display module that displays to the user auxiliary information based on data received by the CPU, the product comprising a computer readable medium having instructions stored in the computer readable medium, the instructions being When read by the activation controller in the computer, the activation controller intermittently switches the CPU to the active operating state and causes the CPU to update the data from the communication network to update the auxiliary information displayed by the auxiliary display module. The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention. [Embodiment] Low power consumption is the primary consideration in the design of many computing platforms. To be able to save power, computers often have one or more predefined shutdown states in which the CPU and its peripheral components, as well as other components of the computer, are deactivated. Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for updating information displayed by a secondary display module while minimizing power consumption of the computer and continuously providing information updates to the user. In the various embodiments described below, the computer includes a central processing unit (CPU) having active and shutdown operating states. The off state can include, for example, a state or mode in which the computer is powered off, in sleep mode, in hibernation or in standby. The computer contains an embedded controller (EC)—also known as the activation controller in this document 200928969 〆·*· v , —,do〇/j^ for switching the CPU between active and off-running states. The computer further includes a secondary display module for displaying auxiliary information to the user when the CPU is turned off. The CPU uses, for example, a wired or wireless network adapter or other network interface to receive data from the communication network when active. The auxiliary information displayed by the Auxiliary Display Controller is often based on data received by the CPU from the network. However, when the CPU is turned off, no data is received and the auxiliary information displayed may be out of date. In order to keep the auxiliary information up-to-date, the EC occasionally switches the CPU to an active state, so that the CPU receives the latest data from the communication network. For example, the EC can activate the CPU at regular intervals. Typically, the secondary display module triggers the EC with a request to update the secondary information, and the EC activates the CPU as a result of the request. In addition to activating the CPU, the EC can also activate and deactivate computer components such as the network interface and peripheral devices to further control power consumption. When using the methods and systems described herein, the auxiliary information displayed to the user is always up to date. Since the CPU and its peripheral components are only intermittently activated and activated for a short period of time, the power consumption of the computer is greatly reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram of a computer 20 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The computer 20 can be packaged on a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, an ultra mobile computing device, or any suitable computing platform. < 9 200928969 r.doc/n The computer 20 includes a central processing unit (cpu) chipset 24. Wafer set 24 includes CPU 28 and other components typically used to build PCs and perform different computing tasks on the computer. The CPU 28 displays information on the main display 36 using a graphics processor (Gp) 32. To save power, the CpU28 alternates between active and off-running states. CPU 28 uses network interface 40 to communicate with communication network 44. For example, the network 44 may include a Wide Area Network (WAN) such as the Internet, a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), and a local area network (L〇cai).

Area Network; LAN), an organization's internal network, such as the public parent's telephone network (Public Switched Telephone Network i PSΊΊΝ〇's telephone network, cellular network or any other suitable communication network. Network interface 40 can include, for example, a network interface card (Netw〇rk Interface)

Card; NIC), modem, network adapter or any other suitable interface for communicating with network 44. The network interface can be either wired or wireless. In some cases, some or all of the network interface functionality may be implemented in the chipset 24 itself. The computer 20 includes an embedded controller (EC) 48 for performing various power management functions of the computer' and in particular activating and deactivating different computer components as needed. In particular, the EC 48 activates and deactivates the CPU 28 and possibly other components of the CPU chipset 24 to reduce the power consumption of the computer. Regardless of the operating state of the CPU, EC 48 continues to be active. In some embodiments, the EC 48 also reads the keystrokes typed on the computer's main keyboard 52 and provides the typed input to the computer. 200928969 • The group of doc/n is included in the lion age of 11敎56, which is displayed to the (four) when the chip is turned off (in this document = package, including auxiliary display 6°, module 56 in auxiliary = device: The module 56 can be in the same circuit as the CPU chipset 24 to form a separate unit. The auxiliary display module includes an auxiliary 64' for processing the information to be displayed, and includes a secondary memory, 68 for use in The controller 64 is configured to store information and/or programs therein. In some embodiments, the module 56 includes an auxiliary keypad 72 such that it can be used to tumble, turn, and/or otherwise manipulate the displayed Auxiliary - Beixun. Several exemplary auxiliary display module configurations are described in the references cited in the "Background" section above. ..., display controller 64 and 〇1>1;28 use interface% Communicating with each other. In some embodiments, the interface 74 includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. Alternatively, any suitable interface, such as a Bluet〇〇thTM link (link^ auxiliary), may be used. Display smart 11 64 by communication interface 7 6. For example, the technical towel, the System Management Bus (SMBus), or any other suitable interface to connect to the embedded controller 48. The computer 20 is powered by a power source such as a battery. Typically, CPU 28, embedded controller 48, and auxiliary display controller 64 include a general purpose processor that is programmed in software to perform the functions described herein. The software can be electronically formed, for example, by network 44. Downloaded into the processor' or may be provided to the processor on tangible media such as CD_R〇M. ^ 200928969 *doc/n In some embodiments, the secondary display controller 64 and/or £(: 48 may include Conventional devices 'software and/or hardware of such conventional devices are modified as needed to perform the methods described herein. For example, the auxiliary display controller 64 may include compatibility with Wind〇wsSideSh〇w Devices such as the WPCE521L device supplied by Winbond Electronics, Inc. (San J〇se, Calif〇mia). EC 48 may include, for example, winbond

The device provided by Electronics. ❻

For the sake of clarity, in the computer 2 shown in FIG. 1, the components of the present invention are not necessarily required to be omitted (5), and the components may be, for example, various memory devices, storage devices, and/or input/output. (1/〇) device. Synchronization of Auxiliary Information In many practical applications, the auxiliary information displayed by module 56 is based on data received by network _CPU 28 from network 44. For example, the module can not be displayed online (on the lne) information services provided by the stock price, exchange rate, results, weather forecast or news, from the mail server, and from a variety of sources Other types of information.可 艮 艮 艮 艮 艮 艮 艮 艮 艮 艮 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生 产生The data received by the CPU 28 and/or the Control-CPU is converted and/or formatted to com, and the information is ίίΐ. The controller 64 stores the auxiliary information in the memory 貂 to display eight on the auxiliary display 60. Information = Auxiliary to the user When the field CPU 28 and the network interface 4 are active, the cpu 12 200928969 F.doc/n can obtain the latest information by communicating with the network 44 as needed. However, when the CPU 28 and/or the network interface 4 is turned off, the data cannot be received from the network 44. Thus, the auxiliary information displayed by the module 56 may be out of date. Keep your data up-to-date by keeping your CPU and network interface active at all times so you can receive data from the network at any time. However, this approach can increase the power consumption of the computer and shorten its battery life.

EC To keep the auxiliary information up to date while minimizing power consumption, the EC 48 only intermittently switches the CPU 28 to the active state. When activated, CPU f network 44 receives the latest information and provides updated auxiliary information to module %. The EC can activate the CPU periodically (i.e., at regular intervals) or at any suitable time. Ec can activate and deactivate other components of the computer (such as 'network interface 40 and/or display 36') to further reduce power consumption. In some embodiments, the secondary display controller 64 triggers the activation. In these embodiments, the controller 64 concludes that an update is required and sends a request to activate the coffee to the EC 48 by the =: face 76. Ec responds to the CPU. The controller 64 can be "updated" according to any suitable conditions. For example, the controller 64 can measure that the cpu 28 is off. ######################################################## ... , often 'when the update process is completed, the auxiliary display controller informs the EC 48, and the force is 5丨f兮, s厶m off (4)& + immediately after receiving the notification, the CPU is switched back to the closed state. Alternatively, the EC may deactivate the CPU after a certain time. 13 200928969 2 doc/n FIG. 2 is a flow chart schematically illustrating an update of the auxiliary display module 56 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the method, first, in the shutdown operation step 80, the computer 20 is operated in an off state. In the update check step 84, the auxiliary display controller 64 checks if it is necessary to update its assistance. Information. If an update is required, the controller 64 sends an update request to the EC 48 via the communication interface 76. ❹ In the activation step 88, the EC 48 wakes up the CPU 28. The network interface 40 and/or other power is enabled in the off state. In the embodiment of component deactivation, the EC may also activate the components. In the data update step 92, when the activated CPU 28 receives the latest data from the network 44, the cpu may actively request the updated data from the appropriate source. Or passively waiting to receive new data. In the synchronization step 96, 〇»!; 28 causes the updated information to be updated to provide auxiliary information to the auxiliary display controller 64. The cpu28 will update the updated information or device by means of the interface ^i The updated auxiliary information is sent to the auxiliary display: Π: 4. When the controller 64 successfully receives the updated secondary 2, a deactivation 100 is sent to the EC 48 via the communication interface 76, and the EC will CPU 28. And other computers will be described as "80, and ^ method and then loop back to (1〇〇P back) upper ring. Material 2G continues to run in the off state to the next-update. Note that 'in practice' as part of the normal operation of the computer should: activate and deactivate the CPU with ΐ, for example, the above method can be compared with the normal operation of the computer. 14 200928969 .doc/n combined. For example, when the CPU is activated for any reason, the activity period can also be used to update the auxiliary information. As another example, when the user turns off the computer, the EC can initiate the secondary information update process before shutting down. Although the embodiments described herein are directed to a single shutdown operating state, the systems and methods described herein can be used with any number of shutdown & states that the shutdown states are functionally and are used to trigger a transition to Or the conditions or events that exit each state are different. Although the embodiments described herein primarily discuss mobile computing devices, the principles of the present invention can be applied to any other computing platform that requires power saving operations. For example, such platforms can include notebook computers, ultra-mobile systems, industrial PC designs, tablet PCs, and many other computing platforms. The embodiments described herein are directed to reducing the power drawn from the battery, however the methods and systems described herein can also be used to reduce the power consumption of other types of power sources. For example, reducing the power drawn by a computer powered by a power supply can help reduce heat generation, reduce operating costs, and increase computer reliability. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are by way of example only, and the invention is not limited to the details shown and described. Rather, the scope of the invention encompasses both the combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described above, and the subject matter which is apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above description and not disclosed in the prior art. Changes and modifications of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a computer having an auxiliary display according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a flow chart diagrammatically illustrating a method for updating information displayed by an auxiliary display module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Main component symbol description] 20: Computer 24 • Chipset 28: Central Processing Unit (CPU) ® 32: Graphics Processor (GP) 40: Network Interface 44: Communication Network 48: Embedded Controller (EC) 52 Main keyboard 56: auxiliary display module 60: auxiliary display 64: auxiliary display controller 〇 68: auxiliary memory 72: auxiliary keyboard 74: interface 76: communication interface 78: power supply 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100 :Step 16

Claims (1)

:.d〇c/n 200928969 X. Patent application scope: 1 · A computing device, comprising: a network interface; and a central processing unit (CPU), which has active and closed operating states, and is sighed into Receiving data from the communication network using the network interface while operating in the active operating state; a secondary display module coupled to the CPU and configured to when the CPU is in the off-running state And displaying an auxiliary information to the user according to the data accepted by the cpu; and an activation controller coupled to intermittently switch the CPU to the active running state and causing the CPU to update from the The information of the communication network is used to update the auxiliary communication displayed by the auxiliary display module. 2. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary display module is configured to evaluate an update condition and issue an update to the activation controller to update the auxiliary information in response to the update condition And the activation controller is coupled to accept the request and switch the CPU to the active operational state in response to the request. 3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary display module is configured to measure a time interval when the cpu is in the off-running state and exceed a predetermined time interval The request is issued at the limit value. 4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the activation controller is coupled to switch the CPU to the active operating state at a predetermined interval. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the activation controller outputs to return the CPU to the shutdown operating state immediately after the auxiliary information has been updated. 6. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary display module is configured to issue a notification to the activation controller, the notification indicating that the auxiliary information has been updated, and Wherein the activation controller is coupled to cause the return to the closed operational state immediately upon receipt of the notification. 7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the network interface has an active and off operating state and the activation controller is coupled to switch the CPU to the active operating state Switching the network interface to the active operating state and switching the network interface to the shutdown operating state when the CPU is in the shutdown operating state. 8. A computing method, comprising: ??? coupling a computer including a central processing unit (CPU) and the CPU to an active and off-running state to a communication network, wherein the computer is in the active operating state The operating system causes the CPU to receive data from the communication network; when the CPU is in the off-running state, operating the auxiliary display module in the computer to display auxiliary information to the user, the auxiliary information Based on the data accepted by the CPU; and intermittently switching the 18 200928969 '.doc/n . CPU to the active operating state by an activation controller separate from the CPU, and The CPU updates the material from the communication network to update the auxiliary information displayed by the auxiliary display module. 9. The calculation method of claim 8, wherein operating the auxiliary display module comprises: evaluating an update condition and issuing to the activation controller to update the auxiliary information according to the update condition Requesting, and intermittently switching the CPU includes accepting the request and switching the CPU to the active operational state in response to the request. The calculation method of claim 9, wherein operating the auxiliary display module comprises: measuring a time interval when the CPU is in the off-run state, and exceeding a predetermined time interval The request is issued when the limit value is reached. 11. The calculation method of claim 8, wherein intermittently switching the CPU comprises: switching the CPU to the active operating state at a prescribed interval. 12. The calculation method according to item 8 of the patent application scope, wherein the switching of the CPU in the first door 包含 includes: updating the CPU to the shutdown operation state immediately after the auxiliary information has been updated. The calculation method of claim 12, wherein operating the auxiliary display module comprises: notifying a notification to the activation controller that the auxiliary information has been updated and Returning the CPU to the shutdown operational state includes returning the CPU to the shutdown operational state immediately upon receipt. 14. The method of calculating the method of claim 8, wherein the CPU uses the network interface to accept the data from the communication network, the network interface is active and Turning off the operating state, and intermittently switching the CPU further includes: switching the network interface to the active operating state when the CPU is switched to the active operating state, and when the CPU is in the When the operating state is turned off, the network interface is switched to the closed operating state. 15 - a computer software product for use in a computer, the computer comprising: a central processing unit (CPU) having an active and off operating state, and coupled to operate when the CPU is in the active operating state Receiving data from the communication network; and a secondary display module that displays to the user auxiliary information based on the data received by the CPU', the product comprising a computer readable medium, in the computer readable medium Storing program instructions that, when read by an activation controller in the computer, cause the activation controller to intermittently switch the CPU to the active operational state and cause the CPU to update from the The information of the communication network is used to update the auxiliary information displayed by the auxiliary display module. The computer software product of claim 15, wherein the instruction causes the activation controller to receive a request for updating the auxiliary information from the auxiliary display module, and in response to the request The CPU is switched to the active operating state. The computer software product of claim 15, wherein the instructions cause the activation controller to switch the CPU to the active operating state at regular intervals. 18. The instructions described in 20 f.doc/n 200928969, such as the computer software product referred to in Item 15 of 5, cause the activation controller to cause the auxiliary information to be updated immediately after the auxiliary information has been updated. The CPU returns to the closed operating state. The computer software product of claim 18, wherein the instruction causes the activation controller to accept from the auxiliary display module, the notification indicating that the auxiliary information has been updated And, immediately after the notification, return the cpu to the shutdown running state. twenty one