TWI436216B - Power management system, method thereof and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

Power management system, method and storage medium

The present invention relates to a management system, and more particularly to a power management system and method thereof.

Handheld devices or portable devices, such as flash drives, can be used to transfer data, usually by plugging in a computer interface such as a USB port. However, there is a limit to the number of interface ports on the computer. In order to allow more handheld devices to communicate with the computer, a USB hub has been developed to connect the handheld device to the computer.

Please refer to the first A diagram, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the conventional power management system. The power management system 1 includes a computer host 11 and a USB hub (USB Hub) 13. The USB hub 13 has a plurality of sub-ports 13a-13c for allowing at least one portable device 15 to be plugged in to interact with the host computer 11. The host computer 11 has a central processing unit 111, a north-south bridge circuit 113, a memory 115, and an interface port 117. The central processing unit 111 is used to control the whole of the computer host 11 The north-south bridge circuit 113 is used to assist the central processing unit 111 and various components in the host computer 11, such as the memory 115, the output input circuit, etc., to transmit signals or data. The memory 115 stores an operating system (OS) and a plurality of drivers for loading the operating system from the host computer 11 and then loading the corresponding driver according to the hardware components installed in the host computer 11. To control the operation of each hardware component.

The interface port 117 is used to connect the USB hub 13 to the host computer 11. Taking the USB port as an example, a USB controller (1131) is provided in the north-south bridge circuit 113 for controlling the plug-in to the sub-port. Portable device 15 of 13a-13c. Please refer to the first B diagram, which is a schematic diagram of a USB switch in a USB hub. The first B diagram shows that one of the USB switches 14 of the USB hub 14 corresponds to a sub-port, such as a sub-port 13a. The USB switch 14 is used to switch the sub-port according to the control of the USB controller 1131 of the host computer 11 13a is coupled to a data transmission circuit 16 or a dedicated charge circuit 17. The function of the data transmission circuit 16 is to couple the USB data transmission differential end (for example, D+/D-signal end) of the sub-port 埠 to the interface port 117 of the computer host 11, and the special charging circuit 17 functions to connect the sub-connections. The USB data transmission differential terminals are short-circuited to each other, for example, short-circuited by an impedance unit 12, and the impedance unit 12 may be a resistor, but is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the USB switch 14 described above can be located anywhere in the USB hub 13. Specifically, if the USB hub 13 is in an active mode, the portable device 15 (if plugged in) can transmit data to and from the host computer 11 through the data transmission circuit 16; if the USB hub 23 When the system enters the suspend mode, the data transmission function is cut off, the USB switch 14 is switched to the dedicated charging circuit 17, and the USB hub 13 receives the power provided by the computer host 11 via the interface port 117 (or the USB hub 13). Independent power supply, not shown in the figure) The portable device 15 (with or without the plug-in portable device 15) performs charging.

Generally, the operating system of the host computer 11 (such as the Microsoft Windows operating system, the Apple computer operating system, etc.) includes a preset USB hub driver for detecting whether the USB hub 13 is plugged into the portable device 15, If no portable device 15 is plugged into the USB hub 13 for a period of time, that is, the USB hub 13 is controlled to enter the sleep mode, at this time, the USB switch 14 is switched to the dedicated charging circuit 17 for charging. However, the host computer 11 is still in the host operating state (S0). That is to say, due to the control behavior of the above-mentioned preset USB hub driver, the USB hub 13 cannot detect the correct power state of the host computer 11 to enter its sleep mode. In this case, it is impossible to truly realize the application of the USB hub 13 "sleep charging". Moreover, when the host computer 11 is in the working state of the host (S0), when the user plugs in the portable device 15 to the sub-ports 13a-13c, the portable device cannot be transmitted because the USB hub 13 enters the sleep mode. The information in 15 is further misidentified that the sub-connections 13a-13c are inoperable or damaged.

Therefore, it is urgent to propose a novel power management system and method thereof, so that the mode of the USB hub can be changed with the power state of the host computer, thereby facilitating identification and control.

In view of the above, one of the objectives of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a power management system and method thereof, which filter (intercept) an instruction issued by a host by a filter driver to control the mode of the USB hub according to the power state of the host. Change, which in turn increases the convenience of control.

The present invention discloses a power management system for preventing a USB hub (USB Hub) from entering a sleep mode when a computer host is in operation, which includes a USB hub and a computer host. The USB hub has a plurality of sub-ports; the mainframe has a central processing unit for executing an operating system (OS), and the computer mainframe is coupled to the USB hub. The central processing unit further loads a filter driver to enable the host computer to detect the USB hub; wherein the filter driver detects a specific ACPI event to issue a first device sleep input and output request packet. (device sleep IRP request) to control the USB hub to enter sleep mode. The specific ACPI event described above is that the host computer enters a sleep state.

The invention further discloses a power management method, which is applicable to a computer host, and the computer host is coupled to a USB hub (USB Hub) to prevent the USB hub from entering a sleep mode when the computer host is in a working state. The power management method includes the following steps: first, loading a filter driver to enable the host to detect the USB hub; and filtering the driver to detect a specific ACPI event to issue a first device to sleep The input and output request packets are controlled to control the USB hub to enter a sleep mode; wherein the specific ACPI event described above is that the host computer enters a sleep state.

The invention further discloses a storage medium for storing a filter driver, wherein the filter driver is loaded into a computer host, so that the computer host performs a power management method, and the computer host is coupled. In a USB hub (USB Hub), to prevent the USB hub from entering a sleep mode when one of the host computers is in operation. The power management method includes the steps of: loading a filter driver to enable the host computer to detect the USB hub; and the filter driver detecting a specific ACPI event to issue a first device sleep input and output request Packet to control the USB hub to enter sleep mode; The ACPI event enters a sleep state for the host computer.

Conventional knowledge

1‧‧‧Power Management System

11‧‧‧Computer host

111‧‧‧Central Processing Unit

113‧‧‧South-South Bridge Circuit

1131‧‧‧USB controller

115‧‧‧ memory

117‧‧‧Interface connection埠

12‧‧‧ Impedance unit

13‧‧‧USB hub

13a-13c‧‧‧Sub-link

14‧‧‧USB switch

15‧‧‧Portable device

16‧‧‧Data transmission circuit

17‧‧‧Special charging circuit

this invention

2‧‧‧Power Management System

21‧‧‧Computer host

211‧‧‧Central Processing Unit

213‧‧‧ North-South Bridge Circuit

2131‧‧‧USB controller

215‧‧‧ memory

217‧‧‧Interface connection埠

219‧‧‧ Storage media

2191‧‧‧Filter driver

23‧‧‧USB hub

23a-23c‧‧‧Sub-connector

25‧‧‧Portable device

31‧‧‧Basic function driver

32‧‧‧USB hub driver

34‧‧‧USB host driver

3A‧‧‧Device sleep input and output request packet

3A’‧‧‧Virtual sleep input and output request packet response

S401-S421‧‧‧Steps

The first A diagram is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a conventional power management system.

The first B diagram is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a USB switch in a USB hub.

The second figure is a schematic structural diagram of a power management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The third figure is a schematic diagram of a transmission IRP instruction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The fourth figure is a flowchart of a power management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, please refer to the second figure, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the power management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the second figure, the power management system 2 includes a computer host 21 and a USB hub (USB Hub) 23. The host computer 21 has a central processing unit 211, a north-south bridge circuit 213, a memory 215, a storage medium 219, and an interface port 217. The central processing unit 211 is used to control the overall operation of the computer host 21, and the north-south bridge circuit 213 is used to assist the central processing unit 211 and various components in the computer host 21, such as the memory 215, the output input circuit, etc., to transmit signals or data. The memory 215 stores an operating system (OS) and a plurality of driving processes For the computer host 21 to boot from the operating system, and then load the corresponding driver according to the hardware components installed in the host computer 21 to control the operation of the hardware components.

The USB hub 23 is coupled to the host computer 21 via an interface port 217, which has a plurality of sub-ports 23a-23c and supports a charging function. When the USB hub 23 enters the active mode, the portable device 25 plugged into the sub-ports 23a-23c can transfer data to and from the host computer 21; when entering the suspend mode, the device is cut off. The data transmission function is adapted to receive the power provided by the host computer 21 via the interface port 217 to charge the portable device 25. Taking the interface port 217 as a USB port as an example, a USB controller (2) is provided in the north-south bridge circuit 213 for controlling the USB hub 23 plugged into the interface port 217 and its connection. Portable device 25. The interface port 217 can also be a USB 3.0 port or other standard port, not limited to those disclosed herein.

In the specification of Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), the central processing unit 211 has several power states, which are roughly divided into S0 (work), S1 (automatic stop), S2 (sleep), S3 (deep sleep) and S4 (more deep sleep) and other states. The S0 state is defined as a Host Active State, and the S2-S4 state is defined as a Host Sleep State. In different states, the central processing unit 211 will be a component of the host computer 21. Or the peripheral device performs different controls. In order to enable the mode of the USB hub 23 to follow the power state of the central processing unit 211, the present invention particularly provides a filter driver 2191, which is stored in the storage medium 219 for filtering the computer host 21 to the USB hub 23. The I/O request packet is requested by the I/O Request Packet. In a specific embodiment, the filter driver 2191 can also be stored in the memory 215, and the storage medium 219 is one of the computer hosts 21 as shown in the figure. The storage device may also be an external storage device, and the internal storage device includes a random access memory (RAM), a dynamic memory (DRAM), a static memory (SRAM), or a fast memory. Flash Memory, and external storage devices include CDs, flash drives, or external hard drives. In one embodiment, the filter driver 2191 operates between an upper driver and a lower driver to prevent the USB hub 23 from entering a sleep mode when the computer host 21 is in operation. The details will be explained below.

In general, after the computer host 21 loads the operating system, it continues to load and call multiple drivers to control the USB hub 23. For example, the driver architecture in the Microsoft Windows operating system is layered, and each layer transmits its request (Request) to each driver through IRP (I/O Request Packet), when the driver receives When the IRP is reached, the required processing is confirmed and executed according to the requested content. If the driver is not the destination driver, the driver is continuously called to the destination. Please refer to the third figure, which is a schematic diagram of transmitting an IRP instruction according to an embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of description, the figure expresses each driver in an object type. After the power of the host computer 21 is started, a power on self test (POST) is executed, and after loading the operating system from the memory 215, the basic function driver 31 is executed to perform the functions of the computer host 21. initialization. In one embodiment, the filter driver 2191 is loaded into the operating system from the storage medium 219 upon initialization to cause the operating system to detect a particular USB hub.

The operating system will call the preset USB hub driver 32 to detect whether the sub-connections 23a-23c of the USB hub 23 are idle for a period of time, and if so, it means that the sub-connections 23a-23c are not inserted. Connected to any portable device 25, the USB hub driver 32 issues a device sleep IRP request 3A for instructing the control USB hub 23 to enter a sleep mode. Filter driver 2191 runs on USB hub Between the driver 32 and the USB host driver 34. When the filter driver 2191 receives the device sleep input and output request packet 3A, it performs filtering processing (interception), so the device sleep input/output request packet 3A will not continue to be transmitted to the USB host driver 34, that is, the USB hub 23 is prevented from entering. Sleep mode. The filter driver 2191 intercepts the device sleep input and output request packet 3A, and returns a virtual sleep IRP response 3A' to the USB hub driver 32, and finally passes it to the operating system to trick the operating system into success. The USB hub 23 is set to the sleep mode. Since the USB hub 23 does not actually enter the sleep mode, the portable device 25 that is then plugged into the sub-ports 23a-23c still retransmits the data with the host computer 21 by the wake-up event. .

In an embodiment, when the host computer 21 leaves the host operating state and enters a host sleep state, such as the S2 state, the filter driver 2191 also detects that the ACPI event occurs and issues a device sleep input and output request. The packet 3A is sent to the USB host driver 34, and the USB host driver 34 is passed to the USB hub 23 to control the USB hub 23 to enter a sleep mode. In one embodiment, the filter driver 2191 waits for the USB host driver 34 to return a sleep input/output response (sleep IRP response) indicating that the particular USB hub has been hibernated, or waits for a specific timeout to end. This process.

In one embodiment, the filter driver 2191 receives the IRP that is passed from the USB host driver 34 (lower layer) to the USB hub driver 32 (upper layer), and the filter driver 2191 transmits it without interception processing.

In one embodiment, the filter driver 2191 receives a non-device sleep input and output request from the USB hub driver 32 (upper layer) to be transferred to the USB host driver 34 (lower layer). The packet, the filter driver 2191 will be passed, and no interception will be performed.

In order to further understand the operation of the present invention, please refer to the fourth figure, which is a flowchart of a power management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to the second and third figures for related system architecture and signal processing. The steps of the power management method are as follows: Initially, in step S401, the filter driver 2191 is loaded into the operating system to cause the operating system to detect a specific USB hub 23. In one embodiment, the filter driver 2191 runs between an upper driver and a lower driver. Next, step S403 is performed.

In step S403, the filter driver 2191 waits for any IRP transfer or an ACPI event to occur at any time.

In step S405, if it is determined that there is an IRP transmission, step S407 is performed. If it is not the transfer of the IRP, step S417 is performed.

In step S407, it is determined whether the IRP is from the lower driver, and if so, step S409 is performed; otherwise, step S411 is performed.

In step S409, the filter driver 2191 transfers the IRP to the upper driver, and then returns to step S403.

Step S411, if the IRP is from the upper driver, and the IRP causes the specific USB hub to enter a sleep mode (that is, the IRP is a device sleep IRP), then step S413 is performed. Otherwise, in step S412, the filter driver 2191 transmits the IRP to the lower driver, and then returns to step S403.

In step S413, the filter driver 2191 intercepts the IRP, and in step S415, the filter driver 2191 returns a virtual sleep IRP response to the upper layer driver, and then returns to step S403. When the user plugs in the portable device 25 on any of the sub-ports 23a-23c, the filter driver can be generated by detecting the wake-up event (for example, plugging the portable device 25). The program 2191 issues a pseudo wake-up signal (not shown) to the USB hub driver 32 (which is ultimately passed back to the operating system) to transfer data between the portable device 25 and the host computer 21.

In step S417, the filter driver 2191 determines whether an ACPI event indicating that the host computer enters the host sleep state occurs, and if yes, proceeds to step S419, otherwise returns to step S403.

In step S419, the filter driver 2191 issues an IRP for the lower layer driver to sleep the specific USB hub (that is, the IRP is a device sleep IRP) to control the USB hub 23 coupled to the interface port 217 to enter a sleep mode. . Next, step S421 is performed.

In step S421, the filter driver 2191 waits for the lower driver to return a sleep IRP response (sleep IRP response) indicating that the specific USB hub is dormant; and returns to step S403. In an embodiment, step S421 may also wait for a specific timeout before returning to step S403.

When the USB hub 23 receives the device sleep IRP from the filter driver 2191, it enters a sleep mode. When the USB hub 23 enters the sleep mode, the data transmission function is cut off, and the USB switch 14 is switched to the dedicated charging circuit 17, when the user connects to any of the sub-connections. When the portable device 25 is inserted into the cassette 23a-23c, the portable device 15 is charged via the USB hub 13.

As is apparent from the above examples, when the power management system and method of the present invention are known, a filter driver is used to intercept instructions issued by the system, and while processing the instructions, the power state of the current host is also matched. Decide if you want to filter the directive. In this way, the mode of the USB hub connected to the host, and even other peripheral devices, can change with the power state of the host.

The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention; all other equivalent changes or modifications which are not departing from the spirit of the invention should be included in the following Within the scope of the patent application.

2‧‧‧Power Management System

21‧‧‧Computer host

211‧‧‧Central Processing Unit

213‧‧‧ North-South Bridge Circuit

2131‧‧‧USB controller

215‧‧‧ memory

217‧‧‧Interface connection埠

219‧‧‧ Storage media

2191‧‧‧Filter driver

23‧‧‧USB hub

23a-23c‧‧‧Sub-connector

25‧‧‧Portable device

Claims (18)

A power management system for preventing a USB hub (USB Hub) from entering a sleep mode when a computer host is in a working state, the power management system comprising: the USB hub having a plurality of sub-ports; and the computer host, The central processing unit is configured to execute an operating system (OS), wherein the computer host is coupled to the USB hub; wherein the central processing unit is further loaded with a filter driver. The filter is used to filter an input/output request packet between a USB hub driver and a USB host driver; wherein the filter driver detects a specific ACPI event to issue a first device sleep input and output request packet (device Sleep IRP request) to control the USB hub to enter the sleep mode, the specific ACPI event is that the computer host enters a sleep state. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the operating system detects that the plurality of sub-connections of the USB hub are not plugged in any of the portable devices for a predetermined time. When the operating system generates a second device sleep input and output request packet to the filter driver, when the filter driver detects that the received input and output request packet is the second device sleep input and output request packet, then the filtering The driver intercepts the second device sleep input and output request packet, and returns a virtual sleep input and output request packet response to the operating system. The power management system of claim 2, wherein after the filter driver returns the virtual sleep input and output request packet response to the operating system, The USB hub is maintained in an operating mode, and a USB switch of the USB hub is switched to a data transmission circuit. If the portable device is plugged into the sub-port, the filter driver sends a false wake-up signal to the USB driver. The operating system is configured to cause the portable device to transmit data to the host computer via the USB hub. The power management system of claim 1, wherein when the USB hub enters the sleep mode, a USB switch of the USB hub is switched to a dedicated charging circuit, and if a portable device is plugged into the After the sub-port, the computer host charges the portable device via the USB hub. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the filter driver is stored in the computer host or stored in an external storage device. The power management system of claim 1, wherein when the filter driver receives the input/output request packet transmitted by the USB host driver, the filter driver transmits the input/output request packet to the USB hub driver. The power management system of claim 3, wherein the filter driver receives the input/output request packet transmitted by the USB hub driver, and the input/output request packet is not the second device sleep input. When the output request packet is received, the filter driver passes the input and output request packet to the USB host driver. A power management method is applicable to a computer host coupled to a USB hub (USB Hub) to prevent the USB hub from entering a sleep mode when the computer host is in a working state, the power management method Contains: Loaded once a filter driver for filtering an input/output request packet transmitted between a USB hub driver and a USB host driver; and the filter driver detecting a specific ACPI event to issue a first device The device sleep IRP request is used to control the USB hub to enter the sleep mode; wherein the specific ACPI event is that the computer host enters a sleep state. The power management method of claim 8, wherein the filtering driver is further configured to: when detecting that the received input and output request packet is a second device sleep input and output request packet, intercepting the second device to sleep Input and output request packets, and returning a virtual sleep input and output request packet response to an operating system of the computer host; wherein, when detecting a plurality of sub-connections of the USB hub, each of them is not inserted for a predetermined time When any portable device is connected, the operating system generates the second device sleep input and output request packet. The power management method of claim 9, wherein after the filter driver returns the virtual sleep input and output request packet response to the operating system, the USB hub maintains a working mode, the USB hub A USB switch is switched to a data transmission circuit. If the portable device is plugged into one of the plurality of sub-connections, the filter driver sends a false wake-up signal to the operating system to enable the portable device. The device transmits data to the host computer via the USB hub. The power management method of claim 8, wherein when the USB hub enters the sleep mode, a USB switch of the USB hub is switched to a dedicated charging circuit, and if a portable device is plugged into the USB hub If any of the sub-interfaces are connected, the portable device is charged by the computer host via the USB hub. The power management method of claim 10, wherein after the step of loading the filter driver, the method further comprises: inserting the portable device on one of the plurality of sub-connections; if the USB When the hub enters the sleep mode, the computer host charges the portable device via the USB hub; and if the USB hub does not enter the sleep mode, the portable device transmits data to the host computer via the USB hub. . The power management method of claim 8, wherein the filter driver is stored in a storage medium. The power management method of claim 8, wherein when the filter driver receives the input/output request packet transmitted by the USB host driver, the filter driver transmits the input/output request packet to the USB hub driver. The power management method of claim 12, wherein the filter driver receives the input/output request packet transmitted by the USB hub driver, and the input/output request packet is not the second device sleep input. When the output request packet is received, the filter driver passes the input and output request packet to the USB host driver. A storage medium for storing a filter driver for loading into a computer host, so that the computer host performs a power management method, and the computer host is coupled to a USB Hub (USB Hub) In order to prevent the USB hub from entering a sleep mode when the one of the host computers is in operation, the power management method includes: loading the filter driver to filter and transmit to a USB hub driver and a An input/output request packet between the USB host drivers; and the filter driver detects a specific ACPI event to issue a first device sleep IRP request to control the USB hub to enter the sleep The mode; wherein the specific ACPI event is that the host computer enters a sleep state. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein the filtering driver is further configured to: when detecting that the received input and output request packet is a second device sleep input and output request packet, intercepting the second device sleep input Outputting a request packet, and returning a virtual sleep input and output request packet response to an operating system of the computer host; wherein, when detecting the plurality of sub-connections of the USB hub, each of the plurality of sub-connections are not inserted for a predetermined time When any portable device is connected, the operating system generates the second device sleep input and output request packet to the filter driver. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein after the step of loading the filter driver, the method further comprises: inserting the portable type on the one of the plurality of sub-ports of the USB hub a device; if the USB hub enters the sleep mode, charging the portable device via the USB hub; and if the USB hub does not enter the sleep mode, the portable device communicates with the host computer via the USB hub Transfer data.