TWI470440B - Method of reconnecting to a host computer for an electronic device and electronic device thereof - Google Patents

Description

Method for reconnecting electronic device to computer host and related electronic device

The invention relates to a method for reconnecting an electronic device to a host computer and related electronic devices, and more particularly to a method for re-establishing a connection between the electronic device and the computer host operating system by using physical buttons on the electronic device.

In recent years, the direction of electronic product design has been toward light, thin and short, so many external peripheral electronic products have been derived. Taking a notebook computer as an example, in order to make the notebook computer more compact and portable, an external electronic product such as an external hard disk or an external optical disk has been developed. Please refer to FIG. 1 , the external hard disk product, for example, the external hard disk 10 in the figure. In order to improve the convenience of the user in data backup, most manufacturers have designed a physical button on the external hard disk, collectively The One Touch Backup (OTB) function is, for example, a one-touch backup button 102 provided on the external hard disk 10, when the external hard disk 10 is connected in the operating system of the computer mainframe, After pressing the one-button backup button 102, the data in the host computer can be backed up to a specific folder location on the external hard disk.

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection interface is the most common and versatile interface at present. When using the USB connection interface as a connector for peripheral electronic products and computer mainframes, the peripheral electronic products must be removed from the operating system of the computer mainframe through the steps of safe removal to avoid the improper removal action. The data is not completed and the data is destroyed. In serious cases, the data may be lost. Take Microsoft®'s Windows operating system as an example. The connection status display of the USB device in the system must follow the built-in removal step to make the USB device in the connection safely removed from the host computer. In addition, as disclosed in the Patent No. I314687 of the Republic of China, a method for securely removing a USB portable storage device in a computer operating system by providing a physical button on a USB portable storage device is also proposed. .

Through the security removal mechanism, the integrity of the data can be ensured. However, once the USB device is removed from the host computer through the operating system, the USB device is still physically connected to the host computer, that is, it is not actually removed. In order to reconnect the USB device to the host computer, it is quite inconvenient for the user to re-detect the USB device connection status after the USB device is physically plugged and unplugged. It is therefore necessary to provide a more convenient way to re-establish the connection of the USB device to the host computer operating system.

The present invention mainly provides a method for re-engaging an electronic device with a host computer and related electronic devices.

According to the present invention, the method for reconnecting the electronic device to the host computer operating system is: connecting the electronic device to the computer host via a connection interface entity; pressing the physical button to trigger the electronic device controller; determining the electronic device Whether the operating system in the computer host is in the safe removal mode; if so, the electronic device controller is triggered by the physical button to re-establish the connection with the computer host; if not, the preset function in the electronic device controller is activated The electronic device performs a preset function in the host computer, for example, performing file backup or electronic device security removal.

Another electronic device according to the present invention includes a controller and a physical button. One end of the physical button is selectively connected to the controller through a path through a switch or a path; the switch guide path 1 or path 2 The connection to the controller depends on the state of the electronic device in the operating system of the computer host. When the electronic device is in a safely removed state in the operating system, the switch connects the physical button to the controller to guide the path. After the physical button is pressed, the controller is responsible for detecting that the pin of the connection interface is triggered, and regaining the connection state of the electronic device, and the operating system of the computer host regains control of the USB device; when the electronic device is in the operating system In the connected state, the switch connects the physical button and the controller to the path 2, so after the physical button is pressed, the controller is responsible for detecting that the preset function is triggered, and the controller executes the function on the host computer. Preset function.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more <RTIgt;

The present invention mainly provides a method for re-engaging an electronic device with a computer host, and related electronic devices. The electronic device and the computer host are described in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the main connection mode is through USB. Interface connection, however, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any connection interface that can be safely removed through the operating system in the computer mainframe belongs to the scope of the present invention. The electronic device of the present invention includes an electronic device having at least one physical button and a USB connection interface, or a USB connection cable having a physical button (hereinafter referred to as a USB device). The related USB devices that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art are also within the scope of the present invention. The function of the physical button provided by the USB device is not limited to the data backup or device security removal as described in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is sufficient to drive the USB device and/or the connected computer host to perform a function. The specific functions belong to the specific form and function of the physical button of the present invention.

Referring first to FIG. 2, a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided, and the steps are described in detail below.

Step S200: Start, at this time, the USB device is connected to the host computer via the USB connection interface entity, and accordingly receives the power supply provided by the host computer and establishes a data transmission path.

Step S210: Press the physical button configured on the USB device to trigger the USB device controller.

Step S220: It is determined whether the USB device is in the safe removal mode in the operating system in the computer host at this time. If yes, go to step S230, otherwise, go to step S240. As described above, since the USB device can perform the security removal process through the operating system of the host computer, even as in step S200 As described above, although the USB device is connected to the host computer through the USB connection interface entity, the USB device may still be in a safe removal state for the operating system in the computer host, that is, the data cannot be performed between the electronic device and the computer host at this time. transmission.

Step S230: The USB detection pin in the USB device controller is triggered by a button, so that the USB device re-establishes a connection with the host computer.

Step S240: the preset function detecting pin in the USB device controller is triggered by the button, and the preset function is activated, so that the USB device performs the preset function on the host computer.

Next, the content is shown in conjunction with FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B, and the steps S210 to S240 are further described in detail. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams showing the connection between the internal controller 300 and the button 310 of the USB device 30 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The remaining components constituting the USB device 30 are omitted from the drawings and are well known in the technical field of the present invention. The person can freely combine the technical content according to the prior art to complete the specific content of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. For example, if the USB device 30 is an external storage device, it is necessary to have a memory component. The button 310 is mounted on the body of the USB device 30, and the form of the button can be configured as in the prior art of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, one end of the button 310 is grounded, and the other end is selectively connected to the controller 300 through the switch 321 or the path 322 through the switch 320. When the user presses the button 310, it can be regarded as A portion of the pin of the controller 300 is grounded through path 321 or path 322, triggering controller 300 to perform a particular function. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the path one 321 is connected to the controller 300 for triggering the USB detection pin position 301, and the path two 322 is connected to the controller 300 for triggering the data backup function or the security removal function detection. Feet. In this embodiment, the button 310 is grounded at one end, but may be selectively connected to other electronic components according to the operation design of the controller or the circuit connection arrangement, or even only one end of the button 310 is designed to be connected to the control. The device 300 transmits an electronic signal to trigger the controller to operate when the button 310 is pressed, and the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, any physical button can be used to trigger the controller 300 to operate, or perform a preset corresponding function, which is a model of the present invention. Domain.

The switch 320 is guided to the path 321 or the path 322 is connected to the controller 300, depending on the state in which the USB device 30 is fed back to the operating system of the host computer via the controller 300. First, when the USB device 30 is in a safely removed state in the operating system, the USB device 30 is not controlled by the host computer at this time, and the USB device 30 information cannot be obtained in the operating system. After the controller 300 returns the state of the USB device 30 via the controller 300, the switch 310 and the controller 300 are connected to the path 321 , that is, when the user presses the button 310 , the controller 300 is responsible for detecting the connection interface. The USB detection pin 301 is grounded due to the path 321 being turned on. After the user releases the button 310, the controller 300 reconnects the USB device 30 to the host computer due to the path 321 segment opening, and the operating system of the computer host is regained. Control of the USB device 30. Specifically, when the USB device 30 is in a safely removed state in the operating system, the USB device 30 is physically connected to the host computer via the USB connection interface, but the operating system has no control over the USB device 30 at this time. The device is in a non-connected state in which data cannot be transmitted to each other. However, the host computer continues to continuously supply power to the USB device 30 via the USB connection interface, so that the button 310 triggers the USB detection pin 301 of the controller 300 to be grounded and reconnected to the computer. At the time of the host, the USB device 30 can be reconnected with power. In addition, if the USB device 30 has a power supply component (for example, a battery) built in, the same function can be achieved by this.

Conversely, when the USB device 30 is in the connected state in the operating system, the USB device 30 is controlled by the host computer at this time, and the USB device 30 information can also be obtained in the operating system. After the controller 320 returns the connection state via the controller 300, the connection between the button 310 and the controller 300 is guided to the path 322, that is, when the user presses the button 310, the controller 300 is responsible for detecting the preset function. The function detection pin is triggered by the ground. At this time, the controller 300 performs a preset function on the host computer, for example, performing data backup or safely removing the USB device 30 from the operating system. This part is similar to the prior art and will not be described here. In addition, since the orientation of the switch 320 depends on the USB The device 30 is determined in the operating system of the computer mainframe. Therefore, once the user safely removes the USB device 30 in the operating system of the computer host, the switch 320 will be switched by the controller 300. The state of the guiding path 2 322 is turned to the path 321; otherwise, if the USB device 30 is in the safe removal state in the operating system, the controller 300 is triggered to regain the connection relationship with the USB device 30 via the button 310. The switch 320 will be redirected from the state of the original guiding path one 321 to the path two 322. The manner in which the controller 300 switches the switch 320 can be connected to the switch 320 through a pin (not shown) by the controller 300, while the switch 320 is set in the form of a transistor and controlled by the controller 300 to switch.

Referring next to Figure 4, there is shown another embodiment in accordance with the present invention. The button 410 of the USB device 40 is connected to the USB device 40 controller 400 via a single path. When the user presses the button 410, the controller is triggered to start due to grounding. Compared with the triggering device 320 in the foregoing embodiment, the trigger pin of the controller is determined to determine the triggering behavior of the USB device 40. In this embodiment, when the controller 400 is pressed by the button 410 and grounded, the triggering is started. When the controller determines the state of the USB device 40 in the operating system of the computer host. When the USB device 40 is in a safely removed state in the operating system, the controller 400 will trigger the pin 401 responsible for detecting the USB, so that the operating system of the host computer regains control of the USB device. Conversely, when the USB device 40 is in the connected state in the operating system, the USB device 40 is controlled by the host computer, and the controller 400 will trigger the detection of the preset function pin 402, and the controller 400 will operate the computer. The host performs a preset function, such as a data backup function or a USB device 40 security removal function. The related behavior mode of the controller 400 may be implemented by, for example, a firmware execution manner, or a path selection pattern of the switch 320 as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3B may be designed inside the controller 400, which is not limited by the present invention. In addition, in this embodiment, the button 410 is grounded at one end, but may be selectively connected to other electronic components according to the operation design of the controller or the circuit connection arrangement, or even only one end of the button 410. Designed to connect to the controller 400, an electronic is transmitted when the button 410 is pressed The signal is actuated by the trigger controller, and the invention is not limited. It is within the scope of the present invention to use the physical button to trigger the controller 400 to operate, or to perform a predetermined corresponding function.

In summary, the present invention provides a method for reconnecting an electronic device to a host computer. The connection between the electronic device and the host computer is mainly through a USB interface. Once the electronic device is removed from the operating system of the computer host, The physical button on the electronic device can be reconnected to enable the operating system to regain control of the electronic device. The present invention further provides an electronic device, comprising at least one controller and a physical button, wherein the physical button can be selectively connected to different positions of the controller via a path or a path through a switch, so that the controller is different The response mode is triggered so that the electronic device can drive different functions separately when it is in a different state in the computer system. Since the physical buttons on the electronic device are originally designed to drive a single specific function (eg, data backup or secure removal), it is not necessary for the electronic device to use the technical content provided by the present invention to change the appearance mechanism design.

While the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not intended to limit the invention, and the present invention may be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of protection is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application.

10‧‧‧External hard drive

102‧‧‧One-button backup button

30‧‧‧USB device

300‧‧‧ Controller

301‧‧‧USB detection pin

310‧‧‧ button

320‧‧‧Switcher

321‧‧‧Path One

322‧‧‧Path 2

40‧‧‧USB device

400‧‧‧ Controller

401‧‧‧ button

402‧‧‧ feet

410‧‧‧ feet

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic device according to the prior art.

2 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3A-3B are schematic diagrams showing internal components of a USB device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a schematic diagram of internal components of a USB device in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (13)

A method for re-engaging an electronic device with a host computer, wherein the electronic device includes at least a controller and a physical button, the electronic device is connected to the computer host through a connection interface, and the computer host has an operation The system includes: the physical button accepts an external force press; determines that the electronic device is in a removed state or a connected state with respect to the operating system; and if the electronic device is in a removed state relative to the operating system, the controller passes the The physical button is triggered to cause the electronic device to assume a connected state in the operating system; and if the electronic device is in a connected state with respect to the operating system, the controller is triggered by the physical button, thereby causing the electronic device to host the computer Perform a preset function. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is triggered by the physical button, so that the step of presenting the connected state of the electronic device in the operating system comprises: connecting one of the controllers to the interface detecting pin The bit is grounded. The method of claim 2, wherein the controller is triggered by the physical button, and the step of causing the electronic device to perform the preset function on the host computer comprises: detecting a function of the controller The bit is grounded. The method of claim 2, wherein the connection detecting pin of the controller is a USB detecting pin, and the connecting interface is a USB interface. The method of claim 3, wherein the preset function is a data backup function. The method of claim 3, wherein the preset function is a secure removal function. An electronic device is configured to be connected to a computer host via a connection interface, wherein the computer host includes an operating system, the electronic device includes: a controller, including a connection interface detecting pin and a function detecting pin; a physical button selectively connected to the controller via a path one and a path two; and a switch disposed between the controller and the physical button, wherein the controller determines that the electronic device is relative to the computer When the operating system of the host is in the removed state, the switch connects the physical button to the controller via the path and triggers the connection interface to detect the pin position, so that the electronic device re-presents the link in the operating system. a state; and when the controller determines that the electronic device is in a connected state with respect to the operating system, the switch connects the physical button to the controller via the path 2 and triggers the function detecting pin position to enable the electronic device Perform a preset function in the host computer. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein one end of the physical button is grounded such that the connection detecting position of the controller and the function detecting pin are triggered by grounding. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the switch and the path one and the second path are integrated in the controller. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the connection interface detecting pin is a USB interface detecting pin, and the connecting interface is a USB interface. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the preset function For a data backup function. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the preset function is a secure removal function. An electronic device is configured to be connected to a computer host via a connection interface, wherein the computer host includes an operating system, the electronic device includes: a controller including a connection interface detecting pin and a function detecting pin; a physical button is connected to the controller; wherein when the controller determines that the electronic device is in a removed state relative to the operating system of the computer host, the physical button is pressed to cause the controller to trigger the connection interface detection a foot position, and the electronic device re-presents a connection state in the operating system; and when the controller determines that the electronic device is in a connected state with respect to the operating system, the physical button is pressed to cause the controller to trigger the function detection The pin position enables the electronic device to perform a preset function in the host computer.