Computer System With a Variety of Applications and Method for Operating the Same

This application makes claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 from an applications for COMPUTER SYSTEM WITH A VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Mar. 20, 1996 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 7581/1996 and COMPUTER SYSTEM WITH A VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Mar. 21, 1996 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 7723/1996.

The present invention relates generally to a computer system and an operating method thereof, more particularly to a multimedia computer system which has a variety of additional application functions such as television, audio, video, communication, game, home automation functions, etc., as well as general mathematical computation and logic functions and a method for operating the system.

The use of peripheral equipment in computer systems is not new in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,373 for a Field Programming Apparatus and Method For Updating Programs in a Personal Communications Device to Whitley et al. discloses a field programming apparatus and method for updating programs in a personal communications device. A method is provided for automatically loading a new program from the reprogramming card into memory in an accurate, foolproof manner. This is accomplished using a sequencing program stored in the reprogramming card and loaded into the memory portion of the device, where it is executed.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,421 for an Interactive Terminal For The Access of Remote Database Information to Palazzi III et al. discloses an inexpensive telecommunications device utilizing existent components located in the home or office, such as a television receiver and a telephone, for creating an interactive display terminal for accessing information stored in remote computer databases.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,497 for an I/O Control System for a Plurality of Peripheral Devices to Dewa discloses an input/output control system for a plurality of peripheral devices. A basic input/output system program enables a plurality of peripheral devices to interface with a host computer system.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,577 for an Electronic Game Machine and Main Body Apparatus and Controllers Used Therein to Kato discloses an electronic game machine and main body apparatus and controllers used therein. The game is attached to the main host computer in this invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,706 for a Computer System Having a Remote Reboot Facility with Both Hard and Soft Reset Capabilities to Farrand et al discloses a computer system having a remote reboot facility with both hard and soft reset capabilities. FIG. 2 shows pagers and a phone can be connected to a console. A plurality of peripheral devices can be connected to a main host computer. A mechanism for re-booting and bootstrapping the peripheral to the host is provided in this invention.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,378 for a Network Computer Workstation With Initial Program Load Control to Sideserf et al. discloses a network computer workstation with initial program load control. A keyboard, mouse, floppy disk drive, hard disk drive, and a display device are all connected to a CPU.

We have observed that with contemporary systems such as those noted in the foregoing paragraphs, that when the peripherals are turned on, the basic input/output system is not rebooted prior to the loading of the operating system.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a computer system with a variety of additional application functions whose bootstrapping of the functions is simple.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method which executes additional application functions upon a computer system.

To attain the objects of the present invention, there is provided a computer system which functions as a television service system, an audio player, a video player, a settop box for video on demand service, a communication service system, a game machine, a home automation system, and so on, the computer system made up of a bus for communicating information, a first memory unit coupled with the bus for storing a set of basic input/output system routines which control input and output peripherals of the computer system, a second memory unit coupled with the bus for storing a set of operating system routines which control the operation of the computer system for the purpose of obtaining an efficient performance thereof and multiple sets of application routines which execute a variety of additional functions, a central processing unit coupled with the bus for processing information according to instructions of the routines, and a third memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing the instructions, the information, temporary variables and immediate information during execution of the instructions by the central processing unit, temporarily; wherein the central processing unit loads the basic input/output system routines into the third memory unit so as to initialize and check circuits of the computer system when a power switch thereof is on, and loads the application routines into the third memory unit without loading the operating system routines when execution of the additional functions is required.

To attain the objects of the present invention, there is provided a method for operating a computer system with additional application functions such as television, video on demand, communication, game, home automation services, and so on, the method made up of initializing and checking circuits of the computer system in accordance with basic input/output system routines when a power switch thereof is on, checking whether execution of the additional functions is required during a predetermined time period, executing the additional functions when the execution of the additional functions is required, and booting the computer system in accordance with operating system routines when the execution of the additional functions is not required during the predetermined time period.

A more complete appreciation of this invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a computer system upon which the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main body according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating components of the system board of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed circuit diagram of the switch & booting control portion in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5A is a flowchart of a method for executing additional application functions of the computer system according to the present invention when the system is in standby state;

FIG. 5B is a flowchart of another method for executing additional application functions of the computer system according to the present invention when the system is in normal state; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another method for executing additional application functions of the computer system according to the present invention.

The basic functions to the operation of virtually all computer systems are the capability of mathematical computation and logic functions. In FIG. 1, a current personal computer system is shown. The computer system consists of a main body or system unit 100, user input devices 110, user output devices 120, and communication devices 130. As well known, the main body 100 comprises a power supply for supplying operating voltages, a system or mother board that holds the principal circuitry of the system, and expansion or daughter boards for additional application functions such as a television service system, an audio player, a video player, a settop box for video on demand service, a communication service system, a game machine, a facsimile system, a video text system, a virtual reality machine, a home automation system, and so forth, which enable a user to expand his or her computer system.

The system board comprises a bus or communication circuits for communicating information, a central processing unit coupled with the bus for processing information, a random access memory used as a main memory, a read only memory unit for storing basic input/output system routines which control input/output peripherals of the computer system, a hard disk drive for storing operating system routines and other programs, and so on. Basic input/output system routines initialize and check the input/output peripheral circuits of the computer system every time it is turned on, and control many of the most important functions-how it interprets keystrokes, how it puts characters on a screen, and how it communicates its ports operating system routines control the operation of the computer system for the purpose of obtaining an efficient performance thereof

Because the computer system tends to have more additional functions, use of the computer system becomes more complex. Also, when using peripheral functions, it would be possible to carry out any function after the system is powered on and operating system routines are loaded into random access memory by a bootstrap loader

FIG. 1 shows a computer system upon which the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented. Referring to FIG. 1, the computer system consists of a main body or system unit 100, user input devices 110, user output devices 120, and communication devices 130.

A schematic functional block diagram of the system unit 100 of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, the system unit 100 is made up of a power supply 200 for supplying operating voltages, a main or main unit 202 that holds a central processing unit and other principal circuits of the system, additional function units 204 for additional application functions such as a television service system, an audio player, a video player, a setup box for video on demand service, a communication service system, a game machine, a facsimile system, a videotext system, a virtual reality machine, a home automation system, and so on which enable the user to expand his or her computer system, and a switch & booting control circuit 206 for controlling the bootstrapping of additional application program routines. The power supply 200 applies a first direct current supply voltage VCC.sub.-- A to the switch & booting control circuit 206. Also, the power supply 200 applies a second direct current supply voltage VCC.sub.-- B to the other components such as main unit 202 and additional function units 204, in response to a power control signal Power.sub.-- ON from the switch & booting control circuit 206. All components of the main unit 202 and additional function units 204 are coupled through a bus (referred to as a system bus) or communication circuits 203 to each other.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing components of the main unit 202. Referring to FIG. 3, the main unit 202 is made up of a central processing unit 300 for processing information which is coupled with the bus 203. Central processing unit includes a control unit, an arithmetic logic unit, and several registers. Furthermore, for additional processing, speed, and special purposes, a number of coprocessors or digital signal processors, not shown, can be coupled to the bus 203, or incorporated into the central processing unit 300.

The main unit 202 further is made up of a random access memory or some other dynamic storage device (referred to as main memory) 302, coupled to the bus 203. Main memory 302 is used in storing information and instructions to be executed by central processing unit 300. The main memory 300 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during the execution of instructions by central processing unit 300. The main unit 202 also is made up of a semiconductor read only memory and/or other static storage devices 304 such as compact disk read only memory drive coupled to the bus 203 for storing static information and instructions for central processing unit 300. At least one auxiliary storage device 306, such as at least one hard disk drive, at least one floppy disk drive, and so on, can be coupled to the bus 203 for storing information and instructions. The main unit 202 is made up of input/output peripherals 308, such as a keyboard controller, a display controller, audio circuitry, serial and parallel interfaces, and so forth, coupled to bus 203. Furthermore, in main unit 202, real time clock 310 is coupled with bus 203 and interrupts the central processing unit 300 so as to load the basic input/output system and operating system routines into random access memory 302 at the time set by the user. Alternatively, real time clock 310 may be mounted on an expansion board. Real time clock 310 is made up of a battery independent of the power supply 200, a processor which is operated by the battery and measures time, and several registers or a non-volatile semiconductor memory such as an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory for storing organization information of the real time clock.

Turning to FIG. 1, a typical user input device 110 is an alphanumeric input device 112 including alphanumeric and other keys, for example, a keyboard. The alphanumeric input device 112 may also be coupled with the bus 203, which communicates information and command selections to central processing unit 300. Another type of user input device 110 is cursor control device 114 such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys, coupled to the bus 203 for communicating direction information and command selections to central processing unit 300 and for controlling cursor movement on the display. This input device 114 typically has two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (e.g., x) and a second axis (e.g., y) which allows the device to specify any position in a plane.

A typical one of user output devices 120 is a display device 122 such as a cathode ray tube (sometimes, referred to as cathode ray tube monitor) or a liquid crystal device can be coupled to the bus 203. The display device 122 is used to display information to a computer user. Another one of the user output devices which may be coupled to the bus 203 is a hard copy device 124 such as a printer, a plotter, etc. The hard copy device 124 may be used for printing instructions, data, or other information on paper, film, or some other medium. Furthermore, the computer system is made up of an audio device 126 as another output device which is coupled to the bus 203 and contains sound boards with the required audio circuits and loud speakers. The audio device 126 carries out several audio-related functions. The device 126 converts stored sounds from digital to analog form so that the computer user can hear them, records sounds for a later playback, creates sounds of its own with built-in synthesizers, mixes the results together, and amplifies the final audio product so that the user can actually hear it. The computer system further is made up of a communication device 130 such as a modem which exchanges files, programs, images, and information with other systems across telephone lines.

FIG. 4 is a detailed circuit diagram of switch & booting control circuit 206 shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 4, the switch & booting control circuit 206 includes a switch circuit 400 and a booting control circuit 410. Switch circuit 400 is made up of n switches SW1-SWn for selections of the additional functions whose first ends are connected to supply voltage VCC.sub.-- A through a resistor R0, and n resistors R1-Rn whose one ends and the other ends are connected to second ends of the switches SW1-SWn and a ground voltage, respectively.

The booting control circuit 410 is made up of a first logic circuit 412, a second logic circuit 414, and a booting data storage circuit 416. The first logic circuit 412 receives voltage signals on second ends of the switches SW1-SWn and generates a power control signal Power.sub.-- ON and an interrupt request signal (IRQ). The second logic circuit 414 receives address signals from central processing unit 300 and generates a latch enable signal Latch.sub.-- EN when the received address signal is a predetermined signal. The booting data storage circuit 416 is responsive to the latch enable signal Latch.sub.-- EN and stores the voltage signals on the second ends of the switches SW1-SWn.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first logic circuit 412 is made up of an OR gate circuit which has n input terminals to receive voltage signals on the second ends of the switches SW1-SWn respectively and an output terminal to generate an output signal used as the power control signal Power.sub.-- ON and the interrupt request signal IRQ. The second logic circuit 414 is made up of a decoder circuit for decoding address signals from central processing unit or other processors The booting data storage circuit 416 is made up of a register circuit having n input terminals I1-In connected to the second ends of the switches SW1-SWn respectively, n output terminals O1-On connected to the bus 203, more particularly to a data bus, an input enable terminal G connected with the latch enable signal Latch.sub.-- EN, and an output enable terminal /OE being grounded. Register 416 latches the voltage signals on the second ends of the switches SW1-SWn when the latch enable signal Latch.sub.-- EN is high, and provides the latched signals to bus 203.

Power supply 200 responds to the power control signal Power.sub.-- ON and supplies the second supply voltage VCC.sub.-- B to components of the main unit 202 and additional function units 204, such as central processing unit, random access memory, read only memory, hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, real time clock, etc. Central processing unit 300 applies a predetermined address signal to second logic circuit, that is, address decoder 414 when the interrupt request signal IRQ is generated from the first logic circuit 412. Then, the decoder 414 generates the latch enable signal Latch.sub.-- EN. Accordingly, the booting data storage circuit 416 latches the voltage signals on the second ends of the switches SW1-SWn. Central processing unit 300 receives the voltage signals latched by the booting data storage circuit 416 as data signals D1-Dn through bus 203. The data signals D1-Dn are to be used in checking which additional function or one of the switches SW1-SWn has been selected.

FIG. 5A is a flowchart of a method for executing additional application functions of the computer system according to the present invention when the system is in standby state, that is, when the system is powered on and both basic input/output system and operating system routines are unloaded. Power supply 200 applies only a supply voltage VCC.sub.-- A to switch & booting control circuit 206 when a power switch, not shown, is on by user, step 500. Switch & booting control circuit 206 detects whether at least one of the switches SW1-SWn is on, step 502. When at least one switch is on, Switch & booting control circuit 206 generates a power control signal Power.sub.-- ON and an interrupt request signal IRQ, step 504. Then, power supply 200 applies supply voltage VCC.sub.-- B to main unit 202 and additional function units 204, and central processing unit 300 receives the signal IRQ from the circuit 206. Therefore, central processing unit 300 initializes and checks overall circuits of the computer system in accordance with power on self test of the basic input/output system routines stored in read only memory 304.

Central processing unit 300 provides a specific address signal ADD through bus 203 to switch & booting control circuit 206. Address decoder 414 decodes the address signal ADD to generate a latch enable signal Latch.sub.-- EN. Register 416 latches voltage signals on the second ends of switches SW1-SW2, in response to the latch enable signal Latch.sub.-- EN, step 506.

Subsequently, central processing unit 300 receives the latched voltage signals as data signals for discriminating which at least one of additional functions is required, step 508. Central processing unit 300 loads application program routines corresponding to the at least one discriminated function into random access memory 302, step 510. With this, at least one required additional function is executed without loading operating system routines. For reference, U.S. application Ser. No. 08/744,815 filed by the same applicant discloses a technique for executing additional functions besides general mathematical computation and logic functions.

FIG. 5B is a flowchart of a method for executing additional application functions of the computer system according to the present invention when the system is in normal state, that is, when the system has been powered on and both basic input/output system and operating system routines have been loaded. In this state, first supply voltage VCC.sub.-- A is applied to switch & booting control circuit 206, and second supply voltage VCC.sub.-- B is applied to main unit 202 and additional function units 204, step 520. Switch & booting control circuit 206 detects whether at least one of the switches SW1-SWn is on, step 522. When at least one switch is on, the circuit 206 generates an interrupt request signal IRQ, step 524. When central processing unit 300 is provided with the signal IRQ, it applies a specific address ADD through bus 203 to the switch & booting control circuit 206. So, the circuit 206 latches voltage signals on the second ends of switches SW1-SW2, step 526.

Subsequently, central processing unit 300 receives the voltage signals latched by the switch & booting control circuit 206 as data signals for discriminating which at least one of additional functions is required, step 528. Central processing unit 300 loads application routines into random access memory 302 corresponding to the at least one discriminated function, step 530. With this, at least one required additional function is executed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another method for executing additional application functions of the computer system according to the present invention. Central processing unit 300 initializes and checks circuits of the computer system by means of basic input/output system routines stored in read only memory 304 when a power switch of the computer system is on, step 600. Central processing unit 300 checks whether execution of the additional functions is required during a predetermined time period (desirably, 2 to 5 seconds), step 602. Central processing unit 300 executes the additional functions when the execution of the additional functions is required, step 604. When the execution of the additional functions is not required during the predetermined time period, central processing unit 300 loads operating system routines into random access memory 302 so that the computer system is booted in accordance with the operating system routines, step 606.