公开(公告)号：US06484308B1

公开(公告)日：2002-11-19

申请号：US08369213

申请日：1995-01-05

申请人： John J. Pearce ,  Jim Walker

发明人： John J. Pearce ,  Jim Walker

IPC分类号： G06F944

CPC分类号： G11B33/125 ,  G06F1/3203 ,  G06F1/3246 ,  G06F9/4418

摘要： A system and method for maintaining data integrity in computer systems which have removable hard drives. The system and method of the present invention ensures that a disk drive which is reinserted into the computer system is the drive used to boot the operating system. When the computer system boots, the system reads the unique drive identification information from the hard drive and stores this identification information in memory for later use. Later, the computer system may be powered down or placed in a suspend state where the hard drive may be removed and a new drive inserted. When the computer system resumes and first requires access to the hard drive, the system and reads the drive identification information from the drive and compares the drive identification obtained from the drive with the drive identification information stored in memory at boot time. If the two sets of identification information are identical, then control is returned to the native operating system and access is allowed to the drive. In this case, since the two sets of drive identification information are identical, the same drive is comprised in or has been reinserted in the computer system, and thus operation can proceed. If the two sets of drive identification are not identical, then the system powers off the drive and reports to the user that the drive installed in the computer system is not the expected drive, i.e., is not the drive used to boot the system.

摘要翻译： 一种用于在具有可移动硬盘驱动器的计算机系统中维护数据完整性的系统和方法。 本发明的系统和方法确保重新插入到计算机系统中的磁盘驱动器是用于引导操作系统的驱动器。 当计算机系统引导时，系统从硬盘驱动器读取唯一的驱动器识别信息，并将该识别信息存储在存储器中供以后使用。 之后，计算机系统可能会掉电或处于挂起状态，硬盘驱动器可能会被卸下并插入新的驱动器。 当计算机系统恢复并且首先需要访问硬盘驱动器时，系统从驱动器读取驱动器识别信息，并将从驱动器获得的驱动器标识与在引导时存储在存储器中的驱动器识别信息进行比较。 如果两组识别信息相同，则控制返回到本地操作系统，并允许访问驱动器。 在这种情况下，由于两组驱动器识别信息相同，所以在计算机系统中包含或重新插入相同的驱动器，因此可以进行操作。 如果两组驱动器标识不相同，则系统关闭驱动器并向用户报告安装在计算机系统中的驱动器不是预期的驱动器，即不是用于引导系统的驱动器。

公开(公告)号：US5617572A

公开(公告)日：1997-04-01

申请号：US666059

申请日：1996-06-19

申请人： John J. Pearce ,  Jim Walker ,  Charles P. Zeller ,  Craig S. Jones

发明人： John J. Pearce ,  Jim Walker ,  Charles P. Zeller ,  Craig S. Jones

IPC分类号： G06F1/32 ,  G06F11/34 ,  G06F11/30

CPC分类号： G06F1/3215 ,  G06F1/325 ,  G06F11/3423 ,  G06F11/3485 ,  Y02B60/165

摘要： A system for reducing the amount of power consumed by a battery operated computer device is disclosed. A microcontroller continuously monitors the activity of at least one I/O device and sets an activity state variable (ASV) associated with the I/O device accordingly. Upon each the expiration of a preselected time period, the microcontroller examines the state of the ASV to determine whether the I/O device was active during the expired time period. If so, the I/O device is caused to operate in a full power mode; otherwise, the I/O device is caused to operate in a reduced power consumption mode. In one embodiment, the I/O device is capable of operating in more than one reduced power consumption mode, in which case, responsive to a determination that the I/O device was not active during the expired time period, the I/O device is caused to operate in the next lowest power consumption mode. In an alternative embodiment, the frequency with which timer interrupts are generated is automatically adjusted after the expiration of each time period.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于减少由电池供电的计算机设备消耗的功率量的系统。 微控制器连续地监视至少一个I / O设备的活动，并相应地设置与I / O设备相关联的活动状态变量（ASV）。 在每个预选时间段到期后，微控制器检查ASV的状态，以确定在过期时间段期间I / O设备是否处于活动状态。 如果是这样，则使I / O设备在全功率模式下工作; 否则，使得I / O设备以降低的功耗模式工作。 在一个实施例中，I / O设备能够以多于一个的降低功耗模式进行操作，在这种情况下，响应于I / O设备在到期时间段期间不活动的确定，I / O设备 导致在下一个最低功耗模式下运行。 在替代实施例中，在每个时间段到期之后，自动调整产生定时器中断的频率。

公开(公告)号：US5675814A

公开(公告)日：1997-10-07

申请号：US591850

申请日：1996-01-26

申请人： John J. Pearce

发明人： John J. Pearce

IPC分类号： G06F1/32 ,  G06F13/00 ,  G06F9/46

CPC分类号： G06F1/3215 ,  G06F1/325

摘要： A portable computer is provided in which the consumption of power by the I/O ports of the computer is reduced. The processor of the computer distinguishes port I/O operations that require an actual data transfer from port I/O operations that do not require an actual data transfer. The I/O ports of the computer remain off until an I/O operation involving an actual data transfer at a particular port is required. When an I/O operation which requires an actual data transfer is encountered, then the appropriate port is powered up. In this manner, power consumption by the I/O ports of the computer is significantly reduced. Advantageously, the disclosed technique for reducing power consumption by the I/O ports of the computer is operating system independent. In this manner, the power management feature functions regardless of which particular operating system or application software is installed on the computer.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种便携式计算机，其中减少了计算机的I / O端口的功率消耗。 计算机的处理器将需要实际数据传输的端口I / O操作与不需要实际数据传输的端口I / O操作区分开来。 计算机的I / O端口保持关闭，直到需要在特定端口进行实际数据传输的I / O操作。 当遇到需要实际数据传输的I / O操作时，适当的端口通电。 以这种方式，计算机的I / O端口的功耗显着降低。 有利地，所公开的用于降低计算机的I / O端口的功耗的技术是独立于操作系统的。 以这种方式，电源管理功能无论在计算机上安装哪个特定的操作系统或应用软件如何。

公开(公告)号：US5539879A

公开(公告)日：1996-07-23

申请号：US448704

申请日：1995-05-24

申请人： John J. Pearce ,  Kendall Witte

发明人： John J. Pearce ,  Kendall Witte

IPC分类号： G06F9/445 ,  G06F11/10 ,  G06F11/14 ,  G11B19/04 ,  G11B20/18 ,  G06F11/00 ,  G06F11/30

CPC分类号： G11B19/04 ,  G06F11/1008 ,  G06F9/4418 ,  G11B20/1833

摘要： Method and apparatus for implementing a checksum technique for verifying the integrity of hard disk space reserved for use in implementing S2D capabilities is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a root block stored in a dedicated, fixed-size S2D partition comprises a plurality of entries each of which contains a pointer to the location of a corresponding pointer block located and a checksum for use in verifying the integrity of the pointer block. Similarly, each pointer block comprises a plurality of entries each of which contains a pointer to the location of a corresponding data block and a checksum for use in verifying the integrity of the data block. When an S2D operation is initiated, an S2D utility of the present invention locates a next available data block in the S2D partition or an extended partition, using the entries in the root block and pointer blocks, computes the checksum for the located data block, compares the computed checksum to the stored checksum for the block and, if the two checksums match writes a portion of RAM to the located block. If at any point, two checksums do not match, an error results and the S2D operation terminates. In one aspect of the invention, an MKS2D utility locates the available blocks of disk space for generating the extended partition, computes a checksum for each block and appropriately fills in the root and pointer blocks with pointers and checksums for use by the S2D utility. In another aspect of the invention, an RMS2D utility deletes the extended partition and returns the data blocks previously allocated thereto to the native OS and/or other partition(s).

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于实现用于验证为实现S2D能力而使用的硬盘空间的完整性的校验和技术的方法和装置。 在优选实施例中，存储在专用固定大小的S2D分区中的根块包括多个条目，每个条目包含指向位于相应指针块的位置的指针和用于验证指针的完整性的校验和 块。 类似地，每个指针块包括多个条目，每个条目包含指向相应数据块的位置的指针和用于验证数据块的完整性的校验和。 当启动S2D操作时，本发明的S2D实用程序使用根块和指针块中的条目来定位S2D分区或扩展分区中的下一可用数据块，计算定位数据块的校验和，比较 计算的块的存储校验和的校验和以及如果两个校验和匹配将一部分RAM写入定位块。 如果在任何时候，两个校验和不匹配，则出现错误，S2D操作终止。 在本发明的一个方面，MKS2D实用程序定位用于生成扩展分区的可用磁盘空间块，为每个块计算校验和，并用指针和校验和适当地填充根和指针块以供S2D实用程序使用。 在本发明的另一方面，RMS2D实用程序删除扩展分区并将先前分配给它的数据块返回到本地OS和/或其他分区。

公开(公告)号：US5896534A

公开(公告)日：1999-04-20

申请号：US592505

申请日：1996-01-26

申请人： John J. Pearce ,  Kendall C. Witte

发明人： John J. Pearce ,  Kendall C. Witte

IPC分类号： G06F9/455 ,  G06F15/163 ,  G06F3/00 ,  G06F9/46

CPC分类号： G06F9/45537

摘要： A conversion methodology utilizes increasing microprocessor performance characteristics and System Management Mode ("SMM") to provide transparent support of hardware components that include features unsupported by executing application and operating system programs. In one embodiment, a PC system includes code that supports only conventional but unavailable communication interfaces. However, the PC system is equipped with a universal serial bus ("USB") controller. Although the USB controller is unsupported by the executing code by the application and operating system programs, the conversion methodology utilizes system management mode to facilitate transparent support for the USB controller. In SMM, a CPU executes SMM code independently of the operating system(s). The conversion methodology causes entry of SMM upon any I/O operation intended for the supported but unavailable conventional communication interfaces. The SMM code provides data from the USB controller in a format recognizable to the requesting non-supporting software. SMM code supports providing all da t that would otherwise be provided to supporting software.

摘要翻译： 转换方法利用增加的微处理器性能特征和系统管理模式（“SMM”）来提供包括执行应用程序和操作系统程序不支持的功能的硬件组件的透明支持。 在一个实施例中，PC系统包括仅支持传统但不可用的通信接口的代码。 然而，PC系统配有通用串行总线（“USB”）控制器。 虽然应用程序和操作系统程序的执行代码不支持USB控制器，但转换方法利用系统管理模式来促进对USB控制器的透明支持。 在SMM中，CPU独立于操作系统执行SMM代码。 转换方法导致SMM在任何用于支持但不可用的常规通信接口的I / O操作时进入。 SMM代码以可请求的不支持软件可识别的格式从USB控制器提供数据。 SMM代码支持提供否则将提供给支持软件的所有数据。

公开(公告)号：US5754853A

公开(公告)日：1998-05-19

申请号：US572952

申请日：1995-12-15

申请人： John J. Pearce

发明人： John J. Pearce

IPC分类号： G06F9/445 ,  G06F11/14 ,  G06F9/00

CPC分类号： G06F9/4418

摘要： A system uses a suspend-to-disk operation to save the total processor state of a computer system. With the processor state saved, utility programs such as diagnostic and setup routines, which access to all computer system resources, are executed without the need to reload executing applications or reboot the native operating system controlling the computer system prior to activating the suspend-to-disk operation.

摘要翻译： 系统使用挂起到磁盘的操作来保存计算机系统的总处理器状态。 在保存处理器状态的情况下，执行访问所有计算机系统资源的实用程序（例如诊断和安装程序），而无需重新加载执行的应用程序或重新启动控制计算机系统的本地操作系统，然后再激活挂起 - 磁盘操作。

公开(公告)号：US5680540A

公开(公告)日：1997-10-21

申请号：US692304

申请日：1996-08-05

申请人： John J. Pearce

发明人： John J. Pearce

IPC分类号： G06F9/445 ,  G06F11/14 ,  G06F11/00

CPC分类号： G06F9/4418

摘要： Method and apparatus for enabling a suspend-to-disk (S2D) state to be associated with a hard disk to which the operations of a personal computer (PC) have been suspended, rather than with the PC itself. In a preferred embodiment, responsive to initiation of an S2D operation, a partition table stored in a partition sector of the hard disk is copied to a known address within an S2D partition of the hard disk and the copy of the partition table stored in the partition sector is altered such that the S2D partition, rather than a native operating system (OS) partition, is designated as the active partition. The S2D operations continue in a conventional manner, with the state of the PC being saved to the hard disk, at which point the PC is powered off. When the PC is subsequently powered back on, the PC boots up from the S2D partition. A resume-from-disk (RFD) program writes the copy of the partition table previously stored in the S2D partition back to the partition sector and then restores the state of the PC.

摘要翻译： 用于使挂起到盘（S2D）状态与个人计算机（PC）的操作已被暂停的硬盘相关联的方法和装置，而不是与PC本身相关联。 在优选实施例中，响应于启动S2D操作，将存储在硬盘的分区扇区中的分区表复制到硬盘的S2D分区内的已知地址以及存储在分区中的分区表的副本 扇区被改变，使得S2D分区而不是本地操作系统（OS）分区被指定为活动分区。 S2D操作以常规方式继续，PC的状态被保存到硬盘，此时PC断电。 PC随后重新打开时，PC从S2D分区启动。 从磁盘恢复（RFD）程序将先前存储在S2D分区中的分区表的副本​​写回分区扇区，然后恢复PC的状态。

公开(公告)号：US5819100A

公开(公告)日：1998-10-06

申请号：US753010

申请日：1996-11-19

申请人： John J. Pearce

发明人： John J. Pearce

IPC分类号： G06F3/06 ,  G06F11/00 ,  G06F11/34 ,  G11B19/04 ,  G11B19/06 ,  G11B19/28 ,  G11B21/02 ,  G06F1/32

CPC分类号： G06F3/0616 ,  G06F11/3409 ,  G06F3/0625 ,  G06F3/0634 ,  G06F3/0676 ,  G11B19/04 ,  G11B19/06 ,  G06F11/008 ,  G06F11/3485 ,  G06F2201/88 ,  Y02B60/1246

摘要： A method and system of operating a power-managed computer system monitors the life cycle of a hard disk drive attached to the computer system and extends the life span of the hard disk drive by reducing the rate at which hard disk drive spin-up cycles are initiated when the hard drive reaches a predetermined stage it life cycle. Software routines which activate or spin-up the hard drive are extended in capability to read the hard drive serial number and record the serial number in a non-volatile memory in conjunction with an incrementing counter. The incrementing counter counts the number of times the hard drive has been activated from the time of installation of the hard drive. The count of spin-up occurrences is indicative of the operating age of the disk drive. A plurality of age levels are defined, for example medium, old and ancient levels so that, when the hard drive spin-up count reaches one of the defined levels, the power management system changes the operation of the hard drive power management.

摘要翻译： 操作功率管理的计算机系统的方法和系统监视连接到计算机系统的硬盘驱动器的生命周期，并通过降低硬盘驱动器启动周期的速率来延长硬盘驱动器的使用寿命 当硬盘驱动器达到预定阶段时启动它的生命周期。 激活或启动硬盘驱动器的软件程序扩展了读取硬盘驱动器序列号的能力，并将序列号与增量计数器一起记录在非易失性存储器中。 增量计数器计算硬盘驱动器从安装硬盘驱动器开始的次数。 启动次数的计数表示磁盘驱动器的运行年龄。 定义了多个年龄级别，例如中等，古老和古老的水平，使得当硬盘驱动器启动计数达到所定义的级别之一时，电源管理系统改变硬盘驱动器电源管理的操作。

公开(公告)号：US5657445A

公开(公告)日：1997-08-12

申请号：US592044

申请日：1996-01-26

申请人： John J. Pearce

发明人： John J. Pearce

IPC分类号： G06F1/00 ,  G06F12/14 ,  G06F21/00

CPC分类号： G06F21/80 ,  G06F12/1491

摘要： A computer system is provided with the capability of protecting portions of the mass storage media therein from unauthorized access. The mechanism employed to protect portions of the mass storage media is advantageously operating system independent. Thus, the protection mechanism functions regardless of what operating system is installed or what particular application software is presently being executed. More particularly, the computer system includes a processor configured to execute code in an operational mode and in a system management mode. A mass storage device and a memory are coupled to the processor. At least one region of the mass storage device is designated as a protected region by the user or by the manufacturer. The computer system is configured to trap mass storage device I/O operations and, in response to a trapped mass storage device I/O operation, the processor enters a system management mode. The computer system is configured to prevent execution of the trapped mass storage device I/O operation if the trapped mass storage device I/O operation is directed to a protected region of the mass storage device. However, the computer executes the trapped mass storage device I/O operation if the trapped mass storage device I/O operation is not directed to a protected region of the mass storage device. In this manner, increased computer system security is provided to selected portions of the mass storage device without reliance on protective mechanisms within the operating system or within add-on application software.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种计算机系统，其能够保护其中的大量存储介质的部分未经授权的访问。 用于保护大容量存储介质的部分的机构有利地与系统无关地操作。 因此，无论安装什么操作系统或目前正在执行什么特定应用软件，保护机制都起作用。 更具体地，计算机系统包括被配置为以操作模式和系统管理模式执行代码的处理器。 大容量存储设备和存储器耦合到处理器。 大容量存储装置的至少一个区域由用户或制造商指定为保护区域。 计算机系统被配置为捕获大容量存储设备I / O操作，并且响应于被捕获的大容量存储设备I / O操作，处理器进入系统管理模式。 如果被捕获的大容量存储设备I / O操作被引导到大容量存储设备的保护区域，则计算机系统被配置为防止被捕获的大容量存储设备I / O操作的执行。 然而，如果被捕获的大容量存储设备I / O操作不指向大容量存储设备的保护区域，则计算机执行被捕获的大容量存储设备I / O操作。 以这种方式，将增加的计算机系统安全性提供给大容量存储设备的选定部分，而不依赖于操作系统内或附加应用软件中的保护机制。

公开(公告)号：US5636041A

公开(公告)日：1997-06-03

申请号：US449614

申请日：1995-05-24

申请人： John J. Pearce ,  Philip Chidester

发明人： John J. Pearce ,  Philip Chidester

IPC分类号： G09G3/36 ,  G02F1/1335 ,  G09G5/10

CPC分类号： G09G3/36 ,  G09G2320/0606 ,  G09G2320/0626

摘要： Method and apparatus for automatically increasing the visibility of an LCD during warm-up thereof is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the system of the present invention comprises brightness control circuitry electrically connected to an LCD panel of a portable personal computer (PC) or other battery operated electronic device for controlling the brightness level of the LCD. The brightness control circuitry is also electrically connected to receive a signal indicative of a brightness control level selected by a user using a user-settable control means, such as a brightness control knob located on the device. In operation, on power up of the LCD, the brightness control circuitry increases the LCD brightness to a maximum level, regardless of the brightness level selected by the user. Once the LCD has warmed up, the brightness control circuitry decreases the brightness level of the LCD to the level selected by the user. In one aspect of the invention, the brightness level is decreased incrementally such that its occurrence is virtually undetectable by the user.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于在预热期间自动提高LCD的可视性的方法和装置。 在优选实施例中，本发明的系统包括电连接到便携式个人计算机（PC）或其他电池操作的电子设备的LCD面板的亮度控制电路，用于控制LCD的亮度水平。 亮度控制电路还电连接以接收指示用户使用诸​​如位于设备上的亮度控制旋钮的用户可设置控制装置选择的亮度控制电平的信号。 在操作中，在LCD上电时，亮度控制电路将LCD亮度提高到最大水平，而与用户选择的亮度水平无关。 一旦LCD已经升温，亮度控制电路将LCD的亮度水平降低到用户选择的水平。 在本发明的一个方面，亮度级别逐渐减小，使得其发生几乎不被用户检测到。