Personal computer system with remotely-configured hardware-enforced usage limits
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising:
- a main processor;
a main memory coupled to said main processor adapted for storing a main operating system and installed applications, said main processor adapted for executing said installed applications;
a first video graphics adapter circuit coupled to said main processor;
a main system logic coupled to said main processor and said main memory;
a power supply coupled to said main system logic and configured to operate in one of a plurality of states, signaled by said main system logic,wherein if the said power supply is signaled to operate in an on state, said power supply provides power to said main processor and said video graphics adapter circuit and if the said power supply is signaled to operate in an off state, said power supply does not supply power to said main processor and said video graphics adapter circuit;
a plurality of front panel connector circuits coupled to said main system logic;
a power switch input sensing means coupled to said plurality of front panel connector circuits so that upon detection of a power switch closure, said power switch input sensing means adapted to signal said main system logic to signal said power supply to switch states;
a microcontroller coupled to said plurality of front panel connector circuits and said power supply;
a user input means coupled to said microcontroller adapted to indicate the user is requesting to power said main processor to an on state to operate said main operating system;
a memory coupled to said microcontroller which is adapted for executing a program stored in said memory that upon detecting said user input determines, based on a date said user input is detected and a set of limitations values, if such a request is allowed or denied, and if said request is allowed, will cause said power supply to switch to said on state, and when an allowed time has elapsed, will cause said power supply to switch to said off state;
wherein said set of limitations values further comprise a plurality of taper down settings;
wherein said program determines the allowed time, smaller than a previous allowed time corresponding to a previous date, based on said taper down settings and said date of the user'"'"'s request to power on said main processor;
whereby the allowed time is automatically reduced over time according to a predetermined schedule;
whereby forming a computer usage time limit system adapted to enforce computer usage time limits are enforced independent of the main operating system or installed applications.
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Abstract
A personal computer includes a motherboard, video graphics adapter, mod board, switching board and single board computer. The switching board includes a microcontroller and USB and video switching circuits. A networked server includes a limitations database. The mod board is connected to the front panel signals of the motherboard and the main switching board connects to the mod board, the single board computer and the video graphics adapter. Upon user input to a program running on the single board computer, the program makes a server request. Response data is sent to the microcontroller on the switching board and, if time is available, switches the USB keyboard to the motherboard, the video output to the video graphics adapter and signals the mod board to power on the motherboard. The program on the single board computer signals the switching board to switch back video, USB and motherboard power when allowed time expires.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
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a main processor; a main memory coupled to said main processor adapted for storing a main operating system and installed applications, said main processor adapted for executing said installed applications; a first video graphics adapter circuit coupled to said main processor; a main system logic coupled to said main processor and said main memory; a power supply coupled to said main system logic and configured to operate in one of a plurality of states, signaled by said main system logic, wherein if the said power supply is signaled to operate in an on state, said power supply provides power to said main processor and said video graphics adapter circuit and if the said power supply is signaled to operate in an off state, said power supply does not supply power to said main processor and said video graphics adapter circuit; a plurality of front panel connector circuits coupled to said main system logic; a power switch input sensing means coupled to said plurality of front panel connector circuits so that upon detection of a power switch closure, said power switch input sensing means adapted to signal said main system logic to signal said power supply to switch states; a microcontroller coupled to said plurality of front panel connector circuits and said power supply; a user input means coupled to said microcontroller adapted to indicate the user is requesting to power said main processor to an on state to operate said main operating system; a memory coupled to said microcontroller which is adapted for executing a program stored in said memory that upon detecting said user input determines, based on a date said user input is detected and a set of limitations values, if such a request is allowed or denied, and if said request is allowed, will cause said power supply to switch to said on state, and when an allowed time has elapsed, will cause said power supply to switch to said off state; wherein said set of limitations values further comprise a plurality of taper down settings; wherein said program determines the allowed time, smaller than a previous allowed time corresponding to a previous date, based on said taper down settings and said date of the user'"'"'s request to power on said main processor; whereby the allowed time is automatically reduced over time according to a predetermined schedule; whereby forming a computer usage time limit system adapted to enforce computer usage time limits are enforced independent of the main operating system or installed applications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer system, comprising:
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a main processor; a main memory coupled to said main processor; a video graphics adapter coupled to said main processor; a main system logic coupled to said main processor and said main memory and a plurality of peripheral device controllers; a power supply coupled to said main system logic and configured to operate in one of a plurality of states, signaled by said main system logic, wherein if the power supply is signaled to operate in an on state, the power supply provides power to said main processor and said video graphics adapter, and if the power supply is signaled to operate in an off state, the power supply does not supply power to said main processor and said video graphics adapter; a plurality of front panel connector circuits coupled to said main system logic; power switch input sensing means coupled to said plurality of front panel connector circuits that upon detection of a switch closure will signal said main system logic to signal said power supply to switch states; reset switch input sensing means coupled to said plurality of front panel connector circuits such that upon detection of a switch closure said reset switch input sensing means is adapted to signal said main system logic to signal a master reset of said main processor; secondary processor means coupled to said front panel connector circuits and coupled to said power switch input sensing means such that it can emulate a power switch depression, and coupled to said reset switch input sensing means such that it can emulate a reset switch depression; power sensing means coupled to said secondary processor and to said front panel connector circuits, said power sensing means adapted to determine if said power supply state is on or off; and secondary memory means coupled to said secondary processor means, said secondary processor means adapted for executing a program in the secondary memory means for determining if the power supply state should be on or off, and in response to the power supply being detected as on when determined it should be off, causes the said secondary processor means to emulate a power switch depression to cause the power supply to switch to the off state; wherein said program further determines if said power supply state remains on even after said secondary processor means emulated a power switch depression, and if such a determination is made, causes a periodic emulation of the reset switch to cause said main processor to continually reset; whereby rendering said main processor unusable. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A computer system that operates in a plurality of modes such that in one mode a refresh rate of a video content to be displayed is reduced, and in another mode said refresh rate of said video content to be displayed is not reduced, comprising:
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a main processor; a main memory coupled to said main processor; a primary operating system adapted to be loaded in said main memory and adapted to be executed by said main processor; a video graphics adapter containing a frame buffer, coupled to said main processor; a reduction means coupled to said video graphics adapter adapted for reducing a video content output rate from said video graphics adapter, and selection means coupled to said reduction means adapted to select any of a plurality of modes; and a video display signal output means coupled to said reduction means adapted for outputting signals to drive a video display; whereby the ability to play video games and/or watch video media content is limited; wherein said reduction means comprises; a second processor; a second memory coupled to said second processor which said second memory is adapted for storing a second operating system and application programs adapted to be run by said second processor; a second video graphics adapter coupled to said second processor; a networking means coupled to said main processor; a second networking means coupled to said second processor; a local area network means which is adapted to be coupled to said networking means and said second networking means such that both said networking means and said second networking means are adapted to communicate with each other; a virtual networking computing server application running on said primary operating system configured to allow remote desktop connections; a virtual networking computing client application, running on said second operating system, configured to communicate with said virtual networking computing server application to provide a remote desktop display output by said second video graphics adapter; and a video signal switching circuit coupled to said selection means and said video display signal output means to switch said video signal output from either said video graphics adapter or said second video graphics adapter to said video display signal output means.
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Specification