AUXILIARY OUTPUT DEVICE, PORTABLE COMPUTER HAVING THE SAME, AND METHOD FOR SWITCHING OPERATING SYSTEMS OF THE SAME

• US 20090031329A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Dae Ho
• Granted Patent: US 8,307,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/327
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/461 Saving or restoring of program or task context

Abstract

A method for switching from an OS of a portable computer to another OS of an auxiliary output device, and the portable computer containing the auxiliary output device, are discussed. According to an embodiment, the auxiliary input/output device includes a control unit configured to control a data storage unit of the portable computer once an OS switching signal is generated in a main device of the portable computer; and an interface unit configured to enable communication between the main device and the auxiliary input/output device, wherein in response to the OS switching signal, the control unit is configured to execute a task that a main controller of the main device has been executing.

Claims

1. An auxiliary input/output device provided in a portable computer and driven by a first operating system (OS), the portable computer including a main device driven by a second OS separate from the first OS, the auxiliary input/output device comprising:

a control unit configured to control a data storage unit of the portable computer once an OS switching signal is generated in the main device; and

an interface unit configured to enable communication between the main device and the auxiliary input/output device, wherein

in response to the OS switching signal, the control unit is configured to execute a task that a main controller of the main device has been executing.

2. The auxiliary input/output device as claimed in claim 1, wherein once the OS switching signal is generated, the control unit is configured to play at least one multimedia file that the main controller has been playing.

3. The auxiliary input/output device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to receive flag information set by the main controller, determine a multimedia playback location within the multimedia file based on the flag information, and play the multimedia file from the multimedia playback location.

4. The auxiliary input/output device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the OS switching signal is generated, the control unit is configured to receive a play list from the main controller, and play multimedia files in an order based on the play list from a particular multimedia playback location.

5. The auxiliary input/output device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface unit comprises:

a first interface configured to connect an embedded controller of the main device to the control unit; and

a second interface configured to connect the data storage unit to the control unit, wherein the data storage unit is a data storage of the main device.

6. The auxiliary input/output device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a data memory for storing data transmitted by the main controller.

7. The auxiliary input/output device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the data memory is configured to receive and store multimedia files transmitted from the main controller.

8. The auxiliary input/output device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to receive and store playback information from the main controller, and continue to execute the task using the stored playback information.

9. The auxiliary input/output device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an output unit configured to output audio data only, video data only, or audio and video data as part of the task.

10. A portable computer comprising:

a main device configured to be driven by a first operating system (OS) and to control operations of the portable computer; and

an auxiliary output device configured to be driven by a second OS different from the first OS,

wherein the main device comprises a main controller, an embedded controller configured to control driving of the auxiliary output device according to a control signal from the main controller, and a data storage unit configured to store data comprising multimedia files; and

wherein the auxiliary output device comprises a control unit configured to control the data storage unit once an OS switching signal is generated in the main device, and in response to the OS switching signal, the control unit is configured to execute a task that the main controller has been executing.

11. The portable computer as claimed in claim 10, wherein once the OS switching signal is generated, the control unit is configured to play at least one multimedia file that the main controller has been playing.

12. The portable computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to receive flag information set by the main controller, determine a multimedia playback location within the multimedia file based on the flag information, and play the multimedia file from the multimedia playback location.

13. The portable computer as claimed in claim 10, wherein when the OS switching signal is generated, the control unit is configured to receive a play list from the main controller, and play the multimedia files in an order based on the play list from a particular multimedia playback location.

14. The portable computer as claimed in claim 10, wherein the auxiliary output device further comprises a data memory configured to receive and store the multimedia files and/or playback information transmitted by the main controller.

15. The portable computer as claimed in claim 10, wherein the main device further comprises a display unit, and the auxiliary output device further comprises a display unit disposed at an upper surface area of the portable computer.

16. A method for switching between operating systems (OSs) of a portable computer having a main device and an auxiliary output device, the method comprising:

determining whether or not a main controller of the main device is playing a multimedia file, when an OS switching signal is generated;

transmitting playback information to the auxiliary output device when the determining step determines the main controller is playing the multimedia file;

setting up a flag indicating a playback termination location of the multimedia file currently being played;

terminating a playback of the multimedia file and transmitting a termination signal to the auxiliary output device;

establishing control over a data storage unit by the auxiliary output device after receiving the termination signal; and

playing the multimedia file from the flag setup location by the auxiliary output device after obtaining control over the data storage unit.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein, in the setting up step, the flag is set up at a multimedia file playback location coming after a setup time (T) determined based on consideration of driving time of the auxiliary output device, and the terminating step comprises:

determining whether or not the multimedia file playback location coincides with the flag setup location;

continuing the playback until the multimedia file playback location coincides with the flag setup location when it has been determined that the multimedia file playback location precedes the flag setup location; and

terminating the playback of the multimedia file and transmitting the termination signal to the auxiliary output device when it has been determined that the multimedia file playback location coincides with the flag setup location.

19. The method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the flag is indicated on data of the multimedia file, or is information indicated on an entire play list in terms of time.

20. The method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the playback information comprises play list information registered in a multimedia execution application.

21. The method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the playing step plays additional multimedia files stored in the auxiliary output device in an order set by a play list included in the received playback information.

22. The method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the OS switching signal is generated when a user manually requests it, or when the portable computer switches to a sleep mode or a suspended mode, or when a cover of the portable computer is closed, or when the portable computer is powered off, or when a battery level of the portable computer reaches a certain level.

18. A method for switching between operation systems (OSs) of a portable computer having a main device and an auxiliary output device, the method comprising:

determining whether or not a main controller of the main device is playing a multimedia file when an OS switching signal is generated;

transmitting playback information to the auxiliary output device when the determining step determines the main controller is playing the multimedia file;

transmitting at least one multimedia file associated with the playback information to the auxiliary output device;

receiving and storing the multimedia file by the auxiliary output device;

transmitting a storage completion signal to the main controller after the storing of the multimedia file is completed;

setting up a flag indicating a playback termination location regarding the multimedia file by the main controller after receiving the storage completion signal;

terminating a playback of the multimedia file and transmitting a termination signal to the auxiliary output device; and

playing the stored multimedia file from the flag setup location by the auxiliary output device after receiving the termination signal.

23. A method for switching from an OS of a main controller to an OS of an auxiliary output device in a portable computer, the auxiliary output device being driven by its own OS, the method comprising:

generating an OS switching signal when a certain event occurs;

once the OS switching signal is generated, receiving a play list of multimedia files from the main controller by the auxiliary output device when the portable computer is playing an audio and/or video file;

once the OS switching signal is generated, switching from the OS of the main controller to the OS of the auxiliary output device; and

continuously playing, by the auxiliary output device, the audio and/or video file after a point of time of the OS switching.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the main controller sets up a flag at a file playback location before the OS switching and transmits flag information pertaining to the flag to the auxiliary output device, and the auxiliary output device determines a location for staring a playback of the audio and/or video file by using the flag information.