Data output method and apparatus

• US 20090177803A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BEIJING LENOVO SOFTWARE LTD. AND LENOVO (BEIJING) LIMITED
• Original Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Liang, Ying, He, Zhiqiang, Ding, Xiaojian, Huang, Maolin, Zhong, Jiangwei, Chen, Xingwen
• Granted Patent: US 9,009,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

A data output method and apparatus according to the present invention, which are applicable in a data processing device comprising an output unit, a computer system and an embedded system, generate a control command for enabling an establishment of a channel for outputting data when it is determined that the computer system stays in a non-operating state, establish a data transmission channel between the embedded system and the output unit based on the control command, determine data to be outputted, and transfer the data to be outputted from the embedded system to the output unit through the data transmission channel. In this way, the method and apparatus according to the present invention can ensure that a user need not wait a long time for the computer'"'"'s start-up, and can carry out an operation on local data for the computer in time, which improves the user satisfaction.

Claims

1. A data output method, which is applicable in a data processing device comprising an output unit, a computer system and an embedded system, said method comprises:

generating a control command for enabling an establishment of a channel for outputting data when it is determined that the computer system stays in a non-operating state;

establishing a data transmission channel between the embedded system and the output unit based on the control command;

determining data to be outputted; and

transferring the data to be outputted from the embedded system to the output unit through the data transmission channel.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein establishing the data transmission channel between the embedded system and the output unit based on the control command comprises:

sending an operation right switching command to the embedded system;

at the embedded system, determining that an operation right for local data of the computer system is to be hold by itself after receiving the operation right switching command; and

switching a channel, through which a User Interface Unit is originally connected with the computer system, to be connected to the embedded system;

or

sending an operation right switching command to the embedded system;

at the embedded system, determining that an operation right for local data of the computer system is to be hold by itself after receiving the operation right switching command;

receiving operation information sent from a User Interface Unit, which is provided in the embedded system; and

disconnecting a User Interface unit in the computer system.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising before establishing a data transmission channel between the computer system and the output unit based on the control command:

synchronizing an operation result for local data in the computer system into the embedded system.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising establishing a data transmission channel between the computer system and the output unit based on the control command, wherein:

the computer system sends an operation right switching command to the embedded system;

the embedded system determines that an operation right for local data of the computer system is no longer to be hold by itself after receiving the operation right switching command; and

a channel, through which a User Interface unit is originally connected to the embedded system, is switched to be connected to the computer system.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 4, further comprising synchronizing an operation result for local data in the embedded system into the computer system when the computer system is switched from the non-operating state into an operating state.

6. A data output apparatus comprising a computer system, an embedded system that carries out an operation for local data, and an Interface Switch, wherein

the computer system is adapted to generate a control command for enabling an establishment of a channel for outputting data when the computer system determines that it stays in a non-operating state;

the Interface Switch is adapted to establish a data transmission channel between the embedded system and an output unit connected therewith, based on the control command; and

the embedded system is adapted to transfer data to be outputted to the output unit through the established data transmission channel.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the computer system comprises an embedded controller EC and a User Interface unit, both of which are connected to the Interface Switch, and the embedded system comprises an application processor AP;

when the computer is switched from an operating state into the non-operating state,

the EC is adapted to send the control command to the embedded system and to send a switch command to the Interface Switch;

the AP is adapted to determine that an operation right for local data of the computer system is to be hold by itself after receiving the control command; and

the Interface Switch is adapted to switch a channel, through which the User Interface is originally connected to the EC, to be connected to the AP.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the computer system comprises an EC and a first User Interface Unit, both of which are connected to the Interface Switch, and the embedded system comprises an AP and a second User Interface Unit, both of which are connected with each other;

when the computer system is switched from an operating state into the non-operating state,

the EC is adapted to send the control command to the embedded system and to send a switch command to the Interface Switch;

the AP is adapted to determine that an operation right for local data of the computer system is to be hold by itself after receiving the control command and to receive operation information from the second User Interface Unit; and

the Interface Switch is adapted to disconnect the first User Interface from the EC when receiving the switch command.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the computer system comprises an EC and a User Interface Unit, both of which are connected to the Interface Switch, and the embedded system comprises an AP, when the computer system is switched from the non-operating state into an operating state,

the EC is adapted to send the control command to the embedded system and to send a switch command to the Interface Switch;

the AP is adapted to determine that an operation right for local data of the computer system is no longer to be hold by itself after receiving the control command; and

the Interface Switch is adapted to switch a channel, through which the User Interface is originally connected to the AP, to be connected to the EC.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 6-9, wherein the output unit is a display unit.