Computer and method for sharing input device thereof

• US 20100049897A1
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ding, Xiaojian, Jin, Yuru, Huang, Maolin
• Granted Patent: US 9,696,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

According to the present invention, a computer is provided, which comprises a host system, an embedded subsystem, a power source, an input device control module, a first transmission interface and a second transmission interface, the input device control module being connected to the embedded subsystem through the first transmission interface, wherein the input device control module is configured to establish, in response to receipt of a first switching instruction, communication with the embedded subsystem such that the embedded subsystem is enabled to process input data from an input device and to transmit the input data obtained from the input device to the first transmission interface; and the embedded subsystem is configured to receive the input data from the first transmission interface, process the input data and perform an operation corresponding to the input data. According to the present invention, one set of input devices can be shared between a computer and an embedded system through design and modification in software without any change in the existing hardware design for the computer.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising a host system, an embedded subsystem, a power source, an input device control module, a first transmission interface and a second transmission interface, the power source being connected to the embedded subsystem, the host system and the input device control module, respectively, the input device control module being connected to the embedded subsystem through the first transmission interface and to the host system through the second transmission interface, wherein

the input device control module is configured to establish, in response to receipt of a first switching instruction, communication with the embedded subsystem such that the embedded subsystem is enabled to process input data from an input device connected to the input device control module and to transmit the input data obtained from the input device to the first transmission interface;

and

the embedded subsystem is configured to receive the input data from the first transmission interface, process the input data and perform an operation corresponding to the input data.

2. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the input device control module is configured to transmit, in response to receipt of a second switching instruction, the input data obtained from the input device to the second transmission interface such that the host system is enabled to process the input data.

3. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the input device control module is an embedded controller (EC) and the embedded subsystem comprises an input device processing module and a virtual input device driving module, wherein

the input device processing module is configured to receive the input data from the first transmission interface and to parse the type of the input data from the input data for generating data type information;

and

the virtual input device driving module is configured to convert the input data into data executable by the embedded subsystem based on the data type information.

4. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission interface is a system management bus interface.

5. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the embedded subsystem comprises a personal digital assistant or a mobile phone;

and the input device comprises a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad or a writing tablet which is connected to the computer.

6. A method for sharing an input device of a computer comprising a host system, an embedded subsystem, a power source, an input device control module, a first transmission interface and a second transmission interface, the power source being connected to the embedded subsystem, the host system and the input device control module, respectively, the input device control module being connected to the embedded subsystem through the first transmission interface and to the host system through the second transmission interface, the method comprising:

transmitting, by the input device control module, input data inputted from an input device connected to the input device control module to the first transmission interface in response to receipt of a first switching instruction and completion of establishing communication with the embedded subsystem based on the first switching instruction; and

receiving, by the embedded subsystem, the input data from the first transmission interface to process the input data and perform an operation corresponding to the input data.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of receiving, by the embedded subsystem, the input data from the first transmission interface to process the input data and perform an operation corresponding to the input data comprises:

receiving, by an input device processing module of the embedded subsystem, the input data from the first transmission interface to parse the type of the input data from the input data for generating data type information; and

converting, by a virtual input device driving module of the embedded subsystem, the input data into data executable by the embedded subsystem based on the data type information.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprises:

transmitting, by the input device control module, the input data to the second transmission interface in response to receipt of a second switching instruction.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein establishing communication with the embedded subsystem based on the first switching instruction comprises:

outputting, by the input device control module, a first request signal to the embedded subsystem;

enabling, by the embedded subsystem based on the first request signal, a module for processing the input data; and

returning, by the embedded subsystem, a first switching completion signal to the input device control module once the module for processing the input data is enabled.