Suspend/resume capability for a protected mode microprocessor

• US 5,446,904 A
• Filed: 06/04/1992
• Issued: 08/29/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zenith Data Systems Corp. (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Belt, Steven L., Hovey, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kriess, Kevin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chaki, Kakali
• Application Number:
  US07/894,511
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 395/650, 395/700, 395/750, 395/275, 364/707, 364/708
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/463 Program control block organisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4812 by interrupt, e.g. masked
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. When running a multi-tasking operating system where an application program is being executed in a restricted mode, a suspend/resume operation can be carried out in which the system is substantially powered down and then powered back up, and will resume the interrupted application with the restricted mode back-in effect. Further, set-up changes such as adjustment of the processor speed can be made without exiting the application program running in the restricted mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor having a modem power control output and a modem configuration output, and a modem operable in normal and reduced power modes when said modem power control output is respectively actuated and deactuated, said modem having memory means for storing first and second sets of configuration information simultaneously, and said modem having means responsive to actuation of said modem power control output for configuring said modem using respectively said first set of configuration information and said second set of configuration information when said configuration output is respectively actuated and deactuated.

2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein said modem has means for maintaining said first set of configuration information to reflect the current operational status of said modem when said modem is in said normal mode, said second set of configuration information representing a predetermined configuration of said modem for said normal mode.

3. An apparatus of claim 2, wherein said memory means includes a random access memory in which said first set of configuration information is stored, and means for supplying power to said random access memory when said modem power control output is deactuated.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a processor circuit having means for outputting a modem control signal; and

a modem operationally coupled to said processor circuit and having means for coupling said modem to a telephone line, said modem having a normal operational mode, a first reduced power mode in which said modem consumes less power than in said normal operational mode, and a second reduced power mode in which said modem consumes less power than in said first reduced power mode, said modem including control means for causing said modem to operate in said normal operational mode when said modem control signal is actuated and said modem is on line with a telephone call, for causing said modem to operate in said first reduced power mode when said modem control signal is actuated and said modem is off line, and for causing said modem to operate in said second reduced power mode when said modem control signal is deactuated.

5. An apparatus of claim 4, wherein said control means includes means for switching said modem from said first reduced power mode to said normal operational mode in a first response time and for switching said modem from said second reduced power mode to said normal operational mode in a second response time, said first response time being less than said second response time.

6. An apparatus of claim 4, wherein said modem includes means defining first and second sets of configuration information, wherein said processor circuit outputs a further control signal, and wherein said modem includes means responsive to actuation of said modem control signal when said modem is in said second reduced power mode for configuring said modem using respectively said first set of configuration information and said second set of configuration information when said further control output is respectively actuated and deactuated.

7. An apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first set of configuration information reflects a current operational status of said modem at a point in time when said modem control signal is switched from an actuated condition to a deactuated condition, and said second set of configuration information represents a predetermined configuration of said modem.

8. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein said modem includes means responsive to power being supplied to said modem after power to said modem has been off for configuring said modem using said second set of configuration information.

9. An apparatus of claim 4 wherein said modem includes means operable in each of said normal operational mode and said first and second reduced power modes for outputting a modem ring indicator signal to said processor circuit in response to an incoming telephone call on the telephone line.