Method for controlled locking/unlocking of a system using a locking mode flag during an interrupt routine

• US 5,579,523 A
• Filed: 08/22/1995
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Shigeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILEY, DAVID ARMAND
• Application Number:
  US08/517,805
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 395/726
• US Class Current: 710/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1615 Switching on; Switching off, e.g. remotely battery saving circuits associated with selective call operation H04W52/00; details of power consumption reduction in a PLL, H03L7/0802, H03L7/14, H03L2207/08, H03L2207/18; muting amplifiers by gain control see H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A power controlling apparatus turns off a power to an apparatus whose connection to a central apparatus has been cut by a connection change, thus selectively turning off a power to an apparatus not required by the central apparatus. A locking/unlocking apparatus determines a value of the locking timer in the interrupt timer routine and, when the value has exceeded a predetermined level, takes a slave apparatus out of the locked state, thereby simplifying programming.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a locking/unlocking operation of a system comprising the steps of:

checking in an interrupt routine if a locking mode clear execution flag is set;

if said locking mode clear execution flag is set, clearing said locking mode clear execution flag, checking whether a main routine of the system is ready to be unlocked again, and clearing said locking mode execution flag if said main routine of the system is ready to be unlocked again;

if said locking mode clear execution flag is not set, determining if a register value of a locking timer is greater than a predetermined value;

if said register value of said locking timer is not greater than said predetermined value, exiting said interrupt routine;

if said register value of said locking timer is greater than said predetermined value, clearing said locking timer register, checking whether the main routine of the system is ready to be unlocked again, and clearing said locking mode execution flag if said main routine of the system is ready to be unlocked again.

2. A method of controlling a locking/unlocking operation as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

all of said steps are for an interrupt sequence.

3. A method of controlling a locking/unlocking operation as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether one of a first main sequence and a second main sequence has been interrupted by execution of said interrupt sequence;

if said first main sequence has been interrupted, saving values of registers used by said first main sequence; and

if said second main sequence has been interrupted, saving values of registers used by said second main sequence.