Computer system with a variety of applications and method for operating the same
First Claim
1. A computer system, comprising:
- a bus for communicating information;
a power supply supplying first and second supply voltages;
a switch circuit for selecting the additional functions;
a read only memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing a set of basic input/output system routines which control input and output peripherals of the computer system;
an auxiliary memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing a set of operating system routines which control operation of the computer system for the purpose of obtaining an efficient performance of the system;
an additional function memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing multiple sets of application routines which execute the additional functions respectively;
a central processing unit coupled with the bus, for processing information according to instructions of the routines;
a random access memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing the instructions, the information, temporary variables and immediate information during execution of the instructions by said central processing unit temporarily; and
a booting control circuit operated with said first supply voltage, for generating a power control signal and an interrupt request signal when at least one of the additional functions is selected, said power supply to apply said second supply voltage to the central processing unit, the memory, and the input/output peripherals in response to said power control signal, and said central processing unit loads the basic input/output system routines and the application routines into said random access memory unit in order, in response to said interrupt request signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A provided computer system has a variety of additional application functions such as television, audio, video, communication, game, home automation functions, etc., as well as general mathematical computation and logic functions. Also, the system has a switch circuit and a booting control circuit. The switch circuit is used in selecting the additional functions which has a plurality of switches corresponding to the functions respectively. The booting control circuit is operated with a first supply voltage VCC-- A which allows power supply to apply a second supply voltage VCC-- B to central processing unit, several kinds of memory units and input/output peripherals when at least one of the switches is on. The central processing unit loads basic input/output system routines into random access memory so as to initialize and check circuits of the computer system, and loads application routines for the additional functions into the random access memory without loading operating system routines when the at least one of the switches is on.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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a bus for communicating information; a power supply supplying first and second supply voltages; a switch circuit for selecting the additional functions; a read only memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing a set of basic input/output system routines which control input and output peripherals of the computer system; an auxiliary memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing a set of operating system routines which control operation of the computer system for the purpose of obtaining an efficient performance of the system; an additional function memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing multiple sets of application routines which execute the additional functions respectively; a central processing unit coupled with the bus, for processing information according to instructions of the routines; a random access memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing the instructions, the information, temporary variables and immediate information during execution of the instructions by said central processing unit temporarily; and a booting control circuit operated with said first supply voltage, for generating a power control signal and an interrupt request signal when at least one of the additional functions is selected, said power supply to apply said second supply voltage to the central processing unit, the memory, and the input/output peripherals in response to said power control signal, and said central processing unit loads the basic input/output system routines and the application routines into said random access memory unit in order, in response to said interrupt request signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 10)
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4. A method for operating a computer system, comprising the steps of
provide central processing unit, a first storage means for storing a set of basic input/output system routines and a second storage means for storing a set of operating system routines, a third storage means for storing multiple sets of application program routines for execution of additional functions, a plurality of switches for selecting the functions, and a system board; -
detecting whether at least one of the switches is on; applying a supply voltage to said board when at least one of said plurality of switches is on; initializing and checking circuits of the computer system by means of the basic input/output system routines; determining which additional function is to be loaded into said third storage means; and executing said additional function by means of the application program routines. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method for operating a computer system, comprising the steps of:
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provide a central processing unit, a first storage means for storing a set of basic input/output system routines and a second storage means for storing a set of operating system routines, a third storage means for storing multiple sets of application program routines for execution of additional functions, a plurality of switches for selecting the functions, and a system board; booting the computer system by means of the basic input/output system and operating system routines; detecting whether at least one of the switches is on; generating an interrupt request signal when the at least one switch is on; determining which additional function is to be loaded into said third storage means; discriminating which at least one of the additional functions is required, in response to the interrupt request signal; and executing said additional function by means of the application program routines.
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7. A multimedia computer system, comprising:
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a bus for communicating information; a read only memory unit coupled to said bus, for storing a set of basic input/output system routines which control input and output peripherals of the computer system; an auxiliary memory unit coupled to said bus, for storing a set of operating system routines which control the operation of the computer system for the purpose of obtaining an efficient performance thereof, and multiple sets of application program routines for execution of additional functions; a central processing unit coupled to said bus, for processing information according to instructions of the routines; a random access memory unit coupled to said bus, for storing the instructions, the information, temporary variables and immediate information during execution of the instructions by said central processing unit, temporarily; and a power switch of said computer system; said central processing unit loads the basic input/output system routines into said said random access memory unit so as to initialize and check circuits of the computer system when said power switch thereof is on, and loads the application program routines into said random access memory unit without loading the operating system routines when execution of the additional functions is required. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method for operating a computer system, comprising:
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provide a central processing unit, a first storage means for storing a set of basic input/output system routines and a second storage means for storing a set of operating system routines, and a third storage means for storing multiple sets of application program routines for execution of additional functions; initializing and checking circuits of the computer system by means of basic input/output system routines when a power switch thereof is on; checking whether execution of the additional functions is required during a predetermined time period; executing the additional functions when the execution of the additional functions is required; and booting the computer system by means of operating system routines when the execution of the additional functions is not required during the predetermined time period.
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Specification