Time setting device and method of an operating system in a power saving mode

• US 6,067,631 A
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Seung-Beom
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, DENNIS
• Application Number:
  US09/217,806
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 713/400, 713/500, 713/502, 713/503, 713/601, 713/322
• US Class Current: 713/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/14 Time supervision arrangements, e.g. real time clock
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

A time setting device for setting time in a computer based operating system. The time setting device utilizes a random access memory (RAM) in which an operating system is loaded and the operation thereof is performed, a real time clock (RTC) for tracking real time and the date, and storing corresponding data in a corresponding register, a power management system controller for sensing whether an activity signal according to data input or reception/transmission of data is generated, and generating a clock driving signal according to a sensed result, a clock generator for outputting a clock signal according to the clock driving signal generated by the power management system controller, a central processing unit operated according to the clock signal output by the clock generator, and a device driver for resetting the time and the date of the operating system according to the time and date measured by the real time clock after determining that the central processing unit is in a stop clock state when the time and the date measured in the operating system is delayed when compared to the time and the date measured by the real time clock after reading the real time clock for the time and the date, and reads the time and the date measured by the real time clock and the operating system at predetermined time periods.

Claims

1. A time setting device of an operating system in a computer system having a power saving mode and a normal mode of operation, said device comprising:

a random access memory for storing said operating system;

a real time clock for providing representations of real time and date;

a power management system controller for generating a clock driving signal in said normal mode and stopping said clock driving signal from being generated in said power saving mode;

a clock for generating a clock signal in response to said clock driving signal;

a central processing unit for measuring time and date of said operating system in response to said clock signal and, in response to no clock signal being generated during said power saving mode, being shut down; and

a device driver for comparing, after a change from said power saving mode to said normal mode, said time and date measured by said central processing system to said real time and date provided by said real time clock, said device driver resetting said time and date of said operating system according to said real time and date provided by said real time clock when said time and date of said operating system is delayed due to said central processing unit being shutdown during said power saving mode.

2. The time setting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power management system controller stops generating said clock driving signal when no activity signal is sensed after a predetermined time period during said normal mode.

3. The time setting device as set forth in claim 2, further comprised of:

said clock stopping the generation of said clock signal when said power management system controller stops generating said clock driving signal; and

said central processing unit shutting down and delaying the measuring of said time and date of said operating system when said clock stops generating said clock signal.

4. The time setting device as set forth in claim 3, further comprised of:

said device driver reading said real time and date provided by said real time clock and said time and date of said operating system every said predetermined time period.

5. The time setting device as set forth in claim 1, further comprised of:

said device driver reading said real time and date provided by said real time clock and said time and date of said operating system every predetermined time period.

6. A method of a time and date setting device for setting time and date of an operating system in a computer system having a power saving mode, said method comprising the steps of:

checking for an activity signal generated in response to an input by a keyboard or a mouse, or by data reception/transmission via a modem;

generating a clock driving signal when said activity signal is detected;

generating a clock signal in response to said clock driving signal;

measuring, in a central processing unit, said time and date of said operating system in response to said clock signal;

stopping said step of generating said clock driving signal when said activity signal is not detected within a predetermined time period and switching from said normal mode to said power saving mode;

stopping said step of generating said clock signal when said step of generating said clock driving signal is stopped;

stopping said step of measuring said time and date of said operating system and shutting down said central processing unit when said step of generating said clock signal is stopped;

rechecking for said activity signal during said power saving mode;

switching to said normal mode from said power saving mode when said activity signal is detected during said rechecking step;

reading real time and date provided by a real time clock and reading said time and date measured by said central processing unit after switching from said power saving mode to said normal mode;

comparing said real time and date provided by said real time clock with said time and date measured by said central processing unit to obtain a comparison result; and

setting said time and date of said operating system to said real time and date when said comparison result indicates that said time and date measured by said central processing unit is delayed.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising the step of:

executing a specific operation in said normal mode when said comparison result indicates that said time and date measured by said central processing unit is not delayed.

8. A method setting a date of an operating system in a computer system having a power saving mode and a normal mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of:

checking for an activity signal generated in response to an input by a keyboard or a mouse, or by data reception/transmission via a modem;

generating a clock driving signal when said activity signal is detected;

generating a clock signal in response to said clock driving signal;

measuring, in a central processing unit, said date of said operating system in response to said clock signal;

switching to said power saving mode and stopping said step of generating said clock driving signal when said activity signal is not detected within said predetermined time period;

stopping said step of generating said clock signal when said step of generating said clock driving signal is stopped;

stopping said step of measuring said date of said operating system and shutting down said central processing unit when said step of generating said clock signal is stopped;

remaining in said power save mode until said activity signal is detected during said power saving mode;

switching to said normal mode and reading a real date provided by a real time clock when said activity signal is detected during said power saving mode;

reading said date measured by said central processing unit;

comparing said real date provided by said real time clock with said date measured by said central processing unit to obtain a comparison result; and

setting said date of said operating system to said real date when said comparison result indicates that said date measured by said central processing unit is delayed.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the step of:

performing a specific operation in said normal mode when said comparison result indicates that said date measured by said central processing unit is not delayed.