Method and system for controlling data in a computer system in the event of a power failure

• US 6,496,939 B2
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BiTMICRO, LLC (BiTMICRO Networks, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bit Microsystems, Inc.
• Inventors: Bruce, Ricardo H., Portman, Roland F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Application Number:
  US09/399,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300-340, 714/2, 714/14, 714/22
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24

Abstract

A method and system for controlling data in a computer system when the computer system loses power is disclosed. The method and system comprises activating a plurality of super capacitors to supply power to the computing engine based upon power being removed from the computer system and reconfiguring the data in the computing engine. Through the use of a system and method, large amounts of newly written and modified data can be stored from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory in the event of a sudden external system power loss. The system and method allows data to be rapidly and irretrievably erased from the non-volatile memory automatically, in the event of a sudden loss of external power, or manually. This capability consumes minimal space and weight and is implemented in an affordable manner.

Claims

1. A method for controlling data in a computer system when the computer system loses power, the computer system comprising a computing engine, comprising the steps of:

(a) activating a plurality of super capacitors to supply power to the computing engine based upon power being removed from the computer system;

(b) reconfiguring the data in the computing engine; and

(c) deactivating the plurality of super capacitors to cut off power to the computing engine based upon the plurality of super capacitors discharging to a predetermined level.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing engine comprises a least one volatile memory and at least one non-volatile memory.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the reconfiguring step (b) further comprises:

(b1) allowing all data to be transferred from the at least one volatile memory to the at least one non-volatile memory.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the reconfiguring step (b) further comprises:

(b1) allowing all data in the at least one volatile memory to be erased.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the reconfiguring step (b) further comprises:

(b2) allowing all data in the at least one non-volatile memory to be erased.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the activating step (a) further comprises:

(a1) reversing the flow of current between the computing engine and the plurality of super capacitors; and

(a2) discharging current from the plurality of super capacitors to the computing engine.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the activating step (a) further comprises:

(a1) reversing the flow of current between the computing engine and the plurality of super capacitors; and

(a2) discharging current from the plurality of super capacitors to the computing engine.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the allowing step (b2) is initiated based upon a user interaction.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the user interaction is the depressing of a button.

10. A system for controlling data in a computer system when the computer system loses power, the computer system comprising a computer engine, comprising:

means for activating a plurality of super capacitors to supply power to the computing engine based upon power being removed from the computer system;

means for reconfiguring the data in the computing engine; and

means for deactivating the plurality of super capacitors to cut off power to the computing engine based upon the plurality of super capacitors discharging to a predetermined level.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the computing engine comprises a least one volatile memory and at least one non-volatile memory.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the reconfiguring means further comprises:

means for allowing all data to be transferred from the at least one volatile memory to the at least one non-volatile memory.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the reconfiguring means further comprises:

means for allowing all data in the at least one volatile memory to be erased.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the allowing means further comprises:

means for allowing all data in the at least one non-volatile memory to be erased.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the activating means further comprises:

means for reversing the flow of current between the computing engine and the plurality of super capacitors; and

means for discharging current from the plurality of super capacitors to the computing engine.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the activating means further comprises:

means for reversing the flow of current between the computing engine and the plurality of super capacitors; and

means for discharging current from the plurality of super capacitors to the computing engine.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the allowing means is initiated based upon a user interaction.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the user interaction is the depressing of a button.

19. A method for controlling data in a computer system when the computer system loses power, the computer system comprising a computing engine, comprising the steps of:

(a) allowing the computer system to be placed in an erase mode;

(b) activating a plurality of super capacitors to supply power to the computing engine based upon power being removed from the computer system; and

(c) securely erasing data in the computing engine to prevent access to the data each time power is removed from the computing engine and the system is in the erase mode.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the allowing step (a) further includes the step of:

(a1) allowing the computer system to be placed in the erase mode or in a save mode.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of:

(d) saving the data in the computing engine in a non-volatile storage in each time power is removed from the computing engine and the system is in the save mode.

22. A method for controlling data in a computer system when the computer system loses power, the computer system comprising a computing engine, comprising the steps of:

(a) activating a plurality of super capacitors to supply power to the computing engine based upon power being removed from the computer system;

(b) placing the computer system in a standby mode based upon power being removed from the computer system;

(c) providing power to the computer system using the plurality of super capacitors in response to a user interaction after the computer system has entered standby mode; and

(d) erasing data in the computing engine based upon the user interaction.

23. A method for controlling data in a computer system when the computer system loses power, the computer system comprising a computing engine, comprising the steps of:

(a) activating a plurality of super capacitors to supply power to the computing engine based upon power being removed from the computer system;

(b) reconfiguring the data in the computing engine; and

(c) ensuring that the plurality of super capacitors is maintained in a desired temperature range.

24. A system for controlling data in a computer system when the computer system loses power, the computer system comprising a computer engine, comprising:

means for activating a plurality of super capacitors to supply power to the computing engine based upon power being removed from the computer system; and

means for reconfiguring the data in the computing engine, the reconfiguring means being capable of being placed in an erase mode;

wherein the reconfiguring means further securely erase data in the computing engine to prevent access to the data each time each time power is removed from the computing engine and the system is in the erase mode.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the reconfiguring means can further be placed in the erase mode or in a save mode.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the reconfiguring means further save the data in the computing engine in a non-volatile storage in each time power is removed from the computing engine and the system is in the save mode.

27. A system for controlling data in a computer system when the computer system loses power, the computer system comprising a computer engine, comprising:

means for activating a plurality of super capacitors to supply power to the computing engine based upon power being removed from the computer system, for placing the computer system in a standby mode based upon power being removed from the computer system, providing power to the computer system based upon a user interaction after the computer system has entered standby mode;

means for reconfiguring the data in the computing engine, the reconfiguring means further including means for erasing a portion of the data in the computing engine based upon the user interaction.

28. A system for controlling data in a computer system when the computer system loses power, the computer system comprising a computer engine, comprising:

means for activating a plurality of super capacitors to supply power to the computing engine based upon power being removed from the computer system;

means for reconfiguring the data in the computing engine; and

means for ensuring that the plurality of super capacitors is maintained in a desired temperature range.