Non main CPU/OS based operational environment

• US 7,080,271 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Gupta, Vivek, Gadamsetty, Uma M., Kardach, James P., Forand, Richard A., Belmont, Brian V., Huckins, Jeffrey L., Flemming, Kristoffer D., Kumar, Muthu K., Jackson, Riley W., Danneels, Gunner
• Primary Examiner(s): SHIN, CHRISTOPHER B
• Application Number:
  US10/367,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 713300-340, 710 8- 19, 719/321, 326/21, 327/142
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4072 Drivers or receivers G06F13/4086 takes precedence; for multistate logic circuits H03K19/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/04 using predictive techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/109 Arrangements to adapt hands free headphones for use on both ears
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A computing system is described that includes an I/O unit interface that is deactivated while said computing system operates within a non main CPU/OS based operational state. The computing system also includes a controller that operates functional tasks while the computing system is within the non main CPU/OS based operational state. The computing system also includes an I/O unit that is coupled to both the I/O unit interface and the controller.

Claims

1. A computing system comprising:

a) an I/O unit interface that is deactivated while said computing system operates within a non main CPU/OS based operational state;

b) a controller that operates functional tasks while said computing system is within said non main CPU/OS based operational state;

c) a wireless I/O unit coupled to both said I/O unit interface and said controller;

d) a non volatile storage unit coupled to said controller, said controller to cause information to be written into said non volatile storage unit while said computing system is within said non main CPU/OS based operational state, said information received by said wireless I/O unit during said non main CPU/OS based operational state.

2. The computing system of claim 1 further comprising an operating system (OS) that is executed upon said controller, said OS comprising the following components:

a) an application programmer'"'"'s interface (API);

b) a user interface management function to control a user interface that is operational while said computing system is within said non main CPU/OS based operational state; and

,

c) a data storage management function to manage said non volatile storage unit, said storage unit.

3. The computing system of claim 2 further comprising application software that runs on said OS through said API while said computing system is within said non main CPU/OS based operational state.

4. The computing system of claim 3 wherein said application software further comprises a data storage application software program.

5. The computing system of claim 4 wherein said data storage application software program is configured to:

a) initiate a wireless communication from said wireless I/O unit toward a server that stores a data object; and

,

b) store said data object into said non volatile storage unit after said data object has been sent to said computing system by said server and received by said wireless I/O unit.

6. The computing system of claim 5 wherein said wireless communication is a WWAN communication.

7. The computing system of claim 5 wherein said wireless communication is a WLAN communication.

8. The computing system of claim 5 wherein said data object further comprises calendar information for use with said user interface.

9. The computing system of claim 5 wherein said data object further comprises contact information for use with said user interface.

10. The computing system of claim 5 wherein said data object further comprises “

to-do”

information for use with said user interface.

11. The computing system of claim 2 wherein said user interface management function can present a data object upon a display in response to a button being pressed to a user.

12. The computing system of claim 11 wherein said data object includes an embedded navigation command that describes where said data object is to be displayed on said display.

13. The computing system of claim 12 wherein said computing system is a laptop or notebook computer, and wherein, said display can be viewed by a user when the lid of said laptop or notebook computer is closed.

14. The computing system of claim 1 wherein said non volatile storage unit is a FLASH memory.

15. The computing system of claim 1 wherein said non volatile storage unit is a polymer memory.

16. A method, comprising:

while a computing system is operating in a non main CPU/OS based operational state;

wirelessly receiving information with a wireless I/O unit having a deactivated interface, said deactivated interface to send/receive second information sent from/to said wireless I/O unit during a main CPU/OS based operational state; and

,

storing said information into a non volatile storage unit.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said non volatile storage unit includes a FLASH memory.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said non volatile storage unit includes a polymer memory.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising causing said storing with software program code that executes on a controller during said non main CPU/OS based operational state.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein execution of said software program code causes a user interface management function to be implemented, said user interface management function to control a user interface.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein execution of said software program causes an application programmer'"'"'s interface to be implemented.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said information is at least one of the following:

calendar information;

contact information;

to-do information.