Computer system having entertainment mode capabilities

• US 7,506,141 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maishi Electronic (Shanghai) Limited
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huang, Xiao Meng Leon, Guo, Yong Araz, Her, Sheau Chuen Shirley
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US10/733,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 713/182, 719/321, 719/322, 719/328
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57

Abstract

A computer system having entertainment mode capabilities is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the system may include an entertainment mode power switch. A machine-readable medium may be provided that includes instruction stored thereon that may perform operations including enabling entertainment mode user account data to be stored on the computer system. Further operations may include passing the entertainment mode user account data to an operating system logon process associated with the computer system when the entertainment mode power switch is activated to power the computer system. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the entertainment mode user account data is passed automatically to the operating system during a logon process.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in said machine performing operations comprising;

selecting a mode between a normal mode and an entertainment mode for a computer system;

enabling a driver to pass predefined entertainment mode user account data stored on said computer system to an operating system (OS) of said computer system and to execute at least one API function of said OS if said entertainment mode is selected;

enabling said OS to boot using said predefined entertainment mode user account data if said entertainment mode is selected; and

disabling said driver if said normal mode is selected.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said instructions further perform operations comprising:

enabling said OS to perform a normal boot process if said normal mode is selected.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said instructions further perform operations comprising:

executing an entertainment mode application program to permit data associated with said entertainment mode application program to be accessed.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said instructions further perform operations comprising:

enabling said entertainment mode application program to control access to selected hardware components of said computer system.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said instructions further perform operations comprising:

enabling said entertainment mode application program to control access to selected software components of said computer system.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said entertainment mode application program comprises a video application program executing instructions to permit video data to be accessed on said computer system.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said entertainment mode application program comprises an audio application program executing instructions to permit audio data to be accessed on said computer system.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said entertainment mode application program comprises a digital photograph application program executing instructions to permit digital photograph data to be accessed on said computer system.

9. A method, comprising:

enabling an installation program to store entertainment mode user account data on a computer;

selecting a mode between a normal mode and an entertainment mode for said computer;

enabling a driver to load said entertainment mode user account data stored on said computer into a logon application of an operating system and to execute at least one API function of said operation system if said entertainment mode is selected; and

disabling said driver if said normal mode is selected.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

enabling an entertainment mode application program to be executed on said computer, after said operating system completes a boot up process in said entertainment mode.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

enabling said entertainment mode application program to control access to selected hardware components of said computer.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

enabling said operating system to perform a normal boot process if said normal mode is selected.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

enabling an installation program to create said entertainment mode user account data on said computer.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

enabling an operating system function to create at least one of a username and password; and

associating at least one of said username and password with said entertainment mode user account data.

15. A system, comprising:

a computer system that comprises an entertainment mode power switch; and

a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in said machine performing operations comprising;

enabling entertainment mode user account data to be stored on said computer system;

enabling a driver to pass said entertainment mode user account data stored on said computer system to a logon process of an operating system associated with said computer system and to execute at least one API function of said operating system if said entertainment mode power switch is activated to power said computer system; and

disabling said driver if a normal power button is activated to power said computer system.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said entertainment mode user account data is automatically passed to said operating system logon process.

17. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said instructions further perform operations comprising enabling an entertainment mode application program to be executed after said logon process, and wherein said entertainment mode application program is adapted to permit video associated with said computer system to be accessed.

18. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said instructions further perform operations comprising:

enabling said entertainment mode application program to control access to selected hardware components of said computer system.

19. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said instructions further perform operations comprising:

enabling said entertainment mode application program to control access to selected software components of said computer system.

20. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said instructions further perform operations comprising:

enabling an installation program to create said entertainment mode user account data on said computer system; and

enabling an operating system function to create at least one of a username and password and associating at least one of said username and password with said entertainment mode user account data.