Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing efficient startup to computers with peripheral devices

• US 7,600,105 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyberlink Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cyberlink Corporation
• Inventors: Tseng, Wei-Hsin (Johnny)
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang; Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/947,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,840 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/300
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded

Abstract

The present invention is broadly directed to systems and methods for providing efficient startup procedures in computer systems. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides an efficient startup procedure by implementing a streamlined boot code procedure. In this embodiment, the computer system performs normal BIOS initialization routines, but executes one of a number of different boot code sequences, based on an operational configuration selected by a user. In another embodiment, a single power key is provided, and a user selects an operational configuration using a mouse (and in response to a visual prompt displayed on the screen). In this embodiment, the system may utilize specifically customized boot code routines, or alternatively may utilize customized BIOS routines. The present invention is broadly directed to systems and methods for providing efficient startup procedures in computer systems.

Claims

1. A system for performing a streamlined startup procedure for a computer comprising:

a computer;

a first button and a second button;

logic responsive to activation of either the first button or second button to trigger execution of a conventional BIOS (basic input output service) routine, wherein the conventional BIOS routine comprises at least one original boot code executed and stored in a Read Only Memory (ROM);

modified boot code stored in a hard drive, operative to determine which of the first button or second button has been activated, and to direct further execution to either of a first boot code or a second boot code;

first boot code stored in a first partition on the hard drive, responsive to the activation of the first button to cause the computer to execute a conventional boot code procedure; and

second boot code stored in a second partition on the hard drive, responsive to the activation of the second button to cause the computer to execute a streamlined boot code procedure, the streamlined boot code procedure configured to load or execute code segments other than the conventional boot code wherein storage of the modified boot code in the hard drive facilitates modification of the modified boot code,

wherein the original boot code is configured to load the modified boot code from the hard drive.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second buttons are power buttons disposed on the computer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second buttons are keys located on a keyboard.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is a desktop computer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is a notebook computer.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a peripheral device connected to the computer, wherein the streamlined boot code procedure comprises code for operating the peripheral device through the computer.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third button and third boot code responsive to the activation of the third button to cause the computer to execute a streamlined boot code procedure, the streamlined boot code procedure configured to load or execute code segments other than the conventional boot code procedure.

8. A method for streamlining the operation of a computer, the method comprising:

operating an interface that is electrically connected to a computer, the interface comprising a plurality of inputs, wherein one of the inputs is a boot input configured to utilize a basic input output service (BIOS) to boot the computer according to any of a plurality of boot codes,

wherein the plurality of boot codes includes at least a modified boot code, a first boot code and a second boot code,

wherein the modified boot code is stored in the hard drive and operative to determine which of the inputs has been activated, and to direct further execution to either of the first boot code or the second boot code,

wherein the first boot code is stored in a first partition on the hard drive to cause the computer to execute a conventional boot code procedure, and

wherein the second boot code is stored in a second partition on the hard drive to execute a streamlined boot code procedure, the streamlined boot code procedure configured to load or execute code segments other than the conventional boot code; and

operating at least one application executed from the streamlined operation,

wherein the storage of the modified boot code facilitates modification of that at least one boot code by a user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one application comprises media-reading software.