Method and system for controlling an operation time of a computer

• US 7,702,939 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EBM Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: EBM Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Pan, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers; Paul R
• Application Number:
  US12/076,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20090240861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 713/323, 713/502, 710/260, 710/262
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

A method and system for controlling computer operation time is provided for counting how long the time for using the computer lasts. The steps of the time counting method are as following. First step is counting an operation time period for using the computer at the computer powered on; second step is determining the operation time period equal to a predetermined operating-time limit; third step is controlling the computer into an interrupted operating state when the operation time period is equal to the predetermined operating-time limit, wherein an interrupted time period for the computer stayed in the interrupted operating state is counted; fourth step is determining the interrupted time period equal to a predetermined suspension time; and fifth step is controlling the computer back to a normal operating state when the interrupted time period is equal to the predetermined suspension time, wherein the operation time period is re-counted.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an operation time of a computer comprising the steps of:

starting to count an operation time period of the computer having an operating system installed therein and at least one peripheral connected thereto as the computer is powered on;

comparing the operation time period with a predetermined operating-time limit;

setting the computer into an interrupted operating state when the operation time period is equal to the predetermined operating-time limit, and starting to count an interrupted time period for a duration of the computer staying in the interrupted operating state, and masking an interrupt request transmitted from the peripheral to the operating system via a mask;

comparing the interrupted time period with a predetermined suspension time; and

restoring the computer back to its normal operating state when the interrupted time period is equal to the predetermined suspension time, and initialing the operation time period of the computer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of restoring the computer back to its normal operating state further comprises a step of removing the mask of the interrupt request (IRQ) transmitted from the peripheral.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of setting the computer into the interrupted operating state further comprises a step of saving an executive work of the computer.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of restoring the computer back to its normal operating state further comprises a step of resuming the executive work of the computer before the computer is set into the interrupted operating state.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computer comprises at least one display unit, and the step of setting the computer into the interrupted operating state further comprises a step of setting the display unit into an idle mode.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computer has a program for controlling computer operation time installed therein, the step of starting to count the operation time period of the computer further comprises a step of executing a program for controlling operation time(PCOT) of the computer for counting the operation time period of the computer.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the mask of the interrupt request (IRQ) of the peripheral is able to be removed by an authorization.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the authorization is provided via a hardware key.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step:

providing a device for controlling operation time (DCOT) of the computer for controlling computer operation time coupled to the computer,

wherein the step of starting to count operation time period of the computer includes the step of the device driving the computer to execute a program for counting computer operation time for counting the operation time period of the computer.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising following steps:

determining whether the operating time of the computer is in a predetermined suspension time or not; and

setting the computer into the interrupted operating state if the operating time of the computer is in the predetermined suspension time.

11. A method for controlling an operation time of a computer comprising the steps of:

as the computer is powered on, determining whether the starting time of the computer is in a predetermined operation time or not, wherein the computer comprises an operating system installed therein and at least one peripheral connected thereto;

if the starting time is not in the predetermined operation time, setting the computer into its normal operating state and starting to count an operation time period of the computer;

comparing the operation time period equal with a predetermined operating-time limit;

setting the computer into an interrupted operating state when the operation time period is equal to the predetermined operating-time limit, and starting to count an interrupted time period for the duration of the computer staying in the interrupted operating state, and masking an interrupt request transmitted from the peripheral to the operating system via a mask;

comparing the interrupted time period with a predetermined suspension time; and

restoring the computer back to its normal operating state when the interrupted time period is equal to the predetermined suspension time, and initializing the operation tome period of the computer.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein if the starting time of the computer is in the predetermined suspension time as the computer is powered on, the computer is set into the interrupted operating state, and the computer is restored back to its normal operating state when the preset interval ends.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising following steps:

comparing the operating time of the computer with the predetermined suspension time;

if the operating time of the computer is in the predetermined suspension time, setting the computer into the interrupted operating state; and

restoring the computer back to its normal operating state when the predetermined suspension time ends, and initializing the operation time period of the computer.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of restoring the computer back to its normal operating state further comprises a step of removing the mask of the interrupt request (IRQ) transmitted from the peripheral.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of setting the computer into the interrupted operating state further comprises a step of saving the executive work of the computer.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of restoring the computer back to its normal operating state further comprises a step of resuming the executive work of the computer before the computer is set into the interrupted operating state.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the computer comprises at least one display unit, and the step of setting the computer into the interrupted operating state further comprises a step of setting the display unit into an idle mode.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the computer has a program for controlling operation time (PCOT) of the computer for controlling computer operation time installed thereinside, the step of starting to count the operation time period of the computer further comprises a step of executing the PCOT of the computer for counting the operation time period of the computer.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the mask of the interrupt request (IRQ) of the peripheral is able to be removed by an authorization.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the authorization is provided via a hardware key.

21. The method according to claim 13, further comprising a step:

providing a device for controlling operation time (DCOT) of the computer for controlling computer operation time coupled to the computer,

wherein the step of starting to count operation time period of the computer includes the step of the device driving the computer to execute a program for counting computer operation time for determining whether the operating time of computer is in the preset interval or not.

22. A system for controlling an operation time of a computer comprising:

an interrupt unit for controlling an interrupt request transmitted from the peripheral to the operating system;

a for controlling operation time of the computer installed inside the computer, wherein the program is executed by the computer when the computer is powered on wherein the PCOT of the computer counts the operation time period of the computer, and when the operation time period is equal to a predetermined operating-time limit, the PCOT of the computer controls the interrupt unit to mask the interrupt request transmitted from the peripheral to the operating system in order to set the computer into an interrupted operating state;

wherein the PCOT of the computer counts an interrupted time period for the duration of the computer staying in the interrupted operating state, and when the interrupted time period is equal to a suspension time, the program controls the interrupt unit to remove the interrupt request transmitted from the peripheral to the operating system in order to restore the computer back to its normal operating state.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the computer comprises at least one display unit, and the program controls the operating system for controlling operation time of the computer to set the display unit into an idle mode.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein a mask for the interrupt request (IRQ) of the peripheral is able to be removed by an authorization.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the authorization is provided by a hardware key coupled to the computer.

26. A system for controlling an operation time of a computer comprising:

an interrupt unit for controlling an interrupt request transmitted from the peripheral to the operating system;

a device for controlling operation time (DCOT) of the computer coupled to the computer, wherein the device controls the computer to execute a PCOT of the computer when the computer is powered on;

wherein the PCOT of the computer is provided for counting an operation time period of the computer, and when the operation time period is equal to a predetermined operating-time limit, the program controls the interrupt unit to mask the interrupt request transmitted from the peripheral to the operating system in order to set the computer into an interrupted operating state;

wherein the PCOT of the computer is provided for counting an interrupted time period for the duration of the computer staying in the interrupted operating state, when the interrupted time period is equal to a suspension time, the program controls the interrupt unit to remove the interrupt request transmitted from the peripheral to the operating system in order to restore the computer back to its normal operating state.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the computer comprises at least one display unit, and the program controls the operating system to set the display unit into an idle mode.

28. The system according to claim 26, wherein a mask of the interrupt request (IRQ) of the peripheral is able to be removed by an authorization.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein the authorization is provided by a hardware key coupled to the computer.