Integration model for instant-on environment

• US 8,291,209 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Splashtop Inc.
• Original Assignee: Splashtop Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Hong-Sheng, Tsai, Wen-Pin, Lin, Wei-Nan, Chong, Benedict T., Sheu, Philip, Deng, Thomas, Chin, Victor, Fang, Xun, Shiu, Jian-Jung
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US12/184,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20090037722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 718/1
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded

Abstract

An instant-on environment consists of components residing in a computer boot ROM and/or also on a mass storage device. Main components to the instant-on environment include a loader, EPG1, and EPG2. The loader is a module that is integrated into the computer boot ROM, based on an embedded OS, that functions to load other instant-on environment components. There are various methods of integrating the loader into boot firmware to optimize for different requirements. EPG1 is a first user screen that appears on the computer display within seconds after power-on, and from which the user can choose to launch one of the instant-on environment'"'"'s applications or launch the primary OS. EPG2 is launched if the user chooses to launch an instant-on environment application. EPG2 is a Linux-based desktop environment that the user enters once he selects an application from EPG1.

Claims

1. An instant-on environment for a computer comprising a boot ROM and a mass storage device, wherein the mass storage can be either hard disk or flash memory, said instant-on environment comprising:

a loader that is integrated into said boot ROM, based on an embedded OS, and that functions to load other instant-on environment components;

an EPG1 interface element comprising a first user screen that appears on a computer display within seconds after power-on, and from which a user can choose to launch one of a plurality of instant-on environment applications or launch a primary OS;

an EPG2 interface element that is launched if said user chooses to launch an instant-on environment application, wherein said EPG2 interface element comprises a desktop environment that said user enters once an application is selected from said EPG1 interface element; and

wherein said instant-on environment comprises any or all of said loader, EPG1, and EPG2, and resides in any one or all of said boot ROM and mass storage;

wherein the computer always boots first to said loader and said EPG1, instead of to said primary OS; and

wherein said loader further comprising means for;

switching between real and protected modes;

calling BIOS/UEFI'"'"'s various software services and APIs; and

further comprising;

data structures in memory, comprising headers, that are integral to a boot process, said headers comprising;

a header which BIOS/UEFI can programmatically find and which provides BIOS/UEFI with the necessary information to successfully run the loader; and

a header that is used for exchanging information between said BIOS/UEFI and said instant-on environment.