Data output method and apparatus

• US 9,009,356 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BEIJING LENOVO SOFTWARE LTD. AND LENOVO (BEIJING) LIMITED
• Original Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: He, Zhiqiang, Liang, Ying, Chen, Xingwen, Huang, Maolin, Zhong, Jiangwei, Ding, Xiaojian
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCHE, JOHN B
• Application Number:
  US12/317,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,303 Days
• Field of Search: 710/5
• US Class Current: 710/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

A data output method and apparatus according to the present invention, which are applicable in a data processing device comprising an output unit, a computer system and an embedded system, generate a control command for enabling an establishment of a channel for outputting data when it is determined that the computer system stays in a non-operating state, establish a data transmission channel between the embedded system and the output unit based on the control command, determine data to be outputted, and transfer the data to be outputted from the embedded system to the output unit through the data transmission channel. In this way, the method and apparatus according to the present invention can ensure that a user need not wait a long time for the computer'"'"'s start-up, and can carry out an operation on local data for the computer in time, which improves the user satisfaction.

Claims

1. A data output method, which is applicable in a data processing device comprising an output unit, a computer system and an embedded system, wherein the computer system comprises an embedded controller (EC), and the embedded system is configured to perform an operation on local data instead of the computer system, and wherein a state of the computer system is independent of the embedded system, said method comprising:

when it is determined that the computer system stays in a non-operating state;

sending, by the EC in the computer system, an operation right switching command to the embedded system;

determining, at the embedded system, that an operation right for local data of the computer system is to be held by itself after receiving the operation right switching command;

receiving, at the embedded system, operation information for the data processing device, and performing an operation on the local data according to the received operation information;

establishing a data transmission channel between the embedded system and the output unit based on the operation right switching command;

determining data to be outputted; and

transferring the data to be outputted from the embedded system to the output unit through the data transmission channel, and

when the computer system is switched from the non-operating state into an operating state;

holding, by the embedded system, the operation right for local data of the computer system;

when the computer system finally stays in the operating state;

sending, by the EC in the computer system, an operation right switching command to the embedded system;

determining, by the embedded system, that an operation right for local data of the computer system is no longer to be held by itself after receiving the operation right switching command;

performing an operation on the local data according to the received operation information by the computer system; and

switching the output unit to be connected to the computer system,

wherein when the operation right for local data of the computer system is switched to the embedded system, the local display right of the computer system is switched to the embedded system by switching a channel that is connected to a GPU of the computer system to an External Scaler of the embedded system, and the video information is sent to the output unit via the External Scaler and a LVDS Switch connected to the embedded system, and

wherein when the operation right for local data of the computer system is switched to the computer system, the local display right of the computer system is switched to the computer system by switching a channel that is connected to the External Scaler to the GPU, and the video information is sent to the output unit via the GPU.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein establishing the data transmission channel between the embedded system and the output unit based on the operation right switching command comprises:

switching a channel, through which a User Interface Unit is originally connected with the computer system, to be connected to the embedded system;

or

receiving operation information sent from a User Interface Unit, which is provided in the embedded system; and

disconnecting a User Interface unit in the computer system.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when the computer system is switched from the operating state into the non-operating state,

synchronizing an operation result for local data in the computer system into the embedded system;

and

when the computer system is switched from the non-operating state into an operating state,

synchronizing an operation result for local data in the embedded system into the computer system.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the EC in the computer system connects to a South Bridge (SB) chip in the computer system, to a LVDS Switch which is connected to the embedded system, to a Interface Switch which is connected to the embedded system, and to the embedded system via a GPIO.

3. A data output apparatus comprising a computer system, an embedded system configured to carry out an operation on local data instead of the computer system and an Interface Switch, the computer system comprises an embedded controller (EC), wherein a state of the computer system is independent of the embedded system, and

wherein when the computer system determines that it stays in a non-operating state:

the EC in the computer system is configured to send an operation right switching command to the embedded system when the computer system determines that it stays in a non-operating state;

the embedded system is configured to determine that an operation right for local data of the computer system is to be held by itself after receiving the operation right switching command, receive operation information, and perform an operation on the local data according to the received operation information;

the Interface Switch is configured to establish a data transmission channel between the embedded system and an output unit connected therewith , based on the operation right switching command; and

the embedded system is configured to transfer data to be outputted to the output unit through the established data transmission channel, when the computer system is switched from the non-operating state into an operating state, the embedded system holds the operation right for local data of the computer system; and

when the computer system finally stays in the operating state,

the EC in the computer system sends an operation right switching command to the embedded system;

the embedded system determines that an operation right for local data of the computer system is no longer to be held by itself after receiving the operation right switching command;

the computer system performs an operation on the local data according to the received operation information; and

the Interface Switch switches the output unit to be connected to the computer system,

wherein when the operation right for local data of the computer system is switched to the embedded system, the local display right of the computer system is switched to the embedded system by switching a channel that is connected to a GPU of the computer system to an External Scaler of the embedded system, and the video information is sent to the output unit via the External Scaler and a LVDS Switch connected to the embedded system, and

wherein when the operation right for local data of the computer system is switched to the computer system, the local display right of the computer system is switched to the computer system by switching a channel that is connected to the External Scaler to the GPU, and the video information is sent to the output unit via the GPU.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the computer system further comprises a User Interface unit, both the EC and the User Interface unit are connected to the Interface Switch, and the embedded system comprises an application processor AP;

when the computer is switched from an operating state into the non-operating state, the EC is configured to send the operation right switching command to the embedded system and to send a switch command to the Interface Switch;

the AP is configured to determine that an operation right for local data of the computer system is to be held by itself after receiving the control command; and

the Interface Switch is configured to switch a channel, through which the User Interface is originally connected to the EC, to be connected to the AP.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the computer system further comprises a first User Interface Unit, both the EC and the User Interface unit are connected to the Interface Switch, and the embedded system comprises an AP and a second User Interface Unit, both of which are connected with each other;

when the computer system is switched from an operating state into the non-operating state, the EC is configured to send the operation right switching command to the embedded system and to send a switch command to the Interface Switch;

the AP is configured to determine that an operation right for local data of the computer system is to be held by itself after receiving the control command and to receive operation information from the second User Interface Unit; and

the Interface Switch is configured to disconnect the first User Interface from the EC when receiving the switch command.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the computer system further comprises a User Interface Unit, both the EC and the User Interface unit are connected to the Interface Switch, and the embedded system comprises an AP, when the computer system is switched from the non-operating state into an operating state, the EC is configured to send the operation right switching command to the embedded system and to send a switch command to the Interface Switch;

the AP is configured to determine that an operation right for local data of the computer system is no longer to be held by itself after receiving the control command; and

the Interface Switch is configured to switch a channel, through which the User Interface is originally connected to the AP, to be connected to the EC.

7. The apparatus according to anyone of claims 3-6, wherein the output unit is a display unit.

10. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

when the computer system is switched from the operating state into the non-operating state,

the computer system synchronizes an operation result for local data in the computer system into the embedded system;

and

when the computer system is switched from the non-operating state into an operating state,

the embedded system synchronizes an operation result for local data in the embedded system into the computer system.

11. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the EC in the computer system connects to a South Bridge (SB) chip in the computer system, to a LVDS Switch which is connected to the embedded system, to a Interface Switch which is connected to the embedded system, and to the embedded system via a GPIO.