Computer and method for sharing input device thereof

• US 9,696,823 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jin, Yuru, Huang, Maolin, Ding, Xiaojian
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tim T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US12/583,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,882 Days
• Field of Search: 710 36, 710 38, 710 51, 710104, 710105, 710306, 710313, 710315, 710316, 710317
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

According to the present invention, a computer is provided, which comprises a host system, an embedded subsystem, a power source, an input device control module, a first transmission interface and a second transmission interface, the input device control module being connected to the embedded subsystem through the first transmission interface, wherein the input device control module is configured to establish, in response to receipt of a first switching instruction, communication with the embedded subsystem such that the embedded subsystem is enabled to process input data from an input device and to transmit the input data obtained from the input device to the first transmission interface; and the embedded subsystem is configured to receive the input data from the first transmission interface, process the input data and perform an operation corresponding to the input data. According to the present invention, one set of input devices can be shared between a computer and an embedded system through design and modification in software without any change in the existing hardware design for the computer.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a PC system and an embedded subsystem, the PC system comprising a host system, a power source, an Embedded Controller (EC) specific to the PC system, a first transmission interface, a second transmission interface and an input device, the power source being connected to the embedded subsystem, the host system and the EC, respectively, and the EC being connected to the embedded subsystem through the first transmission interface and to the host system through the second transmission interface, wherein

the EC is configured to establish, in response to receipt of a first switching instruction, communication with the embedded subsystem such that the embedded subsystem is enabled to process input data from the input device connected to the EC and to transmit the input data obtained from the input device to the first transmission interface, and is further configured to transmit, in response to receipt of a second switching instruction, the input data obtained from the input device to the second transmission interface such that the host system is enabled to process the input data, wherein the first switching instruction is triggered by detecting that the host system is disabled while the embedded subsystem is enabled, and the second switching instruction is triggered by detecting that the host system is enabled while the embedded subsystem is disabled;

and

the embedded subsystem is configured to receive the input data from the first transmission interface, process the input data and perform an operation corresponding to the input data;

wherein sharing of the input device between the embedded subsystem and the host system is achieved by the EC,

wherein, the embedded subsystem is separable from the system, such that the embedded subsystem and the PC system, upon separation, are capable operating independently of each other,

wherein the embedded subsystem comprises a personal digital assistant or a mobile phone, and

wherein the embedded subsystem further comprises an input device processing module and a virtual input device driving module, wherein;

the input device processing module is configured to receive the input data from the first transmission interface and to parse the type of the input data from the input data for generating data type information; and

the virtual input device driving module is configured to convert the input data into data executable by the embedded subsystem based on the data type information.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission interface is a system management bus interface.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad or a writing tablet.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the first switching instruction is triggered by software or hardware under a condition that the host system is disabled while the embedded subsystem is enabled, or by an actuation of a key provided on the system;

and

the second switching instruction is triggered by software or hardware under a condition that the embedded subsystem is disabled while the host system is enabled, or by an actuation of a key provided on the system.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the EC is configured to output, in response to the first switching instruction, a first request signal to the embedded subsystem;

the embedded subsystem is configured to enable, in response to the first request signal, a module for processing the input data, and return a first switching completion signal to the EC if the module for processing the input data is enabled.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein

the embedded subsystem is configured to enable, in response to the first request signal, the module for processing the input data only if the embedded subsystem requires the input data.

4. A method for sharing an input device of a system comprising a PC system and an embedded subsystem, the PC system comprising a host system, a power source, an Embedded Controller (EC) specific to the PC system, a first transmission interface and a second transmission interface, the power source being connected to the embedded subsystem, the host system and the EC, respectively, and the input device control module being connected to the embedded subsystem through the first transmission interface and to the host system through the second transmission interface, the method comprising:

transmitting, by the EC, input data inputted from the input device connected to the EC to the first transmission interface in response to receipt of a first switching instruction and establishment of communication with the embedded subsystem based on the first switching instruction;

receiving, by the embedded subsystem, the input data from the first transmission interface to process the input data and perform an operation corresponding to the input data; and

transmitting, by the EC, the input data to the second transmission interface in response to receipt of a second switching instruction;

wherein the first switching instruction is triggered by detecting that the host system is disabled while the embedded subsystem is enabled, and the second switching instruction is triggered by detecting that the host system is enabled while the embedded subsystem is disabled,

wherein the embedded subsystem is separable from the system, such that the embedded subsystem and the PC system, upon separation, are capable of operating independently each other;

wherein the embedded subsystem comprises a personal digital assistant or a mobile phone, and

wherein the step of receiving, by the embedded subsystem, the input data from the first transmission interface to process the input data and perform an operation corresponding to the input data comprises;

receiving, by an input device processing module of the embedded subsystem, the input data from the first transmission interface to parse the type of the input data from the input data for generating data type information; and

converting, by a virtual input device driving module of the embedded subsystem, the input data into data executable by the embedded subsystem based on the data type information.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein establishing communication with the embedded subsystem based on the first switching instruction comprises:

outputting, by the EC, a first request signal to the embedded subsystem;

enabling, by the embedded subsystem based on the first request signal, a module for processing the input data; and

returning, by the embedded subsystem, a first switching completion signal to the EC once the module for processing the input data is enabled.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein

the first switching instruction is triggered by software or hardware under a condition that the host system is disabled while the embedded subsystem is enabled, or by an actuation of a key provided on the system;

and

the second switching instruction is triggered by software or hardware under a condition that the embedded subsystem is disabled while the host system is enabled, or by an actuation of a key provided on the system.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein establishment of communication with the embedded subsystem comprises:

outputting, by the EC in response to the first switching instruction, a first request signal to the embedded subsystem;

enabling, by the embedded subsystem in response to the first request signal, a module for processing the input data, and

returning, by the embedded subsystem, a first switching completion signal to the EC if the module for processing the input data is enabled.