Computer, remote control system, control method of computer and remote control method

• US 8,904,157 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Su-yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahman, Fahmida
• Application Number:
  US11/753,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,748 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713320-324, 713/330, 713/340, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 709/201, 709/203, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A computer including a main body in which a system is built, a peripheral device coupled to the main body, a power supplying part to supply power to the system and/or the peripheral device, an interface part to communicate with an external device, and a controller to control the power supplying part to apply power to the system but not to the peripheral device if a power-saving power applying signal is received through the interface part.

Claims

1. A computer comprising:

a system operable to execute a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS);

a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to the system;

a power supplying part for supplying power to the system and the plurality of peripheral devices; and

an interface part for communicating with an external device,

wherein, if a first signal for booting is received via the interface part while the system and the plurality of peripheral devices are in a power off state, it is determined whether the first signal comprises a signal for a power-saving power applying mode or a signal for a general power applying mode, and when the first signal comprises the signal for the power-saving power applying mode, a booting of the system is executed such that power from the power supplying part is applied to the system and power from the power supplying part is not applied to one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices according to information, in the signal for the power-saving power applying mode, identifying the one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices, and when the first signal comprises the signal for the general power applying mode, the booting of the system is executed such that power from the power supplying part is applied to the system and power from the power supplying part is applied to one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices.

2. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the power supplying part comprises a switching part for defining paths along which power from the power supplying part is applied to the plurality of peripheral devices.

3. The computer according to claim 2, wherein a controller controls the switching part to prevent power from the power supplying part being applied to the one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices if the signal for the power-saving power applying mode is received through the interface part.

4. The computer according to claim 3, wherein the switching part comprises a switch that corresponds to the one or more of the peripheral devices.

5. The computer according to claim 4, wherein the controller controls the switch of the switching part to prevent the power from the power supplying part being applied to the one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices if the signal for the power-saving power applying mode is received through the interface part.

6. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices comprise selected peripheral devices, identified according to the information in the signal for the power-saving power applying mode, that receive power from the power supplying part.

7. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the first signal includes a power-saving power applying signal comprising selection information to select that only selected peripheral devices are not to have power applied thereto when the power-saving power applying signal is received.

8. A remote control system, comprising:

a client computer comprising a system operable to execute a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS); and

a host computer, connected with the client computer through a network, for transmitting a first signal for booting to the client computer,

wherein the client computer and a plurality of peripheral devices coupled thereto are in a power off state when the first signal is received,

wherein the client computer determines whether the first signal comprises a signal for a power-saving power applying mode or a signal for a general power applying mode, and when the first signal comprises the signal for the power-saving power applying mode, executes a booting operation so that one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices do not receive power according to information, in the signal for the power-saving power applying mode, identifying the one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices, and when the first signal comprises the signal for the general power applying mode, executes the booting operation, so that one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices receives power,

wherein the host computer further transmits the signal for the power-saving power applying mode comprising information identifying one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices to have power applied thereto.

9. The remote control system according to claim 8, wherein the client computer prevents power from being applied to the one or more of the peripheral devices in accordance with the first signal.

10. The remote control system according to claim 8, wherein the first signal includes a power-saving power applying signal comprising selection information to select that only selected peripheral devices are not to have power applied thereto when the power-saving power applying signal is received.

11. A method of controlling a computer, the computer including a system operable to execute a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) and a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to the computer, the method comprising:

determining whether a power applying signal for executing a booting operation of the system and applying power to the plurality of peripheral devices comprises a first signal for a power-saving power applying mode;

blocking power from being applied to one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices when the power applying signal is determined to comprise the first signal for the power-saving power applying mode; and

applying power to at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices to which no power is applied in association with the first signal for the power-saving power applying mode when the power applying signal is determined not to comprise the first signal for the power-saving power applying mode,

wherein the system and the plurality of peripheral devices are in a power off state when the power applying signal is received, and

wherein the determining comprises;

determining whether a second signal for the power-saving power applying mode comprising selection information for selecting power to be applied to the at least one of the peripheral devices is present within the first signal for the power-saving power applying mode; and

applying power to the at least one of the peripheral devices in accordance with the selection information if the second signal for the power-saving power applying mode is determined to be present.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first signal includes a power-saving power applying signal comprising selection information to select that only selected peripheral devices are not to have power applied thereto when the power-saving power applying signal is received.

13. A method of remotely controlling a client computer, the client computer comprising a system operable to execute a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) and a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to the client computer, via a host computer, the method comprising:

transmitting either a power applying signal or a first power-saving power applying signal to the client computer from the host computer;

determining whether the power applying signal or the first power-saving power applying signal is transmitted to the client computer, the power applying signal and the first power-saving power applying signal being for executing a booting operation;

preventing power from being applied to one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices coupled to the client computer when the first power-saving power applying signal is transmitted to the client computer;

applying power to at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices to which no power is applied in association with the power-saving power applying signal when the power applying signal is transmitted to the client computer;

if the first power-saving power applying signal is transmitted, generating selection information for selecting the at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices that receive power from a power supply when the host computer transmits the power applying signal to the client computer; and

preventing power from being applied to the one or more of the peripheral devices according to the first power-saving power applying signal and the selection information,

wherein the client computer and the plurality of peripheral devices are in a power off state when a signal comprising one of the power applying signal and the first power-saving power applying signal is transmitted, and

wherein the power supply supplies power to the client computer and to the plurality of peripheral devices when required.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first signal includes a power-saving power applying signal comprising selection information to select that only selected peripheral devices are not to have power applied thereto when the power-saving power applying signal is received.

15. A computer network including a host computer and a client computer, the client computer comprising:

a system operable to execute a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) for conducting operations according to an operating system (OS);

a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to the system;

a power supplying part for supplying power to the system and the peripheral devices according to a type of a power supplying signal for executing a predetermined operation transmitted from the host computer;

a controller for determining the type of the power supplying signal; and

a switching part for defining paths along which power is applied to the plurality of peripheral devices,

wherein the controller controls the switching part to prevent power from being applied to a selected one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices if the type of the power supplying signal is determined to comprise a first power-saving power applying signal and apply power to at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices to which no power is applied in association with the power-saving power applying signal if the type of the power supplying signal is determined not to comprise the first power-saving power applying signal,

wherein the client computer and the plurality of peripheral devices are in a power off state when the power supplying signal is transmitted,

wherein the switching part prevents power from being applied to only the selected one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices when the power supplying signal is determined to comprise the first power-saving power applying signal including selection information that indicates that only the selected one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices are to be prevented from having power applied thereto, and

wherein the power supplying part supplies power to the client computer and to the plurality of peripheral devices as required.

16. The computer network according to claim 15, further comprising an interface part for receiving the power supplying signal from the host computer.

17. The computer network according to claim 15, wherein there are a plurality of client computers.

18. The computer network according to claim 17, wherein each of the client computers includes a respective plurality of the peripheral devices.

19. The computer network according to claim 18, wherein switching parts of each of the client computers prevent power from being applied to the selected ones of the plurality of peripheral devices of each of the client computers when the type of the power supplying signal is determined to comprise the first power-saving power applying signal.

20. The computer network according to claim 18, wherein switching parts of each of the client computers prevent power from being applied to only the selected one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices of each of the client computers when the type of the power supplying signal is determined to comprise the first power-saving power applying signal including selection information that indicates that only the selected one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices are to be prevented from having power applied thereto.

21. The computer network according to claim 20, wherein the selected one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices comprise one or more of all of the peripheral devices of each of the client computers, corresponding peripheral devices of the client computers, differing peripheral devices of the client computers, or combinations thereof.