System and method for information handling system multimedia mode boot optimization

An information handling system selectively boots to a normal operation mode having devices and applications configured to operate normally or a multimedia operation mode having devices and applications that support presentation of multimedia information enabled and other devices and applications disabled. In one embodiment, the multimedia mode improves portable information handling system multimedia performance by reducing power consumption to improve battery charge life and by reducing boot time to improve the timeliness of the user experience. For instance, a multimedia module interfaces with the operating system to disable power up of non-multimedia devices, such as networking devices, and non-multimedia applications, such as antivirus applications, while enabling multimedia devices, such as a DVD disc drive, to display multimedia information, such as a DVD movie.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling system operating system boot, and more particularly to a system and method for information handling system multimedia mode boot optimization.

2. Description of the Related Art

An increasingly common use of information handling systems, particularly portable systems, is for the display of multimedia information, such as presentations and videos. For instance, portable information handling systems are often used by business people to display presentations to groups through a projector with presentations such as Powerpoint. As another example, portable information handling systems are often used for entertainment by the playing of DVD movies with a DVD drive device. Generally in order to use an information handling system to display multimedia information, the operating system of the information handling system brings all devices to an operational status and maintains all devices in the operational status whether or not a particular device supports the display of multimedia information. For instance, while a user plays a DVD movie on an information handling system disc drive, the operating system typically maintains networking devices and antivirus applications operational even though these devices and applications are not needed to play the DVD movie. Unused but enabled devices and applications waste CPU cycles, such as by unnecessary scans for a network, so that, under some circumstances the presentation of the multimedia information is unnecessarily and adversely impacted.

A difficulty that often arises with the presentation of multimedia information through a portable information handling system is that the internal battery charge expires prematurely, such as in the middle of a lengthy DVD movie. Another difficulty that arises is that presentation of the multimedia information is delayed by the normal boot process that the operating system uses to bring all of the processing components and automatically initiated programs to a normal operational state. Although portable information handling systems have modes of operation that reduce power consumption to preserve battery life, such as shutting down the display or otherwise hibernating, those modes of operation typically do not take effect while the information handling system is in active use, such as during presentation of multimedia information. Some specialized systems have been developed to provide “instant on” for playing DVD movie or CD audio information with reduced start-up time and battery consumption. However, such specialized systems typically incorporate a unique custom player with an independent operating system, such as in the BIOS, custom hardware or a separate hard disc drive partition. The use of custom hardware and software processing components increases system design and manufacture cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore a need has arisen for a system and method which leverages multimedia capabilities available in an information handling system normal operation mode with reduced power consumption and start-up time.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems for presenting multimedia information at an information handling system. Information handling system processing components selectively boot to a multimedia mode having multimedia processing components enabled to support presentation of multimedia information and non-multimedia processing components disabled to reduce power consumption and boot time.

More specifically, an information handling system having plural processing components managed in normal operation by an operating system includes a multimedia selector switch, such as an alternative power switch, that boots the information handling system to a multimedia mode. A multimedia module applies a modified boot that enables substantially only those processing components that support a desired multimedia application and leaves the remaining processing components disabled. For instance, to play a DVD movie in a disc drive, the multimedia module commands a multimedia boot of the operating system to enable devices, such as the CPU, memory, video, audio and input devices, and applications, such a movie player, that support display of the movie. The multimedia module commands the multimedia boot to not enable devices, such as network interface cards (NIC), wireless interfaces, modems, communication ports and unused buses, and applications, such as antivirus software, that do not support display of the movie. In addition, the multimedia module bypasses boot procedures not needed to operate the multimedia application, such as the POST tests, and restricts processing power consumption to a level that is sufficient to support display of multimedia information, such as throttling CPU cycles to a lower level after boot is complete.

The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that information handling system boot time and power consumption are reduced in a multimedia operating mode compared with a normal operating mode. Boot time is reduced since the operating system does not have to start up drivers for unused devices, does not have to perform unneeded systems tests and does not have to initiate unneeded applications or connect to networks. Power consumption is reduced since fewer devices receive power and less computing cycles are necessary. The reduced boot time and reduced power consumption improve the user experience with a more instant-on perception and greater multimedia presentation endurance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Information handling system boot to a multimedia operating mode supports presentation of multimedia information with reduced boot time and power consumption compared to a normal operating mode by selectively enabling multimedia processing components and disabling non-multimedia processing components. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a block diagram depicts an information handling system10configured to support boot to a multimedia mode. Information handling system10processes information with a number of processing components managed by an operating system12, such as a CPU14, chipset16, graphics card18, BIOS20, RAM21, hard disc drive22, CD/DVD disc drive24, integrated LCD26and speakers28, integrated keyboard30and mouse32, modem34, NIC36, USB interface38and wireless NIC40. To initiate normal operations, a user selects a power switch42that inputs the user request for a normal boot to BIOS20. BIOS20includes firmware instructions to perform basis systems tests, such as POST tests, power up the devices, including hard disc drive22, and load operating system12into RAM21for use by CPU14. Operating system12executes boot instructions to start up drivers for configured devices, identify and configure unknown devices, connect to a network and initiate desired applications44, such as antivirus software. Once operating system12completes boot of the processing components to a normal operational state, it monitors devices for failures or difficulties, periodically scans for unknown devices, initiates and maintains any network connections, and performs other housekeeping functions.

In order to provide a system boot that is better optimized for presentation of multimedia information, a multimedia selector switch44is disposed on information handling system10to accept a user request for boot to a multimedia mode. Multimedia selector switch44is selectable between normal and multimedia positions that control the input of power switch42or offers a separate power switch for initiation of a multimedia mode. Alternatively, multimedia selector switch may be configured as a displayed selection on LCD26or an automated selection integrated with one or more audio or video devices, such as an automated selector initiated by insertion of a DVD into CD/DVD drive24.

Selection of a multimedia mode is communicated to a multi-media module46interfaced with multimedia selector switch44. Multimedia module46sets a multimedia flag48that alerts CPU14to the multimedia mode boot selection and also defines the processing components enabled by the multimedia boot of operating system12. The multimedia devices enabled in a multimedia boot are substantially only predetermined processing components that support a desired multimedia application. Examples of devices enabled in a multimedia boot include the information handling system CPU, memory, video, audio and input devices plus inconsequential devices that have a minimal impact on power and boot time constraints. The video and audio devices might include a DVD drive, LCD and speakers to support display of a DVD movie with a movie player application. Examples of devices that are not enabled include NICs, wireless interfaces, Cardbus, IrdA, soft modems, 1394 ports, communication ports and USB. A multimedia configuration graphical user interface46supports selection of various configurations achieved by a multimedia boot. For instance, a configuration that plays DVD movies may disable the USB while a configuration that plays a presentation for a projector may enable the USB to communicate the presentation information to the projector.

In addition to selecting devices for boot to a multimedia mode, multimedia module46manages the boot to optimizes system performance. For instance, POST tests are bypassed to reduce boot time and CPU clock speed is managed to have a high performance setting during boot to reduce boot time followed by a throttling to a reduced performance setting to reduce power consumption. Multimedia module46shuts down non-multimedia devices with power control at BIOS20to hide them from discovery by operating system12, which may otherwise attempt to power up unused devices. Multimedia module46re-orders and omits boot actions by operating system12, such as powering up a DVD drive substantially simultaneously with a hard disc drive to reduce time until the DVD drive is ready, shutting down operating system functions like automated saves or searches for network connections, and preventing automated initialization of utility programs like antivirus applications. AlthoughFIG. 1depicts multimedia module46as module in BIOS20, all or portions of the functions of multimedia module46may instead be accomplished as an operating system module or plug-in.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a flow diagram depicts a process for booting an information handling system to a multimedia mode. At step50, a user selects a multimedia optimized mode from either a normal or off state and thus initiates a multimedia boot. At step52, the multimedia mode flag of the BIOS is set and, at step54, the BIOS boot instructions to perform POST tests are bypassed. At step56, multimedia hardware devices are enabled and non-multimedia devices are disabled in accordance with a predetermined list of devices that are selectable or preset. At step58, the disc drive is preinitialized to reduce the time needed to bring it to an operational status and, at step60, the operating system boot of drivers and applications is performed with the CPU operating at full speed. At step62, non-multimedia devices are hidden from the operating system to prevent their inadvertent activation. At step64, desired multimedia information is displayed with an appropriate multimedia application. At step65, upon completion of the multimedia boot the CPU performance is throttled back to a level sufficient to sustain unimpeded presentation of the multimedia information with reduced CPU cycles providing reduced power consumption. Upon completion of the presentation of multimedia information, whether a movie DVD, an audio CD or a visual presentation, the user reboots the information handling system to a normal mode for normal functionality.