Display system and method for BIOS updating

A display system and method for BIOS updating. The object of the invention is to display on a plurality of LED devices the status of BIOS updating to prevent the system from freezing due to inappropriate instructions given by a user who is unaware of the BIOS updating progress.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed invention relates to a display function for updating a BIOS (Basic Input Output System). Particularly, it provides a plurality of LED (Light-Emitting Diode) devices to remind users while the BIOS is being updated. The system can automatically choose an output LED to achieve the function of the display system and method for BIOS updating.

RELATED ART

Generally, there are some management programs have to be initiated when a computer powers on. Those startup programs belong to the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), for instance, the power-on self-test and lower-level setups for disk drives, the keyboard, monitor, etc. At the same time, the BIOS provides software support for controlling the connection of the computer and its peripheral devices.

A computer cannot normally operate under some circumstances when the BIOS is updated. Since the process of updating the BIOS is complicated and the BIOS will not necessarily be recorded successfully, it may be worse to update the BIOS through a new BIOS version when the current computer system already works smoothly. This would have a negative impact and lower the effectiveness of the computer to update the BIOS through a new BIOS version. Hence, prior to the BIOS firmware update, a computer manufacturer has the obligation to maintain or serve as a guarantor to process BIOS chips for a customer who is unable or unwilling to update the BIOS by him/herself. The customer can then send the BIOS chips (together with the motherboard) back to the original manufacturer for BIOS updating purposes.

There are some existing methods for updating the BIOS, such as updating through a floppy disc or CD-ROM, or downloading from a network. These kinds of updating must be operated on a stand-alone or followed by prior network downloading operations.

FIG. 1is a schematic structure of commonly used computer systems. The CPU10connects with the NB30(north bridge, a set of chips) through the CPU Bus20; the NB30connects not only with the RAM40(e.g. SDRAM, EDORAM, etc.), but also with the AGP VGA Card60through the AGP Bus50. In addition, the NB30connects with the SB80(South bridge, a set of chips) through the PCI Bus70to transfer information and messages; the SB80connects not only with the HD (Hard disk)90, USB (Universal Serial Bus)100, and input devices (such as a mouse, keyboard, etc.) to access or input data, but also with the BIOS130and the Audio140respectively through the FWH interface110and the PCI Bus120.

Not knowing when the BIOS is completely updated, a user or a system maintenance engineer often carelessly resets a computer or terminates the update execution to cause the problem of the computer system freezing. To avoid this problem, a display system and method for the BIOS update is applied.

SUMMARY AND PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the invention provides a display system and method for BIOS updating. The disclosed system mainly comprises a CPU unit, a KBC unit, a FWH unit, and a LED unit. When a user updates the BIOS through the operations of the above-mentioned four units, LED flashes are able to remind the user of the BIOS updating execution. To avoid computer malfunction due to a user's carelessness, the LED flashes become normal when the BIOS update is completed.

The disclosed invention comprises at least the following steps. First, when a KBC receives a BIOS update instruction, it calls a LED-displaying unit. Then, an FWH unit provides information to the KBC unit through a buffer, and starts to update the KBC unit. Finally, the KBC unit resets the system.

The detailed embodiment and technique of the disclosed invention is further illustrated as follow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed invention proposes a display system and method for updating the BIOS of a computer.FIG. 2is a systematic structure of updating the BIOS.FIG. 2illustrates the utilization of units to achieve the effect of reminding users. Details are provided as follows.

In addition to the components of the presently known BIOS unit130, which is shown inFIG. 1, the disclosed invention further comprises an FWH unit150, a KBC160unit, and a LED-display unit170. The whole system is monitored by a CPU unit10. The four units are detailed hereinafter.

The CPU unit10processes schedule allocations, arithmetic operations, logic operations and stores temporarily used information. When a computer starts to operate, the CPU unit10initiates a Power-On Self-Test (POST) and automatically detects the BIOS version. In the meantime, it monitors the processing of the BIOS update to avoid serious system problems such as being unable to boot or losing routes.

The FWH unit150controls the BIOS update and comparison. When the FWH unit150receives a message of updating the BIOS, it retrieves the latest version of the program code of the unit to transfer to the KBC unit160. Firmware, in-between software and hardware, i.e., a computer hardware that comprises of program codes to record/burn software on the hardware. The program is burnt on the ROM of the motherboard and is modified through a ROM read-write device. The flash BIOS programs of a motherboard and of a modem can be re-written through specific programs to change micro-programs in the firmware.

The KBC unit160stores data inputted by a keyboard to a buffer, and the data is transferred to the CPU unit10for further processing. When the KBC unit160receives a program code needed for comparison, the program code version of the unit processes comparison with that of the FWH unit150. Then, the KBC unit160updates a new program code through a buffer provided by this unit. The buffer provides a storage space to store temporarily used information and program codes, e.g. an update program code or a new instruction. Moreover, this unit provides an idle mode and a suspend mode for updating program codes. The idle mode is to stop all the clocks of the KBC unit160without processing any operations. While the KBC unit160enters into the idle mode without processing any schedule, the suspend mode waits to pause the KBC unit160pulse to avoid any new instructions entering into this unit when the program code is being updated.

The LED-display unit170is to connect with various hardware devices of the computer system and display the condition of the hard disk operations. When the BIOS starts updating, this unit is able to regularly restart a plurality of LED devices.

FIG. 3is a detailed representation of the LED-display unit for updating the BIOS according to the invention. The KBC unit160directly controls the LED-display unit170. The LED-display unit170comprises at least a CD-ROM LED171, a Power LED172, a Hard Disc LED173, and a Floppy Disc LED174. The aforementioned four LED devices are crucial to a computer system. The disclosed invention is capable of providing Enable instructions to any LED display, prior to updating the BIOS through the KBC unit160. For example, the CD-ROM LED171processes a flashing function corresponding to the Floppy Disc LED174, or the Hard Disc LED173. The Power LED172and the Floppy Disc LED174flash at the same time to ensure that the BIOS is completely updated for a user. The process of flashing is regular and cyclical to prevent a user from misunderstanding the meaning of the LED flashes. The user can easily understand the meaning of the LED flashing, as the BIOS update does not take too long.

FIG. 4-ais a flowchart representation of the system and method of updating the BIOS according to the invention. First, the KBC unit160receives an instruction to update the BIOS (Step200). The KBC unit160then calls the LED-display unit170(Step210), which starts flashing (Step211). The process of flashing is regular and cyclical to prevent the user from misinterpreting the flashing of the LED-display unit170. When it starts flashing, the KBC unit160enters into an idle mode (Step220) to stop all operations of the KBC unit160, and retrieve the program code to a buffer (Step221). This buffer is provided by the KBC unit160. The buffer then executes the code of the idle mode (Step222). At the same time, the FWH unit150confirms whether the KBC unit160has entered into the idle mode (Step230). If not, it is unable to update the BIOS and the process returns to step220. If yes, then it enters into process symbol A.

FIG. 4-bis a flowchart representation of the display system and method of updating the BIOS according to the invention. With the reference toFIG. 4-b, after entering into process symbol A, the KBC unit160enters into a suspend mode (Step250) and the FWH unit150updates information into the KBC unit160through the buffer (Step251). The FWH unit150then starts to update the program code of the KBC unit160(Step260). When the updating is completed, the FWH unit150notifies the KBC unit160to terminate the suspend mode (Step261), and then notifies the KBC unit160to terminate the idle mode (Step262). The KBC unit160resets the system (Step270), and at the same time closes the LED-display unit170(Step271).

In-between step211and step271, the LED-display unit170enables its LED flashing devices to remind users that BIOS updating is not finished. The system cannot operate until it is reset and the LED-display unit170is restored.