Abstract:
A method capable of erasing a password from a BIOS automatically includes steps of the BIOS determining whether a password erasing flag has been set when an electronic device is booting; the BIOS erasing the password if the password erasing flag has been set; the BIOS displaying a password input window if the password erasing flag has not been set; inputting a comparison data in the password input window; the electronic device transmitting the comparison data to a server; the server comparing the comparison data with a registration data, generating a comparison result, and transmitting the comparison result to the electronic device; the BIOS determining whether the comparison result is correct; the BIOS setting the password erasing flag and rebooting the electronic device if the comparison result is correct; and the BIOS rebooting the electronic device directly if the comparison result is wrong.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to an electronic device having a basic input/output system (BIOS) and, more particularly, to an electronic system, an electronic device and a method capable of erasing a password from a BIOS automatically. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    A basic input/output system (BIOS) is used to execute self-inspection and operating system when a computer is being booted. When the computer is powered on, the BIOS is executed in a flash memory installed on a main board to initialize chip set and memory subsystem. The main function of the BIOS is to ensure that some important hardware components (e.g. keyboard, disc device, input/output port, etc.) can work normally and be initialized accurately. In general, a user may set a password for the BIOS, a hard disc, and so on in the BIOS, so as to prevent the important information stored in the computer from being leaked. However, once the user forgets the password, the user has to spend a lot of time to contact a customer service officer of a service provider and then confirm a registration data with the customer service officer, so as to unlock the BIOS or the hard disc. The aforesaid manner is inconvenient and may cause unnecessary loss to the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention provides an electronic system, an electronic device and a method capable of erasing a password from a basic input/output system (BIOS) automatically, so as to solve the aforesaid problems. 
         [0006]    According to the claimed invention, an electronic system is capable of erasing a password from a basic input/output system (BIOS) automatically. The electronic system comprises a server and an electronic device. The server comprises a first processing unit, a first storage unit and a first communication unit. The first processing unit is electrically connected to the first storage unit and the first communication unit. The first storage unit stores a registration data. The registration data comprises a registration code and a device serial number. The electronic device has the registration code and the device serial number. The electronic device comprises a second processing unit, a second storage unit, a second communication unit, a BIOS memory, a display unit and an input unit. The second processing unit is electrically connected to the second communication unit, the BIOS memory, the display unit and the input unit. The second storage unit is electrically connected to the BIOS memory. The second communication unit communicates with the first communication unit. The BIOS memory stores the BIOS. The BIOS records at least one password. When the electronic device is booting, the BIOS determines whether a password erasing flag has been set. If the password erasing flag has been set, the BIOS erases the at least one password. If the password erasing flag has not been set, the BIOS displays a password input window in the display unit. After the input unit is operated to input a comparison data in the password input window, the second processing unit transmits the comparison data to the server through the second communication unit and the first communication unit, wherein the comparison data comprises the registration code and the device serial number. The first processing unit compares the comparison data with the registration data, generates a comparison result, and transmits the comparison result to the electronic device through the first communication unit and the second communication unit. The BIOS determines whether the comparison result is correct. If the comparison result is correct, the BIOS sets the password erasing flag and reboots the electronic device. If the comparison result is wrong, the BIOS reboots the electronic device directly. 
         [0007]    According to the claimed invention, the electronic device further has a warranty date, the registration data further comprises the warranty date, and the comparison data further comprises the warranty date. 
         [0008]    According to the claimed invention, the at least one password comprises at least one of a password of the BIOS and a password of the second storage unit. 
         [0009]    According to the claimed invention, after erasing the at least one password, the BIOS displays an information, which indicates that the at least one password has been erased, in the display unit. 
         [0010]    According to the claimed invention, an electronic device is capable of erasing a password from a basic input/output system (BIOS) automatically. The electronic device communicates with a server. The electronic device has a registration code and a device serial number. The server comprises a first processing unit, a first storage unit and a first communication unit. The first processing unit is electrically connected to the first storage unit and the first communication unit. The first storage unit stores a registration data. The registration data comprises the registration code and the device serial number. The electronic device comprises a second storage unit, a second communication unit, a BIOS memory, a display unit, an input unit and a second processing unit. The second communication unit communicates with the first communication unit. The BIOS memory is electrically connected to the second storage unit. The BIOS memory stores the BIOS. The BIOS records at least one password. The second processing unit is electrically connected to the second communication unit, the BIOS memory, the display unit and the input unit. When the electronic device is booting, the BIOS determines whether a password erasing flag has been set. If the password erasing flag has been set, the BIOS erases the at least one password. If the password erasing flag has not been set, the BIOS displays a password input window in the display unit. After the input unit is operated to input a comparison data in the password input window, the second processing unit transmits the comparison data to the server through the second communication unit and the first communication unit, wherein the comparison data comprises the registration code and the device serial number. The first processing unit compares the comparison data with the registration data, generates a comparison result, and transmits the comparison result to the electronic device through the first communication unit and the second communication unit. The BIOS determines whether the comparison result is correct. If the comparison result is correct, the BIOS sets the password erasing flag and reboots the electronic device. If the comparison result is wrong, the BIOS reboots the electronic device directly. 
         [0011]    According to the claimed invention, the electronic device further has a warranty date, the registration data further comprises the warranty date, and the comparison data further comprises the warranty date. 
         [0012]    According to the claimed invention, the at least one password comprises at least one of a password of the BIOS and a password of the second storage unit. 
         [0013]    According to the claimed invention, after erasing the at least one password, the BIOS displays an information, which indicates that the at least one password has been erased, in the display unit. 
         [0014]    According to the claimed invention, a method is capable of erasing a password from a basic input/output system (BIOS) automatically. The method is applied to an electronic device. The electronic device has a BIOS, a registration code and a device serial number. The BIOS records at least one password. The method comprises steps of the BIOS determining whether a password erasing flag has been set when the electronic device is booting; the BIOS erasing the at least one password if the password erasing flag has been set; the BIOS displaying a password input window if the password erasing flag has not been set; inputting a comparison data in the password input window; the electronic device transmitting the comparison data to a server, wherein the server stores a registration data, the registration data comprises the registration code and the device serial number, and the comparison data comprises the registration code and the device serial number; the server comparing the comparison data with the registration data, generating a comparison result, and transmitting the comparison result to the electronic device; the BIOS determining whether the comparison result is correct; the BIOS setting the password erasing flag and rebooting the electronic device if the comparison result is correct; and the BIOS rebooting the electronic device directly if the comparison result is wrong. 
         [0015]    According to the claimed invention, the electronic device further has a warranty date, the registration data further comprises the warranty date, and the comparison data further comprises the warranty date. 
         [0016]    According to the claimed invention, the at least one password comprises at least one of a password of the BIOS and a password of the second storage unit. 
         [0017]    According to the claimed invention, the method further comprises step of the BIOS displaying an information, which indicates that the at least one password has been erased, after erasing the at least one password. 
         [0018]    As mentioned in the above, once a user forgets the password (e.g. the password of the BIOS, the password of the storage unit, and so on) set in the BIOS, the user enables the electronic device to communicate with the server of a service provider through the internet first. Afterward, the user inputs the comparison data (e.g. the registration code, the device serial number and/or the warranty date of the electronic device) in the password input window for unlock purpose and then the BIOS transmits the comparison data to the server of the service provider through the internet. After receiving the comparison data, the server of the service provider compares the comparison data with the registration data of the electronic device and transmits the comparison result to the electronic device through the internet. If the BIOS determines that the comparison result is correct, the BIOS sets the password erasing flag and reboots the electronic device. When the BIOS reads the password erasing flag after rebooting the electronic device, the BIOS erases the password set in the BIOS automatically. Accordingly, the user can unlock the electronic device rapidly as he/she forgets the password. It should be noted that if the BIOS determines that the comparison result is wrong, the BIOS just reboots the electronic device directly without modifying the password until the user inputs correct comparison data. 
         [0019]    These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating an electronic system capable of erasing a password from a BIOS automatically according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method capable of erasing a password from a BIOS automatically according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a password input window displayed by the display unit shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 ,  FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating an electronic system  1  capable of erasing a password from a basic input/output system (BIOS) automatically according to an embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method capable of erasing a password from a BIOS automatically according to an embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a password input window  142  displayed by the display unit  128  shown in  FIG. 1 . The method capable of erasing the password from the BIOS automatically shown in  FIG. 2  is applied to the electronic system  1  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the electronic system  1  comprises a server  10  and an electronic device  12 . The server  10  comprises a first processing unit  100 , a first storage unit  102  and a first communication unit  104 , wherein the first processing unit  100  is electrically connected to the first storage unit  102  and the first communication unit  104 . The electronic device  12  comprises a second processing unit  120 , a second storage unit  122 , a second communication unit  124 , a BIOS memory  126 , a display unit  128  and an input unit  130 , wherein the second processing unit  120  is electrically connected to the second communication unit  124 , the BIOS memory  126 , the display unit  128  and the input unit  130 , and the second storage unit  122  is electrically connected to the BIOS memory  126 . The second communication unit  124  may communicate with the first communication unit  104  through the internet  3 , such that the server  10  and the electronic device  12  may transmit data to each other through the internet  3 . 
         [0025]    In this embodiment, the server  10  is provided by a service provider associated with the electronic device  12 . The electronic device  12  may be a computer or other electronic devices equipped with a BIOS. Furthermore, the first processing unit  100  and the second processing unit  120  may be processors or controllers with data processing function; the first storage unit  102  and the second storage unit  122  may be hard discs or other data storage devices; the first communication unit  104  and the second communication unit  124  may be internet communication interfaces or other communication modules; the BIOS memory  126  may be a flash memory or other memories; the display unit  128  may be a liquid crystal display device or other display devices; and the input unit  130  may be a keyboard, a touch panel or other input devices. Moreover, the server  10  and the electronic device  12  may be further equipped with some necessary hardware or software components for specific purposes, such as a power supply, a circuit board, applications, an operating system, etc., and it depends on practical applications. 
         [0026]    The BIOS  126  stores a BIOS  132  and the BIOS  132  records at least one password  134 . In this embodiment, the password  134  may comprises at least one of a password of the BIOS  132  and a password of the second storage unit  122 . The password  134  is set in the BIOS  132  by a user in advance, so as to prevent the important information stored in the electronic device  12  from being leaked. It should be noted that if the user does not set the password  134  in the BIOS  132 , the BIOS  132  does not record the password  134  accordingly. 
         [0027]    In general, the electronic device  12  has a registration code  136 , a device serial number  138  and a warranty date  140 . After purchasing the electronic device  12 , the user can register the aforesaid data in the server  10  provided by the service provider through the internet  3 . After finishing registration, the first storage unit  102  of the server  10  stores a registration data  106  of the electronic device  12 , wherein the registration data  106  comprises the registration code  136 , the device serial number  138  and the warranty date  140  accordingly. 
         [0028]    When the user wants to use the electronic device  12 , he/she has to boot the electronic device  12  (step S 10  in  FIG. 2 ). Afterward, the BIOS  132  initializes the second processing unit  120 , the second storage unit  122 , the second communication unit  124 , the display unit  128  and the input unit  130  (step S 12  in  FIG. 2 ). Then, the BIOS  132  determines whether a password erasing flag has been set (step S 14  in  FIG. 2 ). If the password erasing flag has not been set, the BIOS  132  further determines whether the password  134  has been set (step S 16  in  FIG. 2 ). If the user does not set the password  134  in the BIOS  132 , the BIOS  132  executes the operating system directly (step S 18  in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0029]    In step S 16 , if the user has set the password  134  in the BIOS  132 , the BIOS  132  displays a password input window  142  in the display unit  128  (step S 20  in  FIG. 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 3 , the user can input the password  134  in the password input window  142  to execute the operating system. However, once the user forgets the password  134  set in the BIOS  132 , the user can operate the input unit  130  to input a comparison data in the password input window  142  (step S 22  in  FIG. 2 ), wherein the comparison data may comprise the registration code  136  and the device serial number  138  of the electronic device  12 . In another embodiment, the comparison data may comprise the registration code  136 , the device serial number  138  and the warranty date  140  of the electronic device  12 . In another embodiment, the comparison data may also comprise other data associated with the electronic device  12  according to practical applications. 
         [0030]    After the input unit  130  is operated to input the comparison data in the password input window  142 , the second processing unit  120  of the electronic device  12  transmits the comparison data to the server  10  through the second communication unit  124  and the first communication unit  104  (step S 24  in  FIG. 2 ). Then, the first processing unit  100  of the server  10  compares the comparison data with the registration data  106  of the electronic device  12  and generates a comparison result (step S 26  in  FIG. 2 ). Then, the first processing unit  100  of the server  10  transmits the comparison result to the electronic device  12  through the first communication unit  104  and the second communication unit  124  (step S 28  in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0031]    After receiving the comparison result, the BIOS  132  determines whether the comparison result is correct (step S 30  in  FIG. 2 ). If the comparison result is correct, the BIOS  132  sets the password erasing flag (step S 32  in  FIG. 2 ) and reboots the electronic device  12  (step S 34  in  FIG. 2 ). When the BIOS  132  reads the password erasing flag after rebooting the electronic device  12  (i.e. the BIOS  132  determines that the password erasing flag has been set in step S 14 ), the BIOS  132  erases the password  134  set in the BIOS  132  automatically (step S 36  in  FIG. 2 ). After erasing the password  134 , the BIOS  132  may display an information, which indicates that the password  134  has been erased, in the display unit  128  (step S 38  in  FIG. 2 ), so as to notify the user to set a new password. Then, the BIOS  132  executes the operating system (step S 18  in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0032]    It should be noted that if the BIOS  132  determines that the comparison result is wrong in step S 30 , the BIOS  132  reboots the electronic device  12  directly (step S 34  in  FIG. 2 ) without setting the aforesaid password erasing flag. When the BIOS  132  cannot read the password erasing flag after rebooting the electronic device  12  (i.e. the BIOS  132  determines that the password erasing flag has not been set in step S 14 ), step S 20  will be performed again without modifying the password  134  until the user inputs correct comparison data. 
         [0033]    As mentioned in the above, once a user forgets the password (e.g. the password of the BIOS, the password of the storage unit, and so on) set in the BIOS, the user enables the electronic device to communicate with the server of a service provider through the internet first. Afterward, the user inputs the comparison data (e.g. the registration code, the device serial number and/or the warranty date of the electronic device) in the password input window for unlock purpose and then the BIOS transmits the comparison data to the server of the service provider through the internet. After receiving the comparison data, the server of the service provider compares the comparison data with the registration data of the electronic device and transmits the comparison result to the electronic device through the internet. If the BIOS determines that the comparison result is correct, the BIOS sets the password erasing flag and reboots the electronic device. When the BIOS reads the password erasing flag after rebooting the electronic device, the BIOS erases the password set in the BIOS automatically. Accordingly, the user can unlock the electronic device rapidly as he/she forgets the password. It should be noted that if the BIOS determines that the comparison result is wrong, the BIOS just reboots the electronic device directly without modifying the password until the user inputs correct comparison data. 
         [0034]    Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.