Abstract:
According to the claimed invention, a computer is disclosed. The computer comprises a first memory for storing a BIOS, a clock for tracking time, a second memory for storing the time value of the clock and an alarm setting based upon a predetermined time selected by a user, a communication management circuit for controlling peripheral memory buses, and a power supply for providing electrical power to the computer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to self-starting a computer, and more particularly, to the use of a BIOS to self-start a computer. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The role of the personal computer (PC) has undergone a dramatic change since its introduction circa 1980. In the beginning, the PC occupied a small niche in daily life; it was only an integral part of life for those people who understood esoteric command-line interfaces (e.g. DOS). The PC was not a major part of most peoples lives because the cryptic command-line interface combined with the dearth and limited ability of software available at that time made the computer rather difficult to use and understand. As a result, people only wanted to interact with the computer when they needed to do their work. 
   However, as technology advanced and computers became more sophisticated, the role of the computer began to change. With the ability to process more information at one time, the interface of the computer changed from command-line (e.g. DOS) to graphic-based (Windows); users no longer had to memorize commands but could now “point and click” their way through using a mouse. In addition, the ability to process more information brought about increased functionality in existing software. For example, word processing software added the ability to insert graphs, pictures, and spread sheets. Finally, being able to process more information meant that the PC could add extra features such as playing DVDs, setting up hardware automatically for users (e.g. Plug N Play), experiencing a multimedia internet, etc. Essentially, the ability to process more information made the computer easier to use, furthered the ability of existing software, and offered more features. Because of all these things, the PC has seen its role of a seldom-used work tool relegated to the corner of a room transform into an often-used work/entertainment center. 
   Due to the PCs role transformation, a new user need has been created the need for the computer to be able to self-start from an off state. Before the transformation, there was no need for such ability. Most software required the user to be present to run the software; nothing could be accomplished without the user. Examples of such software include word processing, spread sheets, graphing programs, etc. In summary, the pre-transformation software required users to sit at the computer to input data for the purpose of doing work. The tasks that users wanted to do could not be done while the user was away. 
   However, current technology allows for the automation of many processes; the computer can run software independent of the user. In addition, much of the software that allows for automation was simply not possible before the PCs transformation. That is to say, other types of software besides data entry appeared. Giving the computer the ability to self-start from an off state would greatly enhance the utility of such software. 
   For example, one such software that would benefit is a content recording program for a PC, content being things such as television program, radio music, etc. By adding the ability to self-start from an off state, the user can set a time in the program to begin recording the content and then turn off the computer. The computer could then self-start at the set time and begin recording. Another example is that office computers could come equipped with software that allows users to select a time to self-start. Workers could then select a time in the morning so that the computer will have booted by the time they arrive at work. One more example could be the scheduling of utilities such as virus scans, hard disk defragmentation. The user can select a time for the computer to self-start and conduct one of the mentioned utility operations. 
   Despite the need for the ability to self-start, the prior art does not offer any solutions. Currently, the only way to start a computer is to have a user push the power on button. Obviously, having to push the power button is inadequate for the user need described above. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to provide a BIOS capable of establishing a pathway from a memory to a communication management circuit to solve the above-mentioned problem. 
   According to the claimed invention, a computer is disclosed. The computer comprises a first memory for storing a BIOS, a clock for tracking time, a second memory for storing the time value of the clock and an alarm setting based upon a predetermined time selected by a user, a communication management circuit for controlling peripheral memory buses, and a power supply for providing electrical power to the computer. 
   It is advantageous to employ a BIOS capable of establishing a pathway from the second memory to the communication management circuit. When the computer is off and a match between the clock and the alarm setting is made, the second memory sends a signal to the communication management circuit. In response to the sent signal, the communication management circuit sends a “power on” signal along the pathway established by the employed BIOS to the power supply in the computer, resulting in the self-start of the computer. 
   These and other objectives of the claimed 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 DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a computer according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of the operations of a computer according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Please refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a diagram of a computer  10  according to the present invention. In this preferred embodiment, the computer  10  comprises a first memory  20 , a second memory  32 , a clock  34 , a communication management chip  40 , and a power supply  50 . The second memory  32  is for storing an alarm setting and sending a matching signal while the clock  34  is for tracking time. The communication management chip  40  is for sending a power on signal and comprises a register  42  for storing an SCI (System Control Interrupt) bit that allows the communication management chip  40  to respond to the matching signal sent from the second memory  32 . The first memory  20  is for storing a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) capable of establishing a pathway from the second memory  32  to the communication management chip  40  for which the matching signal can be sent along. Finally, the power supply  50  is for supplying the computer with electrical power. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the first memory  20  is realized by a ROM (Read Only Memory) chip, sometimes referred to only as the BIOS. The second memory  32  and the clock  34  are placed on the same chip and as a result are realized in the form of one chip known as the RTC/NVRAM (Real Time Clock/Non Volatile Memory) chip  30 . The RTC/NVRAM chip  30  is more popularly referred to as the CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) chip because the second memory  32  is often made using CMOS technology. Finally, the communication management chip  40  is realized by a Southbridge chipset on the mother-board. The register  42  of the Southbridge chipset  40  is used to store an SCI bit, and information from this SCI bit is sent using an associated SCI pin also located on the Southbridge chipset  40 . 
   Please refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a flowchart of the operations employed by the computer  10  to self-start. 
   Step  100 : Select a time via an OS (Operating System) application. The computer  10  will self-start according to the predetermined time selected by the user. 
   Step  110 : Adjust the alarm setting and enable the SCI bit. After the predetermined time is selected in Step  100 , the OS application relays the information via a driver to the BIOS stored in the first memory  20 . The BIOS then adjusts the alarm setting stored in the second memory  32  of the RTC/NVRAM chip  30 . In addition, the BIOS enables the SCI (System Control Interrupt) bit stored in the register  42  of the Southbridge chipset  40 . Enabling the SCI bit allows the Southbridge chipset  40  to respond a received matching signal when the computer is off. 
   Step  120 : Turn off the computer  10 . After having finished with selecting the time, the user can now turn the computer  10  off. 
   Step  130 : Check if the clock time matches the alarm setting. When the computer  10  is off, the time from the clock  34  of the RTC/NVRAM chip  30  will compare the alarm setting stored in the second memory  32  of the RTC/NVRAM chip  30 . If there is no match, this step will be repeated. However, if there is a match, the computer  10  proceeds to Step  140 . 
   Step  140 : Send a matching signal. Upon detecting a match in Step  130 , the value of the 11 th  byte in the second memory  32  will be changed. Changing the value of the 11 th  byte causes the second memory  32  to issue a matching signal to the Southbridge chipset  40 . 
   Step  150 : Send a power on signal. Because the SCI bit had been enabled in Step  110 , the Southbridge chipset  40  is able to respond to the matching signal from Step  140 . Upon receiving the matching signal, the Southbridge chipset  40  issues a power on signal via the SCI pin to the power supply  50  in the computer  10 . 
   Step  160 : Start the computer. When the power supply  50  receives a power on signal from the Southbridge chipset  40 , the power supply  50  will power all the pins in its connector. The power supply  50  will then check to make sure that the voltages in all the pins are stable before sending a power good signal to the computer  10 . Upon receiving the power good signal, the computer  10  will self-start. 
   To summarize the preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention has a user select a predetermined time using an application of the OS. The application then conveys the selected time to a driver. The driver then communicates the information to the BIOS stored in the first memory  20 . The BIOS then adjusts the alarm setting stored in the second memory  32  of the RTC/NVRAM chip  30  according to the selected time. The BIOS also enables the SCI bit stored in the register  42  of the Southbridge chipset  40 . Enabling the SCI bit allows the Southbridge chipset  40  to be responsive to signals received when the computer is off. 
   Next, the user can turn off the computer  10 . With the computer  10  off, the computer  10  will compare the time from the clock  34  against the alarm setting stored in second memory  42  (Both the clock  34  and second memory  34  are located on the RTC/NVRAM  30 ). If there is no match, the computer  10  repeats the comparison until a match is made. When the alarm setting and the time from the clock  34  matches, the value of the 11 th  byte in the second memory  34  is changed. As a result, the second memory  34  will issue a matching signal sent to the South-bridge chipset  40 . 
   Since the SCI bit was enabled earlier, the Southbridge chipset  40  is able to respond to the incoming matching signal by issuing a power on signal to the power supply  50 . The power on signal causes the power supply  50  to power up all the pins in its connectors. The power supply  50  will then check if the voltages in all the pins are stable. Upon confirmation of the stability of the voltages, the power supply will issue a power on signal to the computer  10  that will result in the self-start of the computer. 
   As previously mentioned, there is no current solution that allows a computer to self-start when the computer is off. This ability to self-start is of great utility to a person whenever he or she wants to have an application run when he or she is not present. It gives a further degree of independence and automation to the computer. In contrast to the prior art, the present invention uses a BIOS stored in a first memory to establish a pathway between a second memory and a communications management circuit so that a computer may self-start at a selected time when the computer had been on. 
   Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, that above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.