Abstract:
A key writing device electrically connected to an electronic device for automating the writing of multiple keys for activating one or more functions of the electronic device, via a key writer. The key writing device includes a storage storing multiple keys, at least two of the keys to be written into the electronic device are selected from the storage and are packed into a key package. The package including the at least two keys is then written into the electronic device using the key writer.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a key writing device and a method thereof for controlling a key writer to write a plurality of keys into an electronic device for activating functions of the electronic device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    One or more security keys used for activating specific functions of an electronic device need to be written into the electronic device before the electronic device is released from the factory. In a typical security key writing method, a lot of time is spent writing each of the keys into the electronic device. This represents low manufacturing efficiency. 
         [0003]    Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a key writing device for controlling a key writer to write a plurality of keys into an electronic device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a user interface of the key writing device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a key writing method implemented by the key writing device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, for example, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as in an EPROM. Modules may comprise connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage system. Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a key writing device  100 . The key writing device  100  is connected to an electronic device  400  via a key writer  200 , for writing a plurality of keys into the electronic device  400 . The key writing device  100  can be an independent device or a component integrated in a computer. The electronic device  400  can be a Notebook, a portable DVD player, a tablet personal computer, a game player, or the like. 
         [0010]    The key writing device  100  includes a storage  101 , an inputting unit  102 , a display  103 , a setting module  104 , an obtaining module  105 , a packing module  106 , and a controlling module  107 . 
         [0011]    The storage  101  stores a plurality of keys, each of the plurality of keys is configured to activate one or more functions of the electronic device  400 . In this embodiment, the keys includes a plurality of different types, in which each type is configured to activate one or more specific functions of the electronic device  400 . The key can be a high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) key, a Cinemanow (an Internet-based digital video distribution company) key, a content protector for recordable media (CPRM) key, or the like. 
         [0012]    The inputting unit  102  generates instructions in response to manual operations. The inputting unit  102  can be a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, a touch pad, a barcode scanner, or the like device. 
         [0013]    The setting module  104  sets at least two keys to be written into the electronic device  400  and the key parameters of each of the at least two keys. The key parameters include a storage location of each of the at least two keys in the storage  101 , and a name of each of the at least two keys. The setting module  104  further provides a user interface displayed on the display  103  of the key writing device  100  for setting the key parameters. The user interface is configured to receive manual input of the key parameters via the inputting unit  102 . 
         [0014]    The obtaining module  105  obtains the at least two keys from the storage  101  according to the key parameters. In at least one embodiment, the obtaining module  105  searches the storage  101  according to the storage location and the names of each of the at least two keys to obtain the at least two keys to be written into the electronic device  400 . 
         [0015]    The packing module  106  packs the obtained keys into a key package. The controlling module  107  controls the key writer  200  to write the key package into the electronic device  400 . Thus, each key packed in the key package can be written into the electronic device  400  at the same time, thus saving an unnecessary waste of time of the key writing process of the electronic device  400 . 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, the setting module  104  further sets packing information for packing the key package. The packing information includes a number of the keys which are needed to be written into the electronic device  400 , a name of the packed package, and a storage location where the packed package needs to be stored in the storage  101 .  FIG. 2  shows a user interface provided by the setting module  104  to set the key parameters and the key information. The user interface  30  comprises a first setting area  31 , a second setting area  32 , and an OK button  33 . 
         [0017]    The first setting area  31  includes a selection box  311 , a browse button  312  and a display box  313 . The selection box  311  selects the at least two keys which need to be written into the electronic device  400 . The browse button  312  sets the storage location of each selected key. The display box  313  displays the storage locations of the selected keys. Thus, the key parameters can be manually set using the first setting area  31  of the user interface. 
         [0018]    The second setting area  32  includes a first inputting box  321 , a second inputting box  322 , a second browse button  323 , and a second display box  324 . The first inputting box  321  receives manual input via the inputting unit  102  for setting the number of the keys which need to be written into the electronic device  400 . The second inputting box  322  receives manual input via the inputting unit  102  for setting the name of the packed package. The second browse button  323  sets the storage location where the packed package needs to be stored in the storage  101 . The second display box  321  displays the storage location of the packed key package. 
         [0019]    The OK button  33  generates an instruction for controlling the obtaining module  105  to obtain the keys from the storage location of the storage  101 , when the OK button  33  is operated. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows a key writing method for controlling the key writer  200  to write the keys into the electronic device  400 . Depending on the embodiment, additional steps can be added, others removed, and the ordering of the steps can be changed. 
         [0021]    In  500 , setting at least two keys to be written into the electronic device  400  and the key parameters of each of the at least two keys and packing information. 
         [0022]    In  501 , obtaining the at least two keys from storage according to the key parameters. 
         [0023]    In  502 , packing the obtained keys into a key package according to the packing information. 
         [0024]    In  503 , controlling the key writer  200  to write the key package into the electronic device  400 . 
         [0025]    Although information and the advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.