Abstract:
A method for powering down a computer system through the use of a remote power button is shown. A remote power button is actuated that generates an interrupt. The interrupt is handled by the power management controller of an operating system or basic input output system. The power management controller causes the computer system to be shut down as according to the basic input output system or operating system power management policies, with or without waiting for critical processes to terminate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The present invention relates to a method for powering down a computer system, more specifically, to a method for powering down a computer system with a remote power button. 
         [0007]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0008]    Almost all personal computers are manufactured with a power button that can be used to turn the computer off. These buttons are usually inset into the computer&#39;s frame or chassis and are directly connected to the motherboard. Computers contain power management controllers that monitor the status of the power button. When the user presses the power button, creating a button event, the power management controller generates an interrupt either at the basic input output system (BIOS) level or at the operating system (OS) level. The BIOS or the OS then handles the button event according to their power management policies. 
         [0009]    Computers have become increasingly sensitive to sudden losses of power. Immediate power loss can damage computer hardware and lead to corruption of software. Information stored in volatile memory is lost when the computer is powered off and if that data is not written to a tangible medium, such as a hard drive or non-volatile flash memory, it will be permanently unrecoverable. To maintain system integrity, manufacturers and programmers have incorporated safe shutdown procedures into the BIOS and OS power management policies. Activating the system&#39;s shutdown procedures usually involves the user clicking through a short menu selection or pressing a certain sequence of keys on the keyboard. Both of these shutdown approaches are time-consuming, somewhat complicated, and require the user to be in very close proximity with the computer so they can physically interact with the hardware. 
         [0010]    There are many peripheral devices that have power buttons and are designed to work with computers. These devices only control specific functions like DVR recording, music and video players, and system volume. Pressing their power buttons can close a software application or shut off power to a peripheral device, but do not interface with the OS power management policies or shutdown procedures. Users have no way to remotely shut down their system in a safe and secure manner. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A simpler, more efficient way to turn off a computer is needed. Users expect near instantaneous response from computer hardware and want the convenience of being able to turn off their computers without being in close physical proximity. The present invention meets those needs by allowing users to quickly and safely turn off their computers from a distance. Through a single click of a button, the present invention allows the user to activate the BIOS or OS shutdown procedures without having to navigate through a shutdown menu or having to press a sequence of keys on the keyboard. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a button is integrated into a computer mouse that generates a system interrupt when pressed. The BIOS or OS power management controller handles the interrupt and initiates computer shutdown as according to its power management policies. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a button is integrated into a wireless remote control device that sends a signal to an integrated or peripheral wireless receiver attached to the computer. Upon receiving the signal, the receiver generates a system interrupt that is handled by the BIOS or OS power management controller and the computer is shutdown as according to its power management properties. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a computer system with a remote power button as according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart diagram of a method for powering down a computer system utilizing a wired remote power button as according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart diagram of a method for powering down a computer system utilizing a wireless remote power button as according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  is the top view of a remote power button integrated into a computer mouse with which one embodiment of the invention may be implemented. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4B  is the side view of a remote power button integrated into a computer mouse with which one embodiment of the invention may be implemented. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is the top view of a remote power button integrated into a wireless remote control with which one embodiment of the invention may be implemented. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that the various embodiments of the invention, although different, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Furthermore, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described herein in connection with one embodiment may be implemented within other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, it is to be understood that the location or arrangement of individual elements within each disclosed embodiment may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, appropriately interpreted, along with the full range of equivalents to which the claims are entitled. In the drawings, like numerals refer to the same or similar functionality throughout the several views. 
         [0021]    Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. 
         [0022]    The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the terms “embodiment(s) of the invention,” “alternative embodiment(s),” and “exemplary embodiment(s)” do not require that all embodiments of the method, system and apparatus include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0023]    The following descriptions of the preferred embodiments are merely exemplary in nature and are in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. It should be pointed out that the positions chosen for the purposes of the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., relate to the drawing specifically being described and can be transposed in terms of meaning to a new position when another position is being described. 
         [0024]    A computer BIOS is built-in software that is run initially on startup of the computer. The BIOS contains all the code required to control the peripheral devices of the computer, such as keyboard, display screen, disk drives, serial communications, and the like. 
         [0025]    The BIOS is typically stored on a read only memory (ROM) chip. Since it is stored on a dedicated chip, the BIOS is protected from many disk and memory failures. The BIOS may contain power management policies that can be copied to computer random access memory (RAM) and operate in conjunction with, or independently of, OS power management policies. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown a computer system  100  having a remote power button for powering down the system  100  as according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The system includes a remote power button  101 , a power management controller  102 , and a computer  103 . The remote power button  101  is, in one exemplary embodiment, built into a peripheral device that communicates with the computer  101  through a wired connection. The remote power button  101  is, in another exemplary embodiment, built in to a peripheral device that communicates with the computer  101  wirelessly. The shutdown functionality of the remote power button  101  can be implemented in any number of ways such as by electrical components or software. The remote power button  101  is coupled to the power management controller  102 . For this exemplary embodiment, the power management controller is an OS handler or a BIOS handler. The computer  103  is coupled to the power management controller  102 . The computer  102  has a processor, memory, power supply, and other components commonly found in a computer. 
         [0027]    The remote power button  101  generates a button event when pressed. If the computer  103  is on when the remote power button  101  is pressed, the button event is a computer shutdown event. The power management controller  102  receives the computer shutdown event generated by the remote power button  101 . The power management controller  102  handles the computer shutdown event according to its power management policies. The policies may be factory default settings, user defined settings, dynamically determined by the power management controller  102 , or other settings intended to shut down the computer. The power management policies may cause a computer  103  shutdown with or without allowing certain process to save or terminate before shutdown. Alternatively, the power management policies may not allow a shutdown and the computer  103  will remain powered on. 
         [0028]    In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the power management controller  102  physically resides within the computer  103  while the remote power button  101  physically resides within a peripheral device that communicates through a wired or wireless connection to the computer  103 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 2  there is shown a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of the method for shutting down a computer system with a remote power button event that utilizes a wired connection  200 . 
         [0030]    The actuation of a remote power button generates a remote power button event  201 . The remote power button event  201  is communicated to the power management controller  202  through a wired connection and the power management controller  202  generates a computer shutdown interrupt  203 . The shutdown interrupt  203  is received by the OS or the BIOS and the OS or BIOS responds to the shutdown interrupt  203  by accessing the computer system&#39;s power management policies  204 . The power management policies handle the computer system shutdown  205 . The power management policies&#39; handling of the computer shutdown  205  may include shutting the system off with or without allowing certain processes to save or terminate prior to shutdown, or the policies may disallow a shutdown and the computer system will remain powered on. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 3  there is shown a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of the method  300  for shutting down a computer system with a remote power button event that utilizes a wireless connection. 
         [0032]    The actuation of a remote power button generates a remote power button event  301 . The remote power button event  301  is broadcast by a peripheral computer device  302 . The broadcast of the remote power button event is received by a peripheral wireless receiver  303 . The wireless receiver communicates the remote power button event  301  to the power management controller  304  and the power management controller  304  generates a computer shutdown interrupt  305 . The shutdown interrupt  305  is received by the OS or the BIOS and the OS or BIOS responds to the shutdown interrupt  305  by accessing the computer system&#39;s power management policies  306 . The power management policies handle the computer system shutdown  307 . The power management policies&#39; handling of the computer shutdown  307  may include shutting the system off with or without allowing certain processes to save or terminate prior to shutdown, or the policies may disallow a shutdown and the computer system will remain powered on. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B , which will be described together, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the method for shutting down a computer system with a remote power button event utilizing a wired peripheral device, in this case a computer mouse  400 . A computer mouse  400  typically has a left mouse button  401 , a right mouse button  406 , and a center scroll wheel  405 . An exemplary remote power button  403  is integrated into the computer mouse body  407  and is inset in a power button recess  402  to prevent accidental actuation. A computer user usually operates the computer mouse  400  with either their left or right hand resting on the computer mouse body  407  and their fingers extending over the left mouse button  401 , right mouse button  406 , and center scroll wheel  405 . The computer user can shut down the computer system by pressing the remote power button  403 . The signal from the remote power button  403  is communicated to the computer power management controller through the attached mouse cord  404 . The mouse cord  404  can connect to a computer via connection types that include, but are not limited to, a universal serial bus connection, an IBM Personal System/2 connection, or a serial mouse connection. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 5  there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the method for shutting down a computer system with a remote power button event utilizing a wireless peripheral device, in this case a remote control  500 . The remote control  500  has a power button recess  501  into which a remote power button  502  has been constructed. A computer user can shut down a computer system by pressing the remote power button  502 . The signal from the remote power button  502  is received by a receiver attached to the computer system. The receiver communicates the remote power button actuation to the computer system power management controller. 
         [0035]    Method  200 , system  100  and any variations thereof may be implemented partially or wholly in wired peripheral devices such as the computer mouse shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B . Method  300 , system  100  and any variations thereof may be implemented partially or wholly in wireless peripheral devices such as the remote control shown in  FIG. 5 . Methods  200 ,  300 , system  100  and any variations thereof may be implemented partially or wholly in computer programs. The computer programs may comprise multiple modules or objects to perform methods  200 ,  300 , or the functions of modules in system  100 . 
         [0036]    The type of computer programming languages used to write code for implementing any embodiment of the present invention may vary between procedural code type languages to object oriented languages. The files or objects need not have a one to one correspondence to the modules or method steps described depending on the desires of the programmer. Further, the method and apparatus of any embodiment of the present invention may comprise combinations of software, hardware and firmware as is well known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0037]    Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention. It is intended that this invention be limited only by the following claims, and the full scope of equivalents thereof.