Patent Publication Number: US-2010114486-A1

Title: Computer system and control method for receiving satellite positioning signal at power-off state

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a computer system equipped with a satellite positioning chip, and more particularly, to a computer system and control method for receiving satellite positioning signals at a system power-off state. 
     2. Related Art 
     In actual implementation, a computer system (such as desktop personal computer or notebook computer) equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) device has to use a specific software to actuate and initialize the GPS device at a “system power-on state”, and then to process and analyze satellite positioning signals received by the GPS device. 
     Therefore, at a “system power-off state”, the computer system can not actuate and operate the GPS device through a specific application program. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To solve the aforesaid problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a computer system and control method for receiving satellite positioning signals at a system power-off state. The computer system and method facilitate a function to perform a specific action at the system power-off state when an actuation element is triggered (such as a pressed hotkey) to retrieve and process the satellite positioning signal received by the GPS chip. The specific action may be to display a current location of the computer system, to display a current system time or to update the current system time of a real-time clock of the computer system. Therefore, the user will still be able to know the current location or the current system time even the computer system is at the system power-off state. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, a computer system is capable of receiving a satellite positioning signal at a system power-off state. When the computer system is at the system power-off state, a GPS chip in the computer system will still continuously receive the satellite positioning signal. Therefore, the computer system will not need to initialize the GPS chip when the computer system is switched from the system power-off state to the system power-on state. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a computer system for receiving a satellite positioning signal at a system power-off state includes a power supply device, a satellite positioning chip, a communication interface, a control chip and an actuation element. The power supply device provides an operation voltage. The satellite positioning chip receives the satellite positioning signal through an antenna. The communication interface electrically connects with the satellite positioning chip. The control chip receives the operation voltage, supplies source voltage to the satellite positioning chip, and retrieves and processes the satellite positioning signal through the communication interface. The actuation element electrically connects with the control chip. When the computer system is triggered by the actuation element under the system power-off state, the control chip supplies source voltage to the satellite positioning chip, so as to retrieve and process the satellite positioning signal. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, a control method for receiving a satellite positioning signal at a system power-off state of a computer system. The computer system includes a power supply device, a satellite positioning chip, a control chip and an actuation element. The control method of the present invention includes the following steps. First of all, determine whether the computer system is at the system power-off state. Next, whether the actuation element is triggered. When the computer system is at the system power-off state and the actuation element is triggered, the control chip will supply source voltage and actuate the satellite positioning chip to receive and process the satellite positioning signal received by the satellite positioning chip. And then use the processed satellite positioning signal to perform a specific action corresponding to the actuation element. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a computer system for receiving satellite positioning signals at a system power-off state according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is an explanatory flow chart illustrating a control method for receiving satellite positioning signals at a system power-off state according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description refers to the same or the like parts. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a computer system for receiving satellite positioning signals at a system power-off state according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a computer system  100  mainly includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) chip (namely a “satellite positioning chip” in general)  110 , a control chip  120 , a communication interface  130 , a power supply device  140 , an output device  150 , and an actuation element  160 . Other system components of the computer system, such as central processing unit (CPU), system memory, bus bridge chip and system bus and etc., are omitted in  FIG. 1 . The power supply device  140  provides an operation voltage Vo. The satellite positioning chip  110  receives the satellite positioning signal through the antenna  112 . The communication interface  130  electrically connects with the satellite positioning chip  110  and the control chip  120 . The control chip  120  receives the operation voltage Vo from the power supply device  140 , supplies source voltage V GPS  to the satellite positioning chip  110 , and retrieves and processes the satellite positioning signal through the communication interface  130 . The actuation element  160  electrically connects with the control chip  120 . When the computer system  100  is at the system power-off state and the actuation element  160  is triggered, the control chip  120  supplies the source voltage V GPS  to the satellite positioning chip  110 , so as to retrieve and process the satellite positioning signal. 
     In a possible practical implementation, the control chip  120  includes a keyboard controller (KBC) or an embedded controller (EC), which controls the power supply device  140  to supply electricity to some components of the computer system  100 , such as a south bridge chip. In the present invention, at the system power-off state the control chip  120  is still supplied with the power supply device  140 , namely a battery power (not shown) or with a DC (direct current) power (not shown) converted from an AC (alternating current) power source (not shown), so as to remain operative. The control chip  120  includes a pin electrically connected with the power supply device  140  to receive the operation voltage Vo at the system power-off state of the computer system  100 . Therefore, the control chip  120  can still perform relevant functions such as supplying the source voltage V GPS  or retrieving the satellite positioning signal received by the GPS chip  110 . 
     In the present embodiment, the control chip  120  further includes a converter device  121  to convert the operation voltage Vo into the source voltage V GPS . The converter device  121  may be integrated in the control chip  120 , or be independent from the control chip  120 . Furthermore, the control chip  120  may uses the communication interface  130  to retrieve the satellite positioning signal from the GPS chip  110 . The communication interface  130  may be a serial communication bus. Namely, to communicate with each other through the serial communication bus, the control chip  120  and the GPS chip  110  needs to be compatible with the serial communication bus, such each having a serial communication port to connect with the serial communication bus respectively. 
     When the computer system  100  is at the system power-off state, the control chip  120  controls (the converter device  121 ) to convert the operation voltage Vo supplied by the power supply device  140  into the source voltage V GPS . When the control chip  120  supplies the source voltage V GPS  to the GPS chip  110 , the GPS chip  110  is able to receive the satellite positioning signal. Then the control chip  120  will, through the communication interface  130 , retrieve the satellite positioning signal received in the GPS chip  110 . 
     When the control chip  120  retrieves the satellite positioning signal, the control chip  120  starts to process or parse the satellite positioning signal. According to the processed/parsed results of the satellite positioning signal, the control chip  120  performs a specific action. For example, the control chip  120  may, according to the processed/parsed satellite positioning signal, display on an output device  150  a current location of the computer system  100 , or may update/rectify a current system of a real-time clock  170  of the computer system  100 . The output device  150  may be a default display the computer system, or an auxiliary display independent from the default display of the computer system, such as a small  16 x 2  secondary liquid crystal display. The output device  150  may also be realized by any other output device that informs the user through video or audio outputs. 
     In a practical embodiment, the user may manually actuate the specific action. For example, when the computer system  100  is at the system power-off state, if the actuation element  160  is not triggered, it indicates that the user does not intend to actuate the specific action. Therefore, the GPS chip  110  is not actuated and will not receive the satellite positioning signals from satellites  101 ˜ 103 . 
     The aforesaid actuation element  160  may be a common function key or hot/quick key. For example, the computer system may use one preset button or several preset combination buttons included in a keyboard of the computer system, or may add a designated button inside/outside the keyboard (with/without being included in the keyboard), or may use a remote button, as the actuation element. The actuation element  160  may be an actuation element that is able to generate any trigger event signals and is well-known to those skilled in the art. 
     When the computer system  100  is at the system power-off state, if the actuation element  160  is also triggered, the control chip  120  provides the source voltage V GPS , to actuate the GPS chip  110 . The GPS chip  110  receives the satellite positioning signal through the antenna  112 ; and then through the communication interface  130 , the satellite positioning signal is sent/retrieved to the control chip  120 . The control chip  120  processes the satellite positioning signal received by the GPS chip  110  and performs the specific action. 
     From the satellite positioning signal, there provides different string messages such as geographic latitude and longitude (String “$GPGLL”: Geographic position, latitude/longitude), direction of current location to a destination (String “$GPBOD”: Bearing, origin to destination), direction and distance toward a destination (String “$GPBWC”: bearing and distance to waypoint), date and time (String “$GPZDA”: date and Time), . . . and etc. The aforesaid “performing the specific action” in a practical embodiment, includes that the control chip  120  may access/analyze string data like latitude/longitude and the current time from the satellite positioning signal, and then send the results to the output device  150  to display thereon. The output device  150  may output the accessed/analyzed results by way of video or audio. Therefore, when the computer system  100  is at the system power-off state, by reading from the output device  150 , the user may still be aware of certain GPS information for the computer system  100  such as the latitude/longitude data of the current location and the current satellite time. 
     In another practical embodiment regarding “performing the specific action”, the control chip  120  may access/analyze the current satellite time from the satellite positioning signal received by the GPS chip  110 . Meanwhile, the current system time of the real-time clock (RTC)  170  in the computer system will be updated according to the accessed current satellite time. 
     In other practical embodiment, a first actuation element and a second actuation element (both not shown) or more may be configured to operate on the computer system  100 . When the first actuation element is triggered, the control chip  120  may make the output device  150  output the messages (such as the aforesaid latitude/longitude data) within the satellite positioning signal. When the second actuation element is triggered, the control chip  120  may control to update the current system time of the real-time clock  170 . 
       FIG. 2  is an explanatory flow chart illustrating a control method for receiving satellite positioning signals at a system power-off state according to another embodiment of the present invention. The computer system includes a power supply device, a satellite positioning chip, a control chip, a communication interface and an actuation element. 
     First of all, determine whether the computer system is at the system power-off state (Step S 210 ). If the computer system is not at the system power-off state, perform regular tasks (Step S 211 ). If the computer system is at the system power-off state, determine whether an actuation element is also triggered (Step S 220 ). The actuation element may be a function key or a Hot Key/Quick Key, such as presetting a certain key or a set of certain keys involved in the keyboard of the computer system as the hot key/quick key, or providing an extra dedicated key on the keyboard or outside the keyboard, or a button on a remote controller. The actuation element may also be realized by any actuation element that generates trigger event signals and is well-known to those skilled in the art. 
     If the actuation element is not also triggered, return to Step S 210 . If the actuation element is also triggered, supply source voltage to the satellite positioning chip so as to activation the satellite positioning chip (Step S 230 ). In the present embodiment, the control chip supplies source voltage to the satellite positioning chip. When the computer system is at the system power-off state, the control chip is still capable of supply voltage/electricity since the control device is still supplies with system power by the power supply device (battery only or DC power converted from AC power) at the power-off state. In a practical embodiment, the control chip may comprise a keyboard controller (KBC) of the computer system or an embedded controller (EC) implemented with KBC is features and functions. 
     The satellite positioning chip receives the satellite positioning signal for a satellite (Step S 240 ). In a practical embodiment, the satellite positioning chip receives the satellite positioning signal through an antenna, such as a GPS antenna or embedded satellite antenna. Afterwards, transmit the satellite positioning signal to the control chip (Step S 250 ). In the present embodiment, the satellite positioning chip transmits the received satellite positioning signal to the control chip through a communication interface like a serial communication bus; or alternatively, the control chip may access/retrieve the received satellite positioning signal from the satellite positioning chip through the serial communication bus. 
     Then, process the satellite positioning signal (Step S 260 ). In the present embodiment, the control chip process (parse/analyze/access) the satellite positioning signal received by the satellite positioning chip. The satellite positioning signal may actually be processed (parsed/analyzed) so that the control chip can access or retrieve the processed satellite positioning signal to perform a specific action (Step S 270 ). The satellite positioning signal provides different string messages such as geographic latitude and longitude (String “$GPGLL”: Geographic position, latitude/longitude), direction of current location to a destination (String “$GPBOD”: Bearing, origin to destination), direction and distance toward a destination (String “$GPBWC”: bearing and distance to waypoint), date and time (String “$GPZDA”: date and Time), . . . and etc. 
     In a practical embodiment, an output device outputs the processed results of the satellite positioning signal by way of video or audio. For example, a display device, especially an auxiliary display independent from a default display of the computer system, will be used to display the geography information of the current location of the computer system. In a practical embodiment, a satellite time obtained from the processed satellite positioning signal will be used to update the current system time of the real-time clock in the computer system. 
     In the present embodiment, Step S 270  performs a specific action including displaying the processed satellite positioning signal (Step S 271 ) and determining whether to update the current system time of the real-time clock (Step S 272 ). As shown in  FIG. 2 , after Step S 260  is performed, display the processed satellite positioning signal (Step S 271 ). In the present embodiment, it is to use an output device (such as a default display of the computer system or an auxiliary display independent from the default display or an external display outside the computer system) to display the satellite positioning signal. In a practical embodiment, the control chip may control to supply necessary voltage to the output device since the power supply device of the computer system possibly does not supply system power to the output device at the power-off state. 
     Next, determine whether it is needed to update the current system time of the real-time clock RTC (Step S 272 ). In a practical embodiment, the output/display device displays a user menu for the user. According to the selection results of the user menu, the current system time of the real-time clock RTC will be determined whether to update. When it is determined to update the current system time of the real-time clock RTC, a satellite time of the processed satellite positioning signal will be used to update the current system time of the real-time clock (Step S 273 ). After updating the real-time clock RTC, determine whether the actuation element is also triggered again (Step S 280 ). 
     In a practical embodiment, if the current system time of the real-time clock need not to be update, determine whether the actuation element is also triggered again (Step S 280 ). If not, return to Step S 270  and continue to perform the specific action. In the present embodiment, if the actuation element is not triggered again, the computer system continues to output/display the processed satellite positioning signal (Step S 271 ). If the actuation element is triggered again, cease performing the specific action (Step S 281 ). In the present embodiment, if the actuation element is triggered again, cease display/output the processed/ parsed/analyzed satellite positioning signal. In a practical embodiment, if the actuation element is triggered again, cease supplying source voltage to the satellite positioning chip. 
     Furthermore, the aforesaid embodiments of the present invention use US standard GPS as an example. However, for those skilled in the art, the present invention may also be adapted to other satellite positioning systems, such as the Galileo Positioning System of European standard. 
     Consequently, since the GPS chip (satellite positioning chip) is still capable of receiving the satellite positioning signal when the computer system is at the system power-off state, the GPS chip will not need to be reactivated again when the computer system is powered on from the system power-off state. Moreover, when the computer system is at the system power-off state, specific actions may be performed according to the satellite positioning signal received by the GPS chip (satellite positioning chip), such as displaying the current location or the current system time of the computer system. 
     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those proficient in the relevant fields. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.