Patent Publication Number: US-2003222854-A1

Title: Information processing apparatus and system locking method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-159991, filed May 31, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a system locking method capable of causing a system to be locked.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] An information processing apparatus such as a personal computer is provided with a function of setting a system to be locked in response to a user&#39;s instruction.  
       [0006] For example, if a user must leave an information processing apparatus unattended, he or she can use a predetermined shortcut key to lock the system. In this case, the shortcut key may be a command on a menu specified by operating, for example, “Ctrl”+“Alt”+“Del” keys on a keyboard.  
       [0007] The information processing apparatus such as a personal computer is also provided with a function called a “screen saver”. The screen saver is a function of automatically switching an image displayed on a screen to another preset image after nothing has been input for a specified period. The above locked status can also be accomplished using such a screen saver. Further, it is possible to set a power supply to an LCD to be turned off by using the screen saver function after nothing has been input for a specified period.  
       [0008] However, the shortcut key used to lock the system includes a plurality of predetermined keys. Thus, the user must be sure to remember the combination of the plurality of predetermined keys in order to successfully lock the system. The system is provided with various shortcut keys corresponding to respective purposes. Accordingly, the user cannot remember the required shortcut key easily and forgets it readily.  
       [0009] Further, if the screen saver is used to lock the system, the user must wait (for example, for several minutes) before the screen saver is activated. Consequently, the user cannot immediately leave the information processing apparatus.  
       [0010] Accordingly, it is desirable to implement a mechanism that immediately locks the system in response to a simple operation without the need to use any shortcut keys including a combination of a plurality of keys.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] Embodiments of the present invention may provide an information processing apparatus and a system locking method which cause a system to be easily locked by a single button operation.  
       [0012] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising a button to be depressed; and a control section which emulates a key depressing operation corresponding to a system locking operation when the button is depressed.  
       [0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system locking method applied to an information processing apparatus, comprising detecting an operation of depressing a specific button; and emulating a key depressing operation corresponding to a system locking operation when the button is depressed. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
     [0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention with its display opened;  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the computer according to the embodiment;  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of arrangement of buttons on a remote control unit that can communicate with the computer according to the embodiment;  
     [0018]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a first example of a locking process mechanism according to the embodiment;  
     [0019]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a locking process procedure in the first example of the locking process mechanism according to the embodiment;  
     [0020]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an unlocking process procedure in the first example of the locking process mechanism according to the embodiment;  
     [0021]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second example of the locking process mechanism according to the embodiment;  
     [0022]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a locking process procedure in the second example of the locking process mechanism according to the embodiment;  
     [0023]FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a third example of the locking process mechanism according to the embodiment;  
     [0024]FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a locking process procedure in the third example of the locking process mechanism according to the embodiment;  
     [0025]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a variation of FIG. 4;  
     [0026]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a variation of FIG. 7; and  
     [0027]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a variation of FIG. 9. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0028] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.  
     [0029] First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, description will be given of a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this case, it is assumed that the present invention is implemented as a notebook type personal computer.  
     [0030]FIG. 1 is a front view showing that a display unit of the personal computer is opened. The personal computer includes a computer main body  11  and a display unit  12 . The display unit  12  has an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)  121  incorporated therein. A display screen of the LCD  121  is located substantially in the center of the display unit  12 .  
     [0031] The display unit  12  is attached to the computer main body  11  so as to rotationally move freely between a released position and a closed position. The computer main body  11  is a thin box-shaped housing. A keyboard  111 , a touch pad  112 , and left and right touch pad buttons  113   a  and  113   b , respectively, are arranged on a top surface of the computer main body  11 .  
     [0032] Furthermore, a power button  114  used to power on/off the personal computer and two accessory buttons  115  and  116  used to execute predetermined functions are provided on the top surface of the computer main body  11  behind the keyboard  111 . The accessory buttons  115  and  116  are external input buttons as hardware. Each is used as an exclusive operation button that activates a predetermined function in response to a user&#39;s operation.  
     [0033] An arbitrary application program can be assigned to the accessory button  115 . An Internet browser is often assigned to the accessory button  115  by default. In this case, the accessory button  115  is called an “Internet button”.  
     [0034] A function for locking the system is assigned to the accessory button  116 . The accessory button  116  is depressed once to automatically set a predetermined type of locked status. The user can change system settings or set the system beforehand so that a password must be input before the locked status can be cleared. Thus, in the present embodiment, the system can be locked, while maintaining security. In this case, the accessory button  116  is called an “instant security button”.  
     [0035] Furthermore, a communication port  117  is provided on a front surface of the computer main body  11  to communicate with an external remote control unit  21 . The communication port  117  is a transmission and reception section used to transmit and receive data to and from external apparatuses using, for example, infrared rays. The communication port  117  will be hereinafter referred to as an “IR port”.  
     [0036] The remote control unit  21  is an external device that allows operations of the personal computer to be remotely controlled. A plurality of control buttons are arranged on the remote control unit  21 . One of them is an instant security button  22 . Like the instant security button  116  on the computer main body, the instant security button  22  is used to lock the system.  
     [0037] The remote control unit  21  enables a predetermined type of locked status to be automatically established by depressing the instant security button  22  once even if the user is away from the personal computer.  
     [0038]FIG. 2 shows a system configuration of the personal computer. As shown in this figure, the personal computer is provided with a CPU  201 , a host bridge  202 , a main memory  203 , a graphics controller  204 , a communication device  205 , a PCI-ISA bridge  206 , an I/O controller  207 , a hard disk drive (HDD)  208 , a CD/DVD drive  209 , a BIOS-ROM  210 , an embedded controller/keyboard controller (EC/KBC)  211 , an infrared communication controller (IR controller)  213 , a power controller  214 , and the like.  
     [0039] The CPU  201  is a processor provided to control overall operations of the personal computer. It executes an operation system (OS) and an application program/utility program which are loaded into the main memory  203  from the hard disk drive (HDD)  208 . The CPU  201  also executes a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) stored in the BIOS-ROM  210 . A system locking function using the instant security button  22  or  116  is accomplished using an exclusive utility program.  
     [0040] The host bridge  202  is a bridge device that connects a local bus in the CPU  201  and a PCI bus  1 . The graphics controller  204  controls the LCD  121 , used as a display monitor of the personal computer. The communication device  205  is a PCI device used to connect to a computer network such as the Internet. The I/O controller  207  is also a PCI device containing an IDE controller and the like to control the hard disk (HDD)  208  and the CD/DVD drive  209 .  
     [0041] The PCI-ISA bridge  206  is a bridge device that connects the PCI bus and an ISA bus  2 . The PCI-ISA bridge  206  also contains various system devices such as a system timer, a DMA controller, and an interruption controller. The BIOS is stored in the BIOS-ROM  210 . The BIOS is a program for controlling hardware components in the present system. The BIOS includes a button event processing routine to process a button event generated in response to the user&#39;s operation of depressing the instant security button  22  or  116 .  
     [0042] The embedded controller/keyboard controller (EC/KBC)  211  is a one-chip microcomputer into which an embedded controller used to manage power and a keyboard controller used to control the keyboard  111  are integrated. The EC/KBC  211  has a function of cooperating with the power controller  214  in powering on/off the personal computer in response to the user&#39;s operation of the power button  114 . Further, when the user depresses the instant security button  22  or  116 , the EC/KBC  211  generates a button event indicating that the button has been depressed. For example, a hardware interruption signal is used to notify the CPU  201  that the button event has been generated. Then, the CPU  201  calls the button event processing routine in the BIOS.  
     [0043] The IR controller  213  is a communication device that transmits and receives data to and from external apparatuses, using infrared rays. When the IR controller  213  receives a signal via the IR port  117  which is transmitted by the remote controller  21 , the EC/KBC  211  generates a button event.  
     [0044]FIG. 3 shows an example of arrangement of the buttons on the remote unit  21 . The remote control unit  21  has, for example, a thin card-like housing. In addition to the above described instant security button  22 , a power button  23 , cursor buttons  24 ,  25 ,  26 , and  27 , an enter button  28 , and the like are provided on a top surface of the remote control unit  21 , as shown in the figure. Furthermore, an IR port  30  for infrared communications is provided at an end of the card-like housing.  
     [0045] The power button  23  is used to give an instruction to power on/off the personal computer. The cursor buttons  24 ,  25 ,  26 , and  27  correspond to a “↑” key, a “→” key, a “↓” key, and a “←” key on the keyboard  111 . Further, the enter button  28  corresponds to the “Enter” key on the keyboard  111 . Whatever button is depressed, the remote unit  21  transmits a signal corresponding to the depressed button to the computer using an infrared ray.  
     [0046] (First Example of Locking Process Mechanism)  
     [0047] Now, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, description will be given of a first example of a locking process mechanism according to the present embodiment. In this case, description will be given of an approach to locking the system by emulating an operation of depressing “Fn”+“F1”, a combination of keys used to activate a system locking screen saver.  
     [0048] When the user depresses, for example, the instant security button  22  on the remote control unit  21 , the remote control unit  21  transmits a signal to the computer which indicates that the instant security button  22  has been depressed, using infrared rays. This signal contains code data corresponding to the instant security button  22 . The IR controller  213  receives the signal transmitted by the remote control unit  21 , via the IR port  117 .  
     [0049] In response to the reception of the signal by the IR controller  213 , the EC/KBC  211  generates a button event indicating that the instant security button  22  has been depressed. An interruption signal to the CPU  201  or the like is used to notify the BIOS  301  that the button event has been generated. The button event processing routine in the BIOS  301  is thus executed.  
     [0050] The button event processing routine in the BIOS  301  examines the cause of generation of the button event in the EC/KBC  211 . This is carried out by, for example, checking a value in a status register in the EC/KBC  211 . Code data indicating the depressed button is stored in the status register.  
     [0051] If the button event has been generated because of depression of the instant security button  22 , the button event processing routine in the BIOS  301  issues an event corresponding to an operation of depressing “Fn”+“F1”, a combination of keys used to activate a screen saver. This event is transmitted to a resident program  302  (described later).  
     [0052] The resident program (utility program)  302  is always present in the main memory  203  while the OS  303  is operating. Upon receiving from the BIOS  301  the event corresponding to the operation of depressing the “Fn”+“F1”, the resident program  302  requests an API (Application Program Interface) managed by the OS  303  to activate a system locking screen saver  304 . The resident program is implemented as an execution program (module) that executes, for example, a hot key event.  
     [0053] In response to the request from the resident program  302 , the API managed by the OS  303  activates the system locking screen saver  304  to lock the system. Further, a registry for the OS  303  or the like manages various kinds of information, such as the type and status of the screen saver  304  executed in this case. The API also requests the BIOS  301  to power off the LCD  121 . Processing is thus executed to power off the LCD under the control of the BIOS  301 .  
     [0054] It is possible to set the OS  303  so that a predetermined password must be input before the system locked status can be cleared. If a password has been set, the OS  303  displays on the LCD  121  a password input dialog urging the user to input the password when the user operates the keyboard or mouse (an unlocking request operation). If the correct password is input, the OS  303  clears the system locked status (the OS  303  ends the operation of the screen saver  304 ).  
     [0055] Now, with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 5, description will be given of a locking process procedure in the first example of the locking process mechanism.  
     [0056] Upon detecting that the instant security button  22  on the remote control unit  21  has been depressed (step A 1 ), the hardware notifies the BIOS  301  that the instant security button  22  has been depressed (step A 2 ).  
     [0057] Upon receiving the notification that the instant security button  22  has been depressed, the BIOS  301  issues, to the resident program  302 , an event corresponding to an operation of depressing the “Fn”+“F1”, a combination of keys used to activate the system locking screen saver  304  (step A 3 ).  
     [0058] Upon receiving from the BIOS  301  the event corresponding to the operation of depressing the “Fn”+“F1”, the resident program (utility program)  302  requests the API managed by the OS  303  to execute processing for the “Fn”+“F1” (that is, activates the system locking screen saver  304 ) (step A 4 ).  
     [0059] In response to the request from the resident program  302 , the API managed by the OS  303  activates the screen saver  304  to lock the system (step A 5 ).  
     [0060] Further, the API requests the BIOS  301  to power off the LCD  121  (step A 6 ). Thus, the hardware powers off the LCD under the control of the BIOS  301  (step A 7 ).  
     [0061] Now, with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 6, description will be given of an unlocking process procedure in the first example of the locking process mechanism.  
     [0062] If the user operates the keyboard or the mouse (an unlocking request operation) (step A 11 ), the OS  303  determines whether or not a password has been set which is used to clear the system locked status.  
     [0063] If no passwords have been set, the OS  303  immediately clears the system locked status (ends the operation of the screen saver  304 ) (step A 15 ). Further, at this time, the OS  303  performs a process of powering-on the LCD, and other processes. On the other hand, if a password has been set, the OS  303  displays on the LCD  121  the password input dialog urging the user to input the password (step A 13 ).  
     [0064] If an incorrect password has been input, the OS  303  urges the user to reenter the password. On the other hand, if a correct password has been input, the OS  303  immediately clears the system locked status (ends the operation of the screen saver  304 ) (step A 15 ). Further, at this time, the OS  303  performs a process of powering-on the LCD, and other processes.  
     [0065] (Second Example of Lock Processing Mechanism)  
     [0066] Now, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, description will be given of a second example of a locking process mechanism according to the present embodiment. In this case, description will be given of an approach to locking the system by emulating an operation of depressing “Win”+“L”. In this case, the “Win” key is a kind of function key combined with other keys to execute various commands.  
     [0067] When the user depresses the instant security button  22  on the remote control unit  21 , the remote control unit  21  transmits a signal to the computer which indicates that the instant security button has been depressed, using infrared rays. This signal contains code data corresponding to the instant security button  22 . The IR controller  213  receives the signal transmitted by the remote control unit  21 , via the IR port  117 .  
     [0068] In response to the reception of the signal by the IR controller  213 , the EC/KBC  211  generates a button event indicating that the instant security button  22  has been depressed. An interruption signal to the CPU  201  or the like is used to notify a BIOS  401  that the button event has been generated. A button event processing routine in the BIOS  401  is thus executed.  
     [0069] The button event processing routine in the BIOS  401  examines the cause of generation of the button event in the EC/KBC  211 . This is carried out by, for example, checking a value in the status register in the EC/KBC  211 . Code data indicating the depressed button is stored in the status register.  
     [0070] If the button event has been generated because of depression of the instant security button  22 , the button event processing routine in the BIOS  401  issues an event indicating the depression of the instant security button  22 . This event is transmitted to a resident program  402  (described later).  
     [0071] The resident program (utility program)  402  is always present in the main memory  203  while an OS  403  is operating. Upon receiving from the BIOS  401  the event corresponding to the depression of the instant security button  22 , the resident program  402  requests the API managed by the OS  403  to lock the system.  
     [0072] In response to the request from the resident program  402 , the API managed by the OS  403  locks the system. Further, in this case, a registry for the OS  403  or the like manages various kinds of information, such as the type and status of a locking process.  
     [0073] It is possible to set the OS  403  so that a predetermined password must be input before the system locked status can be cleared. If a password has been set, the OS  403  displays on the LCD  121  a password input dialog urging the user to input the password when the user operates the keyboard or mouse (an unlocking request operation). If a correct password is input, the OS  403  clears the system locked status.  
     [0074] Now, with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 8, description will be given of a locking process procedure in the second example of the locking process mechanism.  
     [0075] Upon detecting that the instant security button  22  on the remote control unit  21  has been depressed (step B 1 ), the hardware notifies the BIOS  401  that the instant security button  22  has been depressed (step B 2 ).  
     [0076] Upon receiving the notification that the instant security button  22  has been depressed, the BIOS  401  issues, to the resident program  402 , an event corresponding to the depression of the instant security button  22  (step B 3 ).  
     [0077] Upon receiving from the BIOS  401  the event indicating to the depression of the instant security button  22 , the resident program (utility program)  402  requests the API managed by the OS  403  to execute processing for the “Win”+“L” (that is, lock the system) (step B 4 ).  
     [0078] In response to the request from the resident program  402 , the API managed by the OS  403  locks the system (step B 5 ).  
     [0079] An unlocking process procedure in this example is similar to that in the previously described first example (FIG. 6). Its description is thus omitted.  
     [0080] (Third Example of Lock Processing Mechanism)  
     [0081] Now, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 9, description will be given of a third example of a locking process mechanism according to the present embodiment. In this case, description will be given of an approach to locking the system by emulating an operation of depressing “Ctrl”+“Alt”+“Del”.  
     [0082] When the user depresses the instant security button  22  on the remote control unit  21 , the remote control unit  21  transmits a signal to the computer which indicates that the instant security button has been depressed, using infrared rays. This signal contains code data corresponding to the instant security button  22 . The IR controller  213  receives the signal transmitted by the remote control unit  21 , via the IR port  117 .  
     [0083] In response to the reception of the signal by the IR controller  213 , the EC/KBC  211  generates a button event indicating that the instant security button  22  has been depressed. An interruption signal to the CPU  201  or the like is used to notify a BIOS  501  that the button event has been generated. A button event processing routine in the BIOS  501  is thus executed.  
     [0084] The button event processing routine in the BIOS  501  examines the cause of generation of the button event in the EC/KBC  211 . This is carried out by, for example, checking a value in the status register in the EC/KBC  211 . Code data indicating the depressed button is stored in the status register.  
     [0085] If the button event has been generated because of depression of the instant security button  22 , the button event processing routine in the BIOS  501  issues an event indicating the depression of the instant security button  22 . This event is transmitted to a resident program  502  (described later).  
     [0086] The resident program (utility program)  502  is always present in the main memory  203  while an OS  503  is operating. Upon receiving from the BIOS  501  the event corresponding to the depression of the instant security button  22 , the resident program  502  requests the API managed by the OS  503  to lock the system.  
     [0087] In response to the request from the resident program  502 , the API managed by the OS  503  activates a locked status selection program  504 . The activated locked status selection program  504  presents various selectable types of locked status. Then, the resident program  502  selects one of these types. The API realizes the locked status selected by the resident program  502 . Further, in this case, a registry for the OS  503  or the like manages various kinds of information, such as the type and status of a locking process.  
     [0088] It is possible to set the OS  503  so that a predetermined password must be input before the system locked status can be cleared. If a password has been set, the OS  503  displays on the LCD  121  a password input dialog urging the user to input the password when the user operates the keyboard or mouse (an unlocking request operation). If a correct password is input, the OS  503  clears the system locked status.  
     [0089] Now, with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 10, description will be given of a locking process procedure in the third example of the locking process mechanism.  
     [0090] Upon detecting that the instant security button  22  on the remote control unit  21  has been depressed (step C 1 ), the hardware notifies the BIOS  501  that the instant security button  22  has been depressed (step C 2 ).  
     [0091] Upon receiving the notification that the instant security button  22  has been depressed, the BIOS  501  issues, to the resident program  502 , an event corresponding to the depression of the instant security button  22  (step C 3 ).  
     [0092] Upon receiving from the BIOS  501  the event indicating to the depression of the instant security button  22 , the resident program (utility program)  502  requests the API managed by the OS  503  to execute processing for the “Ctrl”+“Alt”+“Del” (that is, lock the system) (step C 4 ).  
     [0093] In response to the request from the resident program  502 , the API managed by the OS  503  activates the locked status selection program  504  (step C 5 ).  
     [0094] The resident program  502  selects one of the various types of locked status presented by the activated locked status selection program  504 . Thus, the API brings the system into the desired locked status (step C 6 ).  
     [0095] An unlocking process procedure in this example is similar to that in the previously described first example (FIG. 6). Its description is thus omitted.  
     [0096] In the above described first to third examples, an instruction to lock the system is given by depressing the instant security button  22  on the remote control unit  21  as is apparent from FIGS. 4, 7, and  9 . On the other hand, an instruction to lock the system may be given by depressing the accessory button (instant security button)  116  on the computer main body  11  rather than using the remote control unit  21 . A configuration example is shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and  13 . FIGS. 11, 12, and  13  correspond to FIGS. 4, 7, and  9 .  
     [0097] Except for the mechanism that notifies the BIOS of depression of the button, the same arrangements and operations are used for the case in which the instant security button  116  on the computer main body  11  is used and for the case in which the instant security button  22  on the remote controller  21  is used.  
     [0098] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to cause the system to be easily locked by depressing the instant security button  22  on the remote control unit or the instant security button  116  on the computer main body.  
     [0099] Further, according to the present embodiment, the system can be easily locked by allowing the BIOS  301  to emulate an operation of depressing the “Fn”+“F1”, a combination of keys used to activate the system locking screen saver.  
     [0100] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the system can be easily locked by allowing the resident program  402  to emulate an operation of depressing the “Win”+“L”.  
     [0101] Moreover, according to the present embodiment, the system can be easily locked by allowing the resident program  502  to emulate an operation of depressing the “Ctrl”+“Alt”+“Del”.  
     [0102] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to cause the system to be easily locked by a single button operation.  
     [0103] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is 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.