Patent Publication Number: US-2023136675-A1

Title: Graphics card firmware updating system and updating method thereof for fast startup setting of windows computer operating system after replacing graphics card

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The invention relates to a computer operating system updating system and a method thereof, and more particularly to a graphics card firmware updating system and an updating method thereof capable of preventing the graphics card from malfunctioning during fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card. 
     Related Art 
     In today&#39;s information society, computer system has become a part of people&#39;s lives. Whether it is word processing or daily general affairs processing, almost all rely on computer system for processing or computing. 
     Graphics card is one of the most basic components of a computer, it is used to convert the display information required by a computer system to drive the computer, and provide progressive or interlaced scanning signals to control the correct display of the computer. Graphics card is also an important component to connect a monitor with a motherboard of a personal computer, and an important device in a “dialogue between human and machine”. A graphics card is composed of graphics processing unit (GPU), microcontroller (MCU), memory, circuit board, and heat sink, and among them, GPU is the most important computing core. 
     Nowadays, graphics cards have more and more additional functions, so some high-end graphics cards, in addition to GPU, will also use MCU with different functions on the circuit board for fan control, lighting control, display module control, temperature detection and overclocking settings. Users, especially computer geeks with high demand for graphics card functions, will purchase high-end graphics cards for replacement. 
     As for the computer operating system, after the user configures the computer to activate the Windows fast startup function, the system will write a large amount of data to the hard disk and save the data (including the VBIOS information of the graphics card) when the computer is shut down, in order to facilitate the realization that the computer system can quickly enter a working state when the computer is turned on the next time. If the user has replaced the graphics card, and the new graphics card has a GPU of a different model, the operating system will re-initialize the device through the driver and store the new graphics card data (including the Sub System ID (SSID) code) obtained in the hard disk and save the new graphics card data. Therefore, there will be no problem in executing the Windows fast startup under the condition that the GPUs are of different models. 
     As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the so-called “initialization” is a process of searching for the devices, starting the devices and preparing for completion when the computer is turned on. To explain in more detail, first of all, when the computer is turned on, an entire condition of the devices is searched, such as: whether there is a graphics card installed, how many cards are installed, the model of each of the graphics cards, etc., for example, whether there is a mouse, a keyboard installed and so on. Then, the searched devices are arranged with corresponding communication channels, the devices are activated and stand by, for example, install the graphics card, read the SSID, set the resolution, etc., for example, communication points are opened for the installed mouse through USB enumeration procedure, so that the mouse can report the key signals and the mobile signals smoothly to establish a communication interface, etc., so that each of the devices is ready and standby to complete the initialization process. 
     If the replaced graphics card has the same GPU model but with a different MCU function version, under the Windows fast startup setting of the current Microsoft operating system, the operating system will not reinitialize the device (because it has the same GPU model, it can be compatible with the original), and will recover from the last saved data. At this time, the computer system is still stored with the VBIOS (including the SSID code) information (the data saved in the hard disk) of the previous graphics card, the Microsoft operating system directly compares the GPU model when executing the Windows fast startup, and will not compare the model or version of the microcontroller (MCU), and the computer will have no problems in operation and execution. 
     The problem is that if the user updates the firmware of the MCU of the current graphics card, due to the comparison data referenced by the computer&#39;s application program is still the VBIOS (including the SSID code) information (the data saved in the hard disk) of the previous graphics card, error in comparison by the computer&#39;s application program will cause error in the subsequent firmware update, resulting in the subsequent operation of the graphics card to be abnormal, and the user will need to send the graphics card back to the original manufacturer for repair. 
     Therefore, the inventor of the invention and relevant manufacturers engaged in this industry are eager to research and make improvement to solve the above-mentioned problems and drawbacks in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, in order to effectively solve the above-mentioned problems, a main object of the invention is to provide a graphics card firmware updating system capable of preventing the graphics card from malfunctioning during fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card. 
     A secondary object of the invention is to provide a graphics card firmware updating system capable of avoiding maintenance cost caused by malfunction of the graphics card during fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card. 
     Another secondary object of the invention is to provide a graphics card firmware updating method capable of preventing the graphics card from malfunctioning during fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card. 
     Yet another secondary object of the invention is to provide a graphics card firmware updating method capable of avoiding maintenance cost caused by malfunction of the graphics card during fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, the invention provides a graphics card firmware updating system for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card comprising an electronic device, a replaced graphics card, and a comparison unit, the electronic device receives a boot signal to execute a Windows fast startup program, the electronic device has a storage unit, the storage unit comprises an original graphics processing unit identification code, the replaced graphics card is installed in the electronic device, the replaced graphics card comprises a microcontroller, the microcontroller comprises a microcontroller identification code and a firmware version, the comparison unit is executed by the electronic device, the comparison unit further comprises a database in addition to the original graphics processing unit identification code read from the storage unit, the database is a comparison table, the database comprises an original microcontroller identification code and a firmware update data version, the comparison unit compares whether the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card is the same as the original microcontroller identification code during the Windows fast startup setting, and executes a firmware updating process or a rebooting process on the electronic device according to whether the comparison is the same. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, the invention provides a graphics card firmware updating method for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card comprising following steps of: an electronic device receiving a boot signal to execute a Windows fast startup program, the electronic device having a storage unit to store an original graphics processing unit identification code; providing a replaced graphics card, the replaced graphics card comprising a microcontroller identification code and a firmware version of a microcontroller; a comparison unit of the electronic device comparing whether the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card being the same as an original microcontroller identification code included in the comparison unit, the comparison unit further comprising a database, the database being a comparison table, the original microcontroller identification code being included in the database; if the comparison being the same, further comparing the firmware version of the replaced graphics card with a firmware update data version of the database, if the firmware version and the firmware update data version being compared to be different, the electronic device executing a firmware updating process. 
     Through the graphics card firmware updating system and the graphics card firmware updating method of the invention, the comparison unit of the electronic device comparing whether the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card being the same as the original microcontroller identification code, if the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card and the original microcontroller identification code being compared to be the same by the comparison unit, further comparing the firmware version of the replaced graphics card with the firmware update data version of the database, if the firmware version and the firmware update data version being compared to be different, the electronic device executing the firmware updating process; in other words, through the design of the invention, the updating system has at least one additional comparison process, in this way, the graphics card can be prevented from malfunctioning caused by subsequent firmware update error due to interpretation error of the conventional computer system, and maintenance cost caused by malfunction of the graphics card can be avoided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a graphics card firmware updating system for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card according to the invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the graphics card firmware updating system for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card according to the invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a flow chart of steps of a first embodiment of a graphics card firmware updating method for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card according to the invention; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic flow chart of the graphics card firmware updating method for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card according to the invention; 
         FIG.  5    is a flow chart of steps of a second embodiment of the graphics card firmware updating method for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card according to the invention; and 
         FIG.  6    is a flow chart of steps of a third embodiment of the graphics card firmware updating method for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The above objects of the invention, as well as its structural and functional features, will be described in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the accompanying drawings. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1    for a block diagram of a first embodiment of a graphics card firmware updating system for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card according to the invention. As shown in the figure, a graphics card firmware updating system for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card comprises an electronic device  10 , a replaced graphics card  11 , and a comparison unit  12 . The electronic device  10  can be a desktop computer and is used to receive a boot signal to cause the electronic device  10  to execute a Windows fast startup program. The electronic device  10  has a storage unit  100 . The storage unit  100  is a hard disk. When the electronic device  10  is shut down, the system will store a large amount of data in the storage unit  100  to facilitate the realization that the computer system can quickly enter a working state when the computer is turned on the next time. 
     The replaced graphics card  11  is installed in the electronic device  10 . The replaced graphics card  11  comprises a graphics processing unit  110  and a microcontroller  111 . It should be noted that the so-called graphics processing unit  110  and microcontroller  111  in the specification of the invention respectively refer to the GPU and MCU that are well-known in the field of electronic technology. The GPU is mainly responsible for displaying and drawing related work items in the electronic device  10 , and the MCU is responsible for calculating and processing data transmitted from a computer operating system. 
     The graphics processing unit  110  comprises a graphics processing unit identification code, and the microcontroller  111  comprises a microcontroller identification code and a firmware version. Of course, the replaced graphics card  11  is further composed of a memory, a circuit board, and a heat sink, but these components are not within the scope of explanation of the invention, so they will not be mentioned here. 
     During the Windows fast startup program being executed in the operating system of the electronic device  10 , the operating system will read a representative code (that is, the so-called model of general products) of the graphics processing unit  110  included in the electronic device  10  at the moment of booting, and compare the representative code of the graphics processing unit  110  with an original graphics processing unit representative code included in the storage unit  100 . If the comparison result is the same, the Windows fast startup program is completed; if the comparison result is different, the operating system will overpass the Windows fast startup program, and re-execute initialization of the hardware (please refer to  FIG.  4    in conjunction with  FIG.  1   ). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE I 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Graphics card 
                 XC1 
                 XC2 
                 FTW1 
                 FTW2 
                 KP1 
                 KP2 
               
               
                 name 
               
               
                 Graphics 
                 GPU3080 
                 GPU3090 
                 GPU3080 
                 GPU3090 
                 GPU3080 
                 GPU3090 
               
               
                 processing unit 
               
               
                 representative 
               
               
                 code 
               
               
                 Graphics 
                 SSID1 
                 SSID2 
                 SSID3 
                 SSID4 
                 SSID5 
                 SSID6 
               
               
                 processing unit 
               
               
                 identification 
               
               
                 code 
               
               
                 Microcontroller 
                 PID1 
                 PID2 
                 PID3 
                 PID4 
                 PID5 
                 PID6 
               
               
                 identification 
               
               
                 code 
               
               
                 Firmware code 
                 1 
                 1 
                 2 
                 2 
                 3 
                 3 
               
               
                 Firmware 
                 1.0 
                 1.1 
                 2.0 
                 2.3 
                 3.1 
                 3.2 
               
               
                 update data 
               
               
                 version 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The comparison unit  12  is executed by the electronic device  10  under the Windows fast startup setting. The comparison unit  12  represents an application program of the electronic device  10 , the comparison unit  12  comprises a database, as shown in Table 1 above, the database is a comparison table. The database comprises a plurality of graphics processing unit identification codes, microcontroller identification codes, and firmware update data versions of all the graphics cards of a company that manufactures the replaced graphics card  11 . It should be explained that, the data in the database will be continuously updated to keep the database provided with the latest data. That is to say, each of the graphics processing unit identification codes stored in the database has the corresponding microcontroller identification code, the original graphics processing unit identification code of the storage unit  100  is read by the comparison unit  12 , and the corresponding microcontroller identification code is searched and found in the database. The “corresponding microcontroller identification code” mentioned here is a so-called original microcontroller identification code (so, it is substantively included in the comparison unit  12 ). Then the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  is read through a communication interface, so as to compare whether the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  is the same as the corresponding microcontroller identification code in the database, and execute a firmware updating process or a rebooting process on the electronic device  10  according to whether the comparison is the same. It should be explained that, the firmware updating process is executed by an update unit  13  (as shown in  FIG.  2   ), and it should be noted that the firmware updating process captures the firmware from a firmware database in the update unit  13 , and the firmware is installed in the replaced graphics card  11 . 
     In addition, the database further comprises a firmware code, the firmware code can be regarded as a functionality of the replaced graphics card  11 . Even if the representative codes (models) of two graphics cards are different, but because the firmware codes are the same (with the same function but different effects), the firmware can be used universally. Please refer to Table 1, replacing the graphics card XC1 with the graphics card XC2 in Table 1 is taken as an example, when the electronic device  10  is operating, although the firmware is updated under a condition that the two graphics cards have different representative codes, due to the firmware codes of the two graphics cards are the same (both are 1) and are compatible, even though an operating performance of the electronic device  10  is not in an optimal state, the operating system can still operate (for example, in an optimal performance the electronic device  10  being capable of controlling operation of three fans originally to achieve a heat dissipation effect may become only capable of controlling operation of two fans), which practically does not affect operation of the electronic device  10 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS.  3  and  4    respectively for a flow chart of steps of a first embodiment of a graphics card firmware updating method for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card according to the invention; and a schematic flow chart of the graphics card firmware updating method for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card according to the invention. It can be known from  FIG.  4    that in the invention, before turning on the electronic device  10 , replacing the graphics card  11  first, and then turning on the electronic device  10  after completing replacement, at this time, the operating system reading a representative code (that being, the so-called model of general products) of the graphics processing unit  110  included in the electronic device  10  at the moment of booting, and comparing the representative code of the graphics processing unit  110  with an original graphics processing unit representative code included in the storage unit  100 , if the comparison result being the same, the Windows fast startup program being completed; if the comparison result being different, the operating system overpassing the Windows fast startup program, and re-executing initialization of the hardware. 
     Then, the firmware updating method of the invention will be described, which comprises following steps of: 
     S 1 : an electronic device  10  receiving a boot signal to execute a Windows fast startup program, the electronic device  10  having a storage unit  100  to store an original graphics processing unit identification code; 
     providing the electronic device  10 , the electronic device  10  being a desktop computer and used to receive a boot signal to cause the electronic device  10  executing a Windows fast startup program, the storage unit  100  of the electronic device  10  being a hard disk, when shutting down the electronic device  10 , the system storing a large amount of data in the storage unit  100  to facilitate the realization that the computer system quickly entering a working state when turning on the electronic device  10  the next time; 
     S 2 : providing a replaced graphics card  11 , the replaced graphics card  11  comprising a microcontroller identification code and a firmware version of a microcontroller  111 ; 
     providing the replaced graphics card  11 , the replaced graphics card  11  being installed in the electronic device  10 , the replaced graphics card  11  comprising a graphics processing unit  110  and a microcontroller  111 , it should be noted that the so-called graphics processing unit  110  and microcontroller  111  in the specification of the invention respectively refer to the GPU and MCU that are well-known in the field of electronic technology, the GPU is mainly responsible for displaying and drawing related work items in the electronic device  10 , and the MCU is responsible for calculating and processing data transmitted from a computer operating system, the graphics processing unit  110  comprising a graphics processing unit identification code, the microcontroller  111  comprising a microcontroller identification code and a firmware version; 
     S 3 : a comparison unit  12  of the electronic device  10  comparing whether the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  being the same as an original microcontroller identification code included in the comparison unit  12 , the comparison unit  12  further comprising a database, the database being a comparison table, the original microcontroller identification code being included in the database; 
     executing the comparison unit  12  by the electronic device  10  under the Windows fast startup setting, the comparison unit  12  representing an application program of the electronic device  10 , the comparison unit  12  comprising a database and a firmware update data version, the database being a comparison table (please refer to Table 1 above), the database comprising a plurality of graphics processing unit identification codes, microcontroller identification codes, and firmware update data versions of all the graphics cards of a company manufacturing the replaced graphics card  11 ; it should be explained that, the data in the database will be continuously updated to keep the database provided with the latest data, that is to say, each of the graphics processing units  110  stored in the database has the corresponding microcontroller identification code, the original graphics processing unit identification code of the storage unit  100  is read by the comparison unit  12 , and the corresponding microcontroller identification code is searched and found in the database, the “corresponding microcontroller identification code” mentioned here is a so-called original microcontroller identification code (so, it is substantively included in the comparison unit  12 ); then reading the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  by a communication interface, comparing whether the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  being the same as the corresponding microcontroller identification code in the database; 
     S 4 : if the comparison being the same, further comparing the firmware version of the replaced graphics card  11  with a firmware update data version of the database, if the firmware version and the firmware update data version being compared to be different, the electronic device  10  executing a firmware updating process; 
     if the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  and the original microcontroller identification code being compared to be the same, further comparing the firmware version of the replaced graphics card  11  with the firmware update data version of the database, if the firmware version and the firmware update data version being compared to be different, the electronic device  10  executing a firmware updating process through an update unit  13 ; 
     please refer to  FIG.  5    in conjunction with  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  5    is a flow chart of steps of a second embodiment of the graphics card firmware updating method for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card according to the invention, after step S 3 : comparing whether the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  being the same as the original microcontroller identification code, further comprising: 
     S 5 : if the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  and the original microcontroller identification code being compared to be different, further comparing a firmware code in the database corresponding to the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  with a firmware code in the database corresponding to the original microcontroller identification code; 
     the premise of this step being that if the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  and the original microcontroller identification code being compared to be different, from the database (please refer to Table 1 above) the comparison unit  12  capturing and comparing a firmware code in the database corresponding to the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  with a firmware code in the database corresponding to the original microcontroller identification code, so the firmware codes being substantively included in the comparison unit  12 ; 
     S 6 : if the corresponding firmware codes being compared to be the same, the electronic device  10  executing the firmware updating process; 
     if the comparison unit  12  comparing the firmware codes to be the same, the electronic device  10  executing the firmware updating process; and 
     please refer to  FIG.  6    in conjunction with  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  6    is a flow chart of steps of a third embodiment of the graphics card firmware updating method for fast startup setting of a Windows computer operating system after replacing the graphics card according to the invention, after step S 5 : further comparing the firmware code in the database corresponding to the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  with the firmware code in the database corresponding to the original microcontroller identification code, further comprising: 
     S 7 : if the corresponding firmware codes being compared to be different, the electronic device  10  executing the rebooting process; 
     if the comparison unit  12  comparing the firmware codes to be different, the electronic device  10  executing the rebooting process, that being, re-initializing the electronic device  10 . 
     Therefore, through the graphics card firmware updating system and the graphics card firmware updating method of the invention, the comparison unit  12  of the electronic device  10  comparing whether the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  being the same as the original microcontroller identification code, if the microcontroller identification code of the replaced graphics card  11  and the original microcontroller identification code being compared to be the same by the comparison unit  12 , further comparing the firmware version of the replaced graphics card  11  with the firmware update data version of the database, if the firmware version and the firmware update data version being compared to be different, the electronic device  10  executing the firmware updating process; in other words, through the design of the invention, the updating system has at least one additional comparison process, in this way, the graphics card  11  can be prevented from malfunctioning caused by subsequent firmware update error due to interpretation error of the conventional computer system, and maintenance cost caused by malfunction of the graphics card  11  can be avoided. 
     In summary, the invention has the following advantages over the prior art: 
     1. malfunction of the graphics card can be prevented; and 
     2. maintenance cost caused by malfunction of the graphics card can be avoided. 
     The basic principles, main features and advantages of the invention have been shown and described above. Those skilled in the art should understand that the invention is not limited by the above-mentioned embodiments. Descriptions in the above-mentioned embodiments and specification merely illustrate the principles of the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention will have various changes and improvements, all these changes and improvements shall fall within the scope of protection of the invention, and the scope of protection of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.