Hardware setting device and its hardware setting method

Abstract

A hardware setting device and its hardware setting method. The hardware setting method is used for: starting an operating system; after starting the operating system, extracting at least one hardware setting related to a peripheral device from a pre-boot memory; and setting the peripheral device according to the at least one hardware setting.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hardware setting device and a hardware setting method thereof, and more particularly to a hardware setting device and a hardware setting method thereof for automatically setting hardware in advance. Background Art

[0002] In the known art, a computer can be connected to and control multiple peripheral devices. Specifically, after the computer boots up, it will first execute an operating system (e.g., Windows operating system), and the user has to wait until the operating system finishes setting up the operating environment before being able to execute device management software (e.g., the device manager of the Windows operating system) to make necessary adjustment settings for different peripheral devices one by one. Summary of the Invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a setting method for a hardware device, including: starting an operating system; after starting the operating system, extracting at least one hardware setting related to a peripheral device from a pre-boot memory; and setting the peripheral device according to the at least one hardware setting.

[0004] The present invention further provides a hardware setting device, including a processing unit, a pre-boot memory, and a system memory. The pre-boot memory stores at least one hardware setting related to a peripheral device. The system memory stores a program. After the program is started, the processing unit: after starting the operating system, extracts at least one hardware setting related to a peripheral device from the pre-boot memory; and sets the peripheral device according to the at least one hardware setting. Description of the Drawings

[0005] The examples of the present invention will be best understood by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the various features may not be drawn to scale. In fact, for the sake of clarity of discussion, the sizes of the various features may be increased or decreased arbitrarily.

[0006] Figure 1A It is a block diagram of a hardware setting device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0007] Figure 1B It is a block diagram of a hardware setting device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 2 It is a flowchart of a hardware setting method according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0009] Figures 3A to 3C It is a flowchart of a hardware setting method according to some embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Description

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below. However, it should be understood that the present invention provides many applicable concepts that can be embodied in various specific scenarios. The specific embodiments described are illustrative only and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0011] In order to automatically load the relevant settings of the peripheral device after the operating system of various devices is started, so as to accelerate the usage process of the peripheral device, the present invention provides a hardware setting device 10. Refer to Figure 1A , which is a block diagram of the hardware setting device 10 according to some embodiments of the present invention. The hardware setting device 10 includes a processing unit 101, a pre-boot memory 103, and a system memory 105.

[0012] In some embodiments, the pre-boot memory 103 and the system memory 105 are different memory blocks of the same memory hardware. In some embodiments, the pre-boot memory 103 and the system memory 105 are different memory hardwares. Among them, the pre-boot memory 103 can be set to be used by the Basic Input / Output System (BIOS), the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), or the Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE) interface.

[0013] Specifically, the hardware setting device 10 is electrically connected to the peripheral device 20 through a connection interface (for example: I / O interface). The pre-boot memory 103 stores at least one hardware setting 20S related to the peripheral device 20. The system memory 105 stores the program PG. The processing unit 101, the pre-boot memory 103, and the system memory 105 are electrically connected through a bus 107. When the power of the hardware setting device 10 is turned on, the boot program (for example: BIOS and boot loader) is executed and the operating system is started, the processing unit 101 can execute the program PG stored in the system memory 105 through the bus 107, so that the processing unit 101 executes the hardware setting function of the peripheral device.

[0014] Specifically, after the program PG is executed, the processing unit 101 extracts at least one hardware setting 20S related to the peripheral device 20 from the pre-boot memory 103, and sets the peripheral device 20 according to the at least one hardware setting 20S. More specifically, after the operating system is started, the execution of the program PG will be automatically triggered. The execution of the program PG causes the processing unit 101 to extract at least one hardware setting 20S related to the peripheral device 20 from the pre-boot memory 103, and set the peripheral device 20 according to the at least one hardware setting 20S. In this way, without waiting for the operating system to complete the setting of the operating environment and without the user having to additionally execute the device management software under the operating system, the peripheral device 20 can complete the relevant settings based on the at least one hardware setting 20S stored in the pre-boot memory 103.

[0015] In some embodiments, the at least one hardware setting 20S can be used to set various functions of the peripheral device 20. For example, the at least one hardware setting 20S can be used to turn on or off the indicator light, power saving function, network wake-up function, etc. of the peripheral device 20.

[0016] The following will further describe the operation details. Specifically, after the program PG is executed, it causes the processing unit 101 to make a first system call (not shown) to the operating system. Subsequently, according to the first system call, the operating system extracts at least one hardware setting 20S related to the peripheral device 20 from the pre-boot memory 103, and responds to the first system call after extracting the at least one hardware setting 20S. Then, the processing unit 101 can obtain at least one hardware setting 20S related to the peripheral device 20 stored in the pre-boot memory 103 according to the response of the first system call. In some embodiments, the first system call is also used to notify the operating system to write the at least one hardware setting 20S to the system memory 105 for backup. In this way, in subsequent operations, the processing unit 101 can extract and utilize the at least one hardware setting 20S from the system memory 105.

[0017] Next, after obtaining the at least one hardware setting 20S, the processing unit 101 executes a driver program (not shown) related to the peripheral device 20, and through the execution of the driver program, sets the peripheral device 20 based on the at least one hardware setting 20S. Also refer to Figure 1B , in some embodiments, after the peripheral device 20 completes the relevant settings based on the at least one hardware setting 20S, the peripheral device 20 will change the setting content during operation, and generate setting feedback information 20F based on the changed setting content. Subsequently, the peripheral device 20 transmits the setting feedback information 20F back to the hardware setting device 10 through the connection interface with the hardware setting device 10, so as to notify the hardware setting device 10 that the setting of the peripheral device 20 has changed.

[0018] Accordingly, after receiving the setting feedback information 20F, the processing unit 101 is used to determine an updated hardware setting (not shown). Among them, the updated hardware setting includes the settings of the peripheral device 20 after the change. Then, the processing unit 101 updates at least one hardware setting 20S related to the peripheral device 20 stored in the pre-boot memory 103 according to the updated hardware setting. More specifically, the processing unit 101 makes a second system call to the operating system based on the updated hardware setting to notify the operating system to update at least one hardware setting 20S related to the peripheral device 20 stored in the pre-boot memory 103 according to the updated hardware setting.

[0019] In this way, when the hardware setting device 10 restarts and sets the peripheral device 20, since at least one hardware setting 20S stored in the pre-boot memory 103 is the updated setting, therefore, the subsequent setting of the peripheral device 20 using at least one hardware setting 20S will cause the peripheral device 20 to operate based on the updated hardware setting.

[0020] In some embodiments, the user can directly change at least one hardware setting 20S stored in the pre-boot memory 103. Specifically, the user can input a hardware setting change instruction (not shown) to the hardware setting device 10 through a human interface device (HID) (not shown). During the execution of the program PG, it causes the processing unit 101 to receive the hardware setting change instruction. Subsequently, the processing unit 101 can update at least one hardware setting 20S stored in the pre-boot memory 103 according to the hardware setting change instruction.

[0021] In some embodiments, the foregoing steps can be operated in the state where the operating system is running. Specifically, the processing unit 101 can make a third system call to the operating system according to the hardware setting change instruction to notify the operating system to update at least one hardware setting 20S related to the peripheral device 20 stored in the pre-boot memory 103. In this way, at least one hardware setting 20S stored in the pre-boot memory 103 can also be adjusted as needed.

[0022] Some embodiments of the present invention include a hardware setting method, and its flowchart is as Figure 2 shown. The hardware setting methods of these embodiments are implemented by a hardware setting device (such as the hardware setting device 10 in the foregoing embodiments). The detailed operations of this method are as follows.

[0023] First, execute step S201 to start the operating system. Then, execute step S202. After starting the operating system, extract at least one hardware setting related to the peripheral device from the pre-boot memory. Execute step S203 to set the peripheral device according to at least one hardware setting.

[0024] Some embodiments of the present invention include a hardware setting method, the flowchart of which is as shown in Figures 3A to 3B shown. The hardware setting method of these embodiments is implemented by a hardware setting device (such as the hardware setting device 10 in the foregoing embodiments). The detailed operations of this method are as follows.

[0025] First, step S301 is executed to start the operating system. Step S302 is executed to issue a first system call to the operating system. Among them, according to the first system call, the operating system extracts at least one hardware setting related to the peripheral device from the pre-boot memory, and responds to the first system call after extracting at least one hardware setting. Step S303 is executed to obtain at least one hardware setting related to the peripheral device stored in the pre-boot memory according to the response corresponding to the first system call.

[0026] In some embodiments, the first system call is further used to notify the operating system to write at least one hardware setting to the system memory for backup. In step S303, at least one hardware setting can be extracted from the system memory and utilized. Then, step S304 is executed to execute a driver program related to the peripheral device to set the peripheral device according to at least one hardware setting.

[0027] When the peripheral device completes the relevant settings based on at least one hardware setting, the peripheral device will change the setting content during operation and generate setting feedback information based on the changed setting content. Step S305 is executed to receive the setting feedback information from the peripheral device. Step S306 is executed to determine to update the hardware setting according to the setting feedback information. Step S307 is executed to issue a second system call to the operating system to notify the operating system to update at least one hardware setting related to the peripheral device stored in the pre-boot memory according to the updated hardware setting.

[0028] Referring to Figure 3C , in some embodiments, steps S308 to S309 can be selectively executed after the operating system is started to directly adjust the content in the pre-boot memory. Specifically, step S308 is executed to receive a hardware setting change instruction. Step S309 is executed to issue a third system call to the operating system according to the hardware setting change instruction to notify the operating system to update at least one hardware setting related to the peripheral device stored in the pre-boot memory based on the hardware setting change instruction.

[0029] It should be noted that in some embodiments, in the aforementioned hardware setting device, the processing unit includes logic circuits such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) that can execute operations and instructions, and the pre-boot memory and the system memory include non-volatile memory, but this is not intended to limit the embodiments of the hardware components of the present invention.

[0030] The present invention can be implemented in any suitable form, including hardware, software, firmware, or any combination of the above. At least part of the present invention can optionally be implemented as computer software running on one or more data processors and / or digital signal processors or configurable modular components (such as FPGAs).

[0031] The foregoing description briefly presents the features of certain embodiments of the present invention, enabling those of ordinary skill in the art to more comprehensively understand various examples of the content of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can easily use the content of the present invention as a basis to design or modify other processes and structures to achieve the same purpose and / or reach the same advantages as the embodiments of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains should understand that these equivalent embodiments still fall within the spirit and scope of the content of the present invention, and they can be subject to various changes, substitutions, and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the content of the present invention.

[0032] Description of Reference Numerals

[0033] 10 Hardware setting device

[0034] 101 Processing unit

[0035] 103 Pre-boot memory

[0036] 105 System memory

[0037] 107 Bus

[0038] 20 Peripheral device

[0039] 20S At least one hardware setting

[0040] 20F Setting feedback information

[0041] PG Program

[0042] S201 - S203 Steps

[0043] S301 - S309 Steps

Claims

1. A hardware setting method, comprising: After the operating system is started, a system call is issued to the operating system, and at least one hardware setting related to a peripheral device connected to the computer is extracted from a pre-boot memory according to a response corresponding to the system call; and setting the peripheral device according to the at least one hardware setting without waiting for the operating system to set the operating environment; receiving setting feedback information generated based on changed setting content during the operation of the peripheral device from the peripheral device, and determining to update the hardware setting according to the setting feedback information; and making a system call to the operating system to notify the operating system to update the at least one hardware setting related to the peripheral device stored in the pre-boot memory according to the updated hardware setting.

2. The hardware setting method according to claim 1, wherein, The system call is further used to notify the operating system to write the at least one hardware setting into the system memory.

3. The hardware setting method according to claim 1, wherein, Setting the peripheral device according to the at least one hardware setting further comprises: executing a driver related to the peripheral device to set the peripheral device according to the at least one hardware setting.

4. The hardware setting method according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving a hardware setting change instruction; and updating the at least one hardware setting related to the peripheral device stored in the pre-boot memory according to the hardware setting change instruction.

5. The hardware setting method according to claim 4, wherein, Updating the at least one hardware setting stored in the pre-boot memory further comprises: making a system call to the operating system to notify the operating system to update the at least one hardware setting related to the peripheral device stored in the pre-boot memory.

6. A hardware setting device, comprising: a processing unit; a pre-boot memory for storing at least one hardware setting related to a peripheral device connected to a computer; System memory for storing programs, wherein, After the program is executed, it causes the processing unit: after the operating system is started, making a system call to the operating system, and extracting the at least one hardware setting related to the peripheral device from the pre-boot memory according to the response corresponding to the system call; setting the peripheral device according to the at least one hardware setting without waiting for the operating system to set the operating environment; receiving setting feedback information generated based on changed setting content during the operation of the peripheral device from the peripheral device, and determining to update the hardware setting according to the setting feedback information; and making a system call to the operating system to notify the operating system to update the at least one hardware setting related to the peripheral device stored in the pre-boot memory according to the updated hardware setting.

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