System and method for transitioning a system comprising a microcontroller into a low power state in response to a first sleep type which is not recognized by part of the system and a second sleep type which is recognized by part of the system
US7058831B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 18, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jun 6, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/3203
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system having an Advance Configuration and Power Interface-compliant, or ACPI, operating system performs certain machine specific tasks before going to a low power state. When the computer operating system indicates that entry into the low power state is desired, a microcontroller embedded in an input/output chip is alerted. Synchronization between the main processor of the computer system and the embedded microcontroller of the ACPI operating system is achieved, reducing the likelihood of system failure on the next boot operation. The embedded microcontroller then also causes the state of devices connected to the input/output chip to be saved. This helps the machine to go to a known state during the resume process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.