Back to results
US 6,587,951 B1Granted
Method of powering down a computer system by performing an unconditional shutdown after interrupts of first and second software systems respectively fail following a power button event
AssigneeGateway, Inc.
InventorEdward P. Flanigan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for powering down a computer system is shown. A power button is actuated and an interrupt is generated in response to the actuation of the power button. An unconditional shutdown of the computer system is performed on system software failing to respond to the interrupt. The system software powers down the computer system on the system software responding to the interrupt.
Claims28
A method for powering down a computer system comprising:
- actuating a power button;
- generating a first interrupt and a second interrupt in response to the actuation of the power button;
- powering down the computer system by the first system software in response to the first system software responding to the first interrupt;
- powering down the computer system by the second system software-in response to the first system software failing to respond to the first interrupt and the second system software responding to the second interrupt;
- and
- performing an unconditional shut down after first system software and second system software have failed to respond to the first and second interrupts, respectively.
3 more elements
A method for powering down a computer system, comprising:
- generating an interrupt on a power button input;
- enabling a shut down counter;
- shutting down a computer system on an operating system failing to respond to the interrupt prior to the counter reaching a predetermined limit and if a BIOS is locked;
- handling the power button input by the operating system on the operating system responding before the counter reaches the predetermined limit;
- and
- handling the power button input by the BIOS if the operating system fails to respond to the interrupt prior to the counter reaching the predetermined limit and if the BIOS is not locked.
3 more elements
A method for powering down a computer system comprising:
- generating a power button event;
- generating an interrupt in response to the power button event;
- determining whether the computer system is set to initially handle power button events through a basic input output system (BIOS) or an operating system;
- initially handling power button events by the BIOS if the BIOS is set to initially handle power button events;
- handling power button events by the BIOS if the operating system is set to initially handle power button events and the operating system is hung;
- and
- initially handling power button events by the operating system if the operating system is set to initially handle power button events.
4 more elements
A method of powering down a computer system comprising:
- receiving a power button input;
- on a first system software layer being locked, handling the power button input by a second system software layer according to second power management policies;
- on the second system software layer being locked, handling the power button input by the first system software layer according to first power management policies;
- and
- performing an unconditional shut down of the computer system on the first system software layer and the second system software layer being locked.
2 more elements
A method of powering down a computer system comprising:
- generating a power button event;
- generating an operating system interrupt in response to the power button event;
- enabling a basic input output system (BIOS) counter;
- determining if the operating system is operational;
- handling the power button event according to operating system policies if the operating system is operational;
- determining if the BIOS is locked on the operating system being locked;
- performing an unconditional shut down of the computer system if the BIOS is locked and the operating system is locked;
- handling the power button event according to BIOS system policies if the BIOS is operational.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.