Method and apparatus for implementing hot key functions
AssigneeMitac Technology Corp.
InventorChia Huang Lin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for utilizing software to implement hot key functions without an embedded controller. A keyboard with hot keys, a keyboard encoder and a software driver module utilizes a software solution to implement hot key switching and hot key functions in a computer system without an embedded controller, providing the same functionality as a computer system with embedded controller.
Claims9
An apparatus for utilizing software to implement hot key functions without an embedded controller, in a computer system comprising at least one system BIOS, comprising:
- a keyboard with hot keys, comprising at least one hot key;
- a keyboard encoder, coupled with the keyboard with hot keys, producing a corresponding scan code according to the hot key used;
- and
- a software driver module, coupled with the keyboard encoder, comprising at least one software program, the software driver module receiving the scan code from the keyboard encoder and identifying the hot key used according to the scan code, wherein the software driver module transmits a system management interrupt to notify the at least one system BIOS when the scan code corresponds to the system BIOS, and initializes a corresponding application program when the scan code corresponds to an application program.
A method for utilizing software to implement hot key functions without an embedded controller, comprising:
- providing a keyboard with hot keys, a keyboard encoder and a software driver module in a computer system without an embedded controller, the keyboard encoder producing a corresponding scan code according to the hot key used, the software driver module comprising at least one software program, for receiving the scan code, identifying the hot key used and transmitting a system management interrupt to notify a system BIOS;
- when a hot key is used, the keyboard encoder producing and transmitting a corresponding hot key scan code accordingly;
- the software driver module receiving the hot key scan code from the keyboard encoder and identifying the hot key used;
- the software driver module determining whether the hot key scan code corresponds to a system BIOS or an application program;
- the software driver module transmitting a corresponding system management interrupt to notify the system BIOS according to the hot key scan code if the scan code corresponds to the system BIOS;
- the system BIOS initiating the corresponding system service routine to execute the hot key function according to the system management interrupt if the scan code corresponds to the system BIOS;
- and
- the software driver module initializing the application program if the scan code corresponds to the application program to execute the hot key function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.