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US 7,743,264 B2Granted
Method and system of controlling operational state of a computer system via power button of a peripheral device
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsNorman P. Brown, George Mandamadiotis, Ronald T. Truong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems of controlling power of a computer system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising actuating a power button of a peripheral device coupled to a computer system, sending a message from the peripheral device to the computer system over a message-based communication pathway indicating actuation of the power button, and performing an action by the computer system based on the message.
Claims14
A system comprising:
- a computer system comprising:
- a first enclosure;
- a first processor disposed within the first enclosure;
- a second processor disposed within the first enclosure, the second processor coupled to the first processor;
- and
- a first power supply disposed within the first enclosure, the first power supply coupled to the first processor, the first power supply supplies power to the computer system;
- a peripheral device comprising:
- a second enclosure distinct from the first enclosure;
- a power button associated with the second enclosure;
- and
- a second power supply disposed within the second enclosure, the second power supply coupled to the power button, the second power supply supplies power to the peripheral device;
- a communication bus comprising an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) communication bus, the I2C communication bus coupling the peripheral device to the computer system;
- wherein when the power button of the peripheral device is actuated, the peripheral device sends a packet-based message across the I2C communication bus to the second processor in the computer system indicating actuation of the power button;
- and
- responsive to the packet-based message the computer system powers-on.
12 more elements
A computer system comprising:
- a first outer enclosure;
- a first processor disposed within the first outer enclosure;
- a second processor coupled to the first processor, the second processor disposed within the first outer enclosure;
- a power supply coupled to the first processor and disposed within the first outer enclosure;
- and
- a communication bus connector accessible through the first outer enclosure, the communication bus comprises an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) communication bus, and the communication bus connector defines electrical pins that couple the computer system to a peripheral device that defines a second outer enclosure distinct from the first outer enclosure, at least some of the electrical pins couple to the second processor and are pins of a serial communication bus;
- when the second processor receives across the I2C communication bus an indication that a power button of the peripheral device has been actuated, the second processor logs a current user off the computer system.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- actuating a power button of an external peripheral device coupled to a computer system;
- sending a packet-based message from the peripheral device to the computer system over a message-based communication pathway indicating actuation of the power button;
- and
- locking a software terminal session executing on the computer system based on the packet-based message.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- a computer system comprising:
- a first enclosure;
- a first processor disposed within the first enclosure;
- a second processor disposed with the first enclosure, the second processor coupled to the first processor;
- and
- a first power supply disposed within the first enclosure, the first power supply coupled to the first processor, the first power supply supplies power to the computer system;
- a peripheral device comprising:
- a second enclosure distinct from the first enclosure;
- a power button associated with the second enclosure;
- and
- a second power supply disposed within the second enclosure, the second power supply coupled to the power button, the second power supply supplies power to the peripheral device;
- a communication bus coupling the peripheral device to the computer system;
- wherein when the power button of the peripheral device is actuated, the peripheral device sends a packet-based message across the communication bus to the second processor indicating actuation of the power button;
- and
- responsive to the packet-based message the second processor locks a software terminal session executing on the computer system.
12 more elements
A computer system comprising:
- a first outer enclosure;
- a first processor disposed within the first outer enclosure;
- a second processor coupled to the first processor, the second processor disposed within the first outer enclosure;
- a power supply coupled to the first processor and disposed within the first outer enclosure;
- and
- a communication bus connector accessible through the first outer enclosure, the communication bus defines electrical pins that couple the computer system to a peripheral device that defines a second outer enclosure distinct from the first outer enclosure, at least some of the electrical pins couple to the second processor and are pins of a serial communication bus;
- when the second processor receives an indication that a power button of the peripheral device has been actuated, the second processor locks a software terminal session executing on the first processor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.