# US 8,751,835 B2 · Computer system and control method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,835 B2 - Document ID: US8751835B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/179,687 - Filed: 2011-07-11 - Published: 2012-02-16 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-10 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Hae-ho Lee; Ja-goun Koo; Kang-seok Cho; Cha-hoon Park; Man-hee Lee; Jong-in Hwang - Inventors: Hae-ho Lee; Ja-goun Koo; Kang-seok Cho; Cha-hoon Park; Man-hee Lee; Jong-in Hwang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751835B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/3203: Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode - G06F 1/266: {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A computer system includes a system part, a connector to which an external device is connected, a communication unit which performs communication with the external device, and a control unit which is connected between the connector and the communication unit to monitor a state of a predetermined recognition signal applied from the external device when the system part is in a standby mode. The control unit performs a predetermined function corresponding to the monitored state of the recognition signal. When the system part is in the standby mode, the system part may be switched to an operation mode based on the recognition signal from the external device. Additionally, a predetermined charging power is output to an external device in response to the predetermined recognition signal applied from the external device connected to the connector while the system part exists in the standby mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer system comprising: a system part to output at least one of a control signal and a data signal and a power signal; a connector to which an external device is connected; a communication unit which performs communication with the external device; and a control unit which is connected between the connector and the communication unit to monitor a state of a predetermined recognition signal applied from the external device when the system part is in a standby mode, and performs a predetermined function corresponding to the monitored state of the recognition signal, wherein the control unit determines whether the recognition signal is a pulse signal having a pulse voltage value of a predetermined period or a constant signal having a constant predetermined voltage value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer system according to claim 1, wherein, if it is checked that the recognition signal is the signal having the pulse voltage value of the predetermined period, the control unit determines the external device as a user external device which can input a selection from a user and controls the communication unit to perform data communication with the external device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit switches the system part from the standby mode to an operation mode when the external device is determined as the user external device which can input the selection from the user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The computer system according to claim 3, wherein the user external device which can input the selection from the user comprises a pointing device unit or a keyboard. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer system according to claim 1, wherein, if it is checked that the recognition signal is the constant signal having the constant predetermined voltage value, the control unit determines the external device as a battery external device containing a chargeable battery and transmits a predetermined response signal to initiate charging of the battery in response to the recognition signal to the battery external device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computer system according to claim 5, further comprising a power supply unit, wherein, when the external device is determined as the battery external device containing the chargeable battery, the control unit controls the power supply unit to supply predetermined charging power to charge the battery to the external device through the connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit which selectively connects the connector to one of the communication unit and the control unit, wherein the control unit controls the switching unit to electrically connect the connector to the control unit when the system part is in the standby mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computer system according to claim 7, wherein, if it is checked that the recognition signal is the pulse signal having the pulse voltage value of the predetermined period, the control unit controls the switching unit to electrically connect the connector to the communication unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The computer system according to claim 7, wherein, if it is checked that the recognition signal is the constant signal having the constant predetermined voltage value, the control unit controls the switching unit to electrically connect the connector to the control unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer system according to claim 9, wherein the switching unit further comprises an output signal circuit which outputs an output signal having a predetermined voltage value in response to the recognition signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer system according to claim 10, wherein the output signal circuit comprises one of a ground circuit, a pull-down circuit and a resistive voltage divider circuit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface. ### Claim 13 A control method of a computer system, comprising: initiating a system part into a standby mode; monitoring a state of a predetermined recognition signal applied from an external device by means of a control unit that is connected between a connector to which the external device is connected and a communication unit that communicates with the external device; and performing a predetermined function corresponding to the monitored state of the recognition signal, wherein the monitoring comprises checking whether the recognition signal is a pulse signal having a pulse voltage value of a predetermined period or a constant signal having a constant predetermined voltage value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The control method according to claim 13, wherein, if it is checked in the monitoring that the recognition signal is the pulse signal having the pulse voltage value of the predetermined period, the performing a predetermined function comprises determining the external device as a user external device which can input a selection from a user and controlling the communication unit to perform data communication with the external device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The control method according to claim 14, wherein the performing a predetermined function comprises switching the system part from the standby mode to an operation mode when the external device is determined as the user external device which can input the selection from the user. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The control method according to claim 15, wherein the user external device which can input the selection from the user comprises a pointing device unit or a keyboard. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The control method according to claim 13, wherein, if it is checked in the monitoring that the recognition signal is the constant signal having the constant predetermined voltage value, the performing a predetermined function comprises determining the external device as a battery external device containing a chargeable battery and transmitting a predetermined response signal to initiate charging of the battery in response to the recognition signal from the external device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The control method according to claim 17, wherein, when the external device is determined as the battery external device containing the chargeable battery, the performing a predetermined function comprises controlling a power supply unit to supply predetermined charging power to charge the battery to the external device through the connector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The control method according to claim 13, wherein the computer system further comprises a switching unit which selectively connects the connector to one of the communication unit and the control unit, the control method further comprising controlling the switching unit to electrically connect the connector to the control unit by means of the control unit when the system part is in the standby mode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The control method according to claim 19, wherein, if it is checked in the monitoring that the recognition signal is the pulse signal having the pulse voltage value of the predetermined period, the controlling the switching unit comprises controlling the switching unit to electrically connect the connector to the communication unit. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The control method according to claim 19, wherein, if it is checked in the monitoring that the recognition signal is the constant signal having the constant predetermined voltage value, the controlling the switching unit comprises controlling the switching unit to electrically connect the connector to the control unit. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The control method according to claim 21, wherein the switching unit further comprises an output signal circuit which outputs an output signal having a predetermined voltage value in response to the recognition signal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The control method according to claim 22, wherein the output signal circuit comprises one of a ground circuit, a pull-down circuit and a resistive voltage divider circuit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The control method according to claim 13, wherein the connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface. ### Claim 25 A computer system including a communication interface to receive an external device and including a system part operable in an operation mode and a standby mode, comprising: a communication unit electrically connected to the communication interface to communicate with the external device; and a control unit in electrical communication with the system part and the communication unit to detect the standby mode of the system part and to detect a recognition signal output by the external device and to perform at least one operation with the external device based on the recognition signal while the system part exists in the standby mode, wherein the recognition signal indicates that the external device is one of a peripheral device or a battery powered device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The computer system of claim 25, wherein the recognition signal is one of a pulse signal having a pulse voltage over a predetermined period or a constant signal having a constant predetermined voltage. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The computer system of claim 26, wherein the control unit determines that the external device is a peripheral device in response to detecting the pulse signal and determines that the external device is a battery powered device in response to detecting the constant signal. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The computer system of claim 25, further comprising: a first power supply in electrical communication with the control module and including a first output connected to the communication unit and a second output connected to the communication interface and a third input connected to the system part. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The computer system of claim 28, wherein the control unit controls the first power supply to output power to the communication interface while inhibiting power to the system part when the external device is a battery powered device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The computer system of claim 28, wherein the control unit controls the first power supply to output power to the communication unit while inhibiting power to the system part when the external device is a peripheral device to communicate data between the communication unit and the peripheral device. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The computer system of claim 30, wherein the control unit controls the first power supply to output power to the system part to switch the system part from the standby mode to the operation mode when the external device is a peripheral device. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) The computer system of claim 25, further comprising: a switching unit in electrical communication with the control unit and the communication unit and the communication interface; and a second power supply in electrical communication with the switching unit and the communication interface to output a charging power. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The computer system of claim 32, wherein the control unit controls the switching unit to initiate the second power supply to output the charging power to the communication interface to charge a battery while controlling the switching unit to disconnect communication between the communication unit and the connection interface when the external device is a battery powered device. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The computer system of claim 32, wherein the second power supply includes two output signal circuits to generate the charging power. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The computer system of claim 34, wherein the two output signal circuits include at least one of a ground circuit, a pull-down circuit and a resistive voltage divider circuit.