CN100388188C - Device and method for realizing hot key function of non-embedded controller by software - Google Patents

Abstract

A device and method for realizing hot key function without embedded controller by software includes keyboard with hot key function for providing user to select hot key, keyboard coder for generating hot key scanning code corresponding to hot key, software driver module including one or more software drivers for receiving hot key scanning code to identify hot key and sending out system management interrupt to inform basic input and output system.

Description

Device and method for realizing hotkey function without embedded controller by software

technical field

The present invention is a technology for realizing the function of a hot key (Hot Key), and in particular relates to a device and a method for realizing the function of a hot key without an embedded controller (Embedded Controller) by software.

Background technique

A general computer system uses an embedded controller to control hotkey switching and function execution of the system, such as a notebook computer (Notebook). However, in some special cases, a computer system may not have an embedded controller. If a computer system does not support hotkey switching and function execution without an embedded controller, it will cause great inconvenience to users. However, if there is a special need to redesign the hardware to realize the hotkey switching and functions of the computer system without an embedded controller, it must consume too much research and development and production costs, and the current technology does not have a better solution. method.

Contents of the invention

In view of this, the object of the present invention is to propose a device and method for realizing the hot key function without an embedded controller by software. The hotkey switching and function execution can achieve the same hotkey function as a computer system with an embedded controller, and without spending a lot of research and development and production costs, it can effectively solve the problem that the current technology cannot break through.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention proposes a device for realizing the hotkey function without an embedded controller by software, including a keyboard with a hotkey function, a keyboard encoder and a software driver module.

The keyboard with the hotkey function is used to provide the user with a choice of hotkeys; the keyboard with the hotkey function can be a general-purpose keyboard, or a special keyboard designed for special needs. If the keyboard provided with the hotkey function is a general-purpose keyboard, some keys on the keyboard can be set as hotkeys to make the general-purpose keyboard a keyboard provided with the hotkey function. If the keyboard with the hotkey function is a special keyboard designed for special needs, then there will be buttons with the hotkey function on the special keyboard, which are added to the original keyboard.

The keyboard coder is coupled to the keyboard with the hotkey function, and is used to generate the hotkey scanning code corresponding to the hotkey selected by the user. When the user presses a hotkey on the keyboard with hotkey function, the keyboard encoder will generate the corresponding hotkey scan code (Scan Code) according to the hotkey pressed by the user, and send the hotkey scan code. In a computer system with an embedded controller, the hotkey scan code sent by the keyboard encoder will be received by the embedded controller to identify the hotkey pressed by the user.

The software driver module, which is coupled to the keyboard encoder, includes one or more software drivers. The software drivers can be implemented in any computer-executable programming language, such as C and C++. The software driver module is used to receive the hotkey scan code from the keyboard encoder, and use the received hotkey scan code to identify the hotkey selected by the user, and send a system management interrupt (System Management Interrupt) to notify the basic input Output system (BIOS). The BIOS will call the corresponding system service program (System Routine) according to the received system management interrupt to execute the hotkey function.

In addition, the present invention proposes a method for implementing the hotkey function without an embedded controller by software, including the following steps. First, a keyboard with hot keys, a keyboard encoder and a software driver module must be provided in a computer system without an embedded controller.

The keyboard with hotkeys is used to provide users with hotkeys to choose; the keyboard with hotkeys can use general-purpose keyboards or special keyboards designed for special needs; the keyboard encoder is used to generate hotkeys selected by users. The hotkey scan code corresponding to the key; the software driver module includes a software driver, which can be completed in any computer-executable programming language, such as C, C++, etc.; the software driver module is used to receive the hotkey scan code, identify and use the selected hotkey and issue a system management interrupt to notify the BIOS.

When the user presses a hotkey on a keyboard with hotkeys, the keyboard encoder will sense the hotkey pressed by the user, generate a corresponding hotkey scan code, and issue the hotkey scan code; the software The driver module receives the hotkey scan code from the keyboard encoder, and uses it to identify the hotkey selected by the user.

Then, the software driver module issues a system management interrupt corresponding to the hotkey scan code to notify the BIOS. Finally, the BIOS calls the corresponding system service program according to the received system management interrupt, and executes the hotkey function corresponding to the hotkey selected by the user.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment disclosed in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the implementation of the disclosed embodiment of the present invention.

Description of figure number

10- Keyboard with hotkey function

12-keyboard encoder

14-Software driver module

16-Software Driver

18- Basic Input Output System

Detailed ways

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a functional block diagram of an embodiment disclosed in the present invention. As shown in the figure, a device for implementing the hotkey function without an embedded controller by software includes a keyboard 10 with a hotkey function, a keyboard encoder 12 and a software driver module 14 .

The keyboard 10 provided with the hotkey function can be a general-purpose keyboard, or a special keyboard designed for special needs. If the keyboard 10 provided with the hotkey function is a general-purpose keyboard, some keys on the keyboard can be set as hotkeys to make the general-purpose keyboard a keyboard with a hotkey function. In this case, the keyboard 10 provided with the hotkey function is exactly the same as the general-purpose keyboard, and there will be no additional keys on the keyboard. If the keyboard with the hotkey function is a special keyboard designed for special needs, then a button with the hotkey function will appear on the special keyboard, which is added to the original keyboard to provide the user with a choice of hotkeys. For example, if the desired hotkey is a hotkey with the function of playing music, a hotkey for playing music will appear on the keyboard, and when the user presses the hotkey for playing music on this special keyboard, the Will perform the function of playing music.

The keyboard encoder 12 is coupled to the keyboard 10 with the hotkey function, and is used for generating a hotkey scan code corresponding to the hotkey selected by the user. When the user presses a hotkey on the keyboard 10 with the hotkey function, the keyboard encoder 12 will sense the hotkey pressed by the user. According to the hotkey pressed by the user, the keyboard encoder 12 will generate a corresponding hotkey scan code and send the hotkey scan code. In a computer system with an embedded controller, the embedded controller will receive the hotkey scan code sent by the keyboard encoder 12, and identify the hotkey pressed by the user according to the received hotkey scan code . In the present invention, the hotkey scan code sent by the keyboard encoder 12 is received by software, and the hotkey pressed by the user is identified according to the received hotkey scan code.

The software driver module 14, which is coupled to the keyboard encoder 12, includes a software driver 16. The software driver 16 can be implemented in any computer-executable programming language, such as C, C++, and the like. The software driver module 14 is used for receiving the hotkey scan code from the keyboard encoder 12 and using the received hotkey scan code to identify the hotkey selected by the user. After the software driver module 14 recognizes the hotkey selected by the user, it issues a system management interrupt to notify the BIOS 18 . Subsequently, the BIOS 18 calls the corresponding system service program according to the received system management interrupt to execute the hotkey function.

As mentioned above, the present invention implements the purpose of supporting the hotkey function by means of software in a computer system without an embedded controller. As far as the hardware equipment of the computer system is concerned, there is no need to change the design again and increase the production cost. As far as the user is concerned, there is no need to change the operation mode and the existing computer system usage habits, and the problem that the current technology cannot break through has indeed been effectively solved.

Please refer to FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an implementation of an embodiment disclosed in the present invention. The invention proposes a method for realizing the hot key function without an embedded controller by software, which includes the following steps. First, a keyboard with hot keys, a keyboard encoder and a software driver module must be provided in a computer system without an embedded controller.

The keyboard provided with hotkeys is used for providing users with selecting hotkeys. The keyboard provided with hotkeys can be a general purpose keyboard or a special keyboard designed for special needs. The keyboard encoder is used to generate a hotkey scan code corresponding to the hotkey selected by the user. The software driver module includes a software driver, which can be implemented in any computer-executable programming language, such as C, C++ and the like. The software driver module is used for receiving the hotkey scan code, identifying the hotkey selected by the user, and sending a system management interrupt to notify the BIOS.

When the user presses a hotkey on the keyboard with hotkeys (step S200), the keyboard encoder will sense the hotkey pressed by the user and generate a corresponding hotkey scan code (step S202), And send out the hotkey scan code. The software driver module receives the hotkey scan code from the keyboard encoder (step S204), and identifies the hotkey selected by the user accordingly (step S206).

Then, the software driver module issues a system management interrupt corresponding to the hotkey scan code (step S208 ) to notify the BIOS. Finally, according to the received system management interrupt, the BIOS calls the corresponding system service program to execute the hotkey function corresponding to the hotkey selected by the user (step S210 ).

Please refer to Figure 2 again. For example, if a special keyboard designed for special needs is used as the keyboard with hotkeys, hotkeys different from general-purpose keyboards may appear on the keyboard with hotkeys. The function key is used for providing the user with a hot key to select. If the function of the hotkey is to play music, a hotkey for playing music will appear on the keyboard. When the user presses the hotkey for playing music (step S200), the keyboard encoder will sense the hotkey pressed by the user and generate a hotkey scan code corresponding to the hotkey for playing music (step S202) , and issue a hotkey scan code. The software driver module receives the hotkey scan code from the keyboard encoder (step S204), and identifies the hotkey selected by the user as a hotkey for playing music (step S206).

Then, the software driver module issues a system management interrupt corresponding to the hotkey scan code (step S208 ) to notify the BIOS. Finally, according to the received system management interrupt, the BIOS calls the corresponding system service program to execute the function corresponding to the hotkey selected by the user to play music (step S210 ).

To sum up, the present invention proposes a device and method for implementing a hotkey function without an embedded controller by software. By means of software, in a computer system without an embedded controller, hotkey switching and hotkey functions can be completed to achieve the same functions as those of a computer system with an embedded controller, and the purpose of the present invention has indeed been achieved.

Claims (9)

1. A device for realizing the hotkey function without an embedded controller by software, comprising: a keyboard with a hotkey function for providing the user with at least one hotkey; A keyboard encoder, which is coupled to the keyboard with the hotkey function, is used to generate a hotkey scan code corresponding to the hotkey selected by the user; and A software driver module, which is coupled to the above-mentioned keyboard encoder, includes one or more software drivers for receiving the hotkey scan code from the above-mentioned keyboard encoder, so as to identify the hotkey selected by the user, and Issue a system management interrupt to notify the BIOS. 2. The device for realizing the hot key function without an embedded controller by software according to claim 1, wherein the above-mentioned basic input and output system in the above-mentioned software driver module is interrupted according to the above-mentioned system management, and the call institute is interrupted. The corresponding system service program to perform hotkey functions. 3. The device for implementing the hotkey function without an embedded controller by software according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard with the hotkey function refers to a general-purpose keyboard. 4. The device for realizing the hotkey function without an embedded controller by software according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard with the hotkey function refers to a special keyboard designed for special needs. 5. The device for implementing the hotkey function without an embedded controller by software according to claim 1, wherein the software driver in the software driver module is implemented in a computer-executable programming language. 6. A method for realizing a hot key function without an embedded controller with software, comprising the following steps: Provide a keyboard with hot keys, a keyboard encoder and a software driver module in a computer system without an embedded controller, the keyboard with hot keys is used to provide users with hot keys to choose, the keyboard code The device is used to generate the hotkey scan code corresponding to the hotkey selected by the user. The software driver module includes one or more software drivers for receiving the hotkey scan code and identifying the hotkey selected by the user. , and issue a system management interrupt to notify the BIOS; When the user presses a hotkey on the keyboard provided with hotkeys, the keyboard encoder generates a hotkey scan code corresponding to the hotkey, and sends out the hotkey scan code; The above-mentioned software driver module receives the above-mentioned hotkey scan code from the above-mentioned keyboard encoder, and identifies the hotkey selected by the user accordingly; said software driver module issues a system management interrupt corresponding to said hotkey scan code to notify the BIOS; and According to the received system management interrupt, the BIOS calls the corresponding system service program and executes the hotkey function corresponding to the hotkey selected by the user. 7. The method for implementing the hotkey function without an embedded controller by software according to claim 6, wherein the keyboard provided with the hotkey refers to a general-purpose keyboard. 8. The method for implementing the hotkey function without an embedded controller by software according to claim 6, wherein the above-mentioned keyboard with hotkey refers to a special keyboard designed for special needs. 9. The method for implementing the hotkey function without an embedded controller by software according to claim 6, wherein the software driver in the software driver module is implemented in a computer-executable programming language.

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