CN1501207B - Device and method for integrating household appliance functions by using personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

A device and method for integrating home appliance functions with a personal computer include an integrated keyboard, a personal computer host and a keyboard encoder. The integrated keyboard includes personal computer function hot keys and home appliance function hot keys for providing personal computer functions and home appliance functions; the personal computer host includes a special basic input and output system and a home appliance application program for executing the startup function in the home appliance mode and the home appliance function in the home appliance mode; the keyboard encoder is used to generate key codes corresponding to the keys.

Description

Device and method for integrating home appliance functions with personal computer

technical field

The invention relates to a technology for integrating functions of a personal computer, in particular to a device and a method for integrating functions of home appliances with a personal computer.

Background of the invention

Personal computers have been developed so far and have powerful functions. For example: the calculation function of personal computer, the display function of personal computer, the sound function of personal computer, etc., the integration and use of the functions provided by personal computer, so that it can exert greater execution effect, is an important trend in the development of personal computer at present. . Among them, the integration of personal computer functions and home appliance functions is the direction of current industrial research and development. However, after the functions of the personal computer and the home appliance are integrated, some problems will follow.

For example, how to integrate the functions of daily household appliances into a personal computer and provide an integrated operation interface, such as an integrated keyboard. Secondly, the booting information and related text displayed in the PC booting procedure in the past are lengthy and cumbersome when the PC is integrated with home appliance functions, and cannot cooperate with the home appliance functions. However, if the hardware device of the personal computer is completely redesigned to match the functions of the home appliances, it may cost a lot of money, and may not meet the needs of integrating the functions of the home appliances with the personal computer.

Contents of the invention

In view of this, an object of the present invention is to make a functional integration between the existing hardware equipment, operating system and application programs of the personal computer, so that the personal computer can not only maintain its existing powerful functions, but also be operated by integration. Interfaces, such as integrated keyboards, etc., also provide the functions of home appliances. Moreover, there is no need to redesign the hardware equipment of the personal computer. Users can use the functions provided by the personal computer to control and enjoy the functions of home appliances at the same time through the integrated operation interface, effectively solving the problems that the current technology cannot break through.

In addition, another object of the present invention is through a special basic input output system (SpecialBIOS). Improve the lengthy and cumbersome boot information and related text displayed in the previous PC boot process, so that the boot process can cooperate with home appliance functions.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention proposes a device for integrating home appliance functions with a personal computer. Including integrated keyboard, personal computer host and keyboard encoder.

The integrated keyboard includes hot keys for personal computer functions (Hot Keys) and home appliance function hot keys. The personal computer function hotkey is used for the user to enter the personal computer mode and provide the personal computer function after pressing a key on the integrated keyboard. The home appliance function hotkey is used for the user to enter the home appliance mode and provide home appliance functions after pressing a key on the integrated keyboard. Home appliance function hotkeys can be specially designed to be added to the keys on the keyboard, or some keys on the keyboard can be set as hotkeys with home appliance functions.

For example, an integrated keyboard may be specially designed for a personal computer to integrate home appliance functions. In other words, the keyboard is arranged with daily-needed home appliance function hotkeys, which are added to the original keyboard, such as video recorder (DVD/VCD) home appliance function hotkeys, CD player (CD/MP3) home appliance function hotkeys, etc. key, TV/VCR (TV/VCR) home appliance function hotkey, radio (FM) home appliance function hotkey, etc. Also, the integrated keyboard may be achieved by setting some keys on the keyboard as hotkeys with home appliance functions. As a result, the key arrangement on the keyboard does not have specially designed home appliance function hotkeys. Instead, utilize the original keys on some keyboards to make them become home appliance function hot keys with home appliance functions through the setting of hot keys.

Personal computer host, including special basic input and output systems and home appliance applications. The special basic input and output system is used to execute the power-on function in the home appliance mode. When the button pressed by the user is a function hotkey of the personal computer, the mainframe of the personal computer will enter the personal computer mode, and the subsequent booting procedure is the same as that of a general personal computer. Therefore, when the user only needs the mainframe of the personal computer to perform the functions of the original personal computer, no matter in terms of display or actual execution of functions, it is no different from a general personal computer. When the key pressed by the user is the hot key of the home appliance function, the mainframe of the personal computer will enter the home appliance mode, and the subsequent booting procedure is the special basic input and output system. Therefore, corresponding screens or texts can be displayed in conjunction with the home appliance functions.

The home appliance application program executes the home appliance function corresponding to the user key in the home appliance mode according to the user key received by the keyboard encoder. For example: if the user presses the function hotkey of the VCR home appliance, the home appliance function of the VCR is executed, and if the user presses the home appliance function hotkey of the radio, the home appliance function of the radio is executed. Home appliance applications can be implemented in any computer-executable programming language, such as C, C++, and so on. As mentioned above, the user can choose to execute the functions of the home appliance without affecting the functions of the original personal computer, so as to achieve the goal of integrating the home appliance function with the personal computer without feeling (painless) to the user.

The keyboard encoder is coupled to the personal computer host and the integrated keyboard. After the user presses a key on the integrated keyboard, the keyboard encoder will generate a key code corresponding to the key pressed by the user, and send the key code to the personal computer host.

In addition, the present invention proposes a method for integrating home appliance functions with a personal computer. Including the following steps, firstly, the integrated keyboard, personal computer host and keyboard encoder must be specified. The integrated keyboard includes personal computer function hotkeys and home appliance function hotkeys to provide users with keys. The home appliance function hotkeys can be specially designed keys attached to the keyboard, and some keys on the keyboard can also be set as hotkeys with home appliance functions. Personal computer mainframe, including special basic input and output system and home appliance application program, is used to execute the functions of personal computer and home appliance. The home appliance application program can be implemented in any computer-executable programming language, and executes corresponding home appliance functions according to the user's keystrokes received by the keyboard encoder. The keyboard coder is coupled to the mainframe of the personal computer and the integrated keyboard, and is used for generating key codes corresponding to the keys pressed by the user after the user presses a key on the integrated keyboard.

Then, the user presses the hotkey in the integrated keyboard when the host PC is turned off or in standby mode, and starts the host PC. The keyboard encoder generates a corresponding key code after the user presses a key on the integrated keyboard, and sends the key code to the personal computer host.

Then, the host computer of the personal computer judges that the hotkey is a hotkey for the function of the personal computer or a hotkey for the function of the home appliance according to the key code. When the hot key is a personal computer function hot key, the personal computer host enters the personal computer mode and executes the personal computer function. When the hot key is a home appliance function hot key, the personal computer host enters the home appliance mode, and calls the home appliance application program to execute the home appliance function.

To sum up, the present invention proposes a device and method for integrating home appliance functions with a personal computer. Utilize the existing hardware equipment of the personal computer, cooperate with the modification of the operating system and the application program to meet the needs of the integration of the personal computer and the home appliance function, so that the personal computer can not only maintain its existing powerful functions, but also control and operate the integrated keyboard at the same time. Enjoy the functions of household appliances and achieve the intended purpose of the present invention.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a functional schematic diagram of an embodiment disclosed in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an execution flowchart of an embodiment disclosed in the present invention.

Description of figure number

10-Personal computer host; 12-Keyboard encoder; 14-Integrated keyboard; 16-Special basic input and output system; 18-Home appliance application program; 140-Personal computer function hotkey; key; 144-disc player home appliance function hotkey; 146-TV/cassette video recorder home appliance function hotkey; 148-radio home appliance function hotkey.

Detailed ways

FIG. 1 is a functional schematic diagram of an embodiment disclosed in the present invention. As shown in the figure, a device for integrating home appliance functions with a personal computer includes an integrated keyboard 14 , a personal computer host 10 and a keyboard encoder 12 .

The integrated keyboard 14 includes personal computer function hotkeys 140 and home appliance function hotkeys. The home appliance function hotkeys include disc VCR home appliance function hotkeys 142, CD player home appliance function hotkeys 144, and TV/cassette VCR home appliances. Function hotkey 146, radio home appliance function hotkey 148, etc. The personal computer function hotkey 140 is used to enter the personal computer mode and provide the personal computer function after the user presses the button, and the home appliance function hotkey is used to enter the home appliance mode and provide the home appliance function after the user presses the button. The home appliance function hotkeys can be specially designed keys attached to the keyboard, or some keys on the keyboard can be set as hotkeys with home appliance functions.

The personal computer host 10 includes a special BIOS 16 and a home appliance application program 18. The special BIOS 16 is used to execute the boot function in the home appliance mode. The home appliance application program 18 is used for executing home appliance functions in the home appliance mode. The home appliance application program 18 executes the corresponding home appliance function according to the user keystrokes received by the keyboard encoder 12 . For example, when the user presses the home appliance function hotkey 142 of the VCR, the host computer of the personal computer calls the corresponding home appliance application program 18 to execute the home appliance function of the VCR. Similarly, if the user presses the hot key 144 for the home appliance function of the CD player, the mainframe of the personal computer executes the home appliance function of the CD player. If the user presses the TV/VCR home appliance function hotkey 146, the PC mainframe executes the TV/VCR home appliance function. If the user presses the function hotkey 148 of the radio home appliance, the host of the personal computer executes the function of the radio home appliance. The home appliance application program can be implemented in any computer-executable programming language, such as C, C++ and so on.

The keyboard encoder 12 is coupled to the personal computer host 10 and the integrated keyboard 14, and is used to generate a key code corresponding to the user's key after the user presses a key in the integrated keyboard 14, and transmit the key code to the individual Computer host 10. For example, after the user presses the home appliance function hotkey 142 on the integrated keyboard 14, the keyboard encoder 12 generates a key code corresponding to the hot key 142 on the home appliance function of the video recorder, and sends the key code Send to the personal computer host 10.

FIG. 2 shows an execution flowchart of the disclosed embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2 , a method for integrating home appliance functions with a personal computer. First, the integrated keyboard, PC host and keyboard encoder must be specified. The integrated keyboard includes personal computer function hotkeys and home appliance function hotkeys to provide users with keys. The home appliance function hotkeys can be specially designed keys attached to the keyboard, and some keys on the keyboard can also be set as hotkeys with home appliance functions. Personal computer mainframe, including special basic input and output system and home appliance application program, is used to execute the functions of personal computer and home appliance. The home appliance application program can be implemented in any computer-executable programming language, and executes corresponding home appliance functions according to the user's keystrokes received by the keyboard encoder. The keyboard coder is coupled to the mainframe of the personal computer and the integrated keyboard, and is used for generating key codes corresponding to the keys pressed by the user after the user presses a key on the integrated keyboard.

Next, the user presses the hotkey on the integrated keyboard (step S202 ), and starts the personal computer host (step S204 ) while the host PC is in shutdown or standby mode (step S200 ). The integrated keyboard includes personal computer function hotkeys and home appliance function hotkeys, the personal computer function hotkeys provide personal computer functions, and the home appliance function hotkeys provide home appliance functions. No matter which key is pressed by the user on the integrated keyboard, the mainframe of the personal computer will be activated, which means that the mainframe of the personal computer enters the starting state from shutdown or standby mode.

The keyboard encoder generates a corresponding key code after the user presses a key on the integrated keyboard (step S206 ), and sends the key code to the host PC. For example, if the user presses a function hotkey of the personal computer, the keyboard encoder generates a key code of the function hotkey of the personal computer. If the user presses the home appliance function hotkey, the keyboard encoder generates a key code for the home appliance function hotkey. And if the user presses a key on the general keyboard, the keyboard coder generates the key code of the general key. After the keyboard encoder generates the key codes corresponding to the keys pressed by the user, the key codes will be sent to the host computer without affecting the functions of the keys on the general keyboard.

Then, the host computer of the personal computer judges that the hotkey pressed by the user is a hotkey for personal computer functions or a hotkey for home appliance functions according to the key code sent by the keyboard encoder (step S208 ). When the hotkey pressed by the user is the hotkey of the personal computer function, the personal computer host enters the personal computer mode and executes the personal computer function (step S210 ). When the hot key pressed by the user is a home appliance function hot key, the mainframe of the personal computer calls the special basic input and output system (step S212), and enters the home appliance mode (step S214), and then calls the home appliance function hot key pressed by the user. The home appliance application program corresponding to the key is used to execute the home appliance function (step S216).

For example, as shown in Figure 2, when the mainframe of the personal computer is in shutdown or standby mode (step S200), the user presses the hotkey of the CD player and home appliance function in the integrated keyboard (step S202), and then Simultaneously start the mainframe personal computer (step S204), and the mainframe personal computer enters a power-on state from shutdown or standby mode.

Then, after the user presses the key, the keyboard encoder generates a key code corresponding to the function hotkey of the CD player and home appliance (step S206 ), and sends the key code to the personal computer host. According to the key code sent by the keyboard encoder, the host computer of the personal computer judges that the hot key pressed by the user is a function hot key of the optical disc player, that is, a hot key of the home appliance function (step S208).

Then, the host computer of the personal computer calls the special BIOS (step S212) to perform the booting process. At the same time, the display can display a start-up picture related to the function of the CD player home appliance, and then enter the home appliance mode (step S214). The host computer of the personal computer calls the home appliance application program corresponding to the home appliance function of the CD player to execute the function of the CD player home appliance (step S216 ).

To sum up, the present invention proposes a device and method for integrating home appliance functions with a personal computer. Utilize the existing hardware equipment of the personal computer, cooperate with the modification of the operating system and the application program to meet the needs of the integration of the personal computer and the home appliance function, so that the personal computer can not only maintain its existing powerful functions, but also control and operate the integrated keyboard at the same time. Enjoy the functions of household appliances and achieve the intended purpose of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. integrate the device of household electrical appliances function with PC for one kind, comprising:

One integrated keyboard, it comprises a personal computer function hot key and at least one household electrical appliances functional hot key;

One personal host computer, it comprises a special Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) and at least one household electrical appliances application, after above-mentioned personal computer function hot key is pressed, make above-mentioned personal host computer enter the PC pattern, and provide personal computer function, after above-mentioned household electrical appliances functional hot key is pressed, make above-mentioned personal host computer enter tame power mode, and make above-mentioned special Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) carry out power up function under this family's power mode, call out above-mentioned household electrical appliances application to carry out the household electrical appliances function, wherein at least a portion at the boot program under this family's power mode is different with the boot program under this PC pattern, and makes in the household electrical appliances function that can carry out correspondence under the shutdown mode when at least one household electrical appliances functional hot key is pressed; And

One keycoder, it is coupled to above-mentioned personal host computer and above-mentioned integrated keyboard, be used to the user behind above-mentioned integrated keyboard, produce and the corresponding key set code of user's button, and send above-mentioned key set code to above-mentioned personal host computer, wherein above-mentioned personal host computer is according to above-mentioned key set code, judge that above-mentioned hot key is above-mentioned personal computer function hot key or above-mentioned household electrical appliances functional hot key, when above-mentioned hot key is above-mentioned personal computer function hot key, above-mentioned personal host computer then enters the PC pattern, carry out personal computer function, and when above-mentioned hot key be above-mentioned household electrical appliances functional hot key, above-mentioned personal host computer then enters tame power mode, and can call out above-mentioned household electrical appliances application program to carry out the household electrical appliances function.

2. the device with PC integration household electrical appliances function as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that in the above-mentioned integrated keyboard, above-mentioned household electrical appliances functional hot key refers to that particular design is additional to the button on the keyboard.

3. the device with PC integration household electrical appliances function as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that in the above-mentioned integrated keyboard, above-mentioned household electrical appliances functional hot key refers to the button on the keyboard is set at the hot key with household electrical appliances function.

4. the device with PC integration household electrical appliances function as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that in the above-mentioned personal host computer that above-mentioned household electrical appliances application is carried out corresponding household electrical appliances function according to user's button that above-mentioned keycoder received.

5. the device with PC integration household electrical appliances function as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that in the above-mentioned personal host computer that above-mentioned household electrical appliances application is finished with the executable programming language of computer.

6. integrate the method for household electrical appliances function with PC for one kind, may further comprise the steps:

Given one integrated keyboard, one personal host computer and a keycoder, it comprises a personal computer function hot key and at least one household electrical appliances functional hot key above-mentioned integrated keyboard, in order to the user to be provided button, above-mentioned personal host computer, it comprises a special Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) and at least one household electrical appliances application, above-mentioned special Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) can be in order to carry out the power up function under the tame power mode, above-mentioned household electrical appliances application is in order to carry out the household electrical appliances function under the tame power mode, above-mentioned keycoder, it is coupled to above-mentioned personal host computer and above-mentioned integrated keyboard, be used to the user behind above-mentioned integrated keyboard, produce and the corresponding key set code of user's button;

The user presses the hot key in the above-mentioned integrated keyboard under above-mentioned personal host computer shutdown or standby mode;

By above-mentioned keycoder in the user behind above-mentioned integrated keyboard, produce and the corresponding key set code of above-mentioned hot key, and send above-mentioned key set code to above-mentioned personal host computer;

Above-mentioned personal host computer judges that according to above-mentioned key set code above-mentioned hot key is above-mentioned personal computer function hot key or above-mentioned household electrical appliances functional hot key;

When above-mentioned hot key is above-mentioned personal computer function hot key, above-mentioned personal host computer then enters the PC pattern, carry out personal computer function, wherein at least a portion at the boot program under this family's power mode is different with the boot program under this PC pattern, and makes in the household electrical appliances function that can carry out correspondence under the power on mode when at least one household electrical appliances functional hot key is pressed; And

When above-mentioned hot key is above-mentioned household electrical appliances functional hot key, above-mentioned personal host computer then enters tame power mode, and calls out above-mentioned household electrical appliances application in the above-mentioned personal host computer to carry out the household electrical appliances function.

7. the method with PC integration household electrical appliances function as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that in the above-mentioned integrated keyboard, above-mentioned household electrical appliances functional hot key refers to that particular design is additional to the button on the keyboard.

8. the method with PC integration household electrical appliances function as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that in the above-mentioned integrated keyboard, above-mentioned household electrical appliances functional hot key refers to the button on the keyboard is set at the hot key with household electrical appliances function.

9. the method with PC integration household electrical appliances function as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that in the above-mentioned personal host computer that above-mentioned household electrical appliances application is carried out corresponding household electrical appliances function according to user's button that above-mentioned keycoder received.

10. the method with PC integration household electrical appliances function as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that in the above-mentioned personal host computer that above-mentioned household electrical appliances application is finished with the executable programming language of computer.

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