Computer hibernation system for transmitting data and command words between host and controller

Claim 1

A computer system, comprising: a host unit; a power management system; a data backup power supply; a switching mode power supply for supplying operating power to the computer system; an auxiliary memory storage unit; and a memory, wherein: said power management system generates a hibernation signal when one of a hibernation switch is manually activated by a user, an event is not generated from peripheral devices of said computer system for a predetermined time period, a command word is generated by said host unit to perform a scheduled hibernation, and a battery driving signal is output from said data backup power supply due to a power-off operation; said host unit stores a working environment and data in said auxiliary memory storage unit in response to said hibernation signal, and outputs a powerdown command word so that said power management system cuts off a supply of power to said computer system by outputting one of a main power cut-off signal and a battery power cut-off signal; and said host unit retrieves said working environment and data, identifies a source requesting a wake-up operation, and performs a corresponding operation, when said power management system resumes said supply of power to said computer system; and wherein said power management system comprises: a WAKE-UP source interface unit for outputting a WAKE-UP signal to wake up said computer system while said supply of power to said computer system is cut off; a controller for outputting said hibernation signal when one of said hibernation switch is manually activated by the user, said event is not generated from said peripheral devices of said computer system for said predetermined time period, said command word is generated to perform said scheduled hibernation, and said battery driving signal is output from said data backup power supply due to said power-off operation, said controller cutting off said supply of power to said computer system by outputting one of said main power cut-off signal and said battery power cut-off signal in response to said powerdown command word, and resuming said supply of power to said computer system by outputting a power supply signal in response to one of said WAKE-UP signal, activation of said hibernation switch and passage of a designated time period while said supply of power to said computer system is cut off; and an interface unit for transmitting data for controlling hibernation process of the computer system according to the command word transmitted between said controller and said host unit.

Claim 12

A method for controlling power of a computer system, comprising the steps of: generating a hibernation signal when one of a hibernation switch is manually activated by a user, an event is not generated from peripheral devices of said computer system for a predetermined time period, a command word is generated by a CPU (central processing unit) to perform a scheduled hibernation, and a battery driving signal is output from a data backup power supply due to a power-off operation; checking a hibernation set-up flag to determine whether a hibernation support mode is set; storing a current hardware condition and memory contents of said computer system when said hibernation support mode is set; generating a powerdown command after storing said current hardware condition and memory contents of said computer system; determining whether a hibernation state of said computer system is being activated due to said power-off operation; generating a battery cut off signal and interrupting battery power when said hibernation state is being activated due to said power-off operation; and generating a main power cut off signal, interrupting main power while providing said battery power when said hibernation state is not being activated due to said power-off operation.

Claim 13

A method for controlling power of a computer system, comprising the steps of: generating a hibernation signal when one of a hibernation switch is manually activated by a user, an event is not generated from peripheral devices of said computer system for a predetermined time period, a command word is generated by a CPU (central processing unit) to perform a scheduled hibernation, and a battery driving signal is output from a data backup power supply due to a power-off operation; checking a hibernation set-up flag to determine whether a hibernation support mode is set; storing a current hardware condition and memory contents of said computer system when said hibernation support mode is set; generating a powerdown command after storing said current hardware condition and memory contents of said computer system; determining whether a hibernation state of said computer system is being activated due to said power-off operation; generating a battery cut off signal and interrupting battery power when said hibernation state is being activated due to said power-off operation; and generating a main power cut off signal, interrupting main power while providing said battery power when said hibernation state is not being activated due to said power-off operation.