Abstract: A method provides device selective suspension feature when the operating system does not allow certain device drivers to perform device selective suspension. Two driver stacks are provided in the kernel space for the device. The first driver stack includes a virtual bus, a PDO (physical device object) created by the virtual bus, and a driver for the device (e.g. NDIS driver); the second stack includes a device driver stack (e.g. USB generic driver) and a function driver that performs device selective suspension by sending power IRPs to the device driver stack. By using a virtual bus and PDOs created by the virtual bus in the first driver stack, the driver above the PDO can be any one of many types of drivers (NDIS driver being one example). The virtual bus forwards IRPs from the first driver stack to the second driver stack.

Abstract: A USB device enumeration process implemented in a USB device is described. The USB device first detects a type of the operating system (OS) of the USB host connected to the device, and performs device enumeration using a process selected from multiple stored processes based on the detected host OS type. To detect the host OS type, the USB device first presents itself to the host as a USB MSD or HID, performs device enumeration to collect OS behavior factors from the host, and determines the OS type from the OS behavior factors. Thereafter, the USB device performs actual device enumeration by presenting itself as the USB device it actually is, using an enumeration process specific to the detected host OS type. The multiple stored enumeration processes are customer configurable. Further, a method is provided to stop an enumeration process when the host is in a BIOS stage.

Abstract: A method provides device selective suspension feature when the operating system does not allow certain device drivers to perform device selective suspension. Two driver stacks are provided in the kernel space for the device. The first driver stack includes a virtual bus, a PDO (physical device object) created by the virtual bus, and a driver for the device (e.g. NDIS driver); the second stack includes a device driver stack (e.g. USB generic driver) and a function driver that performs device selective suspension by sending power IRPs to the device driver stack. By using a virtual bus and PDOs created by the virtual bus in the first driver stack, the driver above the PDO can be any one of many types of drivers (NDIS driver being one example). The virtual bus forwards IRPs from the first driver stack to the second driver stack.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer system that includes a host computer having a non-transitory memory for storing a computer software program and a processor for executing the software program, wherein the program includes a program code configured to cause the host computer to execute a process for network devices coupled to the host computer to use a network device selective suspend feature of an operating system (OS) that does not allow a network device selective suspend feature on a specific network device driver, which process includes the steps of providing a first driver stack and a second driver stack in a kernel space of the OS, creating a virtual device for the specific network device driver in the first driver stack to interact with user applications in a user space of the OS, and providing a separate driver for a physical device in the second driver stack to interact with a network device coupled to the host computer, wherein the separate driver is not prohibited by the OS to use the network devi

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer system that includes a host computer having a non-transitory memory for storing a computer software program and a processor for executing the software program, wherein the program includes a program code configured to cause the host computer to execute a process for network devices coupled to the host computer to use a network device selective suspend feature of an operating system (OS) that does not allow a network device selective suspend feature on a specific network device driver, which process includes the steps of providing a first driver stack and a second driver stack in a kernel space of the OS, creating a virtual device for the specific network device driver in the first driver stack to interact with user applications in a user space of the OS, and providing a separate driver for a physical device in the second driver stack to interact with a network device coupled to the host computer, wherein the separate driver is not prohibited by the OS to use the network devi

Abstract: A USB device enumeration process implemented in a USB device is described. The USB device first detects a type of the operating system (OS) of the USB host connected to the device, and performs device enumeration using a process selected from multiple stored processes based on the detected host OS type. To detect the host OS type, the USB device first presents itself to the host as a USB MSD or HID, performs device enumeration to collect OS behavior factors from the host, and determines the OS type from the OS behavior factors. Thereafter, the USB device performs actual device enumeration by presenting itself as the USB device it actually is, using an enumeration process specific to the detected host OS type. The multiple stored enumeration processes are customer configurable. Further, a method is provided to stop an enumeration process when the host is in a BIOS stage.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for power management for a computer system. In one embodiment, the computer system comprises a system controller, a chipset, and a battery coupled to the chipset via a system management bus. First, a timer of the chipset is used to calculate an accumulated time value. When the accumulated time value exceeds a threshold value, the chipset is directed to send a system control interrupt to the system controller. After the system controller receives the system control interrupt, the system controller is triggered to detect a power level supplied by the battery via the system management bus.

Abstract: A memory access method for accessing data from a non-volatile memory in a south bridge is provided. Memory access is performed under a system management mode (SMM). Under the protection of the SMM mode, the desired memory address is not altered by an interrupt handler, therefore memory data is accessed correctly.

Abstract: For saving power of a central processing unit at a C3 power level upon processing a bus master request from a peripheral device, an arbitrator is disabled from transmitting any request to the central processing unit at the C3 power level. Afterwards, in response to a bus master request, the central processing unit is switched from the C3power level to a transitional C0 power level while keeping the arbitrator disabled, and then switched from the transitional C0 power level to a C2 power level while enabling the arbitrator to process the bus master request.

Abstract: A method for power management of a CPU and a system thereof, which drive the CPU to enter a more efficient power saving state are disclosed. A chip of the present invention sends a first control signal to drive the CPU to wake from a non-snooping sleep state and enter a normally executing instruction state as well as a system management mode to execute a system management interrupt routine. Then the chip enables an arbiter to transmit a bus master request to the CPU for processing. After completing the processing of the bus master request, the chip disables the arbiter and the CPU drives the chip to send a second control signal to drive the CPU to return to the non-snooping sleep state according the system management interrupt routine.

Abstract: A power saving method applied to a central processing unit under a non-snooping sleeping state with a bus master request from a peripheral device is presented. In accordance with the present invention, first prohibit the central processing unit from fetching instruction. Then drive the central processing unit entering a snooping sleeping state and enabling the arbiter for transferring the bus master request to the central processing unit. After the central processing unit completes the bus master request, the arbiter is disabled and the central processing unit is driven to leave the snooping sleeping state and return back to the non-snooping sleeping state. Therefore, the power consumed by the central processing unit is reduced so as to save power.

Abstract: Thermal throttling duty estimation methods for a CPU (Central Processing Unit) in a computer system are provided. The temperature of a CPU is highly related to the CPU performance. CPU temperature data (CPUT) is first acquired. A thermal throttle duty (TTD) is then calculated according to the acquired CPUT. Thereafter, the calculated TTD can be sent to the CPU and the CPU performance is accordingly adjusted.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for power management for a computer system. In one embodiment, the computer system comprises a system controller, a chipset, and a battery coupled to the chipset via a system management bus. First, a timer of the chipset is used to calculate an accumulated time value. When the accumulated time value exceeds a threshold value, the chipset is directed to send a system control interrupt to the system controller. After the system controller receives the system control interrupt, the system controller is triggered to detect a power level supplied by the battery via the system management bus.

Abstract: A power saving method and system thereof is disclosed. When the central processing unit is under a non-snooping sleep state and a peripheral device sends a bus master request, a chip will drive the central processing unit waking from the non-snooping sleep state and entering a system management mode for executing an interrupt service routine that makes the central processing unit in halt status. The central processing unit is then driven to enter a snooping sleep state for snooping the bus master request. After the execution of the bus master request, the chip will drive the central processing unit to leave the snooping sleep state and return to the non-snooping sleep state for power consumption conservation.

Abstract: A memory access method for accessing data from a non-volatile memory in a south bridge is provided. Memory access is performed under a system management mode (SMM). Under the protection of the SMM mode, the desired memory address is not altered by an interrupt handler, therefore memory data is accessed correctly.

Abstract: A method for capturing an image data from a frame buffer of a computer system takes advantage of a system management interrupt service optionally triggered. If a storage unit functions normally when the computer system fails to work normally, store the image data in the frame buffer into the storage unit. Otherwise, temporarily store the image data in a buffer unit, and then store it in a NVRAM. Then restart the storage unit and restore the image data in the buffer unit into the storage unit. At last, restart the computer system.

Abstract: For saving power of a central processing unit at a C3 power level upon processing a bus master request from a peripheral device, an arbitrator is disabled from transmitting any request to the central processing unit at the C3 power level. Afterwards, in response to a bus master request, the central processing unit is switched from the C3 power level to a transitional C0 power level while keeping the arbitrator disabled, and then switched from the transitional C0 power level to a C2 power level while enabling the arbitrator to process the bus master request.

Abstract: Thermal throttling duty estimation methods for a CPU (Central Processing Unit) in a computer system are provided. The temperature of a CPU is highly related to the CPU performance. CPU temperature data (CPUT) is first acquired. A thermal throttle duty (TTD) is then calculated according to the acquired CPUT. Thereafter, the calculated TTD can be sent to the CPU and the CPU performance is accordingly adjusted.

Abstract: A method for power management of CPU and a system thereof which drive the CPU enter a most efficient power saving state is disclosed. A chip of the present invention sends a first control signal to drive the CPU to wake from the non-snooping sleep state and enter a normally executing instruction state as well as a system management mode to execute a system management interrupt routine. Then the chip enables an arbiter to transmit the bus master request to the CPU for processing. After completing processing the bus master request, the chip disables the arbiter and the CPU drives the chip sends a second control signal to drive the CPU return to the non-snooping sleep state according the system management interrupt routine.

Abstract: A power saving method applied to a central processing unit under a non-snooping sleeping state with a bus master request from a peripheral device is presented. In accordance with the present invention, first prohibit the central processing unit from fetching instruction. Then drive the central processing unit entering a snooping sleeping state and enabling the arbiter for transferring the bus master request to the central processing unit. After the central processing unit completes the bus master request, the arbiter is disabled and the central processing unit is driven to leave the snooping sleeping state and return back to the non-snooping sleeping state. Therefore, the power consumed by the central processing unit is reduced so as to save power.