Patent Application
20050235278
The present invention relates to a computer system with two operating systems for automatically downloading updated information and method thereof, especially to a computer system installed with two operating systems that downloads information form a remote end and upgrades the systems automatically so as to increase the efficiency of application programs in the computer system.
In the era of competition, computer has become an essential tool for people. Besides word processing, computers offer multiple functions such as drawings, calculation and communications. By the fast development of information technology nowadays, the computer system has more powerful applications including home appliances and entertainment, involved with our daily lives. Moreover, due to more attentions of leisure activities and entertainment, computers are also disposed with a multimedia player system for entertainment such as playing music, VCD, DVD, television programs or broadcasting for relieving pressure. Thus there is no need for people to buy new electronic products for entertainment. This is not only reduced the occupation of interior space but also the cost for electronic products.
Most of computer systems now are installed with Windows operating systems that are developed and supported by Microsoft—the world's largest software maker. Thus they can provide enough technical support in various libraries, drivers for peripherals, Man-Machine Interface, application programs, chips and platforms. Moreover, the products provide enterprise-class manageability, availability, reliability, compatibility and performance. Integrated programs meet administrative as well as organizational needs and reduce cost for support.
However, powerful system resources of Windows also increase its system loading. Thus this has negative effect on the system stability and booting speed. Even only a single application program is used, users still need to wait for a longer time to turn on the computer system. This causes waste of time. In a time of efficiency, users expect computer systems with high stability, lower resource consumption, short start-up times and low cost for system construction. Thus the Linux operating systems has developed with a bright and prosperous future Yet the Linux operating systems remain far behind the Windows in compatibility and popularity of supporting application programs.
Due to above problems, a prior art—Taiwanese application No. 093102237—architecture and method of operating system for sharing application programs are disclosed. A computer system is installed with a first operating system with high resource consumption and a second operating system with low resource consumption while the second operating system shares application programs of the first operating system with the first operating system. Thus when users want to manipulate one application program such as a multimedia playback program, they only need to initiate the second operating system to execute a multimedia playback program quickly and directly. There is no need to initiate the first operating system so as to reduce system resource consumption and boost efficiency of the computer system.
Owing to higher requirements and demand of users, driving programs, operating systems and application programs installed in computer systems need much maintenance and upgrade to satisfy users' needs. The second operating system installed in computer systems of prior art has difficulties or problems in downloading updated information for upgrading the second operating system or shared application programs due to faulty internet connection. Therefore, there is a need for providing users with computer systems for better service.
Therefore it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an application program that downloads updated information under the first operating system and automatically upgrades the second operating system and application programs being installed and shared with the second operating system so as to improve the efficiency of the computer systems installed with two operating systems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a computer system installed with two operating systems that downloads updated information effectively for efficiency improvements.
In order to achieve above objects, the present invention provides a computer system with two operating systems for automatically downloading updated information and method thereof. The computer system is installed with a first operating system having at least one application program and a second operating system with low resource consumption. The second operating system shares information and application programs of the first operating system with the first operating system. A download unit is installed in the first operating system for connection to a remote server unit and downloading at least one piece of updated information while the second operating system is installed with an interface unit. The method for automatically downloading in accordance with the present invention is as following steps: firstly, a basic input output system (BIOS) of the computer system is enabled to execute the first operating system for driving the download unit in connection with the remote server unit and downloading updated information. Then, the computer system enables the BIOS to boot the second operating system, the interface unit converts the updated information in the first operating system into an accessible and executable data format of the second operating system. At last, the updated information is read and is executed so as to upgrade application programs and the second operating system for optimizing the performance of the computer system.
The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein
A computer system in accordance with the present invention is installed with a first operating system and a second operating system. The first operating system is executed to download updated information remotely while by sharing the updated information with the first operating system, the second operating system reads and executes the updated information for upgrading the second operating system and application programs installed in or shared with the second operating system.
Refer to
The second operating system 50 is a EXT2 or a EXT3 file format with low resource consumption such as Linux operating system. It can share updated information 35 and application programs such as a multimedia playback program 25 of the first operating system 20 with the first operating system 20. The multimedia playback program 25 is used to play CD, MP3, VCD, DVD, broadcasting, television programs and digital photographs. When the second operating system 50 shares application programs and updated information 35 with the first operating system 20, the second operating system 50 sends a command to an interface unit 60 that converts the updated information 35 of the first operating system 20 into readable and executable data format of the second operating system 50 for reading the updated information 35 so as to upgrade the second operating system 50 and application programs shared or executed by the second operating system 50. The upgrading operation is run by an upgrade unit 65 installed in the second operating system 50. Furthermore, while the second operating system 50 is run by the computer system of the present invention, the interface unit 60 can also convert the updated information 35 of the first operating system 20 automatically without the command from the second operating system 50.
The interface unit 60 of he present invention consists of a driving unit and a parameter converting unit disclosed in Taiwanese patent application No. 093102237. Through the interface unit 60, the second operating system 50 shares the updated information 35 of the first operating system 20 with the first operating system 20.
The purpose of the present invention to be installed with two operating systems is for reducing startup time by executing a single application program under the second operating system 50 when an user 70 only wants to apply a single application program. Moreover, the resource consumption of the computer system is also reduced. For example, when the user 70 wants to turn on the computer system for executing the multimedia playback program 25 to display audio/video data, music or broadcasting, the computer system only needs to execute the second operating system 50. By sharing the multimedia playback program 25 with the first operating system 20, the multimedia service is provided.
Thus the boot-up time of the computer system for executing the multimedia playback program 25 is reduced. Once the user 70 wants to execute multiple application programs, they can also start up the computer system by the first operating system 20 as general startup procedures.
Refer to
Later, when the user 70 would like to initiate the second operating system 50 for running a single application program, the basic input output system 10 takes the step S2 to execute the second operating system 50 for sending a command to the interface unit 60, as shown in step S3. After receiving the command, as shown in step S4, the interface unit 60 converts the updated information 35 of the first operating system 20 into accessible and executable information format of the second operating system 50. Then as shown in step S5, the updated information 35 is read and executed for upgrading the second operating system 50 or the shared application programs. Moreover, while reading and executing the updated information 35, the updated information 35 is compared with the information being used now by the second operating system 50 or application programs. Once the updated information 35 is a new version, the present invention continues the upgrading operations. Moreover, in above step S2, when the second operating system 50 is executed, the computer system can jump to step S4, without running the step S3, the interface unit 60 automatically converts the updated information 35 of the first operating system 20 into an accessible and executable information format of the second operating system 50.
The updated information 35 downloaded by the download unit 30 of the first operating system 20 is a file format consisting of a plurality of update files. While the second operating system 50 shares the updated information 35 with the first operating system 20, the updated information 35 is mounted on a point of a directory tree structure. Then the update files of the updated information 35 are executed for upgrading. The updated information 35 is used to upgrade the second operating system 50 and application programs being shared with such as the multimedia playback program 25 for displaying CD, MP3, DVD, VCD, broadcasting, television programs and digital photographs. After upgrading, the update files are unmounted-being detached from the mount point for system directory.
Refer to
In summary, a computer system with two operating systems for automatically downloading updated information and method thereof in accordance with the present invention take advantage of a first operating system 20 with sound network support to download updated information. Then when executing the second operating system 50 for running application programs, the upgrade unit 65 of the second operating system 50 automatically reads and executes the updated information 35 of the first operating system 20 so as to improve functions of the second operating system 50 as well as related application programs for providing users better service.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 093110732 | Apr 2004 | TW | national |
