Patent Application
20110055537
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device having multiple operating systems (OSs) and a booting method for the electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays, a user of an electronic device (such as a computer) is free to purchase and install an operating system that differs from the one installed on the device when it was purchased. There are numerous commercially available operating systems to choose from including, but not limited, to MS-DOS, UNIX, LINUX, OS/2, WINDOWS 3.x, WINDOWS NT, and WINDOWS 95.
Although these operating systems perform similar tasks, and many are capable of running the same application programs, each operating system has its own strengths. Sometimes a user wishing to capitalize on the strengths of these operating systems will install more than one OS on the same computer. Commercially available software utilities aid a user in installing additional operating systems on their computers. These utilities also allow a user to choose which operating system to boot while a computer is being powered-on or reset. The capability to boot different operating systems on the same computer is often referred to as an OS multi boot or multi booting. Despite the fact that many attempts have been made in the art, this kind of technology still has much room for improvement.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
Referring to
A memory space of the electronic device 100 can be divided into several areas. Each of the areas is configured to store the programs and data of the OS, the device driver, and the MMI of a same type. For instance, programs of WINDOWS XP OS, WINDOWS XP device drivers, and WINDOWS XP MMI are stored in one of the areas; programs of LINUX OS, LINUX device driver, and LINUX MMI are stored in another one of the areas.
The boot loader module 10 includes a small program that can load the operating system programs and data which are then executed from Random Access Memory (RAM).
The mode selecting module 20 is capable of selecting Mode1, Mode2, Mode3, or Mode4. Mode1 is a manufacture booting mode applicable during manufacturing the electronic device 100. Mode2 is a normal booting mode applicable to a common user of the electronic device 100. Mode3 is a rescue booting mode applicable during repairing the electronic device 100. Mode4 is a recover booting mode applicable during restoring the electronic device 100 to factory settings. Mode2 is set as the default booting mode. If the electronic device 100 does not receive any command to interrupt its booting process, the default booting mode is automatically selected. If the electronic device 100 receives a specified command during the booting process, another booting mode other than the default booting mode can be selected according to the user's selection.
The OS selecting module 30 is capable of selecting OS1 (e.g., WINDOWS 2000), OS2 (e.g., WINDOWS XP), OS3 (e.g., WINDOWS VISTA), or OS4 (e.g., LINUX). The OS1, OS2, OS3, and OS4 are respectively corresponding to the Mode1, Mode2, Mode3, and Mode4. For instance, if Mode1 is selected by the mode selecting module 20, the OS selecting module 30 will select OS1.
The device driver selecting module 40 is capable of selecting one kind of device driver (Driver1, Driver2, Driver3, or Driver4) matched with the selected operating system. For instance, if OS1 (e.g., WINDOWS 2000) is selected by the OS selecting module 30, the device driver selecting module 40 will select Driver1 (WINDOWS 2000 device drivers) correspondingly.
The MMI selecting module 50 is capable of selecting one kind of MMI (MMI1, MMI2, MMI3, or MMI4) matched with the selected operating system. For instance, if OS1 (e.g., WINDOWS XP operating system) is selected by the OS selecting module 30, the MMI selecting module 50 will correspondingly select MMI1 (WINDOWS XP MMI) to be implemented.
In one embodiment, the electronic device 100 can be a personal computer or other consumer electronic devices, such as a digital photo frame, a mobile phone, etc. If a common consumer uses the electronic device 100, the mode selecting module 20 can automatically select the normal booting mode applicable to the common user. During manufacturing the electronic device 100, a manipulator can input a command (e.g., pressing F8 to input a command) to select the manufacture booting mode. If the electronic device 100 is being repaired, the mode selecting module 20 can select the rescue booting mode according to user's selection. If the electronic device 100 needs to be restored to factory settings, the mode selecting module 20 can select the recover booting mode according to user's selection.
Referring to
In block S01, a power button of the electronic device 100 is actuated to power on the electronic device 100.
In block S02, the mode selecting module 20 runs and selects a desired booting mode. If the mode selecting module 20 does not receive any input command during running, the mode selecting module 20 automatically selects the default booting mode (e.g. normal booting mode). If the mode selecting module 20 receives an input command during running, the mode selecting module 20 can select another booting mode (e.g. the manufacture booting mode, the rescue booting mode, or the recover booting mode) according to the input command.
In block S03, the OS selecting module 30 selects one of the operating systems (OS1, OS2, OS3, or OS4) according to the selected mode. For example, if the mode selecting module 20 selects Mode2 (normal booting mode), the OS selecting module 30 correspondingly selects OS2 (e.g., WINDOWS XP).
In block S04, the boot loader module 10 loads the selected OS to RAM.
In block S05, the device driver selecting module 40 selects one kind of device driver that is compatible and matched with the selected OS. Then the selected device driver is installed automatically.
In block S06, the MMI selecting module 50 selects a program of a MMI that is matched with the selected operating system.
In block S07, the selected MMI is implemented.
While the present disclosure has been illustrated by the description of preferred embodiments thereof, and while the preferred embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described.
It is also to be understood that the above description and the claims drawn to a method may include some indication in reference to certain steps. However, the indication used is only to be viewed for identification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for the steps.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200910306380.0 | Aug 2009 | CN | national |
