CN109408160B

CN109408160B - Method for self-defining starting-up picture

Info

Publication number: CN109408160B
Application number: CN201710693412.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈俞; 陈信安; 陈瀅至
Original assignee: Uniwill Information Co ltd
Current assignee: Uniwill Information Co ltd
Priority date: 2017-08-14
Filing date: 2017-08-14
Publication date: 2021-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-14
Also published as: CN109408160A

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for self-defining a startup picture, which comprises the following steps: planning a picture storage area in a BIOS memory of the computer system; loading a self-defined image when an operating system is operated; performing compiling processing on the self-defined image to obtain a binary code file; storing the binary code file in the picture storage area; loading a binary code file from the picture storage area when the BIOS is started to operate; and executing the binary code file to display the self-defined image. The invention can allow the user to quickly change the startup picture by planning the picture storage area without rewriting the BIOS.

Description

Method for self-defining starting-up picture

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method for displaying a boot image, and more particularly, to a method for customizing a boot image.

Background

In order to display a boot screen during booting, in the prior art, a developer of a computer System must rewrite a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) System according to a preset boot screen (such as a trademark or a name of a manufacturer), and write the written BIOS into a BIOS memory of the computer System. Therefore, the computer system can display the boot-up picture when the BIOS is operated in each boot-up process.

Although the above method can display the boot screen during the boot process, developers must rewrite the BIOS and burn it every time they change the boot screen, which consumes a lot of time and labor.

In addition, because the technical threshold for writing and burning the BIOS is too high, the general user often has no ability to change the boot screen by himself, and must be forced to watch the preset boot screen, which reduces the satisfaction of the user on the computer system.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a method for customizing a startup picture, which can be used for a user to conveniently replace the customized startup picture under an operating system.

In one embodiment, a method for customizing a boot image is applied to a computer system, the computer system includes a processor, a BIOS memory for storing a BIOS, a main storage device for storing an operating system, and a display device, the method for customizing a boot image includes the following steps:

a) controlling the processor to plan a frame storage area in the BIOS memory;

b) when the computer system is started and the operating system is operated, loading a self-defined image and setting a parameter group of the self-defined image;

c) performing a compiling process on the customized image and the parameter set to obtain a binary code file, wherein the binary code file comprises a large number of mechanical codes for the processor to directly execute;

d) storing the binary code file in the frame storage area of the BIOS memory;

e) loading the binary code file from the frame storage area when the computer system is restarted and the BIOS is operated; and

f) executing the binary code file to display the customized image based on the parameter set in the display device;

wherein the step d) comprises:

d1) sending an SMI signal corresponding to the BIOS memory to the operating system under the operation of the operating system so that the operating system controls the processor to enter an SMM mode; and

d2) controlling the processor to store the binary code file in the frame storage area of the BIOS memory in the SMM mode

Wherein the step d2) comprises:

d21) obtaining a BIOS memory access program in the SMM mode through a driver corresponding to the BIOS memory;

d22) executing the BIOS memory access program to store the binary code file in the frame storage area of the BIOS memory.

Preferably, the step a) is to plan the frame storage area in the BIOS memory by updating the BIOS, and setting the frame storage area as non-erasable.

Preferably, the computer system further comprises an image capturing device, and the step b) comprises the following steps;

b1) controlling the display device to display a graphical user interface under the operation of the operating system;

b2) receiving a shooting operation through the graphical user interface, and controlling the image capturing device to capture an external image according to the shooting operation;

b3) receiving an editing operation through the graphical user interface, and editing the external image according to the editing operation to obtain the customized image; and

b4) and receiving a setting operation through the graphical user interface, and setting the parameter group according to the setting operation.

Preferably, the step c) is to import the customized image and the parameter set into a compiler program of the computer system after receiving a confirmation operation through the gui, so that the compiler program executes the compiling process.

Preferably, the step b) is to load a plurality of the self-defined images; the parameter group comprises a display position or a display sequence of each self-defined image; the step c) is to execute the compiling process to a plurality of self-defined images and the parameter group; the step f) is to display a plurality of the customized images respectively based on the display positions or the display sequence.

Preferably, the step d) is preceded by a step g) and the step c is followed by controlling the processor to perform a data compression process on the binary file; the step d) is to store the compressed binary code file.

Preferably, the step f) is preceded by a step h) and then the step e, controlling the processor to perform a data decompression process on the binary file; the step f) is to execute the decompressed binary file.

Preferably, the step e) loads the binary code file from the frame storage area when the computer system is booted and the BIOS is run to a BDS stage.

The invention can allow the user to quickly change the startup picture by planning the picture storage area without rewriting the BIOS.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific examples, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a computer system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an execution architecture of the computer system;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a BIOS memory configuration;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for customizing a booting frame according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial flowchart of a method for customizing a booting frame according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial flowchart of a method for customizing a boot-up image according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial flowchart of a method for customizing a boot-up image according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a human-machine interface of the present invention.

Wherein, the reference numbers:

100 … processor

102 … Main memory

104 … BIOS memory

106 … primary storage device

108 … display device

110 … image capturing device

112 … input device

20 … operating system

22 … driver

24 … BIOS memory access procedure

26 … application program

28 … self-defined image

30 … hard layer

32…BIOS

34 … driver

36 … operating system

38 … application program

40-44 area

5 … graphic user interface

500 … display area

502-504-508-512 … keys

506. 514 … drop-down menu

S100-S110 … setting steps

S112-S120 … show steps

S20-S26 … input steps

S30-S36 … storing step

S400-S410 … boot-up steps

Detailed Description

The following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings and specific examples is provided for further understanding the objects, aspects and effects of the present invention, but not for limiting the scope of the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The invention discloses a method for self-ordering a startup picture, which is applied to a computer system 1, such as a personal computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer or other general-purpose (general-purpose) computer systems. The computer system 1 may include a main memory (main memory)102, a BIOS memory 104, a main storage device 106, a display device 108, an image capture device 110 (such as a camera or a web camera), an input device 112 (such as a mouse or a touch pad), and a processor 100 electrically connected to the devices.

The functions and applications of the aforementioned devices of the computer system 1 are not described herein, but only the differences between the present invention and the conventional technologies are described.

In the present invention, the main storage device 106 stores an operating system 20, a driver 22, a BIOS memory access program 24, an application program 26, and a customized image 28 to be set as a booting screen by a user.

The operating system 20 is used for establishing and monitoring an application program running environment, so that a user can conveniently execute various application programs in the application program running environment. The driver 22 corresponds to the BIOS memory 104 and is used to control the BIOS memory 104 or to connect the processor 100 and the BIOS memory 104. The application 26 is used to set the customized screen.

The BIOS memory access program 24 is used to access data in a specific area (e.g., the frame storage area 44 shown in FIG. 3) of the BIOS memory 104. Specifically, the BIOS memory access program 24 is a program with special access rights, and can directly access the BIOS memory 104 under the operating system 20.

In one embodiment, the BIOS memory access program 24 is a program written based on ASL (advanced configuration and power interface Language) code and corresponds to a set of event numbers (Number).

Please refer to fig. 2, which is an execution architecture diagram of the computer system for explaining the hierarchical relationship between different software and hardware of the computer system 1.

As shown, the architecture of the computer system 1 can be divided into a low-level hardware layer 30 (lowest level), a BIOS32, a driver 34, an operating system 36, and an application 38 (highest level). And the software of the higher-level layer can control the software and the hardware of the lower-level layer by layer. In other words, when the computer system 1 wants to set the high-level software, it must complete the setting of the low-level software and hardware.

For example, when the application 38 is to control certain hardware (e.g., store data to a hard disk), the application 38 must control the hardware layer 30 (e.g., access data to the hard disk) via the operating system 36, the driver 34 (e.g., a hard disk driver) and the BIOS 36.

Taking the example of booting and executing the application program, the computer system 1 will initialize the connected hardware devices (the hardware layer 30) after starting the booting process, execute the BIOS32, execute the drivers 34 of the hardware devices, and execute the operating system 36 to complete booting. The user then operates the computer system 1 to execute various application programs 38 on the operating system 36.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4 together, fig. 3 is a configuration diagram of a BIOS memory, and fig. 4 is a flowchart of a method for customizing a boot screen according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The method for customizing a boot image according to the embodiments of the present invention is mainly implemented by the computer system 1 shown in fig. 1.

The method of self-defining a booting image of the present embodiment mainly includes steps S100-110 for setting the self-defining booting image, and steps S112-120 for displaying the set booting image during the booting process. The detailed description thereof is as follows.

Step S100: the processor 100 programs the frame storage area 44 in the BIOS memory 104. Specifically, when the method of the present invention is executed for the first time, the user must first update the BIOS of the computer system 1. The updated BIOS will program the frame storage area 44 in the BIOS memory 104.

In one embodiment, the BIOS memory 104 comprises a Management Engine storage area 40 for storing a Management Engine (ME) and a BIOS storage area 42 for storing a BIOS. The updated BIOS may further program the frame storage area 44 in the BIOS memory 104. Further, the BIOS divides a portion of the memory space in the area 42 to be a frame storage area 44.

In one embodiment, the computer system 1 can be loaded with the operating system 20 from the primary storage device 106 to the main memory 102 for operation after booting. Then, the user can operate the computer system 1 to execute a BIOS updating program (not shown) under the operating system 20 to update the BIOS to program the frame storage area 44 in the BIOS memory 104.

In one embodiment, the frame storage area 44 is set to non-erasable (non-erasable), i.e., the data stored in the frame storage area 44 is not cleared by powering on, powering off, or removing power. In addition, the frame storage area 44 may be further configured to accept only the access operation of a specific BIOS memory access program 24, or configured to store only a binary file, which will be described later.

Step S102: the processor 100 may load the operating system 20 from the primary storage device 106 to the main memory 102 for operation after rebooting.

Step S104: the processor 100 can receive user operations through the input device 112 and execute the application 26 on the operating system 20 according to the user operations. Further, through execution of the application 26, the processor 100 can read a user pre-stored customized image 28 (e.g., an image file in JPEG, BMP, TIFF, PNG, or other image file format) from the main storage device 106 and set a set of parameter sets.

In one embodiment, the parameter set may include a display position of the customized image 28, a display size of the customized image 28, or other display parameters.

Step S106: the processor 100 performs a compilation (complex) process on the read customized image 28 and the set parameter set to obtain a binary code file.

The computer system 1 of the present invention mainly executes the BIOS and displays the customized image 28 at the boot stage. However, in the boot stage, since the operating system 20 is not running, the processor 100 can only execute the binary executable file (such as the BIN file), and cannot execute any application programs (including the image application program) that can be executed under the operating system 20, that is, the processor 100 cannot directly read and open the customized image 28 in the image file format.

Therefore, the present invention can effectively solve the problem that the processor 100 cannot read the customized image 28 during the boot-up stage by compiling the customized image 28 in the image file format into the binary code file.

Furthermore, the binary code file includes a plurality of machine codes (machine codes), and the processor 100 can directly execute the machine codes to implement the self-defined frame function of the present invention without performing a compiling process, an assembling process or other translating process on the machine codes.

Step S108: the processor 100 performs a data compression process on the binary file via execution of the application 26 to reduce the data amount of the binary file.

Step S110: the processor 100 stores the compressed binary file in the frame storage area 44 of the BIOS memory 104 through execution of the application 26.

In one embodiment, the processor 100 may obtain the address of the BIOS memory access process 24 in the primary storage device 106 via the application 26 and the driver 22 of the BIOS memory 104. Next, the processor 100 loads the BIOS memory access program 24 according to the obtained storage address and executes the BIOS memory access program. Thus, the processor 100 can store the compressed binary file in the frame storage area 44 of the BIOS memory 104 by the execution of the BIOS memory access program 24.

Thus, the computer system 1 can complete the setting of the booting screen.

After the setup of the booting screen is completed, the computer system 1 can execute steps S112-S120 to display the booting screen (i.e., the customized image 28) customized by the user and run the operating system each time the computer system is booted.

Step S112: the processor 100 initializes the hardware of the computer system 1 and runs the BIOS each time it is powered on.

Step S114: during the BIOS operation, the processor 100 reads the previously stored compressed binary file from the frame storage area 44 of the BIOS memory 104.

Step S116: the processor 100 performs a data decompression process on the compressed binary file to restore the binary file, wherein the data decompression process corresponds to the data compression process.

In one embodiment, the data compression and decompression processes employ a lossless (lossless) data compression/decompression algorithm, such as an RLE (run-length encoding) algorithm. Therefore, the invention can effectively reduce the data volume of the compressed binary code file and can completely restore the binary code file without generating any distortion.

Step S118: the processor 100 executes the decompressed binary file to display the boot-up image including the customized image 28 on the display device 108.

In one embodiment, the processor 100 may also display the initialization status of each hardware device of the computer system 1 in the display device 108 at the same time.

Step S120: the processor 100 loads the operating system 20 from the primary storage device 106 into the main memory 102 for execution.

Therefore, the invention can effectively display the startup picture customized by the user.

It should be noted that when the user wants to change different boot screens, the steps S102-S110 are executed again to compile another customized image 28 into a binary file, and the binary file is stored in the screen storage area 44 of the BIOS memory 104, and the boot screen can be set without updating the BIOS again (i.e., the step S100 is not executed again), which is beneficial to the user' S requirement for changing the boot screen regularly or irregularly.

The present invention stores the binary file corresponding to the customized image 28 through the planning frame storage area 44, so that the user can quickly change the boot frame without updating the BIOS again or rewriting the BIOS.

It should be noted that, although the computer system 1 sets the single customized image 28 as the boot screen in the embodiment, the invention is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the processor 100 may also load a plurality of customized images 28 in step S104, such as loading a GIF animation file and fetching a plurality of images included therein, or loading a video file and fetching a plurality of frame images included therein. Further, the processor 100 may set a parameter set according to a user operation (the parameter set may include a display position or a display order of each of the images 28).

Next, the processor 100 may perform the compiling process on the plurality of customized images 28 to generate the binary file in step S106, and control the display device 108 to display the plurality of customized images 28 as the booting screen based on the display positions or the display sequence of the respective customized images 28 by executing the binary file in step S118.

Furthermore, by executing the binary code file, the processor 100 may control the display device 108 to simultaneously display the plurality of customized images 28, or control the display device 108 to alternately display the plurality of customized images 28 at the same display position in time sequence, so as to achieve the effect of dynamic booting image.

It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, the data compression processing (step S108) and the data decompression processing (step S116) are executed on the binary code file, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the processor 100 may not perform the data compression process and the data decompression process on the binary file, i.e., steps S108 and S116 may be omitted.

Therefore, the invention can effectively improve the setting speed and the starting speed because the data compression processing and the data decompression processing are not required to be executed.

Referring to fig. 1-5 and fig. 8 together, fig. 5 is a partial flowchart of a method for customizing a booting screen according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a human-machine interface according to the present invention. In the embodiment, the computer system 1 can capture an external image as the customized image 28 through the image capturing device 110.

Compared to the embodiment shown in fig. 4, step S104 of the method for customizing a boot-up screen of fig. 5 further includes the following steps.

Step S20: after executing the application 26, the processor 100 may render a set of graphical user interfaces (e.g., the graphical user interface 5 shown in FIG. 8) and control the display device 108 to display the rendered graphical user interface 5

Step S22: the processor 100 receives a shooting operation of a user via the gui 5 and the input device 112, and controls the image capturing device 110 to capture an external image (e.g., capture an image of the user) according to the received shooting operation.

Step S24: the processor 100 performs an image editing process (such as an image compression process, an image scaling process or other image processing) on the captured external image, and stores the edited external image as a customized image 28 in the main storage device 106.

In one embodiment, the processor 100 may receive an editing operation from a user via the gui 5, and edit the external image according to the received editing operation, and use the edited external image as the customized image 28.

Step S26: the processor 100 receives a setting operation through the gui 5, and sets a set of parameter sets according to the received setting operation.

Referring also to fig. 8, for example, the processor 100 may control the display device 108 to display the gui 5 after executing the application 26.

The GUI 5 includes a display area 500, a plurality of

virtual buttons

502 and 504 and 512, and drop down

menus

506 and 514.

The user can first perform a photographing operation to photograph the external image. Specifically, the user can first click the pull-down menu 506 to view the installed image capturing devices 110 detected by the computer system 1, and select any image capturing device 110 (in this case, a network camera is taken as an example). Then, the user can click the button 502 to make the computer device 1 start to execute the shooting procedure via the image capturing device 110. In the shooting procedure, the computer device 1 can continuously shoot the user with a lower resolution through the image capturing device 110, and instantly display the shot image with the lower resolution in the display area 500 for the user to instantly view and adjust the shooting range or the user position accordingly. The user can then click on button 510 to take a picture. So that the computer device 1 captures an external image with a higher resolution and stores the captured external image with the higher resolution in the main storage device 106 (the external image can also be displayed in the display area 500 at the same time). Finally, the user can click the button 504 to stop the computer device 1 from executing the shooting procedure.

Then, the user can perform an editing operation to edit the captured external image. Specifically, the user may click on the drop-down menu 514 to view the executable image processing functions (e.g., adjust brightness, adjust contrast, crop impact, rotate images, or other image processing functions) and select one or more image processing functions (e.g., rotate images herein) to be executed. Furthermore, the computer system 1 can store the edited external image as the customized image 28 in the main storage device 106.

Then, the user can perform a setting operation to set the parameter group. Specifically, the user may click the button 512 to set various parameters of the customized image 28 (such as the display position, the display size, or the display time of the customized image 28) to obtain a set of parameter sets.

Finally, the user can perform a confirmation operation. Specifically, the user may click the button 508 to cause the computer system 1 to import the customized image 28 and the parameter set into the compiler program, perform the compiling process by the compiler program to obtain the binary file, and store the binary file in the frame storage area 44 of the BIOS memory 104.

Therefore, the invention can provide the user with convenient and fast input of various user operations through the user interface.

Referring to fig. 1-4 and fig. 6, fig. 6 is a partial flowchart of a method for customizing a boot-up screen according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Generally, to avoid boot failures caused by mistampering of the BIOS, the computer system 1 has a very strict limitation on the access rights of the BIOS memory 104, and various applications executed on the operating system 20 cannot directly access the BIOS memory 104 as in the case of directly accessing the primary storage device 106. In other words, in the present embodiment, the application 26 cannot directly store the binary file in the frame storage area 44 of the BIOS memory 104.

To solve the above problem, the present invention further provides a BIOS memory access function, which allows the application program 26 to store the binary code file in the frame storage area 44.

Compared to the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the step S110 of the method for customizing a booting screen of the present embodiment includes the following steps for implementing the BIOS memory access function.

S30: the application 26 issues a set of SMI (System management Interrupt) signals to the operating System 20 on the fly.

In one embodiment, the SMI signal corresponds to the BIOS memory 104.

S32: the operating System 20, upon receiving the SMI signal, controls the processor 100 to enter SMM (System Management Mode) Mode.

S34: in SMM mode, the processor 100 executes the corresponding driver to obtain the BIOS memory access program 24 according to the SMI signal.

In one embodiment, the SMI signal corresponds to the BIOS memory 104, which causes the processor 100 to automatically execute the driver 22 of the BIOS memory 104 to obtain the address and a set of event numbers of the BIOS memory access process 24 stored in the primary storage device 106.

S36: the processor 100 loads the BIOS memory access program 24 into the main memory 102 according to the obtained storage address of the main storage device 106 of the BIOS memory access program 24, and executes the BIOS memory access program 24 according to the obtained event number to store the binary file in the frame storage area 44 of the BIOS memory 104.

Thus, the present invention can effectively store the binary file in the frame storage area 44 by the application 26.

Generally, during the booting process, the computer system 1 must initialize each hardware, start loading and setting the necessary programs (such as drivers) after the hardware is initialized, and load and run the operating system after the necessary software is set. In other words, the computer system 1 must be able to display the customized booting screen after the necessary software and hardware settings are completed.

Referring to fig. 1-4 and fig. 7, fig. 7 is a partial flowchart of a method for self-defining a booting screen according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, so as to describe in more detail which booting stage the self-defined booting screen is displayed in.

In this embodiment, the BIOS is a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) BIOS. The UEFI BIOS at least includes an SEC (security) phase, a PEI (extensible firmware interface (EFI) pre-initialization) phase, a DXE (driver execution environment) phase, and a BDS (boot device selection) phase during the boot process.

Compared to the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the step S112 of the method for customizing a booting screen of the present embodiment further includes the following steps.

Step S400: the processor 100 detects whether a power-on signal is received. Specifically, when the user presses the power-on key of the computer system 1, a power-on signal is triggered to the processor 100.

If the processor 100 receives the power-on signal, step S402 is executed. Otherwise, step S400 is performed again.

Step S402: processor 100 begins running BIOS.

Step S404: processor 100 enters the SEC phase. Specifically, during the SEC phase, the BIOS temporarily uses the cache of the processor 100 as the main memory (cache as RAM) since the main memory 102 has not been initialized.

Step S406: the processor 100 enters the PEI phase. Specifically, in the PEI phase, the BIOS initializes the processor 100 and main memory 102.

Step S408: processor 100 enters the DXE phase. Specifically, in the DXE phase, the BIOS loads drivers and completes initialization of the memories, hardware and buses.

Step S410: the processor 100 enters the BDS phase. Specifically, in the BDS phase, the processor 100 can display the states of the hardware of the computer system 1 via the display device 108, and execute step S114 to load the binary code file from the frame storage area 44 and display the user-customized booting frame.

Further, while displaying the boot image, the processor 100 may detect a specific boot sector in the primary storage device 106 and load the operating system 20 from the detected boot sector.

Therefore, the invention can effectively display the startup picture customized by the user after the hardware initialization of the computer system 1 is completed.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it should be understood that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for self-ordering startup picture is characterized in that the method for self-ordering startup picture is applied to a computer system, the computer system comprises a processor, a BIOS memory for storing a BIOS, a main storage device for storing an operating system and a display device, the method for self-ordering startup picture comprises the following steps:

a) controlling the processor to plan a frame storage area in the BIOS memory;

d) storing the binary code file in the frame storage area of the BIOS memory;

wherein the step d) comprises:

Wherein the step d2) comprises:

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step a) is performed by updating the BIOS to program the frame storage area in the BIOS memory, and setting the frame storage area as non-erasable.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer system further comprises an image capturing device, the step b) comprises the following steps;

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step c) is performed by compiling the customized image and the parameter set into a compiler program of the computer system after receiving a confirmation operation via the GUI, so that the compiler program performs the compiling process.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step b) loads a plurality of the customized images; the parameter group comprises a display position or a display sequence of each self-defined image; the step c) is to execute the compiling process to a plurality of self-defined images and the parameter group; the step f) is to display a plurality of the customized images respectively based on the display positions or the display sequence.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step g) before the step d), after the step c, controlling the processor to perform a data compression process on the binary code file; the step d) is to store the compressed binary code file.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step h) before the step e, controlling the processor to perform a data decompression process on the binary code file; the step f) is to execute the decompressed binary file.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step e) loads the binary code file from the frame storage area when the computer system boots and runs the BIOS to a BDS stage.