CN101251818A - Mainboard using time statistic device and statistic method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a mainboard using a time statistic device and a statistic method thereof, wherein the mainboard using the time statistic device comprises: a central processing unit, a chipset and a microcontroller. The chip group is connected with the central processing unit; the microcontroller is provided with a nonvolatile memory unit and a counter for storing a first numerical value, when the microcontroller detects that the mainboard is converted from a power-off state to a power-on state, the timer starts to time until the microcontroller detects that the mainboard is converted from the power-on state to the power-off state, the timer stops timing and registers a timing record as a second numerical value, the microcontroller adds the first numerical value and the second numerical value into an updated numerical value, and the updated numerical value is restored to the nonvolatile memory unit to replace the first numerical value.

Description

Motherboard Using Time Statistical Device and Its Statistical Method

technical field

The invention relates to a mainboard and a control method thereof, and in particular to a mainboard using a time statistics device and a statistical method thereof.

Background technique

Generally speaking, motherboard manufacturers cannot grasp the usage status of users after selling motherboards. That is to say, assuming that the user's motherboard fails, the maintenance department of the motherboard cannot obtain any usage information from the repaired motherboard. Therefore, the repair department has to spend more time to repair the motherboard.

In addition, general users purchase motherboards or computer hosts in electronic markets. If the dealer sells the used second-hand motherboard to the user as a new product, or the dealer assembles the second-hand motherboard into a brand-new computer host and sells it to the user, the user cannot know whether the motherboard or the computer host is a new product .

The above situations are all due to the fact that the motherboard cannot provide its own usage information.

Contents of the invention

Therefore, the present invention proposes a motherboard using a time statistics device, including: a central processing unit, a chipset and a microcontroller. The chipset is connected to the central processing unit; the microcontroller has a non-volatile memory unit and a counter for storing a first value, and when the microcontroller detects that the motherboard changes from a power-off state to a power-on state, the timer starts counting , until the microcontroller detects that the motherboard changes from the power-on state to the power-off state, the timer stops timing and registers the timing record as a second value, and the microcontroller adds the first value and the second value to become an updated value , and store the updated value back into the non-volatile memory unit to replace the first value.

Therefore, the present invention also proposes a motherboard using a time statistics device including: a central processing unit, a chipset and a microcontroller. chipset, connected to the central processing unit; a microcontroller has a non-volatile memory unit and a counter for storing a first value, and when the microcontroller detects that the motherboard changes from a shutdown state to a power-on state, The timer starts counting from the first value until the microcontroller detects that the motherboard has turned from the power-on state to the power-off state, the timer stops counting and registers the timing record as an updated value, and stores the updated value back to non-volatile permanent memory cells to replace the first value.

Therefore, the present invention also proposes a method for counting the usage time of the motherboard, which includes the following steps: when the motherboard is in a power-on state, start counting; when the motherboard is in a power-off state, stop counting and register according to the timing record forming a power-on usage time; and accumulating the power-on usage time and a first value of a non-volatile memory unit of the motherboard to form an updated value, and storing the updated value into the non-volatile memory unit.

Because the motherboard itself can provide specific information, both the user and the motherboard manufacturer can use this specific information to make the user more secure and the motherboard manufacturer to repair the motherboard more efficiently.

In order to further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings related to the present invention, but the attached drawings are only for reference and illustration, and are not intended to limit the present invention.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of the device for counting the usage time of the motherboard of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the second embodiment of the device for counting the usage time of the motherboard of the present invention.

Wherein, the reference signs are explained as follows:

10 Motherboard 12 CPU

14 North Bridge chips 16 South Bridge chips

18 memories 20 microcontrollers

22 timers 24, 30 non-volatile memory units

32 super input and output device

Detailed ways

According to the embodiment of the present invention, a usage time counting device is added on the main board, and when the user presses the power button of the main computer to turn on the computer, the time counting device can start counting immediately. After the user turns off the machine, the time counting device stops counting, adds the current usage time to the previous accumulated total usage time, and stores it in a storage device. Therefore, the information in the storage device can be used as a reference for the user, or the motherboard maintenance department can also use this information.

As we all know, the power supply in the computer mainframe can supply a standby power to the mainboard, and usually the super input and output device (super I/O), keyboard, and mouse in the computer mainframe will receive the standby power. Only during the initialization process of the host computer can the host computer detect the keyboard and mouse and operate smoothly. And the use time counting device of the present invention is also connected to the standby power supply, so that the time when the user starts or shuts down the machine can be effectively grasped.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which shows the first embodiment of the device for counting the usage time of the motherboard of the present invention. The motherboard 10 includes at least a central processing unit (CPU) 12, a north bridge chip (north bridge) 14, a south bridge chip (south bridge) 16 (the north bridge chip and the south bridge chip are collectively called a chipset), a memory (memory) 18, with a microcontroller 20 . Wherein, the north bridge chip 14 is connected to the CPU 12, the memory 18, and the south bridge chip 16; in addition, the microcontroller 20 is connected to the south bridge chip 16, and the microcontroller 20 also includes a timer 22 and a nonvolatile permanent memory unit 24. The non-volatile memory unit 24 stores a first value, and the first value is the sum of all previous computer mainframe usage times. The non-volatile memory unit can be a flash memory, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 20 is at least connected to the first pin of the south bridge chip 16, such as the power good (power_good or called PWRGD) pin or the PWROK pin, and can also be connected to the south bridge The SLP signals (such as SLP3 and SLP4 ) of the chip 16 can also continue timing when entering the sleep state. When the user presses the power button of the main computer to turn on the computer, it can monitor whether the power normal pin connected to the south bridge chip 16 will act or the second pin of the super input and output device 32, such as the ATX_PWROK of the super input and output device 26 pin, therefore, the timer 22 in the microcontroller 20 can start timing. Similarly, when the user turns off the machine, the timer 22 in the microcontroller 20 stops timing. That is to say, after the timer 22 in the microcontroller 20 stops counting, the second value on the timer 22 is the time used by the user to operate the main computer, that is, the time when the computer is turned on.

Since the first value is stored in the non-volatile memory unit 24 of the microcontroller 20 , the first value is the sum of all previous computer mainframe usage times. That is to say, since the microcontroller 20 is connected to the standby power supply, the microcontroller 20 can still read the first value in the non-volatile memory unit 24 and add it to the second value to become an updated value after the host computer is turned off. and stored back into the non-volatile memory unit 24. And the user can know the total usage time of the motherboard 10 according to the first value in the non-volatile memory unit 24 .

Of course, the microcontroller 20 can also read the first value in the non-volatile memory unit 30 in advance when starting up, and start to accumulate from the first value. After the host computer is turned off, the microcontroller 20 can store back the first value of the stop timing to the non-volatile memory unit 30 . And the user can know the total usage time of the motherboard 10 according to the first value in the non-volatile memory unit 24 .

Please refer to FIG. 2 , which shows a second embodiment of the device for counting the usage time of the mainboard of the present invention. The motherboard 10 includes at least a central processing unit (CPU) 12, a north bridge chip (north bridge) 14, a south bridge chip (south bridge) 16, a memory (memory) 18, a microcontroller 20, and a nonvolatile memory Unit 30 , super input and output device 32 . Wherein, the north bridge chip 14 is connected to the central processing unit 12, the memory 18, and the south bridge chip 16; in addition, a timer 22 is also included in the microcontroller 20, and the microcontroller 20 is connected to the south bridge chip 16 and the super input and output device 32 and 30 nonvolatile memory cells. The non-volatile memory unit 30 stores a first value, and the first value is the sum of all previous computer mainframe usage times.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 20 is connected to a second pin of the Super Input Output Device 32 , such as a PSON signal pin or an ATX_PWROK pin. When the user presses the power button of the host computer to turn it on, the second signal pin of the super input and output device 32 will act, so the timer 22 in the microcontroller 20 can start timing. Similarly, when the user turns off the machine, the timer 22 in the microcontroller 20 stops timing. That is to say, after the timer 22 in the microcontroller 20 stops counting, the second value on the timer 22 is the time used by the user to operate the computer mainframe, that is, the time when the computer is turned on.

In addition, a first value is stored in the non-volatile memory unit 30 , and the first value is the sum of all previous computer mainframe usage times. That is to say, after the host computer is turned off, the microcontroller 20 can read the first value in the non-volatile memory unit 30 and add it to the second value to become an updated first value and store it back into the non-volatile memory unit 30. A volatile memory unit 30 . And the user can know the total usage time of the motherboard 10 according to the first value in the non-volatile memory unit 30 .

Of course, the microcontroller 20 can also read the first value in the non-volatile memory unit 30 in advance when starting up, and start to accumulate from the first value. After the host computer is turned off, the microcontroller 20 can store back the first value of the stop timing to the non-volatile memory unit 30 . And the user can know the total usage time of the motherboard 10 according to the first value in the non-volatile memory unit 30 .

When the motherboard manufacturer resets the first value to zero before the motherboard leaves the factory. Afterwards, as long as the main board is used, the microcontroller 20 will continuously accumulate the first value. Therefore, when the user purchases a main board, the user can know according to the first value in the non-volatile memory unit 30 The usage status of this main board, and judge whether this main board is a second-hand main board.

In addition, the maintenance department of the motherboard manufacturer can also count the relationship between the first time and the damaged components. That is to say, the service life of specific components on the motherboard can be known through the statistics of the motherboard manufacturers. Therefore, when the consumer sends the faulty motherboard to the maintenance department, the maintenance engineer can infer the damaged components on the motherboard at the first time, so the maintenance efficiency of the maintenance department can be improved.

Therefore, the present invention adds a usage time statistics device on the motherboard, and can provide the total usage time statistics device of the motherboard, so that the user can know the status of the motherboard. And the use of the total usage time statistics device of the motherboard makes the micro-efficiency of the motherboard maintenance department higher.

In summary, although the present invention has been disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person familiar with this technical field should be able to make various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Changes and modifications, so the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims (19)

1. A motherboard using a time statistics device, comprising: a central processing unit; a chipset connected to the central processing unit; and A microcontroller has a non-volatile memory unit and a counter for storing a first value, and when the microcontroller detects that the mainboard changes from a power-off state to a power-on state, the timer starts counting until After the micro-controller detects that the mainboard changes from the power-on state to the power-off state, the timer stops timing and registers the timing record as a second value, and the micro-controller combines the first value with the second value adding to obtain an updated value, and storing the updated value back into the non-volatile memory unit to replace the first value. 2. The motherboard of the usage time statistics device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory unit is a flash memory or an EEPROM. 3. The motherboard of the usage time statistics device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is connected to a first pin of the chipset to detect whether the motherboard is in the power-on state. 4. The motherboard of the use time statistics device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a super input and output device, the microcontroller is connected to a second pin of the super input and output device to detect whether the motherboard is in The boot state. 5. The motherboard of the use time statistics device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the microcontroller and the super input and output device are connected to a standby power supply. 6. The motherboard of the use time statistics device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a memory connected to the chipset. 7. The motherboard of the use time statistics device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the chipset includes a north bridge chip and a south bridge chip, the north bridge chip is connected to the central processing unit, and the south bridge chip is connected to the microcontroller device. 8. A motherboard using a time statistics device comprising: a central processing unit; a chipset connected to the central processing unit; and A microcontroller has a non-volatile memory unit and a counter for storing a first value. When the microcontroller detects that the mainboard changes from a power-off state to a power-on state, the timer starts from the first A numerical value starts counting until the microcontroller detects that the mainboard changes from the power-on state to the power-off state, then the timer stops counting and registers the timing record as an updated value, and stores the updated value back to the non-volatile A volatile memory cell is used to replace the first value. 9. The motherboard of the usage time statistics device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the non-volatile memory unit is a flash memory or an EEPROM. 10. The motherboard of the usage time statistics device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the microcontroller is connected to a first pin of the chipset to detect whether the motherboard is in the power-on state. 11. The mainboard of the use time statistics device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a super input output device, wherein the microcontroller is connected to a second pin of the super input output device to detect whether the main board in this power-on state. 12. The motherboard of the usage time statistics device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the microcontroller and the super input and output device are connected to a standby power supply. 13. The motherboard of the use time statistics device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a memory connected to the chipset. 14. The motherboard of the use time statistics device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the chipset includes a north bridge chip and a south bridge chip, the north bridge chip is connected to the central processing unit, and the south bridge chip is connected to the microcontroller device. 15. A method for counting the use time of a motherboard, comprising the following steps: When the motherboard is in a power-on state, start counting; When the motherboard is in a power-off state, stop timing and register as a power-on use time according to the timing record; and Accumulate the boot time and a first value of a non-volatile memory unit of the motherboard to form an updated value, and store the updated value into the non-volatile memory unit. 16. The method for counting the usage time of the mainboard as claimed in claim 15, wherein storing in the non-volatile memory unit is to replace the first value of the non-volatile memory unit with the updated value. 17. The usage time statistics method of the motherboard as claimed in claim 15, wherein the non-volatile memory unit is a flash memory or an EEPROM. 18. The usage time statistics device of the motherboard as claimed in claim 15, wherein the power-on state is determined by a first pin provided by a south bridge chip on the motherboard. 19. The usage time counting device of the main board as claimed in claim 15, wherein the power-on state is determined by a second pin provided by a super input and output device on the main board.

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