Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Input/output expansion
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-26
2001-04-17
Lee, Thomas (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Input/output expansion
C710S002000, C710S005000, C710S072000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219721
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to computers, and more particularly to a computer which can be selectively operated under one of a set of operating systems.
The operation of a computer is subject to the management of an operating system (O.S), which imparts a communication between the application program (word processing software, image editing software, etc.) used by the user, and related hardware input/output devices or equipment (such as: keyboard, printer, scanner, hard disk drive, etc.), enabling the computer to process the user's input data, and to output a processed result, through the input/output devices or equipment. Following fast development of computer technology, a variety of new operating systems with new functions and technology have been developed. From the early single language (English) operating environment to current multilanguage (Chinese, Japanese, Russian) operating environments different operating systems are used to meet different requirements.
Early developed operating systems such as DOS 3.0, MS-DOS 4.0, are simple, and can be installed in a floppy disk. Recently developed operating systems such as Windows 95, Windows 98, are complicated, and must be installed in a hard disk drive, or another high capacity peripheral access device (for example, a CD-ROM).
Currently, communication between a computer and its related hard disk drive(s) or peripheral access device(s) is achieved through peripheral control interface means (IDE interface, enhanced IDE interface, etc.). In a computer system, only one peripheral access device is set to store an operating system, i.e., one computer can only be installed with one operating system. Therefore, same operating systems of different versions (for example, one Windows 95 of English version and one Windows 95 of Japanese version) cannot be installed in one computer. If a computer has to be operated under a different operating system, or a particular application software program must be operated under a particular operating system, reinstallation is needed when changing the operating system. For example, when Windows 95 of Japanese version is to be used instead of Windows 95 of English version, reinstallation is needed. In case the user needs to operate the computer under Windows 95 of English version again, and another reinstallation is needed. It is complicated to change an operating system, and much time is wasted when installing the operating system.
Furthermore, the installation of an operating system in a computer is not an easy job. When a reinstallation is achieved, related configuration settings are set again. Because the familiar configuration settings (for example, Windows 95's “table” settings) are changed after a reinstallation of the operating system, a certain period of tuning is inevitable to have the operating system reach the optimum status (the state most familiar to the user, including user interface, memory management, etc.).
There are two methods to let one computer be equipped with multiple operating systems. One method is the use of software to set multiple start zones in one peripheral access device, and to store different operating systems in the start zones separately, enabling the computer to be started by one of the installed operating systems. Available software include SYSTEM COM, PARTITION MAGIC, etc. The installation of these software is complicated, and only a well-trained person can do the job. Because different operating systems are installed in one peripheral access device, files from different operating systems may interfere with one another. Furthermore, it is difficult to remove different operating systems from one peripheral access device completely. Incomplete removal of abandoned operating systems may cause the computer to be unable to operate stably.
The other method of providing one computer with multiple operating systems is the use of detachable peripheral access devices. According to this method, different operating systems are installed in different detachable peripheral access devices, and the user can selectively install one detachable peripheral access device in the computer subject to the desired operating system. This method is not popularly accepted because a detachable peripheral access device tends to be damaged during its replacement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished with the above the circumstances in view. According to the present invention, different operating systems are installed in different peripheral access devices in a computer, and operating system switch means is provided and controlled to select one operating system from the peripheral access devices for running. Therefore, the computer is allowed to be selectively operated under one of a set of operating systems. Because different operating systems are installed in different peripheral access devices in the computer and selectively separately operated by means of the control of the system selection switch means, data related to different operating systems are separately maintained intact.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5875242 (1999-02-01), Glaser et al.
patent: 5973666 (1999-10-01), Challener et al.
Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Cao Chun
Lee Thomas
LandOfFree
Computer in which multiple operating systems are installed... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Computer in which multiple operating systems are installed..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Computer in which multiple operating systems are installed... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2529205