Nvidia Corporation

Ming-Jiun Chang

Chung-Hong Lai

Chih-Cheng Han

Hsuan-Ching Chao

A computer system and a method of signal transmission via a PCI-Express bus is provided for transmitting a power-saving signal among a plurality of peripheral devices. For the peripheral devices coupled with the system chips can enter a power-saving mode successfully, a signal snooping and blocking manners are introduced into the system chips. The present invention is to improve on a problem that the system chips cannot enter the power-saving mode simultaneously since the system chips don't set any power-management unit therein.

Computer system and method of signal transmission via a PCI-Express bus

A method for transmitting a power-saving command between a computer system and system chips thereof is described. A power-saving command associated with a first system chip is introduced to the computer system since a BIOS is modified therefore. The CPU of the computer system determines the power mode of the first system chip according to a register therein. As the first system chip enters the power-saving mode, the second system chip is informed entering the power-saving mode as well. Therefore, the peripheral devices coupled to the system chips can enter the power-saving mode smoothly so as to solve that the devices cannot enter the mode simultaneously since there is no power management unit (PMU) installed in the first system chip.

Method for transmitting a power-saving command between a computer system and peripheral system chips

A PCI-Express bus is incorporated in a method for transmitting a power-saving command between a computer system and its plurality of peripheral devices of the present invention. More particularly, a specific power management command is introduced into the signal transmission protocol of a system command, which is transmitted between the plural system chips. Therefore, the peripheral devices coupled with the system chips can enter a certain power mode simultaneously. The present invention is used to solve the problem of the peripheral devices cannot enter the certain power mode since the system chip has no power management unit disposed under the PCI-Express structure.

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Taipei, Taiwan

Ming-Jiun Chang