Time managing system and method
A time managing system and method for controlling usage time of information equipment can improve security of the information equipment. The system includes a security identifying module, a setting management module, and a control operation module, and is internally built in the information equipment. The security identifying module verifies authority of an authorized person who is thus able to set a usage time limit for the information equipment via the setting management module. Therefore, the control operation module is capable of determining whether the information equipment can be accessed according to the usage time limit. If system time of the information equipment exceeds the usage time limit, the information equipment would automatically shut down. This controls the usage time of the information equipment and prevents data stored in the information equipment from being accessed by unauthorized persons.
1. A time managing system internally built in information equipment having a system timing function, for controlling usage time of the information equipment, the time managing system comprising:
a security identifying module for setting an identification password and recognizing authority for setting a usage time limit of the information equipment according to the identification password;
a setting management module for providing a time setting interface according to the recognized authority, such that the usage time limit of the information equipment is set and stored;
a control operation module for repeatedly comparing the set usage time limit to system time provided by the system timing function of the information equipment, so as to control the information equipment to shut down if the system time exceeds the set usage time limit; and
a time reminding module for automatically displaying a shutdown timing interface to remind a user that the information equipment would shortly shut down when the system time of the information equipment approaches the set usage time limit.
2. The time managing system of claim 1 , wherein the security identifying module provides a password input interface for a user to enter a corresponding identification password when the user needs to operate the information equipment beyond the set usage time limit, and after entered password has been successfully verified according to the set identification password, the control operation module cancels the set usage time limit, such that the user is able to continuously use the information equipment, and the previously set usage time limit of the information equipment is to be reactivated when the information equipment is switched on next time.
3. The time managing system of claim 1 , wherein settings for the usage time limit include setting starting time, setting finishing time, and setting an appointed date.
4. The time managing system of claim 1 , further comprising a memory unit for storing the set usage time limit.
5. A time managing system internally built in a basic input/output system (BIOS) setting program of information equipment having a system timing function, for controlling usage time of the information equipment, the time managing system comprising:
a function actuating control module for setting a BIOS setup password and recognizing authority for setting a usage time limit of the information equipment according to the BIOS setup password;
a setting management module for providing a time setting interface according to the recognized authority, such that the usage time limit of the information equipment is set and stored; and
a control operation module for repeatedly comparing the set usage time limit to system time provided by the system timing function of the information equipment, so as to control the information equipment to shut down if the system time exceeds the set usage time limit.
6. The time managing system of claim 5 , wherein the setting management module is s function setting program in the IBOS setting program of the information equipment.
7. The time managing system of claim 5 , wherein settings for the usage time limit include setting starting time, setting finishing time, and setting an appointed date.
8. The time managing system of claim 5 , further comprising a time reminding module for automatically displaying a shutdown timing interface to remind a user that the information equipment would shortly shut down when the system time of the information equipment approaches the set usage time limit.
9. The time managing system of claim 5 , further comprising a memory unit for storing the set usage time limit.
10. A timing managing method applicable to information equipment having a system timing function, for controlling usage time of the information equipment via a time managing system, the time managing method comprising the steps of:
determining via the a time managing system authority for setting s usage time limit of the information equipment according to an identification password entered by a user;
providing via the time managing system a time setting interface according to the recognized authority for the user to set the usage time limit of the information equipment, and storing the set usage time limit; and
repeatedly comparing via the time managing system the usage time limit to system time provided by the system timing function of the information equipment, so as to control the information equipment to shut down if the system time exceeds the usage time limit,
wherein the time managing system comprises a setting management module, a control operation module, a memory unit, and a time reminding module.
11. The timing managing method of claim 10 , wherein settings for the usage time limit include setting starting time, setting finishing time, and setting an appointed date.
12. The timing managing method of claim 10 , wherein the BIOS setting program provides the system timing function for the information equipment and sets the system time.
13. The timing managing method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
determining via the control operation module whether the usage time limit of the information equipment has been set; if no, directly gaining access to an operating system of the information equipment; and
determining via the control operation module whether the system time falls within the set usage time limit according to data stored in the memory unit of the time managing system; if yes, gaining access to the operating system of the information equipment.
14. The timing managing method of claim 10 , further comprising a step of automatically displaying via the time reminding module a shutdown timing interface to remind the user that the information equipment would shortly shut down when the system time of the information equipment approaches the set usage time limit.
15. The timing managing method of claim 10 , wherein the timing managing system further comprises a security identifying module that provides a password input interface for the user to enter a corresponding identification password when the user needs to operate the information equipment beyond the set usage time limit, and after the entered password has been successfully verified, the control operation module cancels the set usage time limit, such that the user is able to continuously operate the information equipment, and the previously set usage time limit of the information equipment is to be reactivated when the information equipment is switched on next time.
16. The timing managing method of claim 10 , wherein the timing managing system further comprises a function actuating control module for setting a BIOS setup password and recognizing authority for setting the usage time limit of the information equipment according to the BIOS setup password.