Halt state for protection of hard disk drives in a mobile computing environment

1. A computer implemented method of preventing operational shock to a hard disk drive of a mobile computer, the method comprising:

responsive to activation by a user of an activation device associated with the mobile computer, changing a state of the activation device; and

responsive to the change of state of the activation device, issuing a priority standby command to the hard disk drive, wherein issuing the priority standby command includes issuing a standby_immediate command that causes the hard disk drive to enter standby mode in 500 milliseconds or less.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the activation device comprises a switch associated with a lid of the mobile computer and wherein the step of changing the state of the activation device is accomplished by closing the lid.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the mobile computer is adapted to receive a key stroke, and wherein the step of changing the state of the activation device is accomplished by implementing the key stroke.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the step of issuing a priority standby command comprises issuing a halt command.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the step of issuing a priority standby command further comprises:

receiving in a system controller of the mobile computer an activation signal indicative of the activation device changing state;

responsive to receiving the activation signal, the system controller issuing a high priority interrupt command to a central processing unit of the mobile computer; and

responsive to receiving the high priority interrupt command in the central processing unit, the central processing unit issuing the standby_immediate command to the hard disk drive, wherein the standby_immediate command is the priority standby command.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the step of is suing a priority standby command further comprises:

receiving in a second processor of the mobile computer an activation signal indicative of the activation device changing state, the second processor being distinct from the central processing unit of the mobile computer; and

responsive to receiving the activation signal, the second processor issuing the high priority interrupt command to the hard disk drive.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6 further comprising:

responsive to receiving the activation signal in the second processor, the second processor also issuing the high priority interrupt signal to the central processing unit of the mobile computer.

8. A computer program product, comprising computer executable instructions stored in a computer usable medium, for preventing operational shock to a hard disk drive of a mobile computer, the computer program product comprising:

computer usable program code for, responsive to activation by a user of an activation device associated with the mobile computer, changing a state of the activation device; and

computer usable program code for, responsive to the change of state of the activation device, issuing a priority standby command to the hard disk drive, wherein issuing the priority standby command includes issuing a standby_immediate command that causes the hard disk drive to enter standby mode in 500 milliseconds or less.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the activation device comprises a switch associated with a lid of the mobile computer and wherein changing the state of the activation device is accomplished by closing the lid of the mobile computer.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the mobile computer is adapted to receive a key stroke, and wherein changing the state of the activation device is accomplished by implementing the key stroke.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the computer usable program code for issuing a priority standby command further comprises:

computer usable program code for receiving in a system controller of the mobile computer an activation signal indicative of the change of state of the activation device;

computer usable program code for, responsive to receiving the activation signal, issuing a high priority interrupt command from the system controller to a central processing unit of the mobile computer; and

computer usable program code for, responsive to receiving the high priority interrupt command in the central processing unit, issuing the standby_immediate command from the central processing unit to the hard disk drive, wherein the standby_immediate command is the priority standby command.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the computer usable program code for issuing a priority standby command further comprises:

computer usable program code for receiving in a second processor of the mobile computer an activation signal indicative of the change of state of the activation device, the second processor being distinct from the central processing unit of the mobile computer; and

computer usable program code for, responsive to receiving the activation signal, issuing the high priority standby command from the second processor to the hard disk drive.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising:

computer usable program code for, responsive to receiving the activation signal in the second processor, issuing a high priority interrupt signal from the second processor to the central processing unit of the mobile computer.

14. A mobile computer comprising:

a processor;

a bus connected to the processor;

a computer usable medium connected to the bus, wherein the computer usable medium stores a set of instructions for preventing operational shock to a hard disk drive connected to the bus, wherein the processor is adapted to carry out the set of instructions to:

responsive to activation by a user of an activation device associated with the mobile computer, change a state of the activation device; and

responsive to the change of state of the activation device, issue a priority standby command to the hard disk drive, wherein issuing the priority standby command includes issuing a standby_immediate command that causes the hard disk drive to enter standby mode in 500 milliseconds or less.

15. The mobile computer of claim 14 wherein the activation device comprises a switch associated with a lid of the mobile computer and wherein the change of state of the activation device is accomplished by closing the lid of the mobile computer.

16. The mobile computer of claim 14 wherein the mobile computer is adapted to receive a key stroke, and wherein the change of state of the activation device is accomplished by implementing the key stroke.

17. The mobile computer of claim 14 wherein the processor is a central processing unit and wherein the central processing unit is further adapted to carry out the set of instructions to:

receive an activation signal, indicative of the change of state of the activation device, in a system controller connected to one of the bus and the central processing unit;

responsive to receiving the activation signal, issue a high priority interrupt command from the system controller to the central processing unit; and

responsive to receiving the high priority interrupt command in the central processing unit, issuing the standby_immediate command from the central processing unit to the hard disk drive, wherein the standby_immediate command is the priority standby command.

18. The mobile computer of claim 14 wherein the processor is a central processing unit and wherein the central processing unit is further adapted to carry out the set of instructions to:

receive an activation signal, indicative of the change of state of the activation device, in a second processor connected to the bus, the second processor being distinct from the central processing unit; and

responsive to receiving the activation signal, issue the priority standby command from the second processor to the hard disk drive.

19. The mobile computer of claim 18 wherein the central processing unit is further adapted to carry out the set of instructions to:

responsive to receiving the activation signal in the second processor, also issue a high priority interrupt signal from the second processor to the central processing unit.