Patent EP0100140A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0100140A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Data processing system and method of starting up system
Assignee: EMC Corp
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Filing: 1983-06-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-06-02
Abstract
Abstract The data processing system has a <<basic>> or <<kernel>> instruction set stored in an auxiliary store (17) for transfer to the processor's control store (12) in start-up. The kernel instruction set is used to execute an initialization program which identifies an I/O device (16) in which a microcode local program and a desired microcode file are stored. No microcode load program is transferred to the processor's main memory (14) using the kernel instructions and the desired microcode file is then transferred in selected blocks from the I/O device (16) to the main memory (14) and there to the microcode control store (12). The microinstructions of the desired microcode file then can be used to load appropriate operating system software so that the overall processor is then ready for use in whatever applications are desirable.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Veres
- 👤 Harold R. Kimmens
- 👤 David G. Therrien
- 👤 James B. Stein
- 👤 David W. Baird
- 👤 John J. Doyle
- 👤 Robert W. Beauchamp
- 👤 Michael J. Roman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4403; G06F9/22; G06F9/24; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2205; G06F11/2236
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for starting up a data processing, system which includes a main processor, a main memory, a microcode control store and an input/output interface unit permitting communication between said data processing system and one or more input/output devices, said method comprising the steps of: (a) storing a basic instruction set in the microcode control store when said data processing system is turned on; (b) executing an initialization program, using said basic instruction set, said execution including: (1) identifying a selected input/ouput device in which a microcode load program and a desired microcode file are stored; and (2) transferring said microcode load program into the main memory from said input/ouput device; (c) executing said microcode load program, using said basic instruction set, said execution including the transferring of said desired microcode file from said selected input/output device to said microcode control store via said main memory.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for starting up a data processing, system which includes a main processor, a main memory, a microcode control store and an input/output interface unit permitting communication between said data processing system and one or more input/output devices, said method comprising the steps of: (a) storing a basic instruction set in the microcode control store when said data processing system is turned on; (b) executing an initialization program, using said basic instruction set, said execution including: (1) identifying a selected input/ouput device in which a microcode load program and a desired microcode file are stored; and (2) transferring said microcode load program into the main memory from said input/ouput device; (c) executing said microcode load program, using said basic instruction set, said execution including the transferring of said desired microcode file from said selected input/output device to said microcode control store via said main memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to Claim 1 and further including the steps of: storing of an initial diagnostic program into said control store together with said basic instruction set; and executing said initial diagnostic program to test the operation of said data processing system.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
56 words
A method according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein said data processing system includes auxiliary memory means which initially stores said basic instruction set and wherein step (a) includes automatically transferring said basic instruction set from said auxiliary memory means to said control store for storage therein when said data processing system is initially turned on.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to Claim 3 wherein said data processing system further includes an auxiliary processor means an the transferring of said basic instruction set is performed under control of said auxiliary processor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to Claim 4 wherein said auxiliary memory means initially stores said initial diagnostic program and step (a) includes automatically transferring said initial diagnostic program from said auxiliary memory means to said control store for storage therein when said data processing system is initially turned on.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to Claim 4 wherein said initialization program is initially stored in said auxiliary memory means and further includes the step of transferring and initialization program from said auxiliary memory means to said main memory under control of said auxiliary processor means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to Claim 6 and further wherein the execution of said initialization program is performed under control of said auxiliary processor means and further includes the step of re-setting the input/output interface unit to place it in condition for communication with one or more input/output devices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to Claim 7 wherein the execution of said initialization program by said auxiliary processor means further includes searching said identified selected input/ output device for said microcode load program to locate said program therein to permit transfer thereof to said main memory by said auxiliary processor means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to Claim 8 wherein the execution of said microcode load program is performed by said main processor and includes searching said identified selected input/ output device to locate the desired microcode file therein to permit transfer therefrom to the main memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to Claim 9 wherein said auxiliary processor transfers said microcode file from said main memory to said control store.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to Claim 10 wherein execution of said microcode load program by said main processor and the execution of said control store load program by said auxiliary processor includes: sequentially transferring limited portions of said microcode file from said selected input/output device to said main memory; and sequentially transferring said limited portions of said microcode file from said main memory to said control store.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to Claim 11 wherein said each limited portions of said microcode file are transferred from said input/output device to said main memory and from said main memory to said control store before a next successive limited portion thereof is so transferred.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to Claim 12 wherein said auxiliary memory means further includes a control store load program and said main processor requests said auxiliary processor to execute said control store load programs for transferring said sequence of microcode file portion from said main memory to said control store.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to Claim 1 and further including the step of storing an inhibit instruction into said control store together with said basic instruction set to prevent the loading of microcode instructions other than those which can be compatibly used by said data processing system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the executing of said microcode load program further includes the step of loading operating system software after said selected microcode file has been loaded into said control store.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
168 words
A data processing system comprising: processor means for processing instructions to perform selected data processing operations; a main memory for storing information; a microcode control store for storing one or more microinstructions; and an input/output interface for permitting communication between one or more input/output devices and said data processing system; means for storing a basic instruction set and an initialization program; said processor means including means for transferring said basic instruction set from said storing means to said microcode control store to permit said processor means to use said basic instruction set to execute a programmed operation; means'for transferring said initialization program to said main memory, said processor means thereby executing said initialization program for identifying a selected input/output device containing a selected microinstruction set and a microcode load program and for transferring said microcode load program contained therein to said main memory; said processor means further executing said microcode load program for transferring said selected microinstruction set from said selected input/output device to said microcode control store.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
168 words
A data processing system comprising: processor means for processing instructions to perform selected data processing operations; a main memory for storing information; a microcode control store for storing one or more microinstructions; and an input/output interface for permitting communication between one or more input/output devices and said data processing system; means for storing a basic instruction set and an initialization program; said processor means including means for transferring said basic instruction set from said storing means to said microcode control store to permit said processor means to use said basic instruction set to execute a programmed operation; means'for transferring said initialization program to said main memory, said processor means thereby executing said initialization program for identifying a selected input/output device containing a selected microinstruction set and a microcode load program and for transferring said microcode load program contained therein to said main memory; said processor means further executing said microcode load program for transferring said selected microinstruction set from said selected input/output device to said microcode control store.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A data processing system according to Claim 16 wherein said storing means further includes an initial diagnostic program and said processor means includes means for transferring said initial diagnostic program and for executing said initial diagnostic program to test the operation of said data processing system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
A data processing system according to Claims 16 or 17 wherein said processor means includes: a main processor means and an auxiliary-processor means said auxiliary processor means automatically transferring said basic instruction set and said initialization program from said storing means to said microcode control store and to said main memory, respectively, when said data processing system is turned on.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A data processing system according to Claim 18 wherein said main processor means executes said initialization program using said basic instruction set for identifying said selected input/output device and for transferring said microcode load program to said main memory.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
78 words
A data processing system according to Claim 19 wherein: said main processor means executes said microcode load program, using said basic instruction set, for locating said selected microinstruction set in said input/output device and for transferring a first portion thereof from said input/ output device to said main memory; and said auxiliary processor means, upon request of said main processor, transferring said first portion of said selected microinstruction set from said main memory to said microcode control store.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
A data processing system according to Claim 20 wherein said storing means includes a control store load program and said auxiliary processor means executes said control store load program for transferring said selected microinstruction set from said main memory to said microcode control store.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A data processing system according to Claim 16 wherein said processor means transfers said selected microinstruction set to said microcode control store in successive blocks thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
75 words
A date processing system according to Claim 18 wherein said main processor means transfers successive portions of said selected microinstruction set to said main memory from said input/output device and said auxiliary processor means transfers said successive portions from said main memory to said microcode control store, each successive portion being transferred from said input/output device to said main memory and then to said microcode control store before the next successive portion is so transferred.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
A data processing system according to Claim 23 wherein said storing means contains a control store load program and said auxiliary processor means executes said control store load program for transferring said first and said successive portions of said selected microinstruction set from said main memory to said microcode control store.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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