EP0335812A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Secondary processor initialization scheme
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1989-02-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-02-28
Abstract
Abstract In a microprocessor based computer system having a primary unit (10) such as a system board and a secondary unit (20) such as an adapter card, the secondary processor (21), which is held in a non-running reset state, contained on the secondary unit can be initialized without requiring a read only storage (ROS) module or a read only memory (ROM) module to be a part of the secondary unit. Specifically, a window is defined from a segment of uninstalled memory address space from the primary unit and a segment of installed memory address space from the secondary unit. The primary processor (11) on the primary unit retrieves the secondary processor's initialization program from the primary unit's non-volatile storage (17). This initialization program (also known as an IPL program or a boot program) is then placed in the window. The primary processor then disables the reset line of the secondary processor. Upon having its reset line disabled, the secondary processor begins executing the initialization program. After the initialization program has completed, the primary unit can send other preparatory programs, such as diagnostic programs to the secondary unit through the window. When all of the preparatory programs have been completed, the contents of the window are overwritten so the primary unit's memory and the secondary unit's memory can be fully utilized for other interprocessor communications. An alternate embodiment is also disclosed where a shared memory address space is used.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Arthur Knight
- 👤 Mark Gregory Manges
- 👤 Nelson Armand Martel, Jr.
- 👤 Gerald David Miller
- 👤 Raymond Keith Morse
- 👤 Raymond Francis Romom
- 👤 Anne Margaret Wernimont
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/177
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of initializing a secondary unit having a secondary processor, from a primary unit having a primary processor, comprising the steps of : defining a window from primary memory address space in said primary unit and from secondary memory address space in said secondary unit; retrieving an initialization program for said secondary unit from storage in said primary unit; placing said initialization program in said window; disabling the reset line of said secondary processor by said primary processor; and initializing said secondary processor from said initialization program contained in said window.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of initializing a secondary unit having a secondary processor, from a primary unit having a primary processor, comprising the steps of : defining a window from primary memory address space in said primary unit and from secondary memory address space in said secondary unit; retrieving an initialization program for said secondary unit from storage in said primary unit; placing said initialization program in said window; disabling the reset line of said secondary processor by said primary processor; and initializing said secondary processor from said initialization program contained in said window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: retrieving a preparatory program for said secondary unit from said storage; placing said preparatory program in said window; and executing said preparatory program by said secondary processor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: retrieving a first block of a preparatory program fro said secondary unit from said storage; placing said first block in said window; copying said first block into said secondary memory; repeating said retrieving, placing, and copying steps until said preparatory program is in said secondary memory; and executing said preparatory program by said secondary processor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer system comprising a primary unit connected to a secondary unit, said primary unit comprising a primary processor, a primary memory and a primary storage; said secondary unit comprising a secondary processor, and a secondary memory; said computer system further comprising: means for defining a window from said primary memory address space and said secondary memory address space; means for retrieving an initialization program for said secondary unit from said primary storage; means for placing said initialization program in said window; means for disabling the reset line of said secondary processor by said primary processor; and means for initializing said secondary processor from said initialization program contained in said window.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer system comprising a primary unit connected to a secondary unit, said primary unit comprising a primary processor, a primary memory and a primary storage; said secondary unit comprising a secondary processor, and a secondary memory; said computer system further comprising: means for defining a window from said primary memory address space and said secondary memory address space; means for retrieving an initialization program for said secondary unit from said primary storage; means for placing said initialization program in said window; means for disabling the reset line of said secondary processor by said primary processor; and means for initializing said secondary processor from said initialization program contained in said window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer system of claim 4, further comprising: means for retrieving a preparatory program for said secondary unit from said primary storage; means for placing said preparatory program in said window; and means for executing said preparatory program by said secondary processor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The computer system of claim 4, further comprising: means for retrieving a first block of a preparatory program for said secondary unit from said primary storage; means for placing said first block in said window; means for copying said first block into said secondary memory; means for repeating said retrieving, placing, and copying steps until said preparatory program is in said secondary memory; means for executing said preparatory program by said secondary processor.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of initializing a secondary unit having a secondary processor, from a primary unit having a primary processor, said primary unit and said secondary unit connected to a shared memory address space, comprising the steps of: retrieving an initialization program for said secondary unit from storage in said primary unit; placing said initialization program in said shared memory address space; disabling the reset line of said secondary processor by said primary processor; and initializing said secondary processor from said initialization program contained in said shared memory address space.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of initializing a secondary unit having a secondary processor, from a primary unit having a primary processor, said primary unit and said secondary unit connected to a shared memory address space, comprising the steps of: retrieving an initialization program for said secondary unit from storage in said primary unit; placing said initialization program in said shared memory address space; disabling the reset line of said secondary processor by said primary processor; and initializing said secondary processor from said initialization program contained in said shared memory address space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of: retrieving a preparatory program for said secondary unit from said storage; placing said preparatory program in said shared memory address space; and executing said preparatory program by said secondary processor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer system comprising a primary unit connected to a secondary unit, said primary unit and said secondary unit connected to a shared memory address space, said primary unit comprising a secondary processor, and a secondary memory; said computer system further comprising: means for retrieving an initialization program for said secondary unit from said primary storage; means for placing said initialization program in said shared memory address space; means for disabling the reset line of said secondary processor by said primary processor; and means for initializing said secondary processor from said initialization program contained in said shared memory address space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer system comprising a primary unit connected to a secondary unit, said primary unit and said secondary unit connected to a shared memory address space, said primary unit comprising a secondary processor, and a secondary memory; said computer system further comprising: means for retrieving an initialization program for said secondary unit from said primary storage; means for placing said initialization program in said shared memory address space; means for disabling the reset line of said secondary processor by said primary processor; and means for initializing said secondary processor from said initialization program contained in said shared memory address space.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer system of claim 10, further comprising: means for retrieving a preparatory program for said secondary unit from said primary storage; means for placing said preparatory program in said shared memory address space; and means for executing said preparatory program by said secondary processor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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