EP0468625A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Personal computer system with protected storage for interface and system utility programs
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1991-06-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A personal computer system according to the present invention comprises a system processor, a random access memory, a read only memory, and at least one direct access storage device. A direct access storage device controller coupled between the system processor and direct access storage device includes a protection mechanism for protecting a region of the storage device. The protected region of the storage device includes a master boot record, a BIOS image and a system reference diskette image. The BIOS image includes a section known as Power on Self Test (POST). POST is used to test and initialise a system. Upon detecting any configuration error, system utilities from the system reference diskette image, such as set configuration programs, diagnostic programs and utility programs can be automatically activated from the direct access storage device.
Inventors
- 👤 Lisa Ruotolo Arnold
- 👤 Richard Bealkowski
- 👤 John Wiley Blackledge, Jr.
- 👤 Doyle Stanfill Cronk
- 👤 Richard Alan Dayan
- 👤 Douglas Richard Geisler
- 👤 Matthew Todd Mittelstedt
- 👤 Matthew Stephen Palka, Jr.
- 👤 John David Paul
- 👤 Robert Sachsenmaier
- 👤 Kenneth Donald Smeltzer
- 👤 Peter Andrew Woytovech
- 👤 Kevin Marshall Zyvoloski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:18
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4406; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/08; G06F11/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A personal computer system having a system processor 26 for executing an operating system, a read only memory 36, a random access memory 32, and peripheral devices including at least one direct access storage device 62, 66, the system having an interface program to control the movement of data into and out of the processor, characterised in that the direct access storage device has a protection means for protecting a region of the direct access storage device in which a portion of the interface program is stored, the protection means allowing access to the protected region in response to a reset signal, the said portion of the interface program being operable, when loaded into the random access memory, to boot the operating system and to activate the protection means to prevent access to the protected region of the direct access storage device during operation of the operating system, the protected region of the direct access storage device further including system utility programs which are executed upon detecting an error condition in the loading of the operating system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A personal computer system having a system processor 26 for executing an operating system, a read only memory 36, a random access memory 32, and peripheral devices including at least one direct access storage device 62, 66, the system having an interface program to control the movement of data into and out of the processor, characterised in that the direct access storage device has a protection means for protecting a region of the direct access storage device in which a portion of the interface program is stored, the protection means allowing access to the protected region in response to a reset signal, the said portion of the interface program being operable, when loaded into the random access memory, to boot the operating system and to activate the protection means to prevent access to the protected region of the direct access storage device during operation of the operating system, the protected region of the direct access storage device further including system utility programs which are executed upon detecting an error condition in the loading of the operating system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the direct access storage device comprises a fixed disk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said system utility programs comprise a program for modifying the configuration of the system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein an initialising portion of the interface program is stored in the read only memory and is operable to initialise the system processor and initiate generation of a reset signal to the direct access storage device to permit access thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
259 words
A personal computer system having a system processor, a read only memory, a main memory, and at least one direct access storage device capable of storing a plurality of data records, said system comprising: a first program included in the read only memory, said first program initialising the system processor, said first program further initiating the generation of a reset signal to the direct access storage device to permit access to the data records; a loading means for loading data records from the direct access storage device into main memory, said loading means being stored in a protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said loading means being read from the direct access storage device into main memory by said first program, wherein said first program activates said loading means; a main memory resident program image stored in the protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said main memory resident program image being read from the direct access storage device into main memory by said loading means to produce a main memory resident program; means for protecting the protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said protection means being activated by said main memory resident program to prevent unauthorised access to said loading means and said main memory resident program image; and a system utility program image stored in the protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said system utility program being read automatically from the direct access storage device into main memory upon said main memory resident program detecting an error in the system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
259 words
A personal computer system having a system processor, a read only memory, a main memory, and at least one direct access storage device capable of storing a plurality of data records, said system comprising: a first program included in the read only memory, said first program initialising the system processor, said first program further initiating the generation of a reset signal to the direct access storage device to permit access to the data records; a loading means for loading data records from the direct access storage device into main memory, said loading means being stored in a protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said loading means being read from the direct access storage device into main memory by said first program, wherein said first program activates said loading means; a main memory resident program image stored in the protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said main memory resident program image being read from the direct access storage device into main memory by said loading means to produce a main memory resident program; means for protecting the protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said protection means being activated by said main memory resident program to prevent unauthorised access to said loading means and said main memory resident program image; and a system utility program image stored in the protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said system utility program being read automatically from the direct access storage device into main memory upon said main memory resident program detecting an error in the system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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