EP0479427A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for loading BIOS into a computer system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1991-08-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-08-30
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to personal computer systems and in particular to an apparatus and method for loading BIOS into a personal computer system from a remote storage location. More particularly, this invention provides a personal computer adapted for use as an economical workstation in a local area network environment (a "LAN station") with provision for loading BIOS into the LAN station from a remote memory storage where the BIOS code is maintained apart from the LAN station.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Alan Dayan
- 👤 Robert Sachsenmaier
- 👤 Simon Yao-Tung Yen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4416; H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
Computer apparatus having a system processor 15, a non-volatile memory 21 and a volatile memory 19, the system processor requiring for its effective use the loading of an interface program (BIOS) to control the movement of data into and out of the processor, characterised in that the non-volatile memory has insufficient capacity to store the interface program (BIOS) but has executable code to execute energisation of the apparatus, the issuance of a request for transfer into the volatile memory of the interface program (BIOS) from a remote location and the transfer of control of the apparatus to the interface code (BIOS) when loaded into the volatile memory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a remote computer 40 at the said remote location having a system processor and non-volatile storage means for the interface program (BIOS) the apparatus also comprising means 41 to establish communication between the volatile memory 19 and the non-volatile storage of the remote computer and transfer of the interface code to the volatile memory 19.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein said remote computer means is operatively connected with the local computer means to function as a file server.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein said remote computer means is operatively connected with said local computer means to function as a resource sharer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein said remote computer means is operatively connected with said local computer means to function as a host computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
195 words
Computer apparatus for loading BIOS appropriate for effective use of a local computer system into volatile memory of the local computer system and comprising: a first portion of BIOS resident in non-volatile memory in the local computer system and effective for responding to the energisation of the local computer system by initiating a power on self test, a master boot record for the local computer system resident in non-volatile memory in a remote computer system and having an executable code segment, and a remaining portion of BIOS appropriate for effective use of the local computer system and resident in non-volatile memory in the remote computer system, said first portion of BIOS being effective on completion of the power on self test for calling for a transfer of said boot record from the remote computer system into volatile memory of the local computer system and for transferring control of the local computer system to the boot record, and said boot record being effective for calling for a transfer of said remaining portion of BIOS from the remote computer system into volatile memory of the local computer system and transferring control of the local computer system thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
247 words
Computer apparatus for configuring and loading a BIOS image appropriate for effective use of a local computer system into volatile memory of the local computer system and comprising: a first portion of BIOS resident in non-volatile memory in the local computer system and effective for responding to the energisation of the local computer system by initiating a power on self test, a master boot record for the local computer system resident in non-volatile memory in a remote computer system and having an executable code segment, and a remaining portion of BIOS appropriate for effective use of the local computer system and resident in non-volatile memory in the remote computer system, said first portion of BIOS being effective on completion of the power on self test for calling for a transfer of said boot record from the remote computer system into volatile memory of the local computer system and for transferring control of the local computer system to the boot record, and said boot record being effective for recognising the configuration of the local computer system, for calling for configuration and transfer of an image of said remaining portion of BIOS from the remote computer system into volatile memory of the local computer system, and for transferring control of the local computer system to the BIOS image transferred into the volatile memory of the local computer system which invokes delivery from the remote computer system of a program setting the configuration of the local computer system if appropriate.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for loading BIOS into a local computer system which has a system processor and volatile memory and lacks storage capability for recovery of BIOS appropriate for effective use of the local computer system from non-volatile storage of such BIOS in the local computer system, the method comprising the steps of responding to powering up of the local computer system by requesting from a memory location remote from the local computer system the transfer to and storage in the volatile memory of the local computer system of BIOS configured for effective use of the local computer system, transferring and storing such BIOS, and transferring control of the local computer system to such BIOS.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to Claim 8 further comprising the step of storing, in non-volatile memory operatively coupled with the system processor of the local computer system, program instructions effective for requesting from a remote computer system a transfer of BIOS appropriate for effective use of the local computer system to the volatile memory of the local computer system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for loading BIOS into a local personal computer system which has a system processor and volatile memory and lacks storage capability for recovery of BIOS appropriate for effective use of the local computer system from non-volatile storage of such BIOS in the local computer system, the BIOS to be loaded from a remote personal computer system which has a system processor and volatile and non-volatile memory and is associated in a network with the local computer system, the method comprising the steps of: polling with the remote computer system for discovering any request for procurement of BIOS by the local computer system, determining from any discovered request the configuration appropriate for any requesting local computer system, configuring with the remote computer system BIOS appropriate for effective use of the requesting local computer system, storing in the local computer system a BIOS configured by the remote computer system, and initialising the local computer system with the stored BIOS configured to be appropriate for effective use of the requesting local computer system.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
232 words
A method for loading BIOS into a local personal computer system which has a system processor and volatile memory and lacks storage capability for recovery of BIOS appropriate for effective use of the local computer system from non-volatile storage of such BIOS in the local computer system, the method comprising the steps of: coupling the local computer system with a remote personal computer system which has a direct access storage device capable of non-volatile retention of BIOS, storing BIOS appropriate for effective use of the local computer system in the direct access storage device of the remote computer system, storing, in memory operatively coupled with the system processor of the local computer system, program instructions effective for requesting from the remote computer system a transfer of BIOS appropriate for effective use of the local computer system to the volatile memory of the local computer system, sensing initialisation of the local computer system, responding to initialisation of the local computer system by transmitting from the local computer system the instructions effective for requesting from the remote computer system a transfer of BIOS, responding to receipt of the transmitted instructions requesting a transfer by transmitting BIOS from the remote computer system to the local computer system, storing the transmitted BIOS in the volatile memory of the local computer system, and transferring control of the local computer system to the BIOS stored in volatile memory.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
274 words
A method for loading BIOS into a LAN station personal computer system which has a system processor and volatile memory and lacks storage capability for recovery of BIOS appropriate for effective use of the LAN station computer system from non-volatile storage of such BIOS in the LAN station computer system, the method comprising the steps of: coupling the LAN station personal computer system with a remote personal computer system which has a direct access storage device capable of non-volatile retention of BIOS, storing BIOS appropriate for effective use of the LAN station personal computer system in the direct access storage device of the remote personal computer system, storing, in memory operatively coupled with the system processor of the LAN station personal computer system, program instructions effective for procuring from the remote personal computer system a transfer of BIOS appropriate for effective use of the LAN station personal computer system to the volatile memory of the LAN station personal computer system, sensing completion of a power on self test of the LAN station personal computer system, responding to completion of a power on self test of the LAN station personal computer system by transmitting from the LAN station personal computer system the instructions effective for requesting from the remote personal computer system a transfer of BIOS, responding to receipt of the transmitted instructions requesting a transfer by transmitting BIOS from the remote personal computer system to the LAN station personal computer system, storing the transmitted BIOS in the volatile memory of the LAN station personal computer system, and transferring control of the LAN station personal computer system to the BIOS stored in volatile memory thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to Claim 12 wherein the step of responding further comprises determining the configuration of BIOS appropriate to the requesting LAN station personal computer system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to Claim 12 wherein the step of responding further comprises configuring the BIOS to be transmitted so as to be appropriate to the requesting LAN station personal computer system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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