US5263148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for configuration of computer system and circuit boards
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1989-01-04
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Granted: 1993-11-16
•
Expires: 2009-01-04
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for determining and selecting configuration options and settings of circuit boards used in a computer system is disclosed. The options and settings are placed in a file according to a given format, at which time the system determines if non-conflicting use of the common system resources is possible. If so, these option and setting parameters are used to configure the circuit boards.
Inventors
- 👤 Curtis R. Jones, Jr.
- 👤 Robert S. Gready
- 👤 Roberta A. Walton
- 👤 Scott C. Farrand
- 👤 Pamela H. Williams
- 👤 Beatrice D. Pipes
- 👤 Montgomery C. McGraw
- 👤 Daryl D. George
- 👤 Michael R. Griffin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/177
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
For use with a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, a method for configuring the system and boards comprising: the computer determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein the computer in determining the various common computer system resources utilizes a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes information on the direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port address and memory address options available on the circuit board; the computer resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; the computer allocating common computer system resources, based on the resolution of conflicts, to be utilized by the circuit boards installed in the computer system; and the computer storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the allocated common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
For use with a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, a method for configuring the system and boards comprising: the computer determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein the computer in determining the various common computer system resources utilizes a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes information on the direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port address and memory address options available on the circuit board; the computer resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; the computer allocating common computer system resources, based on the resolution of conflicts, to be utilized by the circuit boards installed in the computer system; and the computer storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the allocated common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
261 words
For use with a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, a method for configuring the system and boards comprising: the computer determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein the computer determining the various common computer resources utilizes a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes information on the initialization value options available on the circuit board for direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port addresses and memory addresses; the computer resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; the computer allocating common computer system resources, based on the resolution of conflicts, to be utilized by the circuit boards installed in the computer system; and the computer storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the allocated common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
261 words
For use with a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, a method for configuring the system and boards comprising: the computer determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein the computer determining the various common computer resources utilizes a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes information on the initialization value options available on the circuit board for direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port addresses and memory addresses; the computer resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; the computer allocating common computer system resources, based on the resolution of conflicts, to be utilized by the circuit boards installed in the computer system; and the computer storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the allocated common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
294 words
For use with a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, a method for configuring the system and boards comprising: the computer determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein the computer determining the various common computer resources utilizes a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes: information on direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port address and memory address options available on the circuit board; information on the initialization value options available on the circuit board for direct memory access channels, interrupt lines, input/output port addresses and memory addresses; and relationship grouping information for said available options and said initialization value options; the computer resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; the computer allocating common computer system resources, based on the resolution of conflicts, to be utilized by the circuit boards installed in the computer system; and the computer storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the allocated common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
294 words
For use with a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, a method for configuring the system and boards comprising: the computer determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein the computer determining the various common computer resources utilizes a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes: information on direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port address and memory address options available on the circuit board; information on the initialization value options available on the circuit board for direct memory access channels, interrupt lines, input/output port addresses and memory addresses; and relationship grouping information for said available options and said initialization value options; the computer resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; the computer allocating common computer system resources, based on the resolution of conflicts, to be utilized by the circuit boards installed in the computer system; and the computer storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the allocated common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
245 words
An apparatus for configuring a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, comprising: means for determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein said means for determining includes means for utilizing a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes information on the direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port address and memory address options available on the circuit board; means for resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; means for assigning common computer system resources based on said resolution of conflicts to be installed in the computer systems; and means for storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the assigned common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
245 words
An apparatus for configuring a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, comprising: means for determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein said means for determining includes means for utilizing a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes information on the direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port address and memory address options available on the circuit board; means for resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; means for assigning common computer system resources based on said resolution of conflicts to be installed in the computer systems; and means for storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the assigned common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
248 words
An apparatus for configuring a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, comprising: means for determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein said means for determining includes means for utilizing a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes information on the initialization value options available on the circuit board for direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port addresses and memory addresses; means for resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; means for assigning common computer system resources based on said resolution of conflicts to be installed in the computer systems; and means for storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the assigned common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
248 words
An apparatus for configuring a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, comprising: means for determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein said means for determining includes means for utilizing a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes information on the initialization value options available on the circuit board for direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port addresses and memory addresses; means for resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; means for assigning common computer system resources based on said resolution of conflicts to be installed in the computer systems; and means for storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the assigned common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
289 words
An apparatus for configuring a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, comprising: means for determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein said means for determining includes means for utilizing a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes: information on the initialization value options available on the circuit board for direct memory access channels, interrupt lines, input/output port addresses and memory addresses available on the circuit board; information on the initialization value options available on the circuit board for direct memory access channels, interrupt lines, input/output port addresses and memory addresses; and relationship grouping information for said available options and said initialization values; means for resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; means for assigning common computer system resources based on said resolution of conflicts to be installed in the computer systems; and means for storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the assigned common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
289 words
An apparatus for configuring a computer system that provides for circuit boards to be interchangeably inserted in a plurality of system slot locations, with the circuit boards having the capability to be configured to utilize one or more of various common computer system resources, comprising: means for determining the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by the circuit boards to be inserted into the computer system; wherein said means for determining includes means for utilizing a circuit board configuration file having a defined configuration file format for indicating the various common computer system resources which can be utilized by a circuit board and for indicating the identification of the circuit board; wherein the format of said configuration file provides for board identification information, initialization information and function information; wherein said function information includes information on the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function; wherein said resource information includes: information on the initialization value options available on the circuit board for direct memory access channels, interrupt lines, input/output port addresses and memory addresses available on the circuit board; information on the initialization value options available on the circuit board for direct memory access channels, interrupt lines, input/output port addresses and memory addresses; and relationship grouping information for said available options and said initialization values; means for resolving conflicts as to the common computer system resources to be utilized by the circuit boards to be installed in the computer system; means for assigning common computer system resources based on said resolution of conflicts to be installed in the computer systems; and means for storing configuration information for each circuit board based on the assigned common computer system resources to be utilized.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for providing information indicative of the various common computer resources which may be utilized by a circuit board installable in a computer system, comprising: establishing a configuration file, having a defined format, to be accessed by the computer system; and providing resource information in said configuration file pertinent to board identification, initialization and the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function including information on the direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port address and memory address options available on the circuit board.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for providing information indicative of the various common computer resources which may be utilized by a circuit board installable in a computer system, comprising: establishing a configuration file, having a defined format, to be accessed by the computer system; and providing resource information in said configuration file pertinent to board identification, initialization and the various functions available on the circuit board and the resources necessary for each function including information on the direct memory access channel, interrupt line, input/output port address and memory address options available on the circuit board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said resource information includes information on the initialization value options available on the circuit board for direct memory access channels, interrupt lines, input/output port addresses and memory addresses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said resource information includes relationship grouping information for said circuit board available functions and said initialization value options.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-15 | 1997-05-17 | 1997-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-15 | 2001-05-17 | 2001-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-15 | 2005-05-17 | 2005-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |