US5628027A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of determining the configuration of devices installed on a computer bus
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-12-30
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Granted: 1997-05-06
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Expires: 2014-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A method where at power-on and before loading an option ROM the DMA and interrupt controller register values are saved. After option ROM initialization current DMA and interrupt controller register values are compared to saved register values for determining DMA and interrupt controller usage by an expansion board. The usage information is saved in NVRAM until the operating system is booted and a configuration routine is executed. Additionally, each slot on the system bus is individually enabled and each address of an address range is read to determine whether an expansion board is installed in the slot and responding to a read. If the data value read is unequal to the undriven value of the data bus, then an expansion board is responding and information is logged into an I/O map. Otherwise, a second read is performed, and certain control lines are latched for determining whether an expansion board is driving those lines. If so, an expansion board is responding. Otherwise, the system then performs a further special read to determine the data bus response time. If the response time is faster than the response time of an undriven bus, an expansion board is responding. In this way, an address map is created for the system bus. This map is then used with the DMA and interrupt usage to determine the system configuration by comparing the map and usage to standard signatures of known boards. The system configuration is the passed to standard configuration software.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian V. Belmont
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/177; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for determining if an expansion board contained in a computer system requires utilization of computer system resources, the resources including a direct memory access (DMA) controller and an interrupt controller, the resources having registers for holding values, the expansion board including initialization software, the method comprising the steps of: (a) saving the register values of the resources as original values; (b) executing the initialization software of the expansion board after step (a); (c) reading the register values of the resources as new values after step (b); (d) comparing the new values to the corresponding original values to determine resource utilization; and (e) saving resource utilization information if step (d) indicates resource utilization.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for determining if an expansion board contained in a computer system requires utilization of computer system resources, the resources including a direct memory access (DMA) controller and an interrupt controller, the resources having registers for holding values, the expansion board including initialization software, the method comprising the steps of: (a) saving the register values of the resources as original values; (b) executing the initialization software of the expansion board after step (a); (c) reading the register values of the resources as new values after step (b); (d) comparing the new values to the corresponding original values to determine resource utilization; and (e) saving resource utilization information if step (d) indicates resource utilization.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system further includes a system bus coupled to a plurality of individually selectable slots, wherein the expansion board is installed in one of said plurality of individually selectable slots, and wherein said initialization software is contained in a storage device on said expansion board, the method further comprising the steps of: (f) enabling one of said plurality of individually selectable slots before step (a); (g) reading a data value from an address at said enabled slot; and (h) determining if the data value read at step (g) indicates a presence of a storage device at said address, and wherein step (b) is performed if the presence of a storage device is indicated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system further includes a processor and a system bus coupled to a plurality of individually selectable slots said system bus having a data bus, the data bus when undriven returning a predetermined value in response to a read operation and when undriven having an associated response time to a read operation, the processor for reading from the data bus and executing configuration software, the method further comprising the steps of: (i) enabling one of said plurality of individually selectable slots after step (e); (j) reading a data value from an address at said enabled slot; (k) determining if the data value read at step (j) indicates a presence of said expansion board at said address; and (l) repeating steps (i) to (k) for a predetermined range of addresses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system further includes a non-volatile memory and the resource utilization information saved in step (e) is saved in said non-volatile memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the resource utilization information includes DMA controller usage and interrupt controller usage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising: (m) generating an address map based on results from steps (i) through (l); (n) comparing the address map generated in step (m) and the resource utilization information stored in step (e) with a library of expansion board signatures stored in the computer system; and (o) determining, based on said comparison of step (n), a type of expansion board installed and its responsive address locations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said storage device is an option read-only-memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2, wherein steps (a)-(h) are repeated for each of said plurality of slots and for each potential memory address for a storage device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: (p) passing the resource utilization information of step (e) and the type and the address locations of step (o) to the configuration software; and (q) configuring the computer system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: (s) repeating steps (i) through (o) for each of said plurality of individually selectable slots.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said storage device is an option read-only-memory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9, wherein step (q) includes the step of: (r) resolving resource and address conflicts between multiple expansion boards.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
151 words
A computer system, comprising: a system bus; a processor coupled to said system bus for executing computer system initialization software; an expansion board installed in said computer system and coupled to said system bus, said expansion board containing expansion board initialization software; resources coupled to said system bus for utilization by expansion boards installed in said system bus, said resources having registers for holding values, said resources including: a direct memory access (DMA) controller; and an interrupt controller; wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following steps are performed: (a) saving the register values of the resources as original values; (b) executing the expansion board initialization software; (c) reading the register values of the resources as new values after step (b); (d) comparing the new values to the corresponding original values to determine resource utilization; and (e) saving resource utilization information if step (d) indicates resource utilization.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
151 words
A computer system, comprising: a system bus; a processor coupled to said system bus for executing computer system initialization software; an expansion board installed in said computer system and coupled to said system bus, said expansion board containing expansion board initialization software; resources coupled to said system bus for utilization by expansion boards installed in said system bus, said resources having registers for holding values, said resources including: a direct memory access (DMA) controller; and an interrupt controller; wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following steps are performed: (a) saving the register values of the resources as original values; (b) executing the expansion board initialization software; (c) reading the register values of the resources as new values after step (b); (d) comparing the new values to the corresponding original values to determine resource utilization; and (e) saving resource utilization information if step (d) indicates resource utilization.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
122 words
The computer system of claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of individually selectable slots coupled to said system bus, wherein the expansion board is installed in one of said plurality of slots, wherein said expansion board initialization software is contained in a storage device on said expansion board, and wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following additional steps are performed: (f) enabling one of said plurality of individually selectable slots before step (a); (g) reading a data value from an address at said enabled slot; and (h) determining if the data value indicates a presence of a storage device at said address, and wherein step (b) is performed if the presence of a storage device is indicated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
155 words
The computer system of claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of individually selectable slots coupled to said system bus, wherein the expansion board is installed in one of said plurality of slots, wherein said system bus further includes a data bus, the data bus when undriven returning a predetermined value in response to a read operation and when undriven having an associated response time to a read operation, wherein the processor further executes configuration software contained in said computer system, and wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following additional steps are performed: (i) enabling one of said plurality of individually selectable slots after step (c); (j) reading a data value from an address at said enabled slot; (k) determining if the data value read at step (j) indicates a presence of said expansion board at said address; and (l) repeating steps (i) to (k) for a predetermined range of addresses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer system of claim 13, wherein the computer system further includes a non-volatile memory and the resource utilization information saved in step (e) is saved in said non-volatile memory.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 13, wherein the resource utilization information includes DMA controller usage and interrupt controller usage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
86 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following additional steps are performed: (m) generating an address map based on results from steps (i) through (l); (n) comparing the address map generated in step (m) and the resource utilization information stored in step (e) with a library of expansion board signatures stored in the computer system; and (o) determining, based on said comparison of step (n), a type of expansion board installed and its responsive address locations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 14, wherein said storage device is an option read-only-memory.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer system of claim 14, wherein steps (a)-(h) are repeated for each of said plurality of slots and for each potential memory address for a storage device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer system of claim 18, wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following additional steps are performed: (p) passing the resource utilization information of step (e) and the type and the address locations of step (o) to the configuration software; and (q) executing the configuration software to configuring the computer system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 18, wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following additional steps are performed: (s) repeating steps (i) through (o) for each of said plurality of individually selectable slots.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 20, wherein said storage device is an option read-only-memory.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 21, wherein step (q) includes the step of: (r) resolving resource and address conflicts between multiple expansion boards.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
166 words
A computer system, comprising: a system bus; a processor coupled to said system bus for executing computer system initialization software; a hard disk system coupled to said system bus and being initialized by said processor; an expansion board installed in said computer system and coupled to said system bus, said expansion board containing expansion board initialization software; resources coupled to said system bus for utilization by expansion boards installed in said system bus, said resources having registers for holding values, said resources including: a direct memory access (DMA) controller; and an interrupt controller; wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following steps are performed: (a) saving the register values of the resources as original values; (b) executing the expansion board initialization software; (c) reading the register values of the resources as new values after step (b); (d) comparing the new values to the corresponding original values to determine resource utilization; and (e) saving resource utilization information if step (d) indicates resource utilization.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
166 words
A computer system, comprising: a system bus; a processor coupled to said system bus for executing computer system initialization software; a hard disk system coupled to said system bus and being initialized by said processor; an expansion board installed in said computer system and coupled to said system bus, said expansion board containing expansion board initialization software; resources coupled to said system bus for utilization by expansion boards installed in said system bus, said resources having registers for holding values, said resources including: a direct memory access (DMA) controller; and an interrupt controller; wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following steps are performed: (a) saving the register values of the resources as original values; (b) executing the expansion board initialization software; (c) reading the register values of the resources as new values after step (b); (d) comparing the new values to the corresponding original values to determine resource utilization; and (e) saving resource utilization information if step (d) indicates resource utilization.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
122 words
The computer system of claim 25, further comprising: a plurality of individually selectable slots coupled to said system bus, wherein the expansion board is installed in one of said plurality of slots, wherein said expansion board initialization software is contained in a storage device on said expansion board, and wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following additional steps are performed: (f) enabling one of said plurality of individually selectable slots before step (a); (g) reading a data value from an address at said enabled slot; and (h) determining if the data value indicates a presence of a storage device at said address, and wherein step (b) is performed if the presence of a storage device is indicated.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
154 words
The computer system of claim 25, further comprising; a plurality individually selectable slots couple to said system bus, wherein the expansion board is installed in one of said plurality of slots, wherein said system bus further includes a data bus, the data bus when undriven returning a predetermined value in response to a read operation and when undriven having an associated response time to a read operation, wherein the processor further executes configuration software contained in said computer system, and wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following additional steps arc performed: (i) enabling one of said plurality of individually selectable slots after step (e); (j) reading a data value from an address at said enabled slot; (k) determining if the data value read at step (j) indicates a presence of said expansion board at said address; and (l) repeating steps (i) to (k) for a predetermined range of addresses.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer system of claim 25, wherein the computer system further includes a non-volatile memory and the resource utilization information saved in step (e) is saved in said non-volatile memory.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 25, wherein the resource utilization information includes DMA controller usage and interrupt controller usage.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
86 words
The computer system of claim 27, wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following additional steps are performed: (m) generating an address map based on results from steps (i) through (l); (n) comparing the address map generated in step (m) and the resource utilization information stored in step (e) with a library of expansion board signatures stored in the computer system; and (o) determining, based on said comparison of step (n), a type of expansion board installed and its responsive address locations.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 26, wherein said storage device is an option read-only-memory.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer system of claim 26, wherein steps (a)-(h) are repeated for each of said plurality of slots and for each potential memory address for a storage device.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer system of claim 30, wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following additional steps are performed: (p) passing the resource utilization information of step (e) and the type and the address locations of step (o) to the configuration software; and (q) executing the configuration software to configuring the computer system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 30, wherein when said processor executes said computer system initialization software the following additional steps are performed: (s) repeating steps (i) through (o) for each of said plurality of individually selectable slots.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 32, wherein said storage device is an option read-only-memory.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 33, wherein step (q) includes the step of: (r) resolving resource and address conflicts between said hard disk and the expansion board.
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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) | 2000-05-05 | 2000-11-04 | 2001-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-05 | 2004-11-04 | 2005-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-05 | 2008-11-04 | 2009-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |