US5768542A — Method and apparatus for automatically configurin…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 135 words

In a computer system having a bus, a processor coupled to the bus, and the system resources coupled to the bus, a self configuring circuit card comprising: an interface operative to enable removable coupling of said circuit card to said bus; at least one card resource resident on said circuit card, said circuit card further including readable card resource information resident on said circuit card, said readable card resource information including information describing attributes of said card resource; and auto-configuration logic resident on said circuit card for self configuring said circuit card when said interface is removably coupled to said bus, said auto-configuration logic further including arbitration logic for reading said readable card resource information and for resolving conflicts between said system resources and said card resource by assigning to each card an individual identification.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 135 words

In a computer system having a bus, a processor coupled to the bus, and the system resources coupled to the bus, a self configuring circuit card comprising: an interface operative to enable removable coupling of said circuit card to said bus; at least one card resource resident on said circuit card, said circuit card further including readable card resource information resident on said circuit card, said readable card resource information including information describing attributes of said card resource; and auto-configuration logic resident on said circuit card for self configuring said circuit card when said interface is removably coupled to said bus, said auto-configuration logic further including arbitration logic for reading said readable card resource information and for resolving conflicts between said system resources and said card resource by assigning to each card an individual identification.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

The self configuring circuit card of claim 1 wherein said auto-configuration logic further comprises initialization logic for placing said circuit card into a configuration mode upon coupling of said circuit card to said bus.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The self configuring circuit card of claim 2 wherein said initialization logic includes initialization keys further comprising linear feedback shift registers for initializing said circuit card.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

The self configuring circuit card of claim 2 further comprising a card selector for selectively coupling said circuit card to said bus, said initialization logic further including logic for automatically setting said card selector.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The self configuring circuit card of claim 1 further including a plurality of storage locations for storing said readable card resource information on said circuit card.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The self configuring circuit card of claim 5 wherein said plurality of storage locations further includes logical device registers for storing configuration information for configuring said circuit card.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

The self configuring circuit card of claim 5 wherein said plurality of storage locations further includes control registers for storing card identification information which uniquely identifies said circuit card in said computer system.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The self configuring circuit card of claim 5 wherein said plurality of storage locations further includes command registers for storing information describing attributes of said self configuring circuit card.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 53 words

The self configuring card of claim 2, wherein said auto configuration logic circuit further includes logic for reorganizing unique handles assigned by the processor to at least one other circuit card, said auto configuration logic further assigning to the self configuring card a unique handle different from handles assigned to other circuit card.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The self configuring card of claim 9, wherein the auto configuration logic assigns a unique handle to the self configuring card in parallel with the auto configuration logic resident on a different self-configuring circuit card.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The self configuring circuit card of claim 2, wherein the card resource information is configured before POST.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The self configuring circuit card of claim 2, wherein said circuit card is compatible with ISA cards.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

The self-configuring circuit card of claim 2, wherein said card resource receives information from or provides information to BIOS or system software.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 164 words

A computer system comprising: a bus for communicating information; a processor, coupled to said bus, for processing data instructions; system resources coupled to said bus; and a self configuring circuit card including: a.) an interface operative to enable removable coupling of said self configuring circuit card to said bus, b.) at least one card resource resident on said circuit card, said at least one card resource including video, sound, storage, or input/output resources to said computer system, c.) readable card resource information resident on said circuit card, said card resource information including information describing attributes of said at least one card resource, and d.) auto-configuration logic circuit resident on said circuit card for self configuring said circuit card when said circuit card is removably coupled to said bus, said auto-configuration logic further including arbitration logic for reading said card resource information and for resolving conflicts between said system resources and said at least one card resource by assigning to the card a unique identification.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 164 words

A computer system comprising: a bus for communicating information; a processor, coupled to said bus, for processing data instructions; system resources coupled to said bus; and a self configuring circuit card including: a.) an interface operative to enable removable coupling of said self configuring circuit card to said bus, b.) at least one card resource resident on said circuit card, said at least one card resource including video, sound, storage, or input/output resources to said computer system, c.) readable card resource information resident on said circuit card, said card resource information including information describing attributes of said at least one card resource, and d.) auto-configuration logic circuit resident on said circuit card for self configuring said circuit card when said circuit card is removably coupled to said bus, said auto-configuration logic further including arbitration logic for reading said card resource information and for resolving conflicts between said system resources and said at least one card resource by assigning to the card a unique identification.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 50 words

The computer system of claim 14 wherein said auto-configuration logic circuit further includes isolation logic used in the process of identifying said circuit card in said computer system during initialization, said isolation logic further including logic for placing said circuit card in an active or inactive state after being initialized.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 57 words

The computer system of claim 14 wherein said auto-configuration logic circuit further includes logic for recognizing unique handles assigned by said processor to said circuit card, said auto-configuration logic circuit further includes logic for activating a configuration space in said circuit card without isolating said circuit card during initialization of said circuit card in said computer system.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 44 words

The computer system of claim 14 wherein said auto-configuration logic circuit further includes logic for dynamically assigning a unique handle to said self configuring circuit card, said auto-configuration logic circuit further includes logic for recognizing said unique handle when said circuit card is activated.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The computer system of claim 14, wherein self configuring occurs in parallel with any self configuring of any other circuit cards in the computer system.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

The computer system of claim 14, wherein the card resource information is configured before POST.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The computer system of claim 14, wherein said circuit card is compatible with ISA cards.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-06-15	2001-12-15	2002-06-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-06-15	2005-12-15	2006-06-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-06-15	2009-12-15	2010-06-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for automatically configuring circuit cards in a computer system

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag