US5826090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Loadable hardware support
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-03-17
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Granted: 1998-10-20
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Expires: 2017-03-17
Abstract
Abstract An improved operating system for a computer provides support for specific hardware components. The operating system is loaded by first loading a base portion which initializes the operating system and determines the particular type of hardware components present. Then, appropriate software components are loaded that are specifically associated with the hardware components. The hardware components can be detected by leaving a trace in the memory device that is associated with the software component and later retrieving the trace, or by testing the computer for the hardware component. The hardware component may be a bus architecture selected from a group of bus architectures, and bus-independent interfaces are defined which are mapped to addresses in the kernel. Alternatively, the software component can include a PAL which contains specific instructions for communicating with the hardware component. The PAL is constructed from a plurality of files each associated with the hardware component.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Gerard Mealey
- 👤 Randal Craig Swanberg
- 👤 Michael Stephen Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/40; G06F8/54; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of providing an operating system for a computer having a processor for carrying out program instructions, a memory device connected to the processor, and a hardware component connected to the processor, the method comprising the steps of: loading into the memory device a base portion of an operating system, the base portion having instructions for dynamically detecting the hardware component; dynamically detecting the hardware component using the instructions; and loading a software component into the operating system that is specifically associated with the hardware component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of providing an operating system for a computer having a processor for carrying out program instructions, a memory device connected to the processor, and a hardware component connected to the processor, the method comprising the steps of: loading into the memory device a base portion of an operating system, the base portion having instructions for dynamically detecting the hardware component; dynamically detecting the hardware component using the instructions; and loading a software component into the operating system that is specifically associated with the hardware component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting step includes the steps of: leaving a trace in the memory device, the trace being associated with the software component; and the base portion retrieving the trace.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting step includes the step of the base portion testing the computer for the hardware component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the hardware component is a bus architecture selected from a group of bus architectures; and said detecting step includes the step of defining a set of bus-independent interfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the computer is a UNIX-type workstation; and the software component includes a PAL which contains specific instructions for communicating with the hardware component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein: the computer has firmware for seeking and loading an operating system; and the trace is left by the firmware.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 wherein: the computer is a UNIX-type workstation; and the software component includes a PAL which contains specific instructions for communicating with the hardware component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3 wherein: the hardware component is a bus architecture selected from a group of bus architectures; and said detecting step includes the step of defining a set of bus-independent interfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the PAL is constructed from a plurality of files each associated with the hardware component.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein: the computer is a UNIX-type workstation having a kernel; and the interfaces are mapped to addresses in the kernel.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of providing support for a hardware component connected to a computer system, the computer system having a memory device and firmware for seeking and loading an operating system, the method comprising the steps of: leaving a trace in the memory device by the firmware, the trace being associated with the hardware component; loading into the memory device of the computer system a base portion of an operating system, the base portion having instructions for retrieving the trace; retrieving the trace; and loading a software component into the operating system that is specifically associated with the trace.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of providing support for a hardware component connected to a computer system, the computer system having a memory device and firmware for seeking and loading an operating system, the method comprising the steps of: leaving a trace in the memory device by the firmware, the trace being associated with the hardware component; loading into the memory device of the computer system a base portion of an operating system, the base portion having instructions for retrieving the trace; retrieving the trace; and loading a software component into the operating system that is specifically associated with the trace.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11 wherein: the computer system is a UNIX-type workstation; and the software component includes a PAL which contains specific instructions for communicating with the hardware component.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the PAL is constructed from a plurality of files each associated with the hardware component.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of providing support for a computer system having one or more bus architectures, the computer system having a memory device and firmware for seeking and loading an operating system, the method comprising the steps of: loading into the memory device a base portion of an operating system, the base portion having instructions for testing for the presence of the hardware component; testing for the hardware component using a set of bus-independent interfaces; and loading a software component into the operating system that is specifically associated with the hardware component.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of providing support for a computer system having one or more bus architectures, the computer system having a memory device and firmware for seeking and loading an operating system, the method comprising the steps of: loading into the memory device a base portion of an operating system, the base portion having instructions for testing for the presence of the hardware component; testing for the hardware component using a set of bus-independent interfaces; and loading a software component into the operating system that is specifically associated with the hardware component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14 wherein: the computer is a UNIX-type workstation; and the software component includes a PAL which contains specific instructions for communicating with the hardware component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14 wherein: the computer is a UNIX-type workstation having a kernel; and the interfaces are mapped to addresses in the kernel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-10-19 | 2002-04-20 | 2002-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-19 | 2006-04-20 | 2006-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-19 | 2010-04-20 | 2010-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |