Patent US5864698A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5864698A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disk based bios
Assignee: NEC Corp
•
Filing: 1997-09-15
•
Granted: 1999-01-26
•
Expires: 2017-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus enables the BIOS to be stored on a mass storage device, such as a hard disk, to enable a computer system to be booted even during conditions of disk failure. A fully functional version of the BIOS, such as a first production version of the BIOS, provided on a non-volatile memory device, such as a MASKED ROM memory device or a one time programmable (OTP) memory device, is used to initially boot the computer system. An upgraded or newer version of the BIOS may be loaded into an unprotected area of the hard disk by way of a floppy disk. Initially, during installation, the system checks to determine if the upgraded version of the BIOS is compatible with the computer system and newer than the BIOS version currently stored in the computer system. If so, the upgraded BIOS is copied to the hard disk and treated like any other file. After the BIOS is copied to the hard disk, the system is rebooted to install the upgraded version of the BIOS. In the event of a disk crash, the fully functional or first production version of the BIOS in the OTP device enables the computer system to be rebooted and diagnostics to be run in order to ascertain the cause of the disk failure. By utilizing a fully functional or first production version of the BIOS stored in an OTP device for initial startup, the production cycle for manufacturing a personal computer can be reduced, as well as providing optimal utilization of OTP devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Paul Krau
- 👤 Donald William Gohr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/65
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A system for enabling an initial version of a basic input output system (BIOS) stored on a predetermined memory device in a predetermined computer system to be upgraded without removal or reprogramming of the predetermined memory device, the predetermined computer system having a volatile memory and a mass storage device, such as a hard disk drive, the system comprising: means for booting the computer system using the initial version of the BIOS from the predetermined memory device, wherein the initial version of the BIOS is fully functional for enabling the computer system to be booted to an operational state during a failure of the mass storage device; means for enabling the storage of an upgraded version of the BIOS on the mass storage device; means for loading said upgraded BIOS from the mass storage device into predetermined address locations in the volatile memory during predetermined conditions; and means for enabling the computer system to be automatically rebooted and execute said upgraded BIOS from said predetermined address locations in the volatile memory subsequent to said upgraded BIOS being loaded into the volatile memory.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
A system for enabling an initial version of a basic input output system (BIOS) stored on a predetermined memory device in a predetermined computer system to be upgraded without removal or reprogramming of the predetermined memory device, the predetermined computer system having a volatile memory and a mass storage device, such as a hard disk drive, the system comprising: means for booting the computer system using the initial version of the BIOS from the predetermined memory device, wherein the initial version of the BIOS is fully functional for enabling the computer system to be booted to an operational state during a failure of the mass storage device; means for enabling the storage of an upgraded version of the BIOS on the mass storage device; means for loading said upgraded BIOS from the mass storage device into predetermined address locations in the volatile memory during predetermined conditions; and means for enabling the computer system to be automatically rebooted and execute said upgraded BIOS from said predetermined address locations in the volatile memory subsequent to said upgraded BIOS being loaded into the volatile memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said upgraded BIOS is stored in a predetermined mass storage device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said predetermined non-volatile memory device is a MASKED memory device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said enabling means includes means for determining one or more predetermined characteristics of said first predetermined version of said BIOS and comparing the same with corresponding characteristics of a second predetermined upgraded version of BIOS.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as recited in claim 4, wherein one of said predetermined characteristics is the manufacturer of said computer system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as recited in claim 4, wherein one of said predetermined characteristics is the model number of said computer system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as recited in claim 4, wherein one of said predetermined characteristics is the version number of said BIOS.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said enabling means includes means for copying an upgraded version of BIOS from a floppy disk to the mass storage device under predetermined conditions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as recited in claim 8, further including means for installing said upgraded version of BIOS.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said enabling means includes means for copying said upgraded version of BIOS from an external device such as a floppy disk to the mass storage device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said enabling means includes means for rebooting the computer system after said upgraded version of BIOS is copied to said predetermined address location in the volatile memory space.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for enabling the basic input output system (BIOS) to be updated in a predetermined computer system having a volatile memory and a mass storage device, such as a disk drive, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first predetermined version of BIOS stored in predetermined non-volatile memory, said first predetermined version of BIOS said computer system to be booted to an operational state during conditions of failure of said mass storage device; (b) providing means for enabling the storage of an upgraded version of BIOS to be copied to the mass storage device under predetermined conditions; and (d) installing said upgraded version of BIOS in said computer system by loading said upgrade BIOS into the volatile memory at predetermined address locations during predetermined conditions to enable the resident BIOS to cause the computer system to be rebooted and execute said upgraded version of BIOS from said predetermined address locations in said volatile memory subsequent to said upgraded BIOS being loaded into the volatile memory.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for enabling the basic input output system (BIOS) to be updated in a predetermined computer system having a volatile memory and a mass storage device, such as a disk drive, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first predetermined version of BIOS stored in predetermined non-volatile memory, said first predetermined version of BIOS said computer system to be booted to an operational state during conditions of failure of said mass storage device; (b) providing means for enabling the storage of an upgraded version of BIOS to be copied to the mass storage device under predetermined conditions; and (d) installing said upgraded version of BIOS in said computer system by loading said upgrade BIOS into the volatile memory at predetermined address locations during predetermined conditions to enable the resident BIOS to cause the computer system to be rebooted and execute said upgraded version of BIOS from said predetermined address locations in said volatile memory subsequent to said upgraded BIOS being loaded into the volatile memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means for disabling at least one interrupt prior to loading said upgraded BIOS into the predetermined address locations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means for enabling the initial version of the BIOS to initiate BIOS execution at said predetermined address locations upon detecting a warm boot.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of upgrading basic input output system (BIOS) software in a computer system having a volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and a mass storage device, comprising: providing an initial version of BIOS stored in the non-volatile memory, said initial version of BIOS being capable of enabling the computer system to be booted to a operational state during failure of the mass storage devices; storing an upgraded version of BIOS on the mass storage device subject to at least one predetermined condition; storing said upgraded version of BIOS in a memory buffer; disabling at least one interrupt; and installing said upgraded version of BIOS into the computer system by transferring said upgraded BIOS from said buffer memory to the volatile memory subsequent to disabling the interrupts.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of upgrading basic input output system (BIOS) software in a computer system having a volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and a mass storage device, comprising: providing an initial version of BIOS stored in the non-volatile memory, said initial version of BIOS being capable of enabling the computer system to be booted to a operational state during failure of the mass storage devices; storing an upgraded version of BIOS on the mass storage device subject to at least one predetermined condition; storing said upgraded version of BIOS in a memory buffer; disabling at least one interrupt; and installing said upgraded version of BIOS into the computer system by transferring said upgraded BIOS from said buffer memory to the volatile memory subsequent to disabling the interrupts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said initial version of BIOS disables said at least one interrupt.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4928237A
Cited
US5063496A
Cited
US5136713A
Cited
US5022077A
Cited
US5410699A
Cited
US5355489A
Cited
US5072370A
Cited
US5187792A
Cited
US5128995A
Cited
US5230052A
Cited
EP0479427A2
Cited
US5257380A
Cited
US5410707A
Cited
US5579522A
Cited
US5388267A
Cited
US5473775A
Cited
US5497490A
Cited
US5471674A
Cited
US5465357A
Cited
US5495611A
Cited
US5327531A
Cited
US5481713A
Cited
US5418918A
Cited
US5488741A
Cited
US5692190A
Cited
US5694600A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-25 | 2002-07-27 | 2003-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-25 | 2006-07-27 | 2007-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-25 | 2010-07-27 | 2011-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |