US5881252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for automatically configuring circuit cards in a computer system
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1997-08-29
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Granted: 1999-03-09
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Expires: 2017-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for automatically configuring circuit cards used in a computer system. The present invention includes a method and apparatus that enables the circuit cards to be automatically configured during system boot up without any user intervention. The present invention also includes a method for the computer system software to detect resources requested by the circuit cards in order to resolve any system resource conflicts.
Inventors
- 👤 Narendar B. Sahgal
- 👤 Ajay V. Bhatt
- 👤 Philip W. Martin
- 👤 Sudarshan Bala Cadambi
- 👤 Mark R. Enstrom
- 👤 Ralph A. Lipe
- 👤 David W. Voth
- 👤 Robert T. Short
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/4068; G06F13/4072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
In a computer system having a bus, a processor coupled to the bus, and 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.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a computer system having a bus, a processor coupled to the bus, and 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.
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
157 words
A computer system comprising: a bus for communicating information; a processor, coupled to said bus, for processing data and 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.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
A computer system comprising: a bus for communicating information; a processor, coupled to said bus, for processing data and 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.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer system of claim 5 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 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The computer system of claim 5 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 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer system of claim 5 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 11
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 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The self configuring circuit card of claim 9 wherein said plurality of storage locations further includes logical device registers for storing configuration information for configuring said circuit card.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The self configuring circuit card of claim 9 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 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The self configuring circuit card of claim 9 wherein said plurality of storage locations further includes command registers for storing information describing attributes of said self configuring circuit card.
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) | 2002-03-08 | 2002-09-07 | 2003-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-08 | 2006-09-07 | 2007-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-08 | 2010-09-07 | 2011-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |