US6041395A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for changing partition mappings to logical drives in a computer memory
Assignee: Dell USA LP
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Filing: 1997-12-03
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Granted: 2000-03-21
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Expires: 2017-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for changing partition mappings to logical drives in a memory device of a computer. The computer includes a processor for running operating system code and a hard drive. The hard drive, which can be accessed by the processor, includes at least two partitions, the first partition initially being active and having a type that is recognized by the operating system and the second partition initially being inactive and having a type that is not recognized by the operating system. When the computer boots up, a logical reference value in the operating system code points to the first partition. A reference-changing routine is then run for dynamically switching the logical reference value to the second partition. This is achieved by having the reference-changing routine change certain tables in the operating code. The tables are used by the operating system code to logically map the logical reference to a particular partition. Therefore, after the reference-changing routine directs the logical reference to point to the second partition, the processor may continue running the operating code without requiring the computer to reboot.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan E. Beelitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:53
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G06F3/0628; G06F3/0638; G06F3/0644; G06F3/0602; G06F3/0604; G06F3/0607; G06F3/062; G06F3/0622; G06F3/0668; G06F3/0671; G06F3/0673; G06F3/0674; G06F3/0676; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4406
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A computer comprising: at least one processor for running operating code; at least one storage accessible by the processor, the storage being separated into at least two partitions; the operating code for using a logical reference to the storage and including a table for mapping the logical reference to a first partition of the at least two partitions; and a routine for dynamically switching, in response to a directive provided by a manufacturing process, the logical reference to a second partition of the at least two partitions by altering the table; wherein the first and second partitions each include a type code and wherein the routine swaps the type of each partition when it changes the logical reference, so that the partition to which the logical reference is made has a type that is visible to the operating code and the other partition has a type that is not visible to the operating code, wherein the first and second partitions each include a status code and wherein the routine also swaps the status of each partition when it changes the logical reference, so that the partition to which the logical reference is made has an active status and the other partition does not have an active status, and wherein after the routine alters the table, the processor may continue running the operating code without requiring the computer to reboot and when the operating code uses the logical reference to the storage, the operating code is mapped to the second partition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A computer comprising: at least one processor for running operating code; at least one storage accessible by the processor, the storage being separated into at least two partitions; the operating code for using a logical reference to the storage and including a table for mapping the logical reference to a first partition of the at least two partitions; and a routine for dynamically switching, in response to a directive provided by a manufacturing process, the logical reference to a second partition of the at least two partitions by altering the table; wherein the first and second partitions each include a type code and wherein the routine swaps the type of each partition when it changes the logical reference, so that the partition to which the logical reference is made has a type that is visible to the operating code and the other partition has a type that is not visible to the operating code, wherein the first and second partitions each include a status code and wherein the routine also swaps the status of each partition when it changes the logical reference, so that the partition to which the logical reference is made has an active status and the other partition does not have an active status, and wherein after the routine alters the table, the processor may continue running the operating code without requiring the computer to reboot and when the operating code uses the logical reference to the storage, the operating code is mapped to the second partition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer of claim 1, further comprising a second storage, wherein the routine is stored on the second storage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The computer of claim 2, wherein the second storage is a floppy diskette.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer of claim 2, wherein the second storage is connected to the processor through a network interface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer of claim 2, wherein the operating code is stored on the second storage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer of claim 1, further comprising: a cache; and means for flushing the cache after the routine has altered the table.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for allowing an operating system to access two different partitions of a single storage device by using a single logical reference, wherein each partition has its own boot record and the operating system includes a drive table, the method comprising the steps of: (i) designating the first partition as active and setting a type of the first partition to a valid partition type and designating the second partition as inactive and setting the type of the second partition to an invalid partition type; and (ii) switching, in response to a directive by a manufacturing process, the logical reference from the first partition to the second partition by loading the boot record for the second partition; (iii) inserting data from the loaded boot record into the drive table; and (iv) designating the second partition as active and setting a type of the second partition to a valid partition type and designating the first partition as inactive and setting the type of the first partition to an invalid partition type.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for allowing an operating system to access two different partitions of a single storage device by using a single logical reference, wherein each partition has its own boot record and the operating system includes a drive table, the method comprising the steps of: (i) designating the first partition as active and setting a type of the first partition to a valid partition type and designating the second partition as inactive and setting the type of the second partition to an invalid partition type; and (ii) switching, in response to a directive by a manufacturing process, the logical reference from the first partition to the second partition by loading the boot record for the second partition; (iii) inserting data from the loaded boot record into the drive table; and (iv) designating the second partition as active and setting a type of the second partition to a valid partition type and designating the first partition as inactive and setting the type of the first partition to an invalid partition type.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising, before step (ii), restarting the operating system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising, before step (ii), checking that the second partition is not active.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
165 words
A system for allowing operating code to access two different partitions of a storage device by using a single logical reference, wherein each partition has its own boot record and the operating code uses a drive table, the system comprising: means for designating the first partition as active and setting a type of the first partition to a valid partition type and designating the second partition as inactive and setting the type of the second partition to an invalid partition type; and means for switching, in response to a directive by a manufacturing process, the logical reference from the first partition to the second partition by loading the boot record for the second partition, inserting data from the loaded boot record into the drive table, and designating the second partition as active and setting a type of the second partition to a valid partition type and designating the first partition as inactive and setting the type of the first partition to an invalid partition type.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
165 words
A system for allowing operating code to access two different partitions of a storage device by using a single logical reference, wherein each partition has its own boot record and the operating code uses a drive table, the system comprising: means for designating the first partition as active and setting a type of the first partition to a valid partition type and designating the second partition as inactive and setting the type of the second partition to an invalid partition type; and means for switching, in response to a directive by a manufacturing process, the logical reference from the first partition to the second partition by loading the boot record for the second partition, inserting data from the loaded boot record into the drive table, and designating the second partition as active and setting a type of the second partition to a valid partition type and designating the first partition as inactive and setting the type of the first partition to an invalid partition type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 10, further comprising means for restarting the operating code before the boot record is loaded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 10, further comprising means for checking that the second partition is not active before the boot record is loaded.
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) | 2003-03-21 | 2003-09-20 | 2004-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-21 | 2007-09-20 | 2008-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-21 | 2011-09-20 | 2012-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |