US6065067A
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US
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System, method and program for controlling access to an input/output device possible resource settings data in an advanced configuration and power interface operating system
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1998-03-05
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Granted: 2000-05-16
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Expires: 2018-03-05
Abstract
Abstract During start-up of an advanced configuration and power interface computer system, a resource lock value is read from nonvolatile memory. If the resource lock value indicates system resources are to be locked, possible configuration setting data associated with motherboard input-output devices, is not loaded into memory at a location known to the operating system. If the resource lock value indicates system resources are not to be locked, possible configuration setting data is loaded into memory at a location known to the operating system.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis B. Hobson
- 👤 Vicki L. Carruthers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/468
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A computer system comprising: a bus; a host processor operatively coupled to the bus; an input-output device operatively coupled to the bus; a first memory operatively coupled to the bus and including advanced configuration and power interface table data and possible resource setting data, wherein the possible resource setting data is kept opaque to an advanced configuration and power interface operating system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A computer system comprising: a bus; a host processor operatively coupled to the bus; an input-output device operatively coupled to the bus; a first memory operatively coupled to the bus and including advanced configuration and power interface table data and possible resource setting data, wherein the possible resource setting data is kept opaque to an advanced configuration and power interface operating system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the bus comprises an industry standard architecture bus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the bus comprises a peripheral component interface bus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the input-output device comprises a motherboard plug-and-play device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a second memory operatively coupled to the bus and comprising a resource lock indication, said resource lock indication indicating when said possible resource setting data is kept opaque from said advanced configuration and power interface operating system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 5, wherein the second memory comprises a nonvolatile memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first memory comprises a programmable read only memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first memory includes advanced configuration and power interface basic input-output system instructions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the possible resource setting data is stored in the first memory in a compressed format.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the advanced configuration and power interface table data is stored in the first memory in a compressed format.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer system comprising: a bus; a host processor operatively coupled to the bus; a motherboard plug-and-play device operatively coupled to the bus; a basic input-output system memory operatively coupled to the bus and including advanced configuration and power interface table data and possible resource setting data, wherein the possible resource setting data is kept opaque to an advanced configuration and power interface operating system; and a nonvolatile memory operatively coupled to the bus and comprising a resource lock indication, said resource lock indication indicating when said possible resource setting data is kept opaque from said advanced configuration and power interface operating system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer system comprising: a bus; a host processor operatively coupled to the bus; a motherboard plug-and-play device operatively coupled to the bus; a basic input-output system memory operatively coupled to the bus and including advanced configuration and power interface table data and possible resource setting data, wherein the possible resource setting data is kept opaque to an advanced configuration and power interface operating system; and a nonvolatile memory operatively coupled to the bus and comprising a resource lock indication, said resource lock indication indicating when said possible resource setting data is kept opaque from said advanced configuration and power interface operating system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein the bus comprises an industry standard architecture bus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein the bus comprises a peripheral component interface bus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein the basic input-output system memory comprises a programmable read only memory.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein the possible resource setting data is stored in a compressed format.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of making possible resource setting configuration data for a device available to an advanced configuration and power interface operating system, the method comprising: determining if a resource flag is set; and loading the possible resource setting configuration data into a first memory at a location known by the advanced configuration and power interface operating system to contain said possible resource setting configuration data only if the resource flag is not set.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of making possible resource setting configuration data for a device available to an advanced configuration and power interface operating system, the method comprising: determining if a resource flag is set; and loading the possible resource setting configuration data into a first memory at a location known by the advanced configuration and power interface operating system to contain said possible resource setting configuration data only if the resource flag is not set.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16, wherein determining if the resource flag is set comprises reading a value from a nonvolatile memory.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16, wherein loading the possible resource setting configuration data comprises copying the possible resource setting configuration data from a second memory into the first memory.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the first memory is random access memory.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the second memory is read only memory.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the read only memory further comprises basic input-output system instructions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the device is a motherboard plug-and-play device.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of controlling access to possible configuration data associated with a device of a computer system in which the possible configuration data is normally accessible to an operating system of the computer system at an expected memory location, the method comprising: determining if access to the possible configuration data by the operating system is to be blocked; and if so, not making the possible configuration data accessible at the expected memory location.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of controlling access to possible configuration data associated with a device of a computer system in which the possible configuration data is normally accessible to an operating system of the computer system at an expected memory location, the method comprising: determining if access to the possible configuration data by the operating system is to be blocked; and if so, not making the possible configuration data accessible at the expected memory location.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 23, wherein determining if access to the possible configuration data comprises reading a value from a nonvolatile memory, said value indicates when said possible configuration data access by the operating system is to be blocked.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 23, wherein making the possible configuration data accessible comprises loading the possible configuration data from a first memory to the expected memory location in a second memory.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the possible configuration data comprises possible configuration data for an input-output device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 26, wherein the input-output device comprises a motherboard plug-and-play device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the first memory comprises read only memory.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the second memory comprises random access memory.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the read only memory further comprises basic input-output system instructions.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of making motherboard plug-and-play device possible resource setting configuration data available to an advanced configuration and power interface operating system, the method comprising: reading a resource lock value from a nonvolatile memory; and loading the possible resource setting configuration data into a random access memory at a location known by the advanced configuration and power interface operating system to contain said possible resource setting configuration data only if the resource lock value indicates a not-locked state.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of making motherboard plug-and-play device possible resource setting configuration data available to an advanced configuration and power interface operating system, the method comprising: reading a resource lock value from a nonvolatile memory; and loading the possible resource setting configuration data into a random access memory at a location known by the advanced configuration and power interface operating system to contain said possible resource setting configuration data only if the resource lock value indicates a not-locked state.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 31, wherein loading the possible resource setting configuration data comprises copying the possible resource setting configuration data from a read only memory into the random access memory.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 32, wherein the read only memory further comprises basic input-output system instructions.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 32, wherein the possible resource setting configuration data is stored in the read only memory in a compressed format.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
90 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, the program storage device having encoded therein a program of instructions to control access to configuration data associated with a device, the configuration data normally accessible to the machine at an expected memory location, the program including instructions to: determine if access to the configuration data by the machine is to be blocked; and if so, not make the configuration data accessible at the expected memory location by not loading the configuration data from a first memory to the expected memory location.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
90 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, the program storage device having encoded therein a program of instructions to control access to configuration data associated with a device, the configuration data normally accessible to the machine at an expected memory location, the program including instructions to: determine if access to the configuration data by the machine is to be blocked; and if so, not make the configuration data accessible at the expected memory location by not loading the configuration data from a first memory to the expected memory location.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The program storage device of claim 35, wherein the instructions to determine access to the configuration data includes instruction to read a value from a nonvolatile memory.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
The program storage device of claim 35, wherein the configuration data comprises possible configuration data for an input-output device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The program storage device of claim 37, wherein the input-output device is a motherboard plug-and-play device.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The program storage device of claim 35, wherein the first memory is read only memory.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The program storage device of claim 35, wherein the expected memory location is random access memory.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-16 | 2003-11-15 | 2004-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-16 | 2007-11-15 | 2008-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-16 | 2011-11-15 | 2012-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |