US6272618B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for handling interrupts in a multi-processor computer
Assignee: Dell USA LP
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Filing: 1999-03-25
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Granted: 2001-08-07
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Expires: 2019-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for handling system management interrupts in a multi-processor computer is disclosed. When the computer enters system management mode, the method uses the registers of each processor to get currently executing opcode to determine what each processor was doing before the interrupt. The method may have to first translate address information to locate the actual physical location of the currently executing opcode. The registers are stored in memory and the contents of the registers can be used to determine if the current processor caused the system management interrupt. If so, then the method now knows which processor caused the interrupt and can handle the interrupt accordingly. If, however, the processor was not the one that caused the interrupt, or if another processor also caused an interrupt, the method then repeats the above steps for the next processor of the multiprocessor system.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamen G. Tyner
- 👤 Mark Larson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/48; G06F9/4806; G06F9/4812; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/4068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A computer system comprising: at least two microprocessors, each microprocessor being capable of running in a system management mode and each microprocessor including a respective register, wherein, when any of the microprocessors causes an interrupt, each microprocessor stores its respective register and begins running in system management mode; memory for storing system management code and capable of storing each microprocessor register, wherein the system management code includes: instructions for locating each register in the memory when the microprocessors are running in system management mode; instructions for examining contents of each register to determine which of the processors caused the interrupt; instructions for handling the interrupt upon determination of which processor caused the interrupt; and a chipset connected between the microprocessors and the memory wherein the chipset instructs each microprocessor to suspend execution, store its respective register, and resume execution in system management mode in response to the interrupt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A computer system comprising: at least two microprocessors, each microprocessor being capable of running in a system management mode and each microprocessor including a respective register, wherein, when any of the microprocessors causes an interrupt, each microprocessor stores its respective register and begins running in system management mode; memory for storing system management code and capable of storing each microprocessor register, wherein the system management code includes: instructions for locating each register in the memory when the microprocessors are running in system management mode; instructions for examining contents of each register to determine which of the processors caused the interrupt; instructions for handling the interrupt upon determination of which processor caused the interrupt; and a chipset connected between the microprocessors and the memory wherein the chipset instructs each microprocessor to suspend execution, store its respective register, and resume execution in system management mode in response to the interrupt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein the memory includes a main memory component and a basic input/output system component.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 1 including a plurality of processors, wherein the processors are capable of running an operating system that supports multiple processors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein the interrupt is a system management interrupt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 4 wherein the instructions for examining each register also fetch an opcode indicated by each register and determine if the opcode is of a type that would cause a system management interrupt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein the instructions for locating each register also translate a first address to a second address for each register.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a multiprocessor computer system, a method for handling a system management interrupt comprising: a) waiting for the computer to enter system management mode; b) selecting a first processor of the multiprocessor computer system; c) locating one or more registers and checking for contents of each register of the first processor; d) examining the contents to determine if the first processor caused the system management interrupt; e) handling the interrupt for the first processor if the first processor did cause the system management interrupt; and f) repeating a-e for a next processor of the multiprocessor computer system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a multiprocessor computer system, a method for handling a system management interrupt comprising: a) waiting for the computer to enter system management mode; b) selecting a first processor of the multiprocessor computer system; c) locating one or more registers and checking for contents of each register of the first processor; d) examining the contents to determine if the first processor caused the system management interrupt; e) handling the interrupt for the first processor if the first processor did cause the system management interrupt; and f) repeating a-e for a next processor of the multiprocessor computer system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the repeating is performed regardless of whether a determination was made if the first processor caused the system management interrupt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the repeating is performed only if a determination was made that the first processor did not cause the system management interrupt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising: fetching an opcode indicated by the contents and determining if the opcode is of a type that would cause a system management interrupt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising: translating a first address to a second address in order to locate an opcode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the computer system includes a non-legacy component and is running an operating environment that only supports legacy components.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
127 words
A program for controlling operation of a multiprocessor computer system upon receipt of a system management interrupt, the program comprising: a) instructions responsive to the computer system entering a system management mode for selecting a first processor of the multiprocessor computer system; b) instructions for locating a register and checking for contents of the register of the first processor; c) instructions for examining the contents to determine if the first processor caused the system management interrupt; d) instructions for handling the interrupt for the first processor if the first processor did cause the system management interrupt; and e) instructions for repeating a-d for a next processor of the multiprocessor computer system regardless of whether a determination was made if the first processor caused the system management interrupt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
127 words
A program for controlling operation of a multiprocessor computer system upon receipt of a system management interrupt, the program comprising: a) instructions responsive to the computer system entering a system management mode for selecting a first processor of the multiprocessor computer system; b) instructions for locating a register and checking for contents of the register of the first processor; c) instructions for examining the contents to determine if the first processor caused the system management interrupt; d) instructions for handling the interrupt for the first processor if the first processor did cause the system management interrupt; and e) instructions for repeating a-d for a next processor of the multiprocessor computer system regardless of whether a determination was made if the first processor caused the system management interrupt.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The program of claim 13 further comprising: instructions for fetching an opcode indicated by the contents; and instructions for determining if the opcode is of a type that would cause a system management interrupt.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program of claim 13 further comprising: instructions for translating a first address to a second address in order to locate the contents of the first processor's register.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The program of claim 13 wherein the system management interrupt is caused by an operation to a port.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
130 words
A program for controlling operation of a multiprocessor computer system upon receipt of a system management interrupt, the program comprising: a) instructions responsive to the computer system entering a system management mode for selecting a first processor of the multiprocessor computer system; b) instructions for locating a register and checking for contents of the register of the first processor; c) instructions for examining the contents to determine if the first processor caused the system management interrupt; d) instructions for handling the interrupt for the first processor if the first processor did cause the system management interrupt; and e) instructions for repeating a-d for a next processor of the multiprocessor computer system only if it was a determination was made that the first processor did not cause the system management interrupt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
130 words
A program for controlling operation of a multiprocessor computer system upon receipt of a system management interrupt, the program comprising: a) instructions responsive to the computer system entering a system management mode for selecting a first processor of the multiprocessor computer system; b) instructions for locating a register and checking for contents of the register of the first processor; c) instructions for examining the contents to determine if the first processor caused the system management interrupt; d) instructions for handling the interrupt for the first processor if the first processor did cause the system management interrupt; and e) instructions for repeating a-d for a next processor of the multiprocessor computer system only if it was a determination was made that the first processor did not cause the system management interrupt.
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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) | 2004-08-06 | 2005-02-05 | 2005-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-06 | 2009-02-05 | 2009-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-06 | 2013-02-05 | 2013-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |