US6324644B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network enhanced bios enabling remote management of a computer without a functioning operating system
Assignee: Kinglite Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 1999-01-19
•
Granted: 2001-11-27
•
Expires: 2019-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and system of communicating with a computer through a network prior to booting the computer's operating system or after operating system failure is provided. A multitasking kernel is implemented in a network enhanced BIOS. External references in a NIC device driver are resolved to reference services provided by the network enhanced BIOS. A workstation coupled to the computer through a network may be used to access and set status on the computer prior to loading the operating system or after operating system failure. The multitasking kernel may be operated simultaneously with a conventional BIOS. The computer may be further provided with a means for alerting the workstation in the event of a POST failure or operating system crash.
Inventors
- 👤 Yuval Rakavy
- 👤 Ian Anderson
- 👤 Andrew Garsten
- 👤 James Roche
- 👤 Michael Peter R. Burton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2294; G06F11/07; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0706; G06F11/0748; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4416; G06F11/30; G06F11/32; G06F11/324; G06F11/327
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of operating a computer, said computer including a central processing unit (CPU), said CPU operating in at least two modes including a real mode and a protected mode, said method comprising: loading and executing a first basic input/output system (BIOS) on said CPU in real mode, said first BIOS having an initial portion and a subsequent portion, said first BIOS performing a power on system test of said computer; loading and executing a second BIOS on said CPU in protected mode after execution of said initial portion of said first BIOS; and executing said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS on said CPU in alternate portions such that said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS appear to execute simultaneously.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of operating a computer, said computer including a central processing unit (CPU), said CPU operating in at least two modes including a real mode and a protected mode, said method comprising: loading and executing a first basic input/output system (BIOS) on said CPU in real mode, said first BIOS having an initial portion and a subsequent portion, said first BIOS performing a power on system test of said computer; loading and executing a second BIOS on said CPU in protected mode after execution of said initial portion of said first BIOS; and executing said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS on said CPU in alternate portions such that said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS appear to execute simultaneously.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
281 words
A method of operating a computer, said computer including a central processing unit (CPU) and a timer for providing a timer interrupt, said CPU operating in at least two modes including a real mode and a protected mode, said method comprising: loading and executing a first basic input/output system (BIOS) on said CPU in real mode, said first BIOS having an initial portion and a subsequent portion, said first BIOS performing a power on system test of said computer; and loading and executing a second BIOS on said CPU in protected mode after execution of said initial portion of said first BIOS, said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS being executed on said CPU in alternate portions such that said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS appear to execute simultaneously by: (a) vectoring said timer interrupt to a jump program which executes in real mode, when executed, said jump program saves the current state of the real mode first BIOS and transfers control of the CPU to a portion of code which restores the state of the protected mode second BIOS and switches said CPU to protected mode; (b) executing a portion of said protected mode second BIOS; (c) switching said CPU to real mode and saving the current state of the protected mode second BIOS; (d) restoring said real mode first BIOS to said saved state; and (e) executing said real mode first BIOS until interrupted by said timer interrupt, said real mode first BIOS will execute until interrupted by said timer interrupt at which point said protected mode second BIOS will be restored to a saved state and given CPU control.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
281 words
A method of operating a computer, said computer including a central processing unit (CPU) and a timer for providing a timer interrupt, said CPU operating in at least two modes including a real mode and a protected mode, said method comprising: loading and executing a first basic input/output system (BIOS) on said CPU in real mode, said first BIOS having an initial portion and a subsequent portion, said first BIOS performing a power on system test of said computer; and loading and executing a second BIOS on said CPU in protected mode after execution of said initial portion of said first BIOS, said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS being executed on said CPU in alternate portions such that said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS appear to execute simultaneously by: (a) vectoring said timer interrupt to a jump program which executes in real mode, when executed, said jump program saves the current state of the real mode first BIOS and transfers control of the CPU to a portion of code which restores the state of the protected mode second BIOS and switches said CPU to protected mode; (b) executing a portion of said protected mode second BIOS; (c) switching said CPU to real mode and saving the current state of the protected mode second BIOS; (d) restoring said real mode first BIOS to said saved state; and (e) executing said real mode first BIOS until interrupted by said timer interrupt, said real mode first BIOS will execute until interrupted by said timer interrupt at which point said protected mode second BIOS will be restored to a saved state and given CPU control.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for operating a computer, comprising: a first basic input/output system (BIOS) that includes an initial portion and a subsequent portion; a second BIOS; and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the first BIOS and the second BIOS, and can operate in at least two modes including a real mode and a protected mode, said CPU to load and execute the first BIOS in real mode, said CPU to load and execute the second BIOS in protected mode after execution of the initial portion of the first BIOS, said CPU to execute said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS in alternate portions such that said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS appear to execute simultaneously.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for operating a computer, comprising: a first basic input/output system (BIOS) that includes an initial portion and a subsequent portion; a second BIOS; and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the first BIOS and the second BIOS, and can operate in at least two modes including a real mode and a protected mode, said CPU to load and execute the first BIOS in real mode, said CPU to load and execute the second BIOS in protected mode after execution of the initial portion of the first BIOS, said CPU to execute said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS in alternate portions such that said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS appear to execute simultaneously.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first BIOS for performing a power on system test of said computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a timer to provide a timer interrupt, said CPU, in response to detecting the timer interrupt, to (i) save the current state of the real mode first BIOS, (ii) restore the state of the protected mode second BIOS and switch to protected mode, (iii) execute a portion of said protected mode second BIOS, (iv) switch said CPU to real mode and save the current state of the protected mode second BIOS, (v) restore said real mode first BIOS to said saved state, and (vi) execute said real mode first BIOS.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4335426A
Cited
US4752870A
Cited
US4887202A
Cited
US4724521A
Cited
US5019963A
Cited
US4958278A
Cited
US4885770A
Cited
US4918653A
Cited
US5155847A
Cited
US5008814A
Cited
US4975950A
Cited
US5142680A
Cited
US5210875A
Cited
US5410699A
Cited
US5212369A
Cited
US5481754A
Cited
US5307497A
Cited
US5257378A
Cited
US5230052A
Cited
US5265252A
Cited
US5473772A
Cited
US5339426A
Cited
US5355490A
Cited
US5659748A
Cited
US5291585A
Cited
US5268928A
Cited
US5452454A
Cited
US5404494A
Cited
US5355498A
Cited
US5446898A
Cited
US5481709A
Cited
US5495611A
Cited
US5325532A
Cited
US5390324A
Cited
US5588146A
Cited
US5377269A
Cited
US5657448A
Cited
US5623604A
Cited
US5359730A
Cited
US5404527A
Cited
US5535357A
Cited
US5349643A
Cited
US5444850A
Cited
US5680547A
Cited
US5754798A
Cited
US5742825A
Cited
US5715456A
Cited
US5701477A
Cited
US5696968A
Cited
US5732268A
Cited
US5793943A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-11-26 | 2005-05-28 | 2005-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-11-26 | 2009-05-28 | 2009-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-11-26 | 2013-05-28 | 2013-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |