External boot information loading of a personal computer
US5325529A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 18, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4416
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system which can receive boot information over a parallel or serial port. The ports are inspected for activity prior to attempting to boot from a floppy or hard disk. If there is activity on the port the sequence being received is read and compared to a predetermined identification sequence. If a match is made, an acknowledgement character is transmitted. A communication sequence commences to transfer the boot information over the link. After the transfer is complete, the boot information is executed. The serial transfer utilizes the conventional serial lines, while the parallel transfer is performed a nibble at a time. This nibble mode allows use of only outputs to inputs to avoid dual source driving problems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.