System for receiving peripheral device capability information and selectively disabling corresponding processing unit function when the device failing to support such function
US5799203A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 17, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F15/177
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for providing information regarding system support capabilities to a processor. A computer system includes a processing unit, a main memory and a first plurality of peripherals coupled to a first bus. A bus bridge couples the first bus to a second bus and a second plurality of support peripherals are coupled to the second bus. The processing unit is capable of providing requests for system support information to the bus bridge and the first and second plurality support peripherals. The peripherals are configured to provide responses to the request. The processing unit stores the responses and uses the information received to enable and disable its functional units or the peripheral's functional units accordingly. In one embodiment, the requests and information are provided along a dedicated serial interface. In another, the requests and information are provided as specialized bus cycles along the CPU bus.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.