Booting an operating system using soft read-only storage (ROS) for firmware emulation
US5918048A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4406
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An improved method of providing an operating system for a computer by defining an interface between the operating system and the computer's firmware. An executable file (soft ROS) is placed in a boot image so as to run, before execution of the real operating system, in response to the firmware seeking the operating system. The soft ROS includes instructions to determine whether the firmware conforms to the standardized interface. If so, then no special action is taken and control is passed to the operating system, but if the firmware is non-conforming in any manner, the soft ROS executes a firmware emulation module which provides the interface with the operating system. The firmware emulation module can provide missing dependencies of the firmware to the operating system, fix a defect in the firmware, or translate functions of the firmware to the pre-defined interface. This method isolates the operating system from firmware dependencies, making the operating system more portable.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.