Flexible implementation of a system management mode (SMM) in a processor
US6093213A · kind A · utility
124Cited by
16References
33Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4812
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system management mode (SMM) of operating a processor includes only a basic set of hardwired hooks or mechanisms in the processor for supporting SMM. Most of SMM functionality, such as the processing actions performed when entering and exiting SMM, is "soft" and freely defined. A system management interrupt (SMI) pin is connected to the processor so that a signal on the SMI pin causes the processor to enter SMM mode. SMM is completely transparent to all other processor operating software. SMM handler code and data is stored in memory that is protected and hidden from normal software access.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.