System management interrupt for a desktop management interface/system management basic input output system interface function
US6122732A · kind A · utility
21Cited by
7References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 23, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2211/1097
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computing system provides a process for updating a management information format (MIF) database while a processor is operating in a protected mode. The BIOS accesses a protected memory space by utilizing a system management interrupt (SMI). A SMI causes the computing system to enter a system management mode (SMM) and call a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) function, such as the BIOS function 52h (Set Structure), to accomplish an update of the MIF database. An OEM string, for example, may be updated. In SMM, the system is capable of accessing the entire memory address space without risking a memory protection fault.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.