Method for selecting, detecting and/or reprogramming system BIOS in a computer system
US6161177A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4403
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system having a motherboard that is adapted to receive a daughterboard containing a CPU coupled to a PCI bus and a memory device through a system controller. The PCI bus is, in turn, coupled to a storage device, such as a programmable array logic device, containing CPU data identifying the type of CPU or other hardware installed on the daughterboard. The motherboard includes a memory device storing a BIOS program as well as a startup program. The startup program is executed by the CPU at power up or reset to cause the CPU to compare the CPU data identifying the CPU to BIOS data identifying the CPU adapted to execute the BIOS program. In the event that the CPU data and the BIOS data match, the CPU executes the BIOS program in a normal manner. In the event the CPU data does not match the BIOS data, the CPU executes a crisis recovery routine which may involve writing the proper BIOS program from a floppy disk to a programmable memory device containing the BIOS program on the motherboard. The CPU can then execute the proper BIOS program from the programmable memory.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.