Method of storing BIOS modules and transferring them to memory for execution
US6633976B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4401
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods for processing basic input output system (BIOS) modules of a computer to initialize the computer. The computer includes a system memory, a central processing unit (CPU), a computer bus, a critical nonvolatile storage device, and a secondary nonvolatile storage device. Selected BIOS modules required for operation of the computer are transferred from the critical nonvolatile storage device, and optionally a protected area of the secondary nonvolatile storage device, to system memory and executed to initialize the computer. Minimal BIOS initialization code is stored in a first portion of the critical nonvolatile storage device which is operative to initialize the CPU and the system memory. Additional BIOS modules are stored in the critical nonvolatile storage device or the protected area of the secondary nonvolatile storage device. A dispatch manager is stored in a second portion of the critical nonvolatile storage device. The dispatch manager is operative to selectively load and iteratively execute a predetermined number of tasks relating to initialization of the computer, which involves locating, loading and executing selected ones of the stored BIOS modules.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.