Handling legacy BIOS services for mass storage devices using systems management interrupts with or without waiting for data transferred to mass storage devices
US8255594B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 2009 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4401
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method, system, and computer program product containing instructions for handling legacy BIOS services for mass storage devices using system management interrupts. In response to receiving a request for an input/output service, a system management interrupt is generated to enter system management mode. A system management RAM (SMRAM) is accessible to code executing inside system management mode. Sub-operations to perform the requested service are identified, and code is executed outside the SMRAM to perform a sub-operation to fulfill the request. The sub-operations identified for execution outside SMRAM include any sub-operations that require waiting for data to be transferred. Other code executing inside the SMRAM may perform additional sub-operations that do not require waiting for data transfers to fulfill the request. System management mode is exited before invoking the code to perform the sub-operation to execute outside the SMRAM.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.