Computer system capable of executing a remote operating system

• US 20030191623A1
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zoran Corporation (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oak Technology Inc (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Salmonsen, Daniel R.
• Application Number:
  US10/313,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20030191623A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440218 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 conversion of standards in analogue television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A computer system comprises a processor and an emulator coupled to the processor and having an external interface capable of communicating information to a network. The emulator emulates a bootable disc drive and supplies a bootable operating system to the processor from the network.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

an emulator coupled to the processor and having an external interface capable of communicating information to a network, the emulator that emulates a bootable disc drive and supplies a bootable operating system to the processor from the network.

2. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the emulator further comprises;

a network controller capable of coupling to the network; and

an interface controller coupled to the network controller and capable of coupling to the processor, the interface controller being capable of emulating data and control signals of the bootable disc drive.

3. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising:

an emulator processor in the emulator and capable of executing multiple functions including control, data transfer, emulation, data storage, interfacing, and test operations.

4. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising:

an emulator processor in the emulator; and

a storage coupled to the emulator processor and capable of storing data and program code executable on the emulator processor including program code for emulating data and control signals of a bootable disc drive.

5. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising:

an emulator processor in the emulator; and

a storage coupled to the emulator processor and capable of storing data and program code executable on the emulator processor including program code for emulating data and control signals of the processor, program code for emulating data and control signals of a device, and program code for selecting and seamlessly combining communication of actual data and control signals and emulated data and control signals.

6. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the emulator is capable of analyzing data and signals to determine format of a presented information and whether the presented information format is a format supported by a device and, if not, reformatting the presented information to the supported format.

7. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the emulator is capable of analyzing data and control signals for commands and responses to determine a format supported by a device, determining whether information received from an external source does not comply with the supported format, and, if not, converting the information received from the external source to the supported format.

8. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the emulator is capable of receiving signals from an external source and converting the signals so that the processor functions as if receiving signals from a standard bootable disc drive, seamlessly supplying content to the device from multiple diverse-format sources.

9. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the emulator is capable of receiving signals from an external source and converting the signals so that a device functions as if receiving signals from a standard disc drive, seamlessly supplying content to the device from multiple diverse-format sources.

10. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the computer system is incorporated into one or more devices and systems selected from among computers, work-stations, laptop computers, calculators, palm computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile telephones, point-of-sale terminals, product dispensor systems, printers, copiers, facsimile machines, fuel pumps, automotive controllers, and other control devices and information storage, retrieval, and display devices; and

the external interface supports one or more information transfer protocols selected from among broadband, IEEE-1394 high-speed serial bus, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC-61883) Standard that describes;

Isochronous Plug Control Registers, Connection Management Protocol (CMP), Function Control Protocol (FCP), Common Isochronous Packet (CIP) headers, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP GET/PUT/POST), Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

11. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

an emulation controller coupled to the processor;

a network controller coupled to the emulation controller and capable of coupling to an external network; and

a storage holding an instruction sequence executable on the emulation controller, the instruction sequence comprising a code for receiving a information from the external network and supplying a bootable operating system from the external network to the processor for execution.

12. A computer system according to claim 11 comprising:

a bus coupling the processor and the emulation controller.

13. A computer system according to claim 11 wherein:

the emulator emulates a disc storage and supplies software including a bootstrap loading image from a remote source using network connectivity.

14. A computer system according to claim 11 wherein:

the emulator emulates a disc storage and replaces the functionality of a standard system hard drive using emulation of signals received from a network.

15. A computer system according to claim 11 wherein:

the emulator emulates a disc storage and retrieves a bootable image from a network that is delivered in a manner indistinguishable from receipt from a local drive at multiple operating system levels including a BIOS level.

16. A computer system according to claim 11 wherein:

the emulator emulates a disc storage and retrieves a bootable image from a network that augments local storage in computer system using overflow storage accessed via the network connection.

17. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

an interface coupled to the processor;

a network controller coupled to the interface and capable of coupling to an external network; and

an emulation controller coupling the network controller to the interface that emulates a virtual disc by converting read and write requests directed to a disc into network communication packets.

18. A method of operating a computer system comprising:

activating a processor;

searching for a bootable device;

emulating the bootable device;

communicating with a remote source via a network;

supplying a bootable operating system from the remote source; and

executing the bootable operating system on the processor.

19. A method according to claim 18 further comprising:

communicating with a bus that supplies executable program code and data to the processor;

directing executable program code and data among processors, devices and systems that may be coupled to the bus; and

emulating a program code and data source so that a destination device receives the program code and data in a format that the destination device can use.

20. A method according to claim 18 further comprising:

receiving executable program code in a standard format for execution;

receiving executable program code from the network in a format other than the standard format;

converting the network information to the standard format; and

transferring the converted executable program code to the processor for execution.

21. A method according to claim 18 further comprising:

selectively emulating a bootable device at a logical level and a physical level.

22. A method according to claim 18 further comprising:

receiving signals from a remote source via the network;

analyzing the signals;

determining format of the signals and whether the signal format is a format supported by the processor; and

reformatting the signals to the supported format if not in the supported format.

23. A method according to claim 18 further comprising:

receiving signals from a remote source via the network;

analyzing the received signals for commands and responses;

determining a format supported by the processor;

determining whether the commands and responses received from an external source do not comply with the supported format; and

converting the commands and responses received from the external source to the supported format if not in compliance.

24. A method according to claim 18 further comprising:

receiving signals from an external source;

converting the signals so that the processor functions as if receiving signals from a standard information source device; and

seamlessly supplying content to the media decoder from multiple diverse-format sources.

25. A computer system comprising:

a server;

one or more of bootable operating system images stored on the server;

a processor;

an interface coupled to the processor; and

an emulator coupled to the interface and having an external interface capable of intercommunicating information with the server, the emulator emulating a bootable disc drive and supplying a selected bootable operating system to the processor from the server.

26. A computer system according to claim 25 wherein:

the processor, interface, and emulator are contained in a standalone computing device; and

the server and one or more bootable operating system images are remote from the standalone computing device and communicate with the standalone computing device by network communication.

27. A computer system according to claim 25 further comprising:

an emulator processor in the emulator; and

a storage coupled to the emulator processor and capable of storing data and program code executable on the emulator processor including program code for emulating data and control signals of a bootable disc drive.

28. A computer system according to claim 25 further comprising:

an emulator processor in the emulator; and

a storage coupled to the emulator processor and capable of storing data and program code executable on the emulator processor including program code for emulating data and control signals of the processor, program code for emulating data and control signals of a device, and program code for selecting and seamlessly combining communication of actual data and control signals and emulated data and control signals.

29. A computer system according to claim 25 wherein:

the processor, interface, and emulator are incorporated into one or more devices and systems selected from among computers, work-stations, laptop computers, calculators, palm computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile telephones, point-of-sale terminals, product dispenser systems, printers, copiers, facsimile machines, fuel pumps, automotive controllers, and other control devices and information storage, retrieval, and display devices; and

the emulator supports one or more information transfer protocols selected from among broadband, IEEE-1394 high-speed serial bus, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC-61883) Standard that describes;

Isochronous Plug Control Registers, Connection Management Protocol (CMP), Function Control Protocol (FCP), Common Isochronous Packet (CIP) headers, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP GET/PUT/POST), Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

30. A computer system comprising:

a server;

a plurality of bootable operating system images stored on the server; and

an interactive program executable on the server for selecting a bootable operating system image;

a communication program executable on the server and capable of retrieving a selected bootable operating system image and transferring the bootable operating system image to a client computer, the client computer including a processor, a disc interface, and an emulator with a network controller that receives the bootable operating system image and communicates the bootable operating system image to the processor for execution over the interface.

31. A computer system comprising:

means for activating a processor;

means for searching for a bootable device;

means for emulating the bootable device;

means for communicating with a remote source via a network;

means for supplying a bootable operating system from the remote source; and

means for executing the bootable operating system on the processor.

32. A computer system according to claim 31 further comprising:

means for communicating with a bus that supplies executable program code and data to the processor;

means for directing executable program code and data among processors, devices and systems that may be coupled to the bus; and

means for emulating a program code and data source so that a destination device receives the program code and data in a format that the destination device can use.

33. A computer system according to claim 31 further comprising:

means for receiving executable program code in a standard format for execution;

means for receiving executable program code from the network in a format other than the standard format;

means for converting the network information to the standard format; and

means for transferring the converted executable program code to the processor for execution.

34. A computer system according to claim 31 further comprising:

means for receiving signals from a remote source via the network;

means for analyzing the signals;

means for determining format of the signals and whether the signal format is a format supported by the processor; and

means for reformatting the signals to the supported format if not in the supported format.

35. A computer system according to claim 31 further comprising:

means for receiving signals from a remote source via the network;

means for analyzing the received signals for commands and responses;

means for determining a format supported by the processor;

means for determining whether the commands and responses received from an external source do not comply with the supported format; and

means for converting the commands and responses received from the external source to the supported format if not in compliance.