BIOS FOR A COMPUTING DEVICE WITH HANDHELD AND EXTENDED COMPUTING UNITS

• US 20090198989A1
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza), Markison, Timothy W.
• Application Number:
  US12/026,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20090198989A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

A handheld computing unit includes a processing module, a main memory interface, a baseband processing module, an RF section, input/output (I/O) interfaces, a bus structure, a handheld connection structure, and a ROM. The ROM includes a first section for storing a power on self test (POST) of basic input/output system (BIOS) and a second section for storing a boot loader of the BIOS. The boot loader includes a remote mode operating system boot loader and a docked mode operating system boot loader. The remote mode operating system boot loader is used to load a remote mode operating system when in a remote mode and the docked mode operating system boot loader is used to load a docked mode operating system when in a docked mode, which includes at least a portion of the remote mode operating system.

Claims

1. A handheld computing unit of a computing device that includes the handheld computing unit and an extended computing unit, wherein the handheld computing unit comprises:

a handheld processing module;

a handheld main memory interface;

a baseband processing module coupled to convert outbound data into an outbound symbol stream and to convert an inbound symbol stream into inbound data;

a radio frequency (RF) section coupled to convert the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal and to convert an inbound RF signal into the inbound symbol stream;

handheld input/output (I/O) interfaces;

a handheld bus structure coupled to the handheld processing module, the handheld main memory, the baseband processing module, and the handheld I/O components;

a handheld connection structure coupled to one or more of;

the handheld processing module, the handheld main memory, the handheld bus structure, and at least one of the handheld I/O interfaces; and

a read only memory (ROM) coupled to the bus structure, wherein the ROM includes a first section for storing a power on self test (POST) of basic input/output system (BIOS) and a second section for storing a boot loader of the BIOS, wherein the boot loader includes a remote mode operating system boot loader and a docked mode operating system boot loader, wherein, when the handheld computing unit is in a remote mode, the remote mode operating system boot loader is used to load a remote mode operating system and when the handheld computing unit is in a docked mode, the docked mode operating system boot loader is used to load a docked mode operating system, wherein the docked mode operating system includes at least a portion of the remote mode operating system, wherein the handheld computing unit is in the remote mode when the handheld computing unit is not coupled to the extended computing unit and is in the docked mode when the handheld computing unit is coupled to the extended computing unit.

2. The handheld computing unit of claim 1, wherein the ROM comprises one or more of:

programmable ROM (PROM);

electronically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM); and

flash ROM.

3. The handheld computing unit of claim 1, wherein the POST includes operational instructions that cause the handheld processing module to:

initialize a clock generator within the handheld computing unit;

initialize handheld main memory coupled to the handheld main memory interface;

initialize the handheld bus structure;

initialize a block I/O device coupled to one of the handheld I/O interfaces;

determine whether to access the remote mode operating system boot loader or the docked mode operating system boot loader;

when the remote mode operating system boot loader is to be accessed;

initialize character I/O devices coupled to others of the handheld I/O interfaces; and

load the remote mode operating system boot loader.

4. The handheld computing unit of claim 3, wherein the POST further comprises, when the docked mode operating system boot loader is to be accessed, operational instructions that cause the handheld processing module to:

initialize a slave clock module within the extended computing unit;

initialize an extended processing module within the extended computing unit;

initialize extended main memory within the extended computing unit;

initialize extended bus structure within the extended computing unit;

initializes an I/O controller within the extended computing unit;

initialize extended I/O devices coupled to the extended bus structure or to the I/O controller;

initialize at least one of an extended graphics controller and an extended graphics card within the extended computing unit;

initialize a mouse and a keyboard of the extended computing unit; and

load the docked mode operating system boot loader.

5. The handheld computing unit of claim 3, wherein the boot loader further comprises:

a quasi docked mode operating system boot loader, wherein, when the handheld computing unit is in a quasi docked mode, the quasi docked mode operating system boot loader is used to load a quasi docked mode operating system, wherein the quasi docked mode operating system includes at least a portion of the remote mode operating system, and wherein the handheld computing unit is in the quasi docked mode when the handheld computing unit is wirelessly coupled to the extended computing unit.

6. The handheld computing unit of claim 5, wherein the POST further comprises operational instructions that cause the handheld processing module to:

determine to access the quasi docked mode operating system boot loader;

initialize a slave clock module within the extended computing unit;

initialize an extended processing module within the extended computing unit;

initialize extended main memory within the extended computing unit;

initialize a hard disk within the extended computing unit;

initialize character I/O devices of the handheld computing unit; and

load the quasi docked mode operating system boot loader.

7. The handheld computing unit of claim 5, wherein the determining the boot loader to access further comprises operational instructions that cause the handheld processing module to:

determine whether the handheld computing unit is connected to the extended computing unit;

when the handheld computing unit is connected to the extended computing unit indicating the docked mode;

when the handheld computing unit is not connected to the extended computing unit;

enable the baseband processing module and RF section in a radio frequency identification (RFID) mode;

enable transmitting of an RFID message to an RFID tag within the extended computing unit;

when an acknowledgement of the RFID message is received, indicating the quasi docked mode; and

when the acknowledgement of the RFID message is not received, indicating the remote mode.

8. The handheld computing unit of claim 1 further comprises:

the handheld processing module, the handheld main memory interface, the baseband processing module, the RF section, the handheld I/O interfaces, the handheld bus structure, and the ROM being implemented as an integrated circuit, wherein the ROM includes the BIOS.

9. The handheld computing unit of claim 1 further comprises:

the handheld processing module, the handheld main memory interface, the baseband processing module, the RF section, the handheld I/O interfaces, the handheld bus structure, and the ROM being implemented as an integrated circuit; and

an off-chip ROM coupled to the ROM, wherein the ROM and the off-chip ROM include the BIOS.

10. A handheld computing unit of a computing device that includes the handheld computing unit and an extended computing unit, wherein the handheld computing unit comprises:

a handheld processing module;

a handheld main memory interface;

a baseband processing module coupled to convert outbound data into an outbound symbol stream and to convert an inbound symbol stream into inbound data;

a radio frequency (RF) section coupled to convert the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal and to convert an inbound RF signal into the inbound symbol stream;

handheld input/output (I/O) interfaces;

a handheld bus structure coupled to the handheld processing module, the handheld main memory, the baseband processing module, and the handheld I/O components; and

a handheld connection structure coupled to one or more of;

the handheld processing module, the handheld main memory, the handheld bus structure, and at least one of the handheld I/O interfaces; and

a read only memory (ROM) coupled to the bus structure, wherein the ROM stores a reboot process that includes a reboot from docked mode to remote mode process and a reboot from the remote mode to the docked mode process, wherein the handheld computing unit is in the remote mode with it is not coupled to the extended computing unit and is in the docked mode when it is coupled to the extended computing unit.

11. The handheld computing unit of claim 10, wherein the ROM comprises one or more of:

programmable ROM (PROM);

electronically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM); and

flash ROM.

12. The handheld computing unit of claim 10, wherein the reboot from the remote mode to the docked mode process includes operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

shutdown handheld character I/O devices;

initialize a slave clock within the extended computing unit;

initialize a memory controller;

initialize an I/O controller within the extended computing unit;

initialize an extended processing module within the extended computing unit;

initialize extended main memory within the extended computing unit;

initialize extended bus structure within the extended computing unit;

initialize extended I/O devices coupled to the extended bus structure or to the I/O controller;

initialize at least one of an extended graphics controller and an extended graphics card within the extended computing unit;

initialize a mouse and a keyboard of the extended computing unit; and

load the docked mode operating system boot loader.

13. The handheld computing unit of claim 10, wherein the reboot from docked mode to remote mode process comprises operational instructions that cause the handheld processing module to:

shutdown a slave clock within the extended computing unit;

shutdown memory controller of external main memory within the extended computing unit;

shutdown the extended processing module within the extended computing unit;

shutdown an I/O controller within the extended computing unit;

shutdown at least one of an extended graphics controller and an extended graphics card within the extended computing unit;

shutdown a mouse and a keyboard of the extended computing unit;

initialize a handheld graphics engine of the handheld computing unit; and

load the remote mode operating system boot loader.

14. The handheld computing unit of claim 10, wherein the reboot process further comprises:

a reboot from remote mode to quasi docked mode process;

a reboot from quasi docked mode to remote mode process;

a reboot from docked mode to quasi docked mode process;

a reboot from quasi docked mode to docked mode process, wherein the handheld computing unit is in a quasi docked mode when the handheld computing unit is wirelessly coupled to the extended computing unit.

15. The handheld computing unit of claim 14, where the reboot from remote mode to quasi docked mode process comprises operational instructions that cause the handheld processing module to:

initialize a slave clock module within the extended computing unit;

initialize an extended processing module within the extended computing unit;

initialize extended main memory within the extended computing unit;

initialize a hard disk within the extended computing unit;

re-initialize handheld character I/O devices; and

load the quasi docked mode operating system boot loader.

16. The handheld computing unit of claim 14, wherein the reboot from quasi docked mode to remote mode process comprises operational instructions that cause the handheld processing module to:

shutdown a slave clock within the extended computing unit;

shutdown an extended processing module within the extended computing unit;

shutdown extended main memory within the extended computing unit;

shutdown hard disk within the extended computing unit;

re-initialize a handheld graphics engine of the handheld computing unit; and

load the remote mode operating system boot loader.

17. The handheld computing unit of claim 14, wherein the reboot from docked mode to quasi docked mode process comprises operational instructions that cause the handheld processing module to:

shutdown an I/O controller within the extended computing unit;

shutdown at least one of an extended graphics controller and an extended graphics card within the extended computing unit;

shutdown a mouse and a keyboard of the extended computing unit;

re-initialize a slave clock module within the extended computing unit;

re-initialize an extended processing module within the extended computing unit;

re-initialize extended main memory within the extended computing unit;

re-initialize a hard disk within the extended computing unit;

re-initialize a handheld graphics engine of the handheld computing unit; and

load the quasi docked mode operating system boot loader.

18. The handheld computing unit of claim 14, wherein the reboot from quasi docked mode to docked mode process comprises operational instructions that cause the handheld processing module to:

shutdown handheld character I/O devices;

re-initialize a slave clock within the extended computing unit;

re-initialize a memory controller;

initialize an I/O controller within the extended computing unit;

re-initialize an extended processing module within the extended computing unit;

re-initialize extended main memory within the extended computing unit;

initialize extended bus structure within the extended computing unit;

initialize extended I/O devices coupled to the extended bus structure or to the I/O controller;

initialize at least one of an extended graphics controller and an extended graphics card within the extended computing unit;

initialize a mouse and a keyboard of the extended computing unit; and

load the docked mode operating system boot loader.

19. The handheld computing unit of claim 10 further comprises:

the handheld processing module, the handheld main memory interface, the baseband processing module, the RF section, the handheld I/O interfaces, the handheld bus structure, and the ROM being implemented as an integrated circuit, wherein the ROM includes the reboot process.

20. The handheld computing unit of claim 10 further comprises:

the handheld processing module, the handheld main memory interface, the baseband processing module, the RF section, the handheld I/O interfaces, the handheld bus structure, and the ROM being implemented as an integrated circuit; and

an off-chip ROM coupled to the ROM, wherein the ROM and the off-chip ROM include the reboot process.