SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING AN EXTENDED CAPABILITY TO A SYSTEM

• US 20100017588A1
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Danilak, Radoslav
• Application Number:
  US12/173,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017588A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are included for providing an extended capability to a system. In operation, a request to boot a system is identified. Additionally, in response to the request, extended capability code is returned. Furthermore, the extended capability code is capable of being executed to provide an extended capability.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying a request to boot a system; and

in response to the request, returning extended capability code;

wherein the extended capability code is capable of being executed to provide an extended capability.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the request is received by a single storage device.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the request is received by a plurality of storage devices.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein boot code is substituted with the extended capability code.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein, after the extended capability code is returned, boot code is returned.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the boot code is executed after execution of the extended capability code.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the extended capability code is executed by a host.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the extended capability includes an extended communication capability.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the extended capability includes an extended security capability.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the extended capability includes an extended data back-up capability.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the extended capability includes an extended statistics capability.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the extended capability includes retrieving additional extended capability code, where the additional extended capability code is capable of being executed to provide an additional extended capability.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the extended capability includes writing to boot code.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein after execution of the extended capability code, data is capable of being read from or written to locations on a disk, including a boot sector on the disk.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the request is received by a bootable device.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the request is received by a non-bootable device.

17. A method, comprising:

identifying a request to load operating system information; and

in response to the request, returning extended capability code;

wherein the extended capability code is capable of being executed to provide an extended capability.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the extended capability includes an extended communication capability.

19. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the extended capability includes an extended security capability.

20. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the extended capability includes an extended data back-up capability.

21. A data structure embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:

a bios object; and

extended capability code included with the bios object providing an extended capability in response to execution.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device for receiving a request to boot a system; and

an interface for returning extended capability code in response to the request;

wherein the extended capability code is capable of being executed to provide an extended capability.