System and Method for Mapping Platform Configuration Human Interface Infrastructure Data to System Attributes for Local and Remote System Management

• US 20120136888A1
• Filed: 11/29/2010
• Published: 05/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Mahmoud, Samer El Haj, Bolen, Austin, Chan, Richard, Munger, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,522,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]

Abstract

A first portion of a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) configuration language string is determined, the first portion identifying an Human Interface Infrastructure (HII) configuration attribute. A second portion of the string is determined and includes a first attribute modifier. The first attribute modifier includes a first name-value pair identifying a first name and a first value. The first name and the first value are individually parsable, and the meaning of the first value is determined based on the first name. The string is stored at a HII string package of an HII database. An HII string identifier uniquely references the string.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

determining a first portion of a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) configuration language string, the first portion identifying a Human Interface Infrastructure (HII) configuration attribute;

determining a second portion of the string including a first attribute modifier, the first attribute modifier including a first name-value pair identifying a first name and a first value, wherein the first name and the first value are individually parsable, and wherein the meaning of the first value is determined based on the first name; and

storing the string at an HII string package of an HII database, wherein the string is uniquely referenced by an HII string identifier, and wherein storing the string comprises storing the string at a memory device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first value is to specify a fully qualified device descriptor associated with the HII configuration attribute.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first value is to specify a boot-path to identify a location of a UEFI boot-file at a device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first value is to specify boot-data, the boot-data including a Unicode representation of hexadecimal data to be passed to an operating system loader.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first value is to specify a boot-type indicating a boot method for a device associated with the HII configuration attribute.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first value is to specify a partition of a logical network associated with the HII configuration attribute.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first value is to specify a port number identifying a port associated with the HII configuration attribute.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the UEFI configuration language string corresponds to an HII question prompt token, the HII question prompt token associated with a configurable object included at an information handling system.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the UEFI configuration language string corresponds to an option provided by an HII question, the HII question associated with a configurable object included at an information handling system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first attribute modifier is to provide a unique map of HII configuration data to one of a plurality of HII configuration attributes at an information handling system.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein parsable comprises encoding the string using a predetermined syntax to permit individual identification of the first name and of the first value of the first name-value pair.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the string includes a second attribute modifier, the second attribute modifier including a second name-value pair.

13. A computer implemented method comprising:

retrieving a UEFI configuration language string from a Human Interface Infrastructure (HII) string package of an HII database, the HII database stored at a memory device; and

parsing the string to determine;

a first portion identifying an HII configuration attribute; and

a second portion identifying a first attribute modifier including a first name-value pair, wherein a first name and a first value of the first name-value pair are individually parsable, and wherein the meaning of the first value is determined based on the first name.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first value is to specify a parameter selected from a group consisting of a fully qualified device descriptor, a boot-path to identify a file path to a UEFI boot-file at a device, boot-data including a Unicode representation of hexadecimal data to be passed to an operating system loader, a boot-type to indicate a boot method for a device, a partition identifier to represent a logical network included at a port to which the HII configuration attribute applies, and a port number associated with a port.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

altering the first attribute modifier to provide an updated UEFI configuration language string; and

storing the updated string at the HII string package.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the UEFI configuration language string corresponds to an HII question prompt token, the HII question prompt token associated with a configurable object included at an information handling system.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the UEFI configuration language string corresponds to an option provided by an HII question, the HII question associated with a configurable object included at an information handling system.

18. An information handling system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage medium, the storage medium comprising instructions executable by the processor to;

determine a first portion of a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) configuration language string, the first portion identifying a Human Interface Infrastructure (HII) configuration attribute; and

determine a second portion of the string including a first attribute modifier, the first attribute modifier including a first name-value pair including a first name and a first value, wherein the first name and the first value are individually parsable, and wherein the meaning of the first value is determined based on the first name;

store the string at an HII string package of an HII database, wherein the string is uniquely referenced by an HII string identifier, and wherein storing the string comprises storing the string at a memory device.

19. The information handling system of claim 18 wherein the first value is to specify a parameter selected from a group consisting of a fully qualified device descriptor, a boot-path to identify a file path to a UEFI boot-file at a device, boot-data including a Unicode representation of hexadecimal data to be passed to an operating system loader, a boot-type to indicate a boot method for a device, a partition identifier to represent a logical network included at a port to which the HII configuration attribute applies, and a port number associated with a port.

20. The information handling system of claim 18 wherein the UEFI configuration language string corresponds to an HII question prompt token, the HII question prompt token associated with a configurable object included at an information handling system.