SUPPORTING HARDWARE CONFIGURATION CHANGES IN A UEFI FIRMWARE COMPONENT

• US 20120254831A1
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phoenix Technologies EMEA Limited
• Original Assignee: Phoenix Technologies Limited (Pharaoh Acquisition LLC)
• Inventors: Mortensen, James L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,484,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing support for customization of a build configuration of a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) compatible component. The method includes modifying the build configuration of the UEFI compatible component to reflect modifications to a first file. A configuration parameter is received. The configuration parameter is used to create a configuration parameter symbol pointing to the first file. The first file is replaced with a second file, which includes modifications to the first file. The modifications support a functionality desired by a user.

Claims

1. A method for customizing a build configuration of a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) compatible, comprising:

modifying the build configuration of the UEFI compatible component to reflect modifications to a first file by performing;

(A) receiving a configuration parameter;

(B) creating, using the configuration parameter, a configuration parameter symbol pointing to the first file; and

(C) replacing, using the configuration parameter symbol, the first file with a second file, wherein the second file includes modifications to the first file, and wherein the modifications support a functionality desired by a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the UEFI compatible component includes a driver for a silicon component.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first file provides support for accessing features of the silicon component.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising including the configuration parameter symbol in a definition language file of a platform module that supports the silicon component.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the configuration parameter symbol comprises a path to a file which includes the driver name and the silicon component.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first file includes a source code file containing a set of default functions.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the set of default functions provides support to the driver.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising calling the set of default functions by the driver to access silicon component features.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising using the configuration parameter symbol instead of the source code file name in the information (INF) file when building the driver into a binary component.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the second file comprises modifications in the first file according to changes in the silicon component features and overrides one or more of the default functions.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the silicon component comprises small silicon included in a customer reference board (CRB).

12. A system for providing support for customization of a build configuration of a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) compatible component, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory having instructions encoded therein, the instructions when executed by the one or more processors perform a method including;

modifying the build configuration of the UEFI compatible component to reflect modifications to a first file by performing;

(A) receiving a configuration parameter;

(B) creating, using the configuration parameter, a configuration parameter symbol pointing to the first file; and

(C) replacing, using the configuration parameter symbol, the first file with a second file, wherein the second file includes modifications to the first file, and wherein the modifications support a functionality desired by a user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the UEFI compatible component includes a driver for a silicon component.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first file provides support for accessing features of the silicon component.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises including the configuration parameter symbol in a definition language file of a platform module that supports the silicon component.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first file includes a source code file containing a set of default functions, and wherein the set of default functions provide access silicon component features when called by the driver.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second file comprises modifications in the first file according to changes in the silicon component features and overrides one or more of the default functions.

18. A computer-readable medium having instructions encoded therein, the instructions when executed by one or more processors perform a method comprising:

modifying a build configuration of a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) compatible component to reflect modifications to a first file by performing;

(A) receiving a configuration parameter;

(B) creating, using the configuration parameter, a configuration parameter symbol pointing to the first file; and

(C) replacing, using the configuration parameter symbol, the first file with a second file, wherein the second file includes modifications to the first file, and wherein the modifications support a functionality desired by a user.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the UEFI compatible component includes a driver for a silicon component.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the first file provides support for accessing features of the silicon component.