Apparatus and method for decreasing the memory requirements for BIOS in a personal computer system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for decreasing the operating size of an operational interface for a personal computer system, the personal computer system having a system processor electrically coupled to read only memory, random access memory and direct access storage device, said apparatus comprising:
- means for initializing the system and the direct access storage device with a first portion of the operational interface resident in the read only memory;
means for loading a master boot record stored on the direct access storage device into the random access memory, said master boot record including an executable code segment; and
means for transferring control to the executable code segment to load a remaining portion of the operational interface stored on the direct access storage device into the random access storage device, said remaining portion of the operational interface having means for operating the personal computer system, said first portion of the operational interface being discarded after transferring control to the executable code segment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for decreasing the memory requirements of BIOS in a personal computer system includes storing a first portion of BIOS in memory and a second portion on a direct storage access device. The personal computer system comprises a system processor, a random access main memory, a read only memory, and at least one direct access storage device. The first portion of BIOS only includes routines for initializing the system and the direct access storage device to read in a master boot record into the system from the direct access storage device. The master boot record includes a data segment and an executable code segment. The first BIOS portion vectors the system processor to execute the executable code segment of the master boot record. The executable code segment loads in the remaining BIOS portion from the direct access storage device into random access memory superseding the first BIOS portion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for decreasing the operating size of an operational interface for a personal computer system, the personal computer system having a system processor electrically coupled to read only memory, random access memory and direct access storage device, said apparatus comprising:
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means for initializing the system and the direct access storage device with a first portion of the operational interface resident in the read only memory; means for loading a master boot record stored on the direct access storage device into the random access memory, said master boot record including an executable code segment; and means for transferring control to the executable code segment to load a remaining portion of the operational interface stored on the direct access storage device into the random access storage device, said remaining portion of the operational interface having means for operating the personal computer system, said first portion of the operational interface being discarded after transferring control to the executable code segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for loading the operational interface into a personal computer system, the personal computer system having a system processor, a read only memory, a random access memory, and at least one direct access storage device, said apparatus comprising:
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a first portion of the operational interface stored on the read only memory, said first portion of the operational interface including; means for initializing the system processor and the at least one direct access storage device, and a loading means for loading data records from the at least one direct access storage device into random access memory, a validation means for confirming the personal computer system is compatible with the operational interface; a remaining portion of the operational interface included in the at least one direct access storage device, said remaining portion of the operational interface including reusable means for assisting in the operation of the personal computer system, wherein said first portion of the direct access storage device for effecting the loading of said remaining portion of the operational interface portion into random access memory after confirming that said remaining portion of the operational interface is compatible with the system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for storing an operational interface in a personal computer system, the system including a system processor electrically coupled to a read only memory, a random access memory, and direct storage access device, the system further including a first portion of the operational interface stored in the read only memory, the first portion of the operational interface including means for initializing the system and the direct access storage device and a remaining portion of the operational interface stored on the direct access storage device, the remaining portion of the operational interface including means for operating the personal computer system in a normal manner, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) initializing the system and the direct access storage device with the first portion of the operational interface; (b) loading a master boot record into random access memory, the master boot record including an executable code segment; (c) transferring control to the executable code segment to load the remaining portion of the operational interface into the random access memory and (d) discarding the first portion of the operational interface after transferring control to the executable code segment. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification