External boot information loading of a personal computer
First Claim
1. A method for providing boot information from a first computer to a second computer or from a floppy disk of the second computer, the method comprising:
- providing a communications path between the first and second computers;
the first computer repetitively transmitting an identification sequence over the communications path;
the second computer reading transmissions over the communications path without changing any of its outputs coupled to the communications path;
the second computer analyzing the transmissions received over the communications path for a match to an identification sequence in the second computer;
the second computer providing an acknowledgement signal to the first computer over the communications path after determining a match to the second computer'"'"'s identification sequence;
the first computer transferring boot information to the second computer over the communications path after acknowledgement by the second computer;
the second computer executing the boot information received from the first computer; and
the second computer attempting to obtain boot information from a floppy disk if boot information is not available over the communications path after a predetermined period of reading and analyzing transmissions.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system which can receive boot information over a parallel or serial port. The ports are inspected for activity prior to attempting to boot from a floppy or hard disk. If there is activity on the port the sequence being received is read and compared to a predetermined identification sequence. If a match is made, an acknowledgement character is transmitted. A communication sequence commences to transfer the boot information over the link. After the transfer is complete, the boot information is executed. The serial transfer utilizes the conventional serial lines, while the parallel transfer is performed a nibble at a time. This nibble mode allows use of only outputs to inputs to avoid dual source driving problems.
76 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for providing boot information from a first computer to a second computer or from a floppy disk of the second computer, the method comprising:
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providing a communications path between the first and second computers; the first computer repetitively transmitting an identification sequence over the communications path; the second computer reading transmissions over the communications path without changing any of its outputs coupled to the communications path; the second computer analyzing the transmissions received over the communications path for a match to an identification sequence in the second computer; the second computer providing an acknowledgement signal to the first computer over the communications path after determining a match to the second computer'"'"'s identification sequence; the first computer transferring boot information to the second computer over the communications path after acknowledgement by the second computer; the second computer executing the boot information received from the first computer; and the second computer attempting to obtain boot information from a floppy disk if boot information is not available over the communications path after a predetermined period of reading and analyzing transmissions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for providing boot information to a computer, comprising:
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a first computer having a communications port; a second computer having a communications port, said communications ports of said first and second computers being coupled to form a communications path to allow information transmission between said first and second computers; said first computer including means for repetitively transmitting an identification sequence to said second computer over said communications path; said second computer including means for analyzing transmissions received over said communications path without changing any outputs coupled to the communications path and for providing an acknowledgement signal to said first computer over said communications path after determining that the transmissions received over said communications path match an identification sequence in said second computer; said first and second computers further including means for transferring boot information from said first computer to said second computer over said communications path after said second computer provides said acknowledgement signal; and said second computer further including means for executing said boot information received from said first computer; and said second computer further including means for attempting to obtain boot information from a floppy disk if boot information is not available over said communications path after a predetermined period of analyzing received transmissions. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification