Method and apparatus for providing basic input/output services in a computer
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a) a non-volatile storage having a basic input/output system (BIOS) stored therein, the BIOS being constituted of a plurality of independently executable service components and a decompression dispatcher, the service components being stored in a compressed state, and the decompression dispatcher being used during operation of a computer system within which the apparatus is integrated, to decompress and dispatch the service components for execution, on an as needed basis, to provide basic input/output services to the computer system, and to remove the dispatched service components upon execution when the dispatched service components are no longer needed.
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Abstract
The services to be provided by a basic input/output system (BIOS) of a computer system are implemented via a number of independently executable service components. Additionally, the BIOS is provided with a decompression dispatcher for decompressing and dispatching the service components into random access memory (RAM) of the computer system for execution on an as needed basis, and optionally removing the dispatched service components when they are no longer needed. As a result, the service components may be stored in a non-volatile storage in a compressed state, allowing more services to be implemented without requiring more non-volatile storage.
108 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
a) a non-volatile storage having a basic input/output system (BIOS) stored therein, the BIOS being constituted of a plurality of independently executable service components and a decompression dispatcher, the service components being stored in a compressed state, and the decompression dispatcher being used during operation of a computer system within which the apparatus is integrated, to decompress and dispatch the service components for execution, on an as needed basis, to provide basic input/output services to the computer system, and to remove the dispatched service components upon execution when the dispatched service components are no longer needed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer system comprising:
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a) random access memory (RAM); and b) a non-volatile storage having a basic input/output system (BIOS) stored therein, the BIOS being constituted of a plurality of independently executable service components and a decompression dispatcher, the service components being stored in a compressed state, and the decompression dispatcher being loaded into the RAM and used during operation to decompress and dispatch the service components into the RAM for execution, on an as needed basis, to provide basic input/output services to the computer system, and to remove the dispatched service components from the RAM upon execution, when the dispatched service components are no longer needed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. In a computer system, a computer implemented method for providing basic input/output service to the computer system during operation, the computer implemented method comprising the steps of:
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a) loading a decompression dispatcher of a basic input/output system (BIOS) from a non-volatile storage of the computer system into random access memory (RAM) of the computer system for execution, the BIOS including the decompression dispatcher and a plurality of independently executable service components being pre-stored in the non-volatile storage, the decompression dispatcher being pre-stored in an uncompressed state, whereas the service components were pre-stored in a compressed state; b) the decompression dispatcher decompressing and dispatching, on an as needed basis, needed ones of the service components from the non-volatile storage into the RAM for execution; and c) the decompression dispatcher removing the dispatched service components from the RAM when the dispatched service components are no longer needed. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification