Attachment or integration of a BIOS device into a computer system using the system memory data bus
First Claim
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1. A computer comprising:
- a central processing unit;
a system memory bus that includes a system memory data bus;
a BIOS device that is connected to the system memory data bus; and
core logic connecting the central processing unit to the system memory bus comprising;
a state machine for initiating system memory bus cycles in a normal mode; and
logic for bypassing the state machine when a BIOS access is initiated;
wherein the core logic is configured such that if a BIOS access is initiated;
the core logic becomes master of the system memory bus;
a system memory bus cycle in normal mode is not initiated; and
the core logic places the address of the BIOS device on the system memory bus.
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Abstract
Chipset or core logic for attachment of the ROM BIOS within the system architecture. Although normally attached to the ISA bus, the ROM BIOS may be attached to an alternate bus (e.g., the system memory data bus) located within the system, thereby potentially eliminating the ISA bus from the computer system.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A computer comprising:
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a central processing unit; a system memory bus that includes a system memory data bus; a BIOS device that is connected to the system memory data bus; and core logic connecting the central processing unit to the system memory bus comprising; a state machine for initiating system memory bus cycles in a normal mode; and logic for bypassing the state machine when a BIOS access is initiated; wherein the core logic is configured such that if a BIOS access is initiated; the core logic becomes master of the system memory bus; a system memory bus cycle in normal mode is not initiated; and the core logic places the address of the BIOS device on the system memory bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Core logic that controls BIOS operations in a computer system having a system memory bus, wherein the system memory bus includes a system memory data bus, wherein the BIOS operations involve a central processing unit and a BIOS device that is on the system memory bus, the core logic comprising:
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logic for communicating with the central processing unit; logic for connecting to the system memory bus; logic for initiating system memory bus cycles; logic that bypasses the logic for initiating system memory bus cycles when the BIOS device is accessed; logic that decodes signals on the system memory bus; logic that presents an address to the BIOS device by placing the address on the system memory data bus; logic that receives data stored in the BIOS device at the address by sampling a portion of the system memory data bus; and logic that transfers the data to the central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. Core logic for controlling BIOS operations in a computer system having a central processing unit and a system memory bus, wherein the BIOS operations involve the transfer of data to the central processing unit from a BIOS device on the system memory bus, and wherein the system memory bus includes a system memory data bus;
- the core logic comprising;
means operably connected to the central processing unit and the system memory bus for decoding a BIOS operation; means for initiating system memory bus cycles; means for presenting an address to the BIOS device by placing the address on the system memory data bus; means for bypassing the system memory bus cycles when the BIOS device is accessed; means for receiving data stored in the BIOS device at the address by sampling a portion of the system memory data bus; and means for transferring the data to the central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
- the core logic comprising;
Specification