Determining loading time of an operating system
First Claim
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1. A method to determine loading time of an operating system (OS) in a computer system, the method comprising:
- retrieving a first time from a real-time clock by a basic input and output system (BIOS) prior to loading the OS into memory of the computer system;
loading the OS into memory of the computer system, the OS containing a device driver;
retrieving a second time from the real-time clock by the device driver;
computing a time difference based on the first and second times to obtain the loading time of the OS; and
determining a duration of information to be displayed by said computer system based on said time difference.
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Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus to determine loading time of an operating system in a computer system. A basic input and output system (BIOS) retrieves a first time value from a real-time clock. The BIOS loads the OS into memory of the computer system. The OS has a device driver. The device driver retrieves a second time value from the real-time clock. A time difference is computed based on the first and second time value to obtain the loading time of the OS.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method to determine loading time of an operating system (OS) in a computer system, the method comprising:
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retrieving a first time from a real-time clock by a basic input and output system (BIOS) prior to loading the OS into memory of the computer system;
loading the OS into memory of the computer system, the OS containing a device driver;
retrieving a second time from the real-time clock by the device driver;
computing a time difference based on the first and second times to obtain the loading time of the OS; and
determining a duration of information to be displayed by said computer system based on said time difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
recording an identification of the computer system;
converting the first time using a time format to a third time; and
copying the third time into a time stamp structure.
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3. The method of claim 2 further comprises:
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converting the second time using the time format to a fourth time; and
copying the fourth time into the time stamp structure.
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4. The method of claim 3 further comprises:
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copying the identification and the time difference into the time stamp structure; and
saving the time stamp structure in a storage area.
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5. The method of claim 4 wherein loading the OS comprises:
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transferring the OS from a storage device to the memory; and
invoking the device driver from the OS.
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6. The method of claim 5 wherein retrieving the second time comprises:
executing the device driver to read the second time from the real-time clock.
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7. The method of claim 3 wherein computing the time difference comprises:
subtracting the third time from the fourth time to generate the time difference.
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8. The method of claim 4 wherein the storage area is located in one of a local mass storage device and a remote server.
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9. The method of claim 2 wherein the information is displayed during the loading time of the OS.
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10. The method of claim 9 wherein the information is downloaded from a remote server via a communication network channel.
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11. A computer program product comprising:
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a computer usable medium having computer program code embodied therein to determine loading time of an operating system (OS) in a computer system, the computer program product having;
computer readable program code for retrieving a first time from a real-time clock by a basic input and output system (BIOS) prior to loading the OS into memory of the computer system;
computer readable program code for loading the OS into memory of the computer system, the OS containing a device driver;
computer readable program code for retrieving a second time from the real-time clock by the device driver;
computer readable program code for computing a time difference based on the first and second times to obtain the loading time of the OS; and
computer readable program code for determining a duration of information to be displayed by said computer system based on said time difference. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
computer readable program code for recording an identification of the computer system;
computer readable program code for converting the first time using a time format to a third time; and
computer readable program code for copying the third time into a time stamp structure.
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13. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprises:
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computer readable program code for converting the second time using the time format to a fourth time; and
computer readable program code for copying the fourth time into the time stamp structure.
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14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprises:
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computer readable program code for copying the identification and the time difference into the time stamp structure; and
computer readable program code for saving the time stamp structure in a storage area.
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15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the program code segment for loading the OS comprises:
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computer readable program code for transferring the OS from a storage device to the memory; and
computer readable program code for invoking the device driver from the OS.
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16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the program code segment for retrieving the second time comprises:
computer readable program code for executing the device driver to read the second time from the real-time clock.
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17. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the program code segment for computing the time difference comprises:
computer readable program code for subtracting the third time from the fourth time to generate the time difference.
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18. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the storage area is located in one of a local mass storage device and a remote server.
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19. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the information is displayed during the loading time of the OS.
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20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the information is downloaded from a remote server via a communication network channel.
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21. A computer data signal comprising:
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a loading time code segment to determine loading time of an operating system (OS) in a computer system, the loading time code segment having;
a first time retrieval code segment for retrieving a first time from a real-time clock by a basic input and output system (BIOS) prior to loading the OS into memory of the computer system;
a loader code segment for loading the OS into memory of the computer system, the OS containing a device driver;
a second time retrieval code segment for retrieving a second time from the real-time clock by the device driver;
a time difference retrieval code segment for computing a time difference based on the first and second times to obtain the loading time of the OS; and
a duration determination segment for determining a duration of information to be displayed by said computer system based on said time difference. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
a system identification code segment for recording an identification of the computer system;
a first time conversion code segment for converting the first time using a time format to a third time; and
a third time copy code segment for copying the third time into a time stamp structure.
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23. The computer data signal of claim 22 further comprises:
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a second time conversion code segment for converting the second time using the time format to a fourth time; and
a fourth time copy code segment for copying the fourth time into the time stamp structure.
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24. The computer data signal of claim 23 further comprises:
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a copy code segment for copying the identification and the time difference in to the time stamp structure; and
a save code segment for saving the time stamp structure in a storage area.
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25. The computer data signal of claim 24 wherein the program code segment for loading the OS comprises:
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a transfer code segment for transferring the OS from a storage device to the memory; and
a driver code segment for invoking the device driver from the OS.
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26. The computer data signal of claim 25 wherein the second time retrieval code segment comprises:
a second time read code segment for executing the device driver to read the second time from the real-time clock.
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27. The computer data signal of claim 23 wherein the time difference code segment comprises:
a subtract code segment for subtracting the third time from the fourth time to generate the time difference.
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28. The computer data signal of claim 24 wherein the storage area is located in one of a local mass storage device and a remote server.
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29. The computer data signal of claim 22 wherein the information is displayed during the loading time of the OS.
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30. The computer data signal of claim 29 wherein the information is downloaded from a remote server via a communication network channel.
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31. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a display coupled to the processor;
a basic input and output system (BIOS) storage coupled to the processor to store a BIOS;
a real-time clock coupled to the processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing a program code to determine loading time of an operating system (OS), the program code when executed by the processor causing the processor to;
retrieve a first time from the real-time clock by the BIOS prior to loading the OS into an OS memory;
load the OS into the OS memory, the OS containing a device driver;
retrieve a second time from the real-time clock by the device driver;
compute a time difference based on the first and second times to obtain the loading time of the OS; and
determine a duration of information to be displayed on said display based on said time difference. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
record an identification of the system;
convert the first time using a time format to a third time; and
copy the third time into a time stamp structure.
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33. The system of claim 32 the program code, when executed by the processor, further causing the processor to:
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convert the second time using the time format to a fourth time; and
copy the fourth time into the time stamp structure.
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34. The system of claim 33 the program code, when executed by the processor, further causing the processor to:
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copy the identification and the time difference into the time stamp structure; and
save the time stamp structure in a storage area.
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35. The system of claim 34 wherein the program code, when causing the processor to load the OS, causing the processor to:
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transfer the OS from a storage device to the OS memory; and
invoke the device driver from the OS.
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36. The system of claim 35 wherein the program code, when causing the processor to retrieve the second time, causing the processor to:
execute the device driver to read the second time from the real-time clock.
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37. The system of claim 33 wherein the program code, when causing the processor to compute the time difference, causing the processor to:
subtract the third time from the fourth time to generate the time difference.
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38. The system of claim 34 wherein the storage area is located in one of a local mass storage device and a remote server.
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39. The system of claim 32 wherein the information is displayed during the loading time of the OS.
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40. The system of claim 39 wherein the information is downloaded from a remote server via a communication network channel.
Specification