Automatic concealment of expansion cards in computer system

• US 7,149,885 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yonemura, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US10/406,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20030191931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

In a computer system selectively operable in multiple operating systems, supported-card identification information identifying types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems is previously stored. An unsupported expansion card is determined among the plurality of expansion cards based on identification information supported by a selected operating system. The unsupported expansion card is powered off to conceal it from the selected operating system.

Claims

1. A method for controlling concealment of a plurality of expansion cards mounted in a computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems, comprising:

previously storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies at least two types of expansion cards, each type supported by a respective one of the plurality of operating systems;

determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on identification information supported by a selected operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the selected operating system; and

powering off the unsupported expansion card before the selected operating system is booted.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein determining an unsupported expansion card comprises:

creating a first mounted-card information table upon system startup, wherein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards mounted in the computer system, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot; and

determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of a selected operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the selected operating system; and

wherein powering off the unsupported expansion card comprises;

deleting an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a second mounted-card information table for operation of the selected operating system; and

powering off an expansion slot mounted with the unsupported expansion card to conceal the unsupported expansion card from the selected operating system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a basic input output system (BIOS) for said computer system performs said determining of said unsupported expansion card.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one of said plurality of operating systems.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a basic input output system (BIOS) for said computer system performs said selecting of one of said plurality of operating systems.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein previously storing supported-card identification information comprises storing supported-card identification information in a flash read-only memory.

7. A method for controlling concealment of a plurality of expansion cards mounted in a computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems, comprising:

previously storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems;

creating a first mounted-card information table upon system startup, wherein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards mounted in the computer system, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot;

storing startup information including the first mounted-card information table and setting information of a selected operating system;

determining whether the startup information is different from previous-startup information, wherein the previous-startup information includes previous setting information of a previously selected operating system and a previously stored first mounted-card information table;

when the startup information is different from previous-startup information, determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of the selected operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the selected operating system;

deleting an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a second mounted-card information table for operation of the selected operating system;

when the startup information is identical to the previous-startup information, using a previously stored second mounted-card information table as the second mounted-card information table;

powering off an expansion slot mounted with an unsupported expansion card depending on the second mounted-card information table to conceal the unsupported expansion card from the selected operating system;

storing the second mounted-card information table; and

booting up the selected operating system based on the second mounted-card information table.

8. A computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems, comprising:

a terminal device for designating a startup operating system from the plurality of operating systems;

a plurality of expansion slots for mounting a plurality of expansion cards;

a memory device storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies at least two types of expansion cards, each type supported by a respective one of the plurality of operating systems;

a computation device for determining whether each of the plurality of expansion cards mounted is supported by the designated operating system, based on identification information supported by a designated operating system; and

a power controller for powering off an expansion slot mounted with an expansion card that is not supported by the designated operating system before the designated operating system is booted.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said computation device comprises a basic input output system (BIOS) for said computer system.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said terminal device communicates with a basic input output system (BIOS) for said computer system to designate said startup operating system from said plurality of operating systems.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said memory device comprises a flash read-only memory.

12. The computer system according to claim 8,

wherein the computation device preforms:

creating a first mounted-card information table upon a system startup, wberein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards mounted in the computer system, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot;

determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of the designated operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the designated operating system; and

deleting an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a second mounted-card information table

for operation of the designated operating system, and

wherein the power controller powers off an expansion slot mounted with the unsupported expansion card to conceal the unsupported expansion card from the designated operating system.

13. A computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems, comprising:

a terminal device for designating a startup operating system from the plurality of operating systems;

a plurality of expansion slots for mounting a plurality of expansion cards;

a first memory device storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems;

a second memory for storing a first mounted-card information table created upon system startup, wherein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot;

a third memory for storing startup information including the first mounted-card information table and setting information of a designated operating system;

a computation device for determining whether the startup information is different from previous-startup information,

wherein the previous-startup information includes previous setting information of a previously designated operating system and a previously stored first mounted-card information table,

wherein, when the startup information is different from previous-startup information, the computation device determines an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of the designated operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the designated operating system,

wherein the computation device deletes an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a second mounted-card information table for operation of the designated operating system;

wherein, when the startup information is identical to the previous-startup information, the computation device uses a previously stored second mounted-card information table as the second mounted-card information table, and

wherein the computation device stores the second mounted-card information table, and boots up the selected operating system based on the second mounted-card information table; and

a power controller for powering off an expansion slot mounted with an unsupported expansion card depending on the second mounted-card information table to conceal the unsupported expansion card from the selected operating system.

14. A method for controlling concealment of a plurality or expansion cards mounted in a computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems, comprising:

previously storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies at least two types of expansion cards, each type supported by a respective one of the plurality of operating systems;

detecting a physical mounting status of each of the plurality of expansion cards;

determining whether each of the plurality of expansion cards is supported by the selected operating system, based on identification information supported by a selected operating system;

updating the physical mounting status by deleting an unsupported expansion card from the physical mounting status to produce a logical mounting status of each of the plurality of expansion cards;

powering off an unsupported expansion card; and

booting the selected operating system based on the logical mounting status of each of the plurality of expansion cards after said powering off of said unsupported expansion card.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a basic input output system (BIOS) for said computer system performs said determining whether each of the physically mounted expansion cards is supported by the selected operating system.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising selecting one of said plurality of operating using a basic input output system (BIOS) for said computer system.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein previously storing supported-card identification information comprises storing supported-card identification information in a flash read-only memory.

18. A basic input/output system code for a computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems comprising:

a terminal device for designating a startup operating system from the plurality of operating systems;

a plurality of expansion slots for mounting a plurality of expansion cards;

a memory device storing supported-card identification information wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems,

the basic input/output system code comprising instructions for;

creating a first mounted-card information table upon system startup, wherein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot;

determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of a designated operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the designated operating system;

deleting an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a second mounted-card information table for operation of the designated operating system; and

setting a control register depending on the second mounted-card information table, wherein the control register is used to individually perform power-on/off control of the expansion slots to conceal an unsupported expansion card from the designated operating system.

19. A basic input/output system code for a computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems comprising:

a terminal device for designating a startup operating system from the plurality of operating systems;

a plurality of expansion slots for mounting a plurality of expansion cards;

a memory device storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems,

the basic input/output system code comprising instructions for;

creating a first mounted-card information table upon system startup, wherein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards mounted in the computer system, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot;

storing startup information including the first mounted-card information table and setting information of a designated operating system;

determining whether the startup information is different from previous-startup information, wherein the previous-startup information includes previous setting information of a previously designated operating system and a previously stored first mounted-card information table;

when the startup information is different from previous-startup information, determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of the designated operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the designated operating system;

deleting an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a second mounted-card information table for operation of the designated operating system;

when the startup information is identical to the previous-startup information, using a previously stored second mounted-card information table as the second mounted-card information table;

setting a control register depending on the second mounted-card information table, wherein the control register is used to individually perform power-on/off control of the expansion slots to conceal an unsupported expansion card from the designated operating system; and

storing the second mounted-card information table.