Method and apparatus for booting a computer system
First Claim
1. A method of booting a computer system having at least one central processing unit, a loadable operating system, and a system working memory configured to receive a working operating system to a level where the loadable operating system is fully loaded, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a memory image of desired contents of the system working memory,storing the memory image in non-volatile reprogrammable memory, andupon the system being required to boot, loading the memory image from the non-volatile reprogrammable memory into the system working memory using a loader, during the loading the loader (i) recognizing changed hardware in the computer system incompatible with portions of the memory image relating to changed hardware, (ii) processing initialization for the changed hardware, and (iii) proceeding to load remaining unaffected portions of the memory image to boot the computer system to an operable state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for quickly booting a personal computer system using a non-volatile reprogrammable memory device. A compressed memory image of the contents of the system working memory, hardware configuration and other information stored in memory when the system is in a desired operational state is stored in the non-volatile reprogrammable memory. When rebooting the process detects changed hardware and diverts from the reboot to identify the hardware before continuing.
32 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of booting a computer system having at least one central processing unit, a loadable operating system, and a system working memory configured to receive a working operating system to a level where the loadable operating system is fully loaded, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a memory image of desired contents of the system working memory, storing the memory image in non-volatile reprogrammable memory, and upon the system being required to boot, loading the memory image from the non-volatile reprogrammable memory into the system working memory using a loader, during the loading the loader (i) recognizing changed hardware in the computer system incompatible with portions of the memory image relating to changed hardware, (ii) processing initialization for the changed hardware, and (iii) proceeding to load remaining unaffected portions of the memory image to boot the computer system to an operable state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system, comprising:
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a digital processing means, a working memory for the digital processing means, a non-volatile reprogrammable memory including a memory image of desired contents of the system working memory and other portions of memory, wherein the memory image includes system hardware configuration and system hardware context information and wherein the memory image is transferable to the system working memory in order to boot the computer system, and a loader configured to, upon system boot, (i) transfer the memory image from the non-volatile reprogrammable memory into the system working memory, (ii) during the transfer into the working memory, recognize changed hardware in the computer system that is incompatible with portions of the memory image related to changed hardware so as not to load said portions, (iii) process initialization for the changed hardware, and (iv) load remaining portions of the memory image to boot the computer system to an operable state. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of booting a computer system having a loadable operating system and a system working memory configured to receive a working operating system, the method comprising the step of:
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loading a memory image from non-volatile reprogrammable memory into the system memory, the memory image having been stored into the non-volatile reprogrammable memory before the loading, wherein the stored memory image comprises contents of the system working memory including a working operating system, and wherein during loading (i) recognizing a hardware item changed since the memory image was stored, (ii) identifying a portion of the memory image incompatible with the changed hardware item as not to be loaded, (iii) initializing the changed hardware item, and (iv) loading a remainder of the memory image that is not incompatible with the changed hardware item.
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Specification