Firmware modification in a computer system environment supporting operational state changes

• US 8,082,439 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Desselle, B. Dalvis, Jacobs, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bae, Ji H
• Application Number:
  US11/999,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 717/168
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method of modifying a computer system firmware includes initiating a firmware modification. At least one prohibited pre-determined operational state is inhibited to prevent the computer system from entering the at least one pre-determined operational state until a subsequent boot. The firmware is modified.

Claims

1. A method of performing firmware modification, comprising:

a) initiating a firmware modification of a firmware of a computer system, wherein the firmware is an interface between an operating system and hardware of the computer system;

b) inhibiting at least one pre-determined operational state comprising a sleeping state until completion of a subsequent boot comprising a hardware reset of the computer system; and

c) proceeding with the firmware modification.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein b) comprises setting an inhibit flag representing at least one prohibited pre-determined operational state, and wherein the firmware comprises a basic input/output system (BIOS).

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the inhibit flag is stored within a same nonvolatile memory storing the firmware, and wherein the hardware comprises peripheral devices of the computer system.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

d) receiving a request for the at least one pre-determined operational state; and

e) denying the request if the inhibit flag is set.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein b) comprises identifying at least one prohibited pre-determined operational state to the operating system of the computer system.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

d) booting the computer system to reset hardware of the computer system; and

e) enabling the at least one pre-determined operational state.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein d) comprises performing a power-up boot.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the power-up boot does not include removal and re-application of power to the computer system.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein e) comprises clearing an inhibit flag representing at least one prohibited pre-determined operational state.

10. A method of performing firmware modification, comprising:

a) initiating a firmware modification of firmware comprising a basic input/output system (BIOS) of a computer system;

b) eliminating at least one pre-determined operational state comprising a sleeping state from a list of available operational states for the operating system, until completion of a subsequent cold boot of the computer system; and

c) proceeding with the firmware modification.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein b) comprises modifying a power management table stored in a system memory comprising random access memory (RAM) of the computer system.

12. A method of performing firmware modification, comprising:

a) initiating a firmware modification of firmware of a computer system, wherein in a power-up boot of the computer system, the firmware is configured to execute prior to loading of an operating system;

b) setting an inhibit flag representing at least one prohibited pre-determined operational state comprising a sleeping state;

c) eliminating the at least one prohibited pre-determined operational state comprising the sleeping state from a table of operating system selectable operational states until completion of a subsequent power-up boot of the computer system; and

d) proceeding with modification of the firmware.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the inhibit flag is stored within a same nonvolatile memory storing the firmware, and wherein the firmware is configured to transfer control during the power-up boot from the firmware to the operating system.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein c) comprises modifying a power management table stored in a system memory comprising volatile memory of the computer system.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

e) receiving a request for the at least one prohibited pre-determined operational state; and

f) denying the request because the inhibit flag is set.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

e) booting the computer system, the booting comprising performing a power-up boot; and

f) clearing the inhibit flag.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the power-up boot does not include removal and re-application of power to the computer system.

18. A method of modifying a computer system firmware wherein the firmware comprises an input/output system and not an operating system of the computer system, comprising:

a) initiating a firmware modification of a firmware of a computer system;

b) receiving prior to a subsequent hard boot of the computer system a request to enter a pre-determined operational state comprising a sleeping state including at least one of a sleep state, a standby state, or a hibernate state; and

c) complying with the request if and only if the pre-determined operational state is not prohibited due to a firmware modification.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein an inhibit flag is set to identify prohibited pre-determined operational states.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the inhibit flag is located within a same physical memory storing the firmware.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein a prohibited pre-determined operational state is any state which preserves at least one of the following in whole or part for subsequent restoration:

a processor context, a processor cache, or a system memory comprising volatile memory.