US6154836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for configuring plug and play devices for a computer operating system
Assignee: Lenovo PC International Ltd
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Filing: 1998-08-17
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Granted: 2000-11-28
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Expires: 2018-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and system are disclosed for configuring PnP devices for a computer operating system by initiating a power on self test (POST) within a computer system for configuring PnP and PCI devices. During the process of configuring PnP and PCI devices, a list is composed of devices that are not absolutely necessary for booting the system (e.g. modem or ethernet controller). While the PCI devices are configured, if the system has no usable IRQ's, POST takes one from a nonessential PnP ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) device in the list, and gives it to the PCI device. The POST operation searches for the presence of a PnP operating system option while progressing through the startup sequence (of bootable media), and activates or deactivates all devices, depending on the type of media being attempted. If the medium is the hard disk (where the PnP operating system option resides), all of the PnP devices in the list are deactivated. If the medium is any other type (where a PnP operating system option is not likely to reside) the devices are activated.
Inventors
- 👤 Marshall Allen Dawson, III
- 👤 John Matthew Landry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411; G06F9/4413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for configuring plug and play (PnP) devices by a computer operating system, said method comprising the steps of: initiating a power on self test within a computer system containing PnP and peripheral component interconnect (PCI) devices; configuring said PnP and PCI devices within said computer system with associated interrupt requests (IRQs); storing a list of said PnP and PCI devices which are non-bootable; assigning IRQs to said non-bootable PCI devices; booting said computer system from a media; and detecting a plug and play operating system for activating and deactivating said PnP devices and said PCI devices depending on a type of said media.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for configuring plug and play (PnP) devices by a computer operating system, said method comprising the steps of: initiating a power on self test within a computer system containing PnP and peripheral component interconnect (PCI) devices; configuring said PnP and PCI devices within said computer system with associated interrupt requests (IRQs); storing a list of said PnP and PCI devices which are non-bootable; assigning IRQs to said non-bootable PCI devices; booting said computer system from a media; and detecting a plug and play operating system for activating and deactivating said PnP devices and said PCI devices depending on a type of said media.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of storing a list of said PnP and PCI devices further comprises the step of: storing a card select number and logical device number for each said PnP non-boot device in an extended BIOS data area thereby creating a PnP device table.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of storing a list of said PnP and PCI devices further comprises the steps of: storing a PCI function address for each said PCI non-boot device in an extended BIOS data area thereby creating a PCI device table.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of assigning IRQs for said PCI devices further comprises the step of: suppressing power on self test errors from being displayed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of configuring IRQs for said PnP and PCI devices further comprises the steps of: scanning said PnP device table for a first PnP device with an IRQ assigned if no free IRQ is found for a PCI device; removing said IRQ for said PnP device; and assigning said IRQ to said PCI device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of detecting a plug and play operating system further comprises the step of: activating said PnP and PCI devices if said type of media is not a hard disk.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein when said media is a hard disk the step of detecting a plug and play operating system further comprises the step of: reading a master boot record.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of reading master boot record comprises the step of: checking for a "MSWI" signature at offset 3 of a sector along with a value of at least "4" at offset 8 in said master boot record.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of detecting a plug and play operating system further comprising the step of: responsive to detecting a "MSWI" signature, deactivating said PnP devices.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for configuring plug and play (PnP) devices by a computer operating system, comprising: means for initiating a power on self test within a computer system containing PnP and peripheral component interconnect (PCI) devices; means for configuring PnP and PCI devices within said computer system with associated interrupt requests (IRQs); means for storing a list of said PnP and PCI devices which are non-bootable; means for assigning IRQs to said non-bootable PCI devices; means for booting said computer system from a media; and means for detecting a plug and play operating system for activating and deactivating said PnP devices and said PCI devices depending on a type of said media.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for configuring plug and play (PnP) devices by a computer operating system, comprising: means for initiating a power on self test within a computer system containing PnP and peripheral component interconnect (PCI) devices; means for configuring PnP and PCI devices within said computer system with associated interrupt requests (IRQs); means for storing a list of said PnP and PCI devices which are non-bootable; means for assigning IRQs to said non-bootable PCI devices; means for booting said computer system from a media; and means for detecting a plug and play operating system for activating and deactivating said PnP devices and said PCI devices depending on a type of said media.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system for configuring PnP devices according to claim 10 further comprising: means for storing a card select number and logical device number for each said PnP non-boot device in an extended BIOS data area thereby creating a PnP device table.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system for configuring PnP devices according to claim 10 further comprising: means for storing a PCI function address for each said PCI non-boot device in an extended BIOS data area thereby creating a PCI device table.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system for configuring PnP devices according to claim 10 further comprising: means for suppressing power on self test errors from being displayed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system for configuring PnP devices according to claim 10 further comprising: means for scanning said PnP device table for a first PnP device with an IRQ assigned if no free IRQ is found for a PCI device; means for removing said IRQ for said PnP device; and means for assigning said IRQ to said PCI device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system for configuring PnP devices according to claim 10 further comprising: means for activating said PnP and PCI devices if said type of media is not a hard disk.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system for configuring PnP devices according to claim 10 further comprising: means for reading a master boot record.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system for configuring PnP devices according to claim 16 further comprising: means for checking for a "MSWI" signature at offset 3 of a sector along with a value of at least "4" at offset 8 in said master boot record.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system for configuring PnP devices according to claim 17 further comprising: responsive to detecting a "MSWI" signature, deactivating said PnP devices.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system for configuring PnP devices according to claim 18 further comprising: configuring said PnP devices by said plug and play operating system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
125 words
A computer program product, on a computer readable medium, comprising: a computer process code for configuring plug and play (PnP) and peripheral component interconnect (PCI) devices within a computer system and assigning associated interrupt request (IRQs) during a power on self test within a computer system; wherein said computer process code stores a list of said PnP and PCI devices which are non-bootable; wherein in response to assigning IRQs, all said non-bootable PCI devices are assigned an IRQ by transferring assigned said IRQs from said list of PnP devices by removing and deactivating said PnP devices; wherein responsive to detecting a plug and play operating system, activating and deactivating said PnP devices and said PCI devices depending on a type of media used for booting.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
125 words
A computer program product, on a computer readable medium, comprising: a computer process code for configuring plug and play (PnP) and peripheral component interconnect (PCI) devices within a computer system and assigning associated interrupt request (IRQs) during a power on self test within a computer system; wherein said computer process code stores a list of said PnP and PCI devices which are non-bootable; wherein in response to assigning IRQs, all said non-bootable PCI devices are assigned an IRQ by transferring assigned said IRQs from said list of PnP devices by removing and deactivating said PnP devices; wherein responsive to detecting a plug and play operating system, activating and deactivating said PnP devices and said PCI devices depending on a type of media used for booting.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-28 | 2004-05-29 | 2004-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-28 | 2008-05-29 | 2008-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-28 | 2012-05-29 | 2012-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |