Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Dong Wei

Toshimitsu Kani

Lan Wang

Sachin Navin Chheda

David R Maciorowski

Baraneedharan Anbazhagan

Martin O Nicholes

Shiraz Ali Qureshi

Richard Dickert Powers

Terry Ping-Chung Lee

Arad Rostampour

Larry N McMahan

Jon Liu

Frederick G Kleinsorge

Raghuram Kota

Terry Lee

Ram Krishan Kaul

Example embodiments relate to a machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor of a computing device including a display device. The machine-readable storage medium may include instructions that access a stored indication upon boot-up of the computing device using a Basic Input Output System (BIOS). In addition, the machine-readable storage medium may include instructions that determine, using the stored indication, whether an operating system (OS) of the computing device exited properly, and instructions that display a BIOS productivity display using the display device when it is determined that the computing device exited properly. Still further, the machine-readable storage medium may include instructions that permit the OS to display a recovery display when it is determined that the OS did not exit properly.

Display of a basic input/output system (BIOS) productivity display

A computer system provides an extensible firmware interface with a pre-start configuration phase. This permits configuring a device prior to beginning a start phase for the device.

Extensible firmware interface with pre-start configuration phase for computers

Embodiments of the invention provide a method and an apparatus to collect and dynamically update processor polling information. In one method embodiment, the present invention collects processor polling information at boot time to be provided to an operating system. The processor polling information describes operating conditions of an integrated processing system. The operating system is then notified that a triggering event has occurred that may potentially alter the operating conditions of the integrated processor system. Providing to the operating system updated processor polling information during runtime to reflect the operating conditions of the integrated processor system after the occurrence of the triggering event.

Method and apparatus for providing updated processor polling information

Embodiments of the invention provide a method and an apparatus to collect and dynamically update system locality information during runtime. In one method embodiment, the present invention collects system locality information at boot time to be provided to an operating system. The system locality information describes distances between devices within an integrated processing system. The operating system is then notified that a triggering event has occurred that may potentially alter the distances between devices within the integrated processing system. Upon receipt of this notification, the operating system invokes an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) procedure that provides updated system locality information during runtime to reflect the changes in distances between devices within the integrated processor system after the occurrence of the triggering event.

Method and apparatus for providing updated system locality information during runtime

A method of providing a unique event notification for performing an action on hardware is provided. In one embodiment, an object accessor accesses an object that represents hardware. A notification value accessor accesses a notification value. A universally unique identifier (UUID) accessor accesses a UUID, and a unique action designator computes a unique action designation based on the notification value and the UUID.

Providing unique event notification to enable firmware to request that an operating system perform a unique action

Methods and systems for designating a user selected console device as the primary console device for a particular computer are provided. In one embodiment, information indicating which potential primary console device associated with a particular computer is the user selected console device is received. The user selected console device is designated as the primary console device for the particular computer.

Method and a system for designating a user selected console device as the primary console device for a particular computer

Information objects and system firmware for a processor in a partitionable computing system are disclosed. One object comprises information corresponding to components of the computer system. The information comprises entries defining an address and a size for registers normally accessible to other partitions. The registers are capable of defining an address area such that in use the processor is arranged to permit other partitions to access at least one address area defined by the at least one register and to deny other partitions access to address areas other than the at least one accessible address area.

Communication among partitioned devices

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods and systems are described for switching root cells for a computer system without requiring the computer system to be re-booted. In one embodiment, objects are used to represent fixed registers associated with a first cell and a second cell of the computer system. In response to detecting that the second cell should be used instead of the first cell as a root cell for the computer system, the objects are used to communicate information between firmware and an operating system associated with the computer system, wherein the information describes the fixed registers associated with the second cell.

Method and an apparatus for switching root cells for a computer system without requiring the computer system to be re-booted

In one embodiment of the invention, a method of semaphoring between a system firmware and ACPI subsystem, includes: prior to entering a critical section by a first entity, checking a turn flag to determine if a second entity has a turn to access a critical section; if the second entity has the turn, then checking an In flag of the second entity to determine if the second entity is in the critical section; if the second entity is in the critical section, then waiting for the second entity to exit the critical section; and entering the critical section by the first entity. The method may further include: if the second entity is not in the critical section, then entering the critical section by the first entity.

Semaphoring system between system firmware and hardware manipulation subsystem

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for avoiding name collision for the advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) control methods. Accordingly, a method embodiment of the present invention comprises, obtaining a ACPI control method reserved name, obtaining a unique first argument, and associating the first argument with the reserved name to form a unique identifier for said specific control method, such that name collisions are avoided by preventing use of a same identifier for different specific control methods.

Avoiding name collision for the ACPI control methods

A system-event core for monitoring system events in a cellular computer system within a parent computer system is provided. The system-event core comprises: a control register block for each cell computer system configured to mask one or more system events and configurable to be masked by a system-event manager, an input/output block operable to communicate with a computer bus, a register block operable to store data about system events, and interrupt generation logic operable to control interrupts for the cellular computer system.

Systems-events core for monitorings system events for a cellular computer system within a parent computer system, system-event manager for monitoring system events for more than one cellular computer system, and related system and method

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Granite Bay, CA, United States of America

Dong Wei