Nec Corporation

Vantus Technologies, Inc.

Zenith Data Systems Corporation

Matthew B Mendelow

Saifuddin T Fakhruddin

Mark J Foster

Steven L Belt

Jiming Sun

Brian D Willoughby

James L Walker

Scott A Hovey

Mark A Ruthenbeck

Rodman S Brahman

Michael D Maddix

Michael P Krau

A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. When running a multi-tasking operating system where an application program is being executed in a restricted mode, a suspend/resume operation can be carried out in which the system is substantially powered down and then powered back up, and will resume the interrupted application with the restricted mode back in effect. Further, set-up changes such as adjustment of the processor speed can be made without exiting the application program running in the restricted mode.

Suspend/resume capability for a protected mode microprocesser

Suspend/resume capability for a protected mode microprocessor

A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. When running a multi-tasking operating system where an application program is being executed in a restricted mode, a suspend/resume operation can be carried out in which the system is substantially powered down and then powered back up, and will resume the interrupted application with the restricted mode back in effect. Further, setup changes such as adjustment of the processor speed can be made without exiting the application program running in the restricted mode.

Interrupt for a protected mode microprocessor which facilitates

A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. The system includes a first interrupt mask register having a bit for indicating whether an interrupt is to be recognized by the processor, a second interrupt mask register having a bit for indicating whether the interrupt is to be recognized by a further circuit, and an arrangement responsive to a load of the first mask register for conforming the bit of the second mask register to the bit of the first mask register in a manner invisible to an application program being executed by the processor.

Apparatus for maintaining one interrupt mask register in conformity with

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St. Joseph, MI, United States of America

Matthew B Mendelow