Intel Corporation

Robert Patrick Hale

Andrew J Fish

William A Stevens, Jr

Vincent J Zimmer

Michael A Rothman

Mahesh S Natu

Kirk D Brannock

Ramamurthy Krithivas

Christopher J Spiegel

John P Lambino

Mohan J Kumar

John V Lovelace

Andrew H Gafken

Orville H Christeson

Thomas J Hernandez

James H Ewertz

Greg L Miller

Dean Kaye Cluff

Emmett R Uber

Williams A Stevens, Jr

Kaveh Nasri

Embodiments of a method and system for managing a system are disclosed herein. The method and system provides a means to permanently and/or securely store core system configuration information so that the core system configuration information stays with a particular system, such as a computing device or motherboard for example. The method and system provide a means for channel integrators, manufacturers, and technicians to quickly troubleshoot and return a system to full service after receiving the system from a customer as part of an unstable, non-functioning, or other system service event. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Method and system for managing core configuration information

A BIOS includes a core and multiple modules. The modules include both those that are platform specific and those that are not platform specific. Each module has a standard interface that allows the core (or other module) to call the module. A platform vendor constructs a BIOS by selecting modules from one or more vendors, which when executed can select modules that are suitable for the platform the BIOS resides in.

Method and system for linking firmware modules in a pre-memory execution environment

An embodiment of the present invention is a system and method relating to seamlessly enable enhanced management and scripting of a computer system and its add-in devices. In at least one embodiment, the present invention enables a system administrator or integrator to script a common configuration for multiple devices and then automatically configure the devices using the script. The language construct and central data repository for configuration settings are extended to comprehend a scripting language. A script is read by a script engine during either pre-boot or runtime. The script engine searches a keyword database on the central data repository to determine requested configuration settings. A data offset is corresponding to a specific op-code is used to determine where configuration settings are located, for modification.

System and method to seamlessly enable enhanced management and scripting of a computer system and its add-in devices

An embodiment of the present invention relates generally to computer configuration and, more specifically, to a system and method to seamlessly determine the component configurations of a series of heterogeneous platforms and enable their respective component configurations to be intelligently migrated from one platform to another. In some embodiments, the invention involves generating configuration binaries for a plurality of target platforms. The configuration binaries are used with tools to create configuration directives for the target machines. In at least one embodiment, the configuration directives are sent to the target platforms in a scripting language. In some embodiments, the scripts are automatically generated by a tool using the configuration binaries for various platforms and policy guidance to determine which settings should be set on or off. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

System and method to enable platform personality migration

An apparatus that includes a BIOS routine, and a method executed during a BIOS routine, that includes a stored BIOS program causing a computer to receive information, including error information, from at least one first units coupled to the computer, store the information in a memory; and for each of at least one second units coupled to the computer, receive an initial request for the information from the second unit and in response to the request, provide to the second unit at least one of the information stored before the receipt of the request if any is stored, and provide to the second unit at least one of the information to the second unit received subsequent to the request.

Extensible BIOS error log

A method includes generating a first signal defining 1) a location in a memory, and 2) a length in the memory of a second signal, the first signal having a cross-platform encoding. The first signal is stored such that it may be accessed by an application program.

Method and apparatus to enable cross platform configuration

A technique that is usable with a computer system includes, in response to a startup phase of the computer system in which a system memory of the computer system is not initialized for data storage, detecting a resource of the computer system. Information about the resource reported in response to a second phase of the computer system in which the system memory is initialized.

Modular bios for detecting resources of a system and reporting information about the resources during two separate phases

In one embodiment, a digitally signed image is embodied in a memory component such as a non-volatile memory. The digitally signed image comprises a post-relocation image and a digital signature. The post-relocation image is an image of a software module altered by a symmetrical relocation function by loading of the image into the memory component. The digital signature is based on the image so that it can be used to analyze data integrity.

System and method for verifying the integrity of stored information within an electronic device

A protected boot sequence in a computer system. A reset vector directs the system to a boot program including a protected program. This protected program verifies the integrity of the BIOS contents before branching to the BIOS for execution of normal bootstrap functions. The protected program can also lock down various blocks of bootstrap code to prevent them from being changed after a certain point in the boot sequence. The protected boot sequence can proceed in layers, with each layer providing some level of validation or security for succeeding layers.

Protected boot flow

A method and apparatus for initializing a computer system, which includes a lockable nonvolatile memory coupled to a processor having maskable address lines and a cache, when a nonvolatile memory update is in process. When an update is in process, the nonvolatile memory is unlocked in response to the initialization event only if address line masking is disabled, and at least a portion of the processor cache is invalidated to ensure the processor will fetch the first instruction from the nonvolatile memory.

Method and apparatus for securing computer firmware wherein unlocking of nonvolatile memory is prohibited unless address line masking Is disabled during an initialization event

A method for updating firmware. The method includes providing replaceable information in a non-modifiable storage and replacement information in a modifiable storage or a removable storage and providing a replacement indicator. The replacement information is accessed instead of the replaceable information based upon the replacement indicator.

Dynamic update of non-upgradeable memory

A device and method for generating interrupts to a central processing unit (CPU) for an universal serial bus (USB) keyboard and an USB mouse so that an operating system will treat these interrupts as if caused by an IBM&trade; personal computer series (PS/2) keyboard and PS/2 mouse. An interrupt request (IRQ) register having a first bit and a second bit is used to trigger the interrupts. A first merge unit acting as an OR circuit is connected to the first bit of the IRQ register to generate an interrupt to the CPU when the first bit is set to one. A second merge unit also acting as an OR circuit is connected to the second bit of the IRQ register to generate an interrupt to the CPU when the second bit is set to one.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Robert Patrick Hale