The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 20, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 26, 1996
John J Pearce, Austin, TX (US);
Kendall C Witte, Austin, TX (US);
Dell USA, L.P., Round Rock, TX (US);
Abstract
A conversion methodology utilizes increasing microprocessor performance characteristics and System Management Mode ('SMM') to provide transparent support of hardware components that include features unsupported by executing application and operating system programs. In one embodiment, a PC system includes code that supports only conventional but unavailable communication interfaces. However, the PC system is equipped with a universal serial bus ('USB') controller. Although the USB controller is unsupported by the executing code by the application and operating system programs, the conversion methodology utilizes system management mode to facilitate transparent support for the USB controller. In SMM, a CPU executes SMM code independently of the operating system(s). The conversion methodology causes entry of SMM upon any I/O operation intended for the supported but unavailable conventional communication interfaces. The SMM code provides data from the USB controller in a format recognizable to the requesting non-supporting software. SMM code supports providing all da t that would otherwise be provided to supporting software.