Patent
1996-01-26
1999-04-20
Banankhah, Majid A.
395733, 395500, G06F 15163, G06F 300, G06F 946
Patent
active
058965343
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.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5121472 (1992-06-01), Danish et al.
patent: 5175853 (1992-12-01), Kardach et al.
patent: 5214785 (1993-05-01), Fairweather
patent: 5237692 (1993-08-01), Raasch et al.
patent: 5261079 (1993-11-01), Celi, Jr.
patent: 5357628 (1994-10-01), Yuen
patent: 5465364 (1995-11-01), Lathrop et al.
patent: 5485614 (1996-01-01), Kocis et al.
patent: 5544344 (1996-08-01), Frame et al.
patent: 5590312 (1996-12-01), Marisetty
patent: 5617572 (1997-04-01), Pearce et al.
patent: 5623673 (1997-04-01), Gephardt et al.
patent: 5623696 (1997-04-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5630052 (1997-05-01), Shah
patent: 5634132 (1997-05-01), Pearce et al.
patent: 5680540 (1997-10-01), Pearce
patent: 5737579 (1998-04-01), Kimura et al.
patent: 5802318 (1998-09-01), Murray et al.
Intel 486 Processor Family, pp. 1-8, 125-142, Nov. 1994.
Intel, Managing Power with the SL Enhanced Intel486 Microporcessor, pp. 3-9, 1993.
Intel, Migrating from the Intel 486 SL Microporcessor to the SL Enhanced Intel 486 Microprocessor, pp. 1-13, Oct. 1993.
Slater, Michael; "Universal bus to simplify PC I/O", Microdesign Resources, v9, n5, p 1(5), Apr. 17, 1995.
Caton,Michael "USB makes the right connections", PC Week, v12,n44, p 96(1), Nov. 6, 1995.
Pearce John J.
Witte Kendall C.
Banankhah Majid A.
Caldwell Patricia
Chambers Kent B.
Dell USA L.P.
LandOfFree
Operating system independent apparatus and method for supporting does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Operating system independent apparatus and method for supporting, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Operating system independent apparatus and method for supporting will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2254909