Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Digital data processing system initialization or configuration – Loading initialization program
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-08
2001-08-28
Heckler, Thomas M. (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
Loading initialization program
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282644
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for storing a BIOS(Basic Input/Output System) data of a computer system, and in particular to an improved apparatus and a method for storing a BIOS data of a computer which are capable of storing a BIOS data by setting a predetermined region in a SRAM(Static Random Access Memory) used as a cache memory without using a ROM(Read Only Memory) as a storing apparatus for storing a BIOS data.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 1
is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a BIOS data storing apparatus for a conventional computer system which includes a ROM
1
storing a BIOS data therein, a main memory
2
in which a BIOS data stored in the ROM
1
is copied into a shadow region
2
-
1
, a CPU(Central Processing Unit)
3
for driving a computer system by accessing the BIOS data stored in the ROM
1
, a cache memory
4
for storing a part of a program therein for performing an instruction at a higher speed, and a controller
5
for controlling each element.
The operation of the BIOS data storing apparatus for a conventional computer system will be explained with reference to FIG.
2
.
First, when an electric power is supplied to the computer system in S
1
, the CPU
3
accesses the BIOS data stored in the ROM
1
and boots the system for driving the computer system in S
2
.
Here, the BIOS data stored in the ROM
1
includes a POST(Power On Self Test) routine and a boot load routine. Therefore, when supplying the electric power to the computer system, the CPU
3
accesses the BIOS data stored in the ROM
1
, namely, the POST and boot load routines for thereby checking the hardware installed and driving the computer system.
The BIOS data stored in the ROM
1
are copied into the shadow region
2
-
1
of the main memory
2
in S
3
.
At this time, only the read operation is available for protecting the BIOS data copied into the shadow region
2
-
1
by masking the shadow region
2
-
1
of the main memory
2
for preventing the write operation in S
4
.
Thereafter, if the BIOS data is needed, the CPU
3
accesses an instruction and data from the shadow region
2
-
1
of the main memory
2
for thereby performing the program in S
5
.
In the above described BIOS data storing apparatus for a computer system, when the electric power is supplied to the computer system, the BIOS data stored in the ROM
1
are accessed for thereby driving the computer system. The thusly accessed data are copied into the shadow region
2
-
1
of the main memory
2
. When the BIOS data are needed, the data copied into the shadow region
2
-
1
are accessed for thereby performing a corresponding program. The ROM
1
is used for a very short time when the electric power is supplied to the computer system. For this, the fabrication cost of the system is increased due to an expensive ROM.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for storing a BIOS data of a computer which overcomes the aforementioned problems encountered in the conventional art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for storing a BIOS data of a computer system which is capable of significantly decreasing the fabrication cost of the system by storing a BIOS data into a SDRAM used as a cache memory of the computer system.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided an apparatus for storing a BIOS data of a computer which includes a first storing means for performing a function as a memory and a function as a storing means for storing a BIOS data therein, a second storing means in which a BIOS data stored in the first storing means is copied and stored therein, a CPU(Central Processing Unit) for accessing a BIOS data stored in the first storing means and driving a computer system when an electric power is supplied to the computer system, a main power controlling for supplying or blocking a main power, a controller for controlling each element of the system, and a system power unit for applying a system power to the first storing apparatus and the controller, respectively.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a method for storing a BIOS data of a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention which includes a first step in which the CPU accesses a BIOS data stored in a predetermined region of the first storing means and drives a computer system when an electric power is supplied to the computer system, a second step in which the BIOS data stored in a predetermined region of the first storing means is copied into a predetermined region of the second storing means, a third step in which the BIOS data stored in a predetermined region of the second storing means is copied into a predetermined region of the first storing means, a fourth step in which the main power controller turns off an electric power supplied to the computer system, a fifth step in which the system power unit supplies a system power to a predetermined region of the first storing means and a predetermined region of the controller.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a method for storing a BIOS data of a computer according to another embodiment of the present invention which includes a first step in which a computer system is driven when an electric power is supplied to the computer system, a second step in which a BIOS data stored in a predetermined region of the first storing means is copied into a predetermined region of a second storing means, a third step in which a BIOS data stored in a predetermined region of the second storing means is copied into a predetermined region of the first storing means, a fifth step in which the power supplied to the computer system is turned off, and a sixth step in which a system power is supplied to a predetermined region of the second storing means and a third storing means.
Additional advantages, objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the description which follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5603011 (1997-02-01), Piazza
patent: 5835761 (1998-11-01), Ishii et al.
patent: 5836013 (1998-11-01), Greene et al.
patent: 5951685 (1999-09-01), Stancil
Heckler Thomas M.
LG Electronics Inc.
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