Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Digital data processing system initialization or configuration – Loading initialization program
Reexamination Certificate
2006-08-31
2010-02-23
Lee, Thomas (Department: 2115)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
Loading initialization program
C713S001000, C713S100000, C705S052000, C705S061000, C705S077000, C705S400000, C705S418000, C709S208000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07669048
ABSTRACT:
Described is a technology by which a computing device is booted into a normal mode of operation or a limited mode of operation, depending on whether the computing device was operating correctly (e.g., with respect to policy) prior to a reboot. The reboot may be forced. Examples of incorrect state include an overdue payment on a leased computer, or improper execution of certain important software. A metering mechanism evaluates the state of the computing device, and when an incorrect state is detected, configures the computing device for operation in the limited mode, by setting the computing device to boot via one boot path (e.g., a limited-mode BIOS) instead of another boot path (e.g., a normal-mode BIOS). A BIOS selector switches to the limited BIOS on the next reboot, wherein the computing device is restricted to the limited mode of operation (regardless of subsequent reboots) until the correct state is restored.
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Office Action Summary ; U.S. Appl. No. 11/612,435, filed Dec. 18, 2006; First Named Inventor: William J. Westerinen; Mailing Date: May 27, 2009; pp. 13.
Frank Alexander
Steeb Curt A.
Westerinen William J.
Xu Zhangwei
Abbaszadeh Jaweed A
Lee Thomas
Marshall & Gerstein & Borun LLP
Microsoft Corporation
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