Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Digital data processing system initialization or configuration – Loading initialization program
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-05-01
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
06226740
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a method for booting the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a first power supply for supplying power only in a normal operating state and a second power supply for supplying power not only in a normal operating state but also in a power supply off state and a method for booting the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In some information processing apparatuses such as personal computers, codes for a basic input/output system (BIOS) to serve as an interface between the operating system(OS) and the hardware are stored in a read only memory (ROM). In such an information processing apparatus, the BIOS codes are read from the ROM when the apparatus is booted.
Such a conventional information processing apparatus has a problem in that a long time is spent before the apparatus is booted because the BIOS codes stored in the ROM are read at a low speed and hence the user must spend wasteful time until the apparatus is booted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus which can be booted at a high speed and a method for booting the same.
It is another object of the invention to provide an information processing apparatus whose booting time can be reduced with an inexpensive configuration and a method for booting the same.
An information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
a processor;
a storage device;
a first power supply;
a host controller connected to the processor, the host controller reading out codes stored in the storage device to boot the apparatus when the first power supply is turned on;
a high speed storage element which can be read out at a speed higher than that for the storage device;
a second power supply for supplying power to each of the host controller and the high speed storage element at all times whether the first power supply is turned on or turned off; and
a controller for reading out codes stored in advance in the high speed storage element having the same storage contents as those in the storage device to boot the apparatus when the first power supply is turned on.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for booting an information processing apparatus in which a host controller connected to a processor reads codes stored in a storage device to boot the apparatus when a first power supply is turned on, comprises the steps of:
supplying power from a second power supply to each of a high speed storage element which can be read out at a speed higher than that for the storage device and the host controller at all times whether the first power supply is on or off; and
reading out codes stored in advance in the high speed storage element having the same storage contents as those in the storage device to boot the apparatus when the first power supply is turned on.
According to the present invention, since booting is performed by reading out codes stored in advance in the high speed storage element having the same contents as those in the storage device when the first power supply is turned on, the time required for booting can be significantly reduced compared to the related art.
Further, according to the present invention, the storage contents of the high speed storage element are cleared during the period from a system terminating operation until the time at which the first power supply is turned off as a result of the system terminating operation; thereafter, a process is performed to copy the codes used for booting read out from the storage device into the high speed storage element and set a write protect therein; and, when the first power supply is turned on again thereafter, booting is carried out using the codes read out from the high speed storage element and the write protect is cancelled. Since this makes it possible to use an existing high speed storage element for booting, the present invention can be carried out at a low cost without the need for additional components.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5568641 (1996-10-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 6061788 (2000-05-01), Reynaud et al.
patent: 6115814 (2000-09-01), Lieber et al.
patent: 62-242257 (1987-10-01), None
patent: 3-14153 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 4-170647 (1992-06-01), None
patent: 8-161176 (1996-06-01), None
Foley & Lardner
Heckler Thomas M.
NEC Corporation
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