Local permanent storage in network computer

Details Local permanent storage in network computer Local permanent storage in network computer

1998-12-14

2002-10-22

Lefkowitz, Sumati (Department: 2181)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support

Computer power control

Power conservation

C713S002000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06470457

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of microprocessor based computers and more specifically to improving the reliability, flexibility, and power consumption in network computers and other limited resource computers.
2. History of Related Art
The increasing number of computing applications for which a local area network provides a desirable solution has focused increased attention on maximizing network value by carefully controlling the implementation of resources on each computer in the network. In the past, local area networks were frequently designed by interconnecting two or more personal computers, possibly in combination with a large capacity, centralized server machine. The wide spread availability and acceptance of disk based operating system software that eliminated much of the design overhead associated with implementing a local area network greatly contributed to the proliferation of networks comprised of a two or more essentially stand alone machines. Despite the ease with which such networks can be implemented, these networks are not designed to maximize value to the end user because these networks fail to distribute resources in an optimal fashion. More specifically, networks comprised simply of a collection of stand alone machines unnecessarily duplicate resources that can be offered via the network and centralized in one or more network servers. Attempts to address this concern by simply stripping resources from each network computer have resulted in network machines that lack desirable flexibility and features. Examples of such attempts include modifications or simplifications to the power supply of stand alone machines and the elimination of local permanent storage such as disk based devices. Unfortunately, the drawbacks resulting from such attempts to reduce the cost and eliminate unnecessary repetitiveness from network computers overwhelms the advantages achieved. The simplification of a conventional power supply, for example, has typically resulted in a computer incapable of implementing a conventional low power mode while elimination of disk based media from machines severely limits the software applications available to operate on such machines. Accordingly, it is desirable to introduce various improvements and features into computers, designed specifically for use in a network environment to achieve a machine that reduces cost and eliminates unnecessary redundancy in network resources without suffering a noticeable decrease in reliability, flexibility, and performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problems raised above are in large part addressed by a network computer according to the present invention that facilitates local recovery of network machines, low cost implementation of permanent local storage, improved reliability through a reduction in the network computer's susceptibility to EMI effects, as well as additional benefits discussed in greater detail below. The invention combines the savings achieved by minimizing network computer resources while offsetting the major drawbacks that occur in machines from which resources have been simply removed.
Broadly speaking, a first application of the invention contemplates a boot code storage device configured with computer instructions for executing a boot code validity check in response to a boot event to facilitate local recovery of a computer such as a network computer. In response to the boot event, such as powering up a computer in which the boot code storage device is located, an image of a boot code is copied from a first storage medium to the boot code storage device if the validity check is negative. Remaining portions of the boot code including a start up sequence are executed if the validity check is positive. In one embodiment, the boot code validity check determines the presence or absence of a boot code jumper in a motherboard to which the boot code storage device is connected. In the preferred embodiment, the boot code storage device comprises a flash memory device, preferably including a plurality of sectors. In the preferred embodiment, the boot code validity check is part of a boot block of the boot code residing in a first sector of the flash memory device. The boot block and boot code reside in contiguous memory of the boot code storage device in one implementation. The first storage medium from which the boot code is copied, in one embodiment, is a compact flash card configured with an image of the boot code.
The first application further contemplates a method of respond to a computer boot event in which a boot code validity check is executed. An image of a boot code is then copied from a first storage medium to a boot code storage device of the computer if the validity check is negative. Remaining portions of the boot code, preferably including a start up sequence, are executed if the validity check is positive. The boot event may comprise a power up of the computer or a LAN wake up event. The validity check preferably includes determining if a boot code jumper is present on the computer's motherboard. In the preferred embodiment, the boot code validity check is executed as part of a boot block that forms a portion of the boot code residing in a first sector of the boot code storage device, such as a flash memory device.
The first application of the invention still further contemplates a method of restoring a network computer in which an operator or user configures the computer to fail a boot code validity check, such as by inserting a jumper into a boot code jumper block of the computer's motherboard. A boot event is then executed, such as by powering on the computer, to initiate the validity check. In response to failing the validity check, an image of a boot code is copied into a boot code storage device of the computer from a first storage medium. In an embodiment in which the first storage medium is a compact flash card, the method permits local recovery of a computer that does not have a hard drive or other disk based storage medium.
A second application of the invention contemplates a method of creating a boot code image in which a computer is configured to fail a boot code creation bypass test prior to executing the bypass test. When the bypass test is subsequently executed, an image of a boot code stored in a boot code storage device is copied to a first storage medium in response to failing the bypass test. Preferably, the computer is configured to fail the bypass test by inserting at least one jumper in a motherboard of the computer. In this embodiment, the absence or presence of the at least one bypass jumper determines the outcome of the bypass test. In one embodiment, the boot code creation bypass test is executed in response to a boot event, such as a system power on or reset. In the preferred embodiment, the bypass test comprises a portion of a boot block portion of the boot code. In one embodiment, the boot code is stored to a compact flash card in response to the failure of the bypass test. A flash memory device including a plurality of sectors is used as the boot code storage device. In one embodiment, the boot block and boot code creation bypass test reside in a first sector of the flash memory device while the remaining portions of the boot code including a start up sequence reside in subsequent sectors.
The second application of the invention further contemplates a boot code storage device configured with instructions for executing a boot code creation bypass test in response to a boot event. If the bypass test fails, the boot code executes a routine that copies an image of a boot code from the boot code storage device to a first storage medium, such as the compact flash card indicated previously. If the bypass test passes, the boot code jumps around the boot block and the copy routine and executes a start up sequence to bring the computer to a predetermined initial state. In embodiments in which the boot code storage device is a flash memory device, the flash memory device preferably

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