Patent
1993-07-15
1997-02-04
Hayes, Gail O.
G06F 600
Patent
active
056008015
ABSTRACT:
A device for interfacing an expansion bus with an option card and an associated method for initializing a computer system having the option card installed on the expansion bus thereof. The interface device includes a dual ported RAM having a first port coupled to the expansion bus and a second port coupled to the option card, a processor coupled to the second port of the dual ported RAM and a non-volatile memory coupled to the processor and to the second port of the dual ported RAM. At power up, the processor transfers an expansion BIOS and pattern stored in the non-volatile memory to first and second portions, respectively, of the memory space of the dual ported RAM. The computer system scans the second portion of the dual ported RAM for the pattern, executes a first initialization sequence contained in the expansion BIOS upon detecting the pattern and then executes a second initialization sequence contained in a BIOS of the computer system. Data acquired during the execution of the initialization sequence is stored in a third portion of the memory space. Updates to the expansion BIOS are transferred to a fourth portion of the memory space where the processor transfers the updates to the non-volatile memory. The processor also controls bi-directional exchanges of data and control signals between the expansion bus and the option card via the fourth portion of the memory space.
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Jones Craig S.
Parks Terry J.
Dell USA L.P.
Hayes Gail O.
Ives Felicia
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