ACPI Device Marking for Faster Computer Platform Boot
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional ACPI approach lacks flexibility in controlling various configurations of a computing platform, leading to inefficiencies in booting processes, as it requires all devices to be enabled during startup, which can prolong the time taken to reach a state where applications can be run.
Innovation Solution
An ACPI control method is introduced to mark non-critical devices, allowing the operating system to disable them during boot, enabling faster OS startup by retaining this information for subsequent boots and enabling these devices only when necessary, using ACPI on-line add operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all devices are enabled during boot process, then system reliability is ensured, but boot time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments devices into critical and non-critical categories. Critical devices are enabled during boot to ensure system reliability, while non-critical devices are disabled to reduce boot time. This segmentation allows the system to selectively enable only the necessary devices for booting, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and boot time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification of devices into critical and non-critical groups before the boot process. By identifying and marking non-critical devices in advance, the system can disable them during boot without affecting system reliability, thus reducing boot time while maintaining necessary functionality.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional ACPI approach is used, then system stability is maintained, but flexibility in controlling device configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic device marking capability where devices can be marked as critical or non-critical based on changing system conditions. The OS can dynamically invoke the mark non-critical device control method to update device criticality status, allowing the system to adapt to configuration changes or device errors while maintaining stability through the structured ACPI framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of device criticality status from static to dynamic. By introducing the mark non-critical device control method, the system can modify device configuration parameters (criticality marks) based on runtime conditions, thereby increasing flexibility while maintaining system stability through controlled parameter changes.
3Reliability
If interpretable tables are merged into system firmware, then ACPI functionality is provided, but flexibility in controlling various configurations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary control method (mark non-critical device control method) that operates between the OS and the ACPI interpretable tables. This intermediary allows the OS to dynamically mark devices as non-critical and triggers ACPI on-line add operations to update device configurations, providing flexibility without compromising the stability of the firmware-integrated ACPI functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for restarting a computing platform to a state in which applications run in less time than an initial start, comprising powering on a computing platform having a plurality of devices; identifying one or more of the devices which are not critical to running applications; storing information about the non-critical devices; restarting the computing platform; retrieving the information about the non-critical devices; disabling the non-critical devices; enabling devices which are not non-critical; and enabling the non-critical devices after the restart is completed.