Computer Platform Boot Method Using ACPI Device Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ACPI approach lacks flexibility in controlling various configurations of computing platforms, leading to inefficient booting processes due to the need to enable all devices during startup, which can prolong the time required to reach a state where applications can be run.
Innovation Solution
An ACPI control method is introduced to mark non-critical devices for booting, allowing the operating system to disable them during initial boot, thereby reducing boot time, and enabling them only after the OS is operational, with the option to delay or parallelize testing and initialization of these devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all devices are enabled during system boot to ensure complete hardware availability, then device reliability and functionality are improved, 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 during boot to reduce boot time. This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between devices that must be available for booting and those that can be activated later.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification of non-critical devices during the boot process. The system identifies and marks non-critical devices before the boot sequence completes, allowing these devices to be excluded from the boot process while ensuring critical devices are properly initialized. This preliminary classification enables faster boot times without compromising essential device availability.
2Speed
If non-critical devices are disabled during boot to reduce boot time, then boot speed is improved, but device configuration flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic device configuration capability where the system can switch between different device states (enabled/disabled) based on operational needs. After boot completion, the system can dynamically enable non-critical devices when needed, providing adaptability. The ACPI interface allows the OS to manipulate hardware resources dynamically, enabling the system to adapt device configuration based on application requirements while maintaining fast boot performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state parameter of non-critical devices from enabled to disabled during boot, and provides mechanisms to change this parameter back to enabled after boot. The ACPI control methods and on-line add capabilities allow the system to modify device parameters dynamically, maintaining both fast boot speed and configuration flexibility by enabling parameter changes at appropriate system states.
3Reliability
If device testing and initialization are performed during boot to ensure device readiness, then device reliability is improved, but boot time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the testing and initialization operations for non-critical devices from the boot process. Instead of performing these operations during boot, the system defers them to post-boot execution. This extraction removes the time-consuming device initialization tasks from the critical boot path, significantly reducing boot time while ensuring devices are tested and initialized before being put into service.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows the boot process to skip over non-critical devices by identifying them and excluding them from the boot sequence. The system rushes through the boot process by not performing testing and initialization on non-critical devices during boot, accepting that these devices will be initialized later. This skipping mechanism enables faster boot times while maintaining device readiness through deferred initialization.
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, including 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; performing at least one of testing and initialization of at least one device of the plurality of devices that are critical to running the applications before the restart is completed; offloading at least one of testing and initialization of at least one of the non-critical devices; enabling devices which are not non-critical; and enabling the non-critical devices after the restart is completed.