ACPI AML Interface to Native Firmware via OpRegion Handler

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing ACPI system lacks flexibility and scalability due to its monolithic design and limited ability for AML control methods to access native firmware capabilities, leading to redundancy and resource wastage.

Innovation Solution

An interface is established between the ACPI AML interpreter and native firmware, allowing AML control methods to access native firmware capabilities through an OpRegion handler, enabling efficient communication and reducing redundancy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If AML control methods are implemented in a virtual machine environment, then hardware abstraction and portability are improved, but access to native firmware capabilities becomes restricted and redundant implementations are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware abstractionVSAvoidfirmware access mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (OpRegion handler interface) that bridges the AML virtual machine environment and native firmware. This intermediary allows AML control methods to access native firmware capabilities through a standardized interface without breaking the virtualization abstraction, thereby resolving the contradiction between hardware abstraction and firmware access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If ACPI code is designed monolithically, then implementation simplicity is improved, but portability to different platforms and configurations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidplatform portability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the ACPI implementation by separating the AML control methods from the native firmware through the OpRegion handler interface. This segmentation allows the AML code to remain platform-agnostic while specific firmware interactions are handled through standardized interfaces, improving portability without significantly increasing implementation complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If native firmware capabilities are implemented in both native firmware and AML, then functionality is preserved across different execution environments, but resource redundancy and waste increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality preservationVSAvoidresource redundancy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of native firmware capabilities into the AML control methods through the OpRegion handler interface. By allowing AML to directly access native firmware capabilities, the same functionality can be implemented once in native firmware and accessed from AML, eliminating redundant implementations and reducing resource waste while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7953996B2ACPI to firmware interface

Publication Date: 2011.05.31 VALTRUS INNOVATIONS LTD

AI summary

In one embodiment a computer system comprises a processor, a basic input/output system (BIOS) including logic instructions which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to create a virtual AML device data structure, the data structure comprising a plurality of fields to hold arguments to a native firmware function, store at least one argument for the native firmware function in a register of the AML device data structure, store an entry point and a pointer value in a register of the virtual AML device data structure, and initiate an access request to a firmware access register in the AML device data structure.