BIOS Hardware Failure Triage and Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hardware failures in information handling systems often lead to system inoperability, with software updates not effectively addressing hardware issues, and manual workarounds being undocumented and time-consuming, especially for soldered-down motherboard devices.

Innovation Solution

An information handling system with a processor and BIOS that triages hardware components for potential failures, writes failure signatures to non-volatile memory, and enables mitigation methods during boot, allowing for proactive resolution of hardware failures through database structures and control methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual workarounds are applied to resolve hardware failures, then system operability is restored, but the process is time-consuming and undocumented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operabilityVSAvoidresolution time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary triage of hardware components during boot before the operating system loads, identifying potential failures in advance. This allows mitigation strategies to be prepared and executed automatically, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing resolution time from hours to minutes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-diagnosis and self-repair capabilities by automatically detecting hardware failures, comparing them against a database of known issues, and applying documented workarounds without human intervention. The BIOS autonomously manages the entire failure resolution process, from detection to mitigation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Stability of the object's composition

If hardware components are soldered down on the motherboard, then system stability is improved, but repairability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidhardware repairability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical hardware replacement (mechanical repair) with software-based mitigation strategies. Instead of physically replacing soldered components, the system uses BIOS-level workarounds and configuration changes to resolve hardware failures, eliminating the need for complex soldering repairs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system resolves hardware failures by changing operational parameters and configurations through software rather than physical intervention. By modifying BIOS settings, device configurations, or operational modes, the system can work around hardware defects without requiring component replacement or re-soldering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive hardware triage is performed, then detection precision is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure detection precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hardware triage process is segmented into distinct phases: initial component identification, individual component testing, failure signature generation, and database comparison. Each phase handles a specific subset of tasks, making the overall complex process manageable and systematic while maintaining high detection precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary database that stores failure signatures and mitigation strategies. This database acts as a mediator between the triage process and the operating system, organizing complex failure information into structured formats that simplify detection and resolution while maintaining comprehensive diagnostic capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If hardware failures are resolved with software updates, then repair cost is reduced, but effectiveness is limited for hardware issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepair costVSAvoidresolution effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts its approach based on the specific hardware failure detected. Rather than applying static software updates, the system selects and applies targeted mitigation strategies from its database, dynamically adjusting the resolution approach to match the specific hardware issue, thereby improving effectiveness while maintaining low cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11314582B2Systems and methods for dynamically resolving hardware failures in an information handling system

Publication Date: 2022.04.26 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system may include a processor and a basic input/output system configured to, responsive to an occurrence of an exception error, triage among various hardware components of the information handling system to determine existence of any signatures of potential hardware failures, write a database structure to a non-volatile memory including the signatures of potential hardware failures, upon boot of the basic input/output system, enable one or more control methods for hardware failure mitigations associated with the signatures of potential hardware failures, and perform the mitigations during execution of an operating system of the information handling system.