Distributed BIOS Hybrid Compute Zone for Graceful Shutdown

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information handling systems face issues with premature system shutdowns due to sudden crashes, power breakdowns, and software faults, leading to data loss and user context disruption, especially during firmware updates and diagnostics operations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a hybrid compute zone operation using a distributed BIOS to enter processors into a low power hybrid compute mode, which includes a real-time battery probe and seamless context aware protocol to prevent premature shutdowns and maintain safe workload execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the system enters low power mode to conserve energy, then power consumption is reduced, but system reliability deteriorates due to premature shutdowns and data loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsystem reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by saving user context and data to non-volatile storage before entering the hybrid compute low power mode. This ensures that even if a premature shutdown occurs, the system can resume from the saved state without data loss, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements protective measures beforehand by creating a hybrid compute zone with buffered power supply and context saving mechanisms. This cushioning ensures that transient power failures or crashes during low power mode do not result in system failure or data corruption, thus protecting reliability while maintaining low power operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system performs firmware management operations to improve functionality, then system capabilities are enhanced, but system stability worsens due to increased risk of crashes and shutdowns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem capabilitiesVSAvoidsystem stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Before performing firmware management operations, the system saves the current user context and operational state to non-volatile storage. This preliminary action ensures that if a crash occurs during firmware updates or diagnostics, the system can recover without losing user data or requiring a full shutdown, thus maintaining stability while enabling enhanced capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hybrid compute zone as an intermediary layer between the firmware management operations and the main system operations. This zone provides a protected environment where firmware can be updated or diagnostics performed with isolated risk, preventing system-wide crashes and maintaining overall system stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the system enables hybrid compute mode to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional power management mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hybrid compute zone is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as a low power compute mode, a data protection mechanism, and a system recovery environment. By consolidating these functions into a single mechanism, the patent reduces the overall system complexity compared to implementing separate systems for each function, thus improving energy efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260029836A1Exception Context Aware Hybrid Compute Zone Preventing Premature System Shutdown

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A firmware management operation. The firmware management operation includes providing an information handling system with a distributed BIOS; identifying a processor environment installed on an information handling system from a plurality of processor environments, the processor environment comprising processor corresponding to a processor architecture; and, performing a hybrid compute zone operation via the distributed BIOS, the hybrid compute zone operation causing a processor of the processor environment to enter into a low power hybrid compute mode of operation, the low power hybrid compute mode of operation controlling a graceful shutdown of the information handling system.