Boot Loader Embedded in System ROM for Reliable PC Booting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional IBM PC compatible processing systems face reliability issues during booting due to corruption or defects in boot media, as the boot loader is typically stored on writable external storage media, leading to system failure if the media becomes corrupted or defective.
Innovation Solution
Storing the boot loader as firmware in a Read-Only Memory (ROM) that is directly accessible by the processor, eliminating the need for I/O control devices and reducing the likelihood of data corruption, with a dual BIOS and boot loader setup for redundancy in case of corruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the boot loader is stored on external boot media (hard drives, floppy disks, CDs, USB flash memories), then the system can load the operating system from these media, but the boot media may get corrupted or become defective leading to system failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the boot loader and stores it in the ROM along with the BIOS. This copy serves as a backup that cannot be corrupted, allowing the system to boot reliably even when external boot media becomes defective. The ROM copy is identical in function to the boot media version but protected from corruption.
2Reliability
If the boot loader is stored in ROM directly accessible by the processor, then the booting speed and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases due to dual BIOS and boot loader setup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the BIOS and boot loader into a single ROM storage location, eliminating the need for separate storage devices. This consolidation reduces the overall system complexity by removing the need for multiple I/O control devices and separate boot media, while still maintaining the functional separation between BIOS initialization and boot loader operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The ROM is designed to serve multiple functions: storing the BIOS, storing the boot loader, and providing direct processor access for both. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate storage devices and I/O control devices, reducing system complexity while improving reliability and booting speed.
3Reliability
If the boot loader is stored in ROM, then the likelihood of data corruption is reduced, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to firmware embedding requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The boot loader is pre-loaded into the ROM during manufacturing, before the system is deployed. This preliminary action ensures that the boot loader is already in place and protected from future corruption, eliminating the need for separate boot media and simplifying the manufacturing process by integrating the boot loader into the ROM during production.
Data Source
AI summary
An IBM PC compatible processing system typically has a BIOS installed as system firmware. During a boot process of the processing system, the BIOS loads a boot loader from one of the boot media, i.e., hard drives, floppy disks, CDs, USB flash memories, taps, etc. and passes control of the boot loader, the boot loader then loads an OS from the boot media. The present invention takes advantage of the higher reliability and availability provided by the system flash memory and stores a boot loader as system firmware in the system flash memory. Further, it provides changes in the BIOS boot process to load the boot loader from system memory, the ROM, for example, without relying on boot media. With this new process, the boot loader can be loaded even when the boot media is corrupt, defective or un-initialized.