Boot Time Reduction via Pre-Boot Device Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing booting process for information processing devices is slowed down by the detection of external devices connected via interfaces like Thunderbolt, requiring device enumeration and support enablement, which increases processing time even when devices are absent.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a PD controller to establish communication with external devices and acquire information before the booting process, allowing the CPU to automatically enable or disable Thunderbolt support based on the presence of connected devices, thereby skipping unnecessary enumeration and reducing boot time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the information processing device executes device detection and enumeration during the booting process, then device compatibility and proper initialization are ensured, but the boot time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the PD controller detect the presence of external devices and store this information before the booting process begins. The CPU then retrieves this pre-acquired device presence information during booting, allowing it to skip the device detection and enumeration steps for absent devices, thereby reducing boot time while maintaining compatibility for present devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the device detection function from the main booting process and assigns it to the PD controller to execute independently beforehand. This separation allows the CPU to bypass the time-consuming device enumeration during booting, as the device presence information has already been extracted and stored by the PD controller in advance
2Adaptability or versatility
If the information processing device always enables Thunderbolt support during booting, then external devices can be properly recognized, but processing time increases even when devices are absent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the Thunderbolt support enabling status dynamic rather than static. The CPU determines whether to enable Thunderbolt support based on the pre-acquired device presence information, dynamically adjusting the system configuration during booting to match the actual external device connection state, thus optimizing booting speed while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of Thunderbolt support enabling status from a fixed default state to a variable state determined by device presence. The CPU modifies this parameter during the booting process based on the stored device information, allowing the system to adapt its behavior and performance characteristics according to the actual external device configuration
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus to shorten the time taken for executing a booting process includes, in one embodiment, a connection processing unit that establishes communication with and acquires information from a plurality of devices that are communicably coupled externally to an information processing device, the information relating to the plurality of devices regardless of whether a booting process is executed. The apparatus also includes a communication control unit that executes communication with each of the plurality of devices during the booting process, and a first processing unit that one of enables or disables communication between the communication control unit and a selected one of the plurality of devices in response to the acquired information related to the selected one of the plurality of devices. A method and a computer program product also perform functions of the apparatus.