Remote Pre-Boot Screen Access via GPU Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote display protocols cannot access a computing system's pre-boot environment, limiting technical support's ability to diagnose and repair issues during system boot failures, as they require the operating system to be running for remote access.
Innovation Solution
A remote access BIOS module logically splits the GPU into local and remote access parts and memory regions, allowing the pre-boot screen to be copied and transmitted over a network, enabling remote access and input relay during the pre-boot phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote display protocols are used to access a computing system, then remote access capability is improved, but access is only available when the operating system is running, not during pre-boot phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the GPU functionality into separate components: a local display output path and a remote access path. The remote access BIOS module creates a dedicated remote access part of the GPU that can independently render and transmit pre-boot screen content over the network, while the local display continues to function normally. This segmentation allows remote access during pre-boot without interfering with local display operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a remote access BIOS module as an intermediary component that operates during the pre-boot phase. This module intercepts the pre-boot screen rendering process, captures the screen content, and transmits it over the network to remote clients. The intermediary module acts as a bridge between the pre-boot environment and remote users, enabling access without requiring the operating system to be running.
2Ease of operation
If custom hardware is added to enable pre-boot remote access, then remote access during pre-boot is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the GPU multi-functional by enabling it to serve both local display and remote access purposes simultaneously. The remote access BIOS module configures the GPU to render pre-boot screen content to multiple destinations: the local display connector and the network interface for remote clients. This universal approach eliminates the need for dedicated custom hardware, as the existing GPU hardware is made to perform multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the pre-boot environment to serve itself by implementing a remote access mechanism within the BIOS firmware. The remote access BIOS module uses the system's existing network interface card (NIC) and GPU resources to provide remote access functionality without requiring external custom hardware. The system's own components are leveraged to provide the service, making the solution self-sufficient and avoiding additional hardware complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A pre-boot screen can be accessed remotely. A remote access BIOS module can be employed on a computing system to logically split a GPU into a local screen rendering part and a remote access part and to logically split GPU memory into a local screen memory region and a remote access memory region. The remote access part of the GPU can access a pre-boot screen that has been copied to the remote access memory region and create network packets with payloads containing the pre-boot screen. The remote access part can then cause the network packets to be transferred to a NIC for delivery to a remote computing system. A remote access application on the remote computing system can extract and display the pre-boot screen. The remote access application can relay any user input back to the remote access BIOS module which can then cause the user input to be implemented locally.