Shared Memory Device BIOS Enumeration for Low-Latency Discovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods of hardware enumeration for externally-attached shared memory devices introduce latency, security vulnerabilities, and potential incompatibilities due to OS-level detection dependencies and network-based discovery mechanisms, lacking standardized firmware integration.

Innovation Solution

A low-level, secure hardware device discovery and initialization process leveraging the ACPI specification for BIOS-integrated auto-enumeration, enabling seamless integration with system firmware and resource management layers, and establishing trusted execution environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If OS-level detection and network-based discovery mechanisms are used for hardware enumeration, then device compatibility and flexibility are improved, but latency increases and security vulnerabilities are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidenumeration latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements firmware-based device information storage and enumeration capability before the operating system loads. The externally-attached shared memory device stores its device tree information in non-transitory memory during manufacturing, enabling the host system to enumerate devices immediately during firmware execution without waiting for OS-level detection, thus reducing enumeration latency while maintaining compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a firmware-based enumeration mechanism as an intermediary between the hardware device and the operating system. This firmware layer provides a standardized interface for device discovery and information retrieval, eliminating the need for network-based discovery mechanisms and reducing security vulnerabilities while maintaining device compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If OS-level drivers and network-based discovery mechanisms are used for device enumeration, then device compatibility is improved, but security vulnerabilities increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the device enumeration and discovery functionality from the operating system level and implements it at the firmware level. By moving the enumeration process before OS loading and removing dependency on network-based discovery mechanisms, the patent eliminates security vulnerabilities associated with OS-level drivers and network protocols while maintaining device compatibility through standardized firmware interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The firmware-based enumeration mechanism serves as a secure intermediary that provides a trusted interface between the hardware device and the operating system. This intermediary layer validates device information and provides standardized access methods, eliminating security vulnerabilities associated with network-based discovery and OS-level drivers while maintaining device compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If firmware-based auto-enumeration is implemented, then security and latency are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidfirmware integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal firmware-based enumeration mechanism that works across different host systems and device types through standardized interfaces. The device tree information format and enumeration protocols are designed to be platform-independent, allowing the same firmware mechanism to handle various externally-attached shared memory devices without increasing complexity for each specific device type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250328354A1Techniques for enumeration of a shared memory device

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Examples include techniques associated with enumeration of a shared memory device. Examples include the shared memory device is an externally-attached shared memory device configured to maintain one or more shared memory regions that can be shared between multiple host computing platforms. The externally-attached shared memory device can communicate with a host computing platform's basic input/output operating system (BIOS) to provide device capabilities to facilitate enumeration of the externally-attached shared memory device.