SideShow Device OS-Independent System Information Retrieval

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional SideShow devices are unable to retrieve system information from a computing device if the operating system crashes or shuts down, as they rely on the operating system to establish connections and monitor information passively through standardized data buses like USB or Bluetooth.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using an embedded controller to request system information through a bi-directional data bus, such as SMB, even when the computing device is shut down, and switching to GPIO communication after boot-up, allowing the SideShow device to proactively retrieve information independently of the operating system's availability and traditional data bus connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the SideShow device passively waits for the computing device to monitor and retrieve system information through the operating system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates because the SideShow device cannot obtain system information when the operating system crashes or shuts down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to retrieve system informationVSAvoidcommunication mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an embedded controller as an intermediary component between the SideShow device and the computing device. This embedded controller includes a bi-directional data bus that enables direct communication independent of the operating system. The SideShow device can request and receive system information through this intermediary communication path even when the operating system is unavailable, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the SideShow device relies on standardized data buses like USB or Bluetooth established by the operating system, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates as connection activities stop when the operating system shuts down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection availabilityVSAvoidconnection establishment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication path into two independent channels: (1) traditional standardized data buses (USB, Bluetooth) that operate under operating system control, and (2) a dedicated bi-directional data bus within the embedded controller that operates independently. This segmentation allows the SideShow device to switch between communication channels based on operating system availability, maintaining connection reliability without complicating normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the communication parameter from OS-dependent standardized protocols to OS-independent direct hardware communication through the embedded controller's bi-directional data bus. This parameter change enables the communication mechanism to function regardless of operating system state, improving connection availability while maintaining ease of operation through automatic channel selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the SideShow device passively receives system information from the computing device, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates because the device cannot actively obtain information when the computing device shuts down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation retrieval capabilityVSAvoidactive retrieval mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional passive reception model by enabling the SideShow device to actively request system information through the embedded controller's bi-directional data bus. Instead of waiting for the computing device to push information, the SideShow device can initiate requests and receive responses directly, ensuring information retrieval capability independent of operating system state while managing complexity through the established communication protocol.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8051279B2Method and system for enabling an auxiliary system to retrieve system information from a computing device

Publication Date: 2011.11.01 NVIDIA CORP

AI summary

A method and system for enabling an auxiliary system to retrieve the system information from a computing device are disclosed. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of requesting for the system information from an embedded controller of the computing device through a first bi-directional data bus if the computing device is shut down, requesting for the system information from the computing device through the first bi-directional bus during the boot-up sequence of the computing device, and requesting for the system information from the computing device through a general purpose input/output (GPIO) after the computing device completes the boot-up sequence.