SMI Task Segmentation Across Multiple Events

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Solution Overview

Problem

Complex System Management Interrupt (SMI) tasks, such as signature verification and firmware management, often require substantial time, exceeding industry-defined maximum SMI event durations, potentially causing user experience degradation, especially during tasks like media playback.

Innovation Solution

An operating system agent monitors device load to segment SMI data and specify a maximum duration for SMI events, allowing SMI tasks to be completed across multiple events, ensuring no single event exceeds the allowed duration by pausing and resuming processing as necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If complex SMI tasks are performed within a single SMI event, then task completion is achieved, but the SMI event duration exceeds the maximum allowed time, degrading user experience

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSMI task completionVSAvoidSMI event duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides complex SMI tasks into multiple smaller SMI events by segmenting the task execution. The BIOS suspends and resumes normal operation multiple times, with each SMI event handling a portion of the overall task. This segmentation allows the system to complete complex tasks while keeping individual SMI event durations within acceptable limits, thus resolving the contradiction between task completion and duration constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If SMI tasks are performed frequently, then system management operations are maintained, but user experience deteriorates due to noticeable glitches in media playback

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem management operationVSAvoiduser experience degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by scheduling SMI events at optimized intervals and using a state machine to manage task execution across multiple events. The system performs brief, periodic SMI events rather than one long continuous event, allowing media playback to resume between events. This periodic approach maintains necessary system management operations while minimizing the cumulative impact on user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If SMI data is processed in full within one SMI event, then processing efficiency is maximized, but the event duration exceeds industry specifications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidcompliance with industry specifications

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by implementing a state machine that adapts the processing approach based on task requirements and system state. The BIOS dynamically determines whether to complete processing in one event or split across multiple events, adjusting the execution strategy in real-time. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high processing efficiency when possible while complying with industry specifications when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11481248B2Completing an SMI task across multiple SMI events

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An SMI task to be completed across multiple SMI events. An OS agent can be employed to determine a current load on a computing device. Based on the load, the OS agent can create an SMI message that specifies a maximum duration for an SMI event and that segments the SMI data for the SMI task. The OS agent can provide the SMI message to BIOS as part of requesting that the SMI task be performed. During the resulting SMI event, the BIOS can reassemble the segmented SMI data and then perform the SMI task. If this processing cannot be completed within the specified maximum duration for an SMI event, the BIOS can pause its processing and cause a subsequent SMI event to occur during which the processing can be resumed. In this way, the SMI task can be completed across multiple SMI events while ensuring that no single SMI event exceeds the specified maximum duration.