UEFI BIOS Manufacturing Mode Interface Standardization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UEFI BIOS manufacturing mode implementations for computer systems are not compatible with each other and lack standardized interfaces, making them incompatible and inefficient for managing manufacturing modes across different systems.
Innovation Solution
A unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI) BIOS system that includes PEI, DXE, and SMM manufacturing mode drivers and interfaces, allowing for standardized communication and storage of manufacturing mode data, including stop-ship information and other manufacturing-related data, providing enhanced error reporting and encapsulation of functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional BIOS manufacturing modes are used in different systems, then each system can manage its own manufacturing modes, but the systems are not compatible with each other and lack standardized interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a universal UEFI manufacturing mode interface that can be used across different systems and code segments (PEI, DXE, SMM). This interface provides standardized functions for getting and setting manufacturing mode data, allowing different BIOS implementations to communicate using the same protocol, thereby achieving compatibility while maintaining standardized interfaces
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple BIOS code segments (PEI, DXE, SMM) are used to manage manufacturing modes, then comprehensive manufacturing functionality is achieved, but the complexity of managing manufacturing mode data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a UEFI manufacturing mode interface as an intermediary layer between the different BIOS code segments (PEI, DXE, SMM) and the manufacturing mode data. This interface abstracts the complexity of data management by providing standardized functions that can be called by any code segment without requiring them to directly manage the underlying data structures, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining comprehensive functionality
3Adaptability or versatility
If manufacturing mode data is stored in various information blocks throughout the BIOS code, then manufacturing information can be accessed by different code segments, but compatibility and data consistency become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the scattered manufacturing mode data storage into a centralized UEFI manufacturing mode interface that manages all manufacturing data consistently. Instead of having separate information blocks distributed throughout different BIOS code segments, the interface provides a unified mechanism for storing, retrieving, and managing manufacturing mode data, ensuring data consistency and compatibility across all code segments that access it
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described for managing manufacturing modes in a unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI) basic input output system (BIOS). The UEFI BIOS can include a PEI (pre-EFI) manufacturing mode driver, a PEI interface, PEI drivers, a DXE (driver execution environment) manufacturing mode driver, a DXE interface, DXE drivers, a SMM (system management mode) manufacturing mode driver, a SMM interface, and SMM drivers. Manufacturing mode data is stored and accessed through a PEI manufacturing mode driver, a DXE manufacturing mode driver, or a SMM manufacturing mode driver, and/or any combination thereof. The PEI interface is used to communicate manufacturing mode data between PEI drivers and the PEI manufacturing mode driver. The DXE interface is used to communicate manufacturing mode data between DXE drivers and the DXE manufacturing mode driver. And the SMM interface is used to communicate manufacturing mode data between SMM drivers and the SMM manufacturing mode driver.