Virtual Device Driver Installation via BIOS Emulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information handling systems face challenges in efficiently installing and managing device drivers, particularly in virtualized environments where physical storage locations are not always clear, leading to delays and failures in boot-up processes during operating system installations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtual device driver installation method that emulates a physical storage device, allowing the operating system to access and install device drivers without requiring a physical presence, using BIOS/EFI module emulation and internal processor operations, and enabling/disabling the virtual device through BIOS setup controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical storage devices are used for device driver installation, then the operating system can access drivers through traditional boot processes, but the system requires physical presence and location dependencies which complicates virtualized environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of a physical storage device that emulates its functionality. The virtual storage device presents the same interface and behavior as a physical device to the operating system, allowing driver installation without actual physical media. This copying approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining compatibility with traditional boot processes while eliminating physical presence requirements in virtualized environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual storage device as an intermediary between the operating system and the actual physical storage medium. This intermediary layer handles all read/write operations, presenting them to the OS as if coming from physical media, while actually retrieving data from virtualized storage resources. This mediator resolves the contradiction by decoupling the OS from physical device dependencies.
2Reliability
If traditional physical media is required for device driver installation, then boot-up processes follow conventional paths, but installation delays and failures occur when physical storage locations are unavailable or unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the virtual storage device with the necessary device driver information before the operating system boot process begins. The virtual device is set up in advance to respond to OS requests, eliminating the need for physical media insertion or search during boot-up. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by ensuring driver availability is guaranteed from the start, eliminating delays and failures associated with physical media issues.
3Ease of operation
If virtual device emulation is implemented, then physical storage location dependencies are eliminated, but BIOS/EFI module emulation and internal processor operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal virtual storage device that can emulate multiple types of physical storage devices through a single implementation. The virtual device handler is designed to handle various device types and scenarios through unified code paths, making the system adaptable to different virtualization environments without requiring separate implementations for each device type. This universality resolves the contradiction by providing ease of operation through a single solution that handles multiple scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
Device drivers are provided from virtual media. System resources trap input/output data associated with the device drivers. Memory is allocated for the virtual media and populated with the device drivers using the input/output data. As an operating system installs, the virtual media is readable and is accessed for the device drivers.