# US 12,216,557 B2 · Early boot debugging of hardware issues in a computing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,216,557 B2 - Document ID: US12216557B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/182,085 - Filed: 2023-03-10 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2023-03-09 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google LLC - Inventors: Kyle John Rupnow; Gopi Krishna Tummala; Kang Yang; Ivan Hugh Mclean; Baranidharan Muthukumaran; Edwin Jose - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12216557B2 ## CPC - G06F 11/2289: {by configuration test} - G06F 11/2284: {by power-on test, e.g. power-on self test [POST]} - G06F 21/575: {Secure boot} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract This document describes apparatuses and techniques for enabling a user to authorize access to early boot debugging of hardware issues in a computing system. In general, responsive to a user consenting to early boot debugging, a debug reenable signal is set in nonvolatile storage. Upon reinitialization of the computing system and receipt of an early debugging request, if the debug reenable signal is detected and the early debugging request is authenticated, an early boot debugging system is enabled. The user consent to early boot debugging may circumvent the setting of a fuse that otherwise would prevent performance of early boot debugging. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a debug reenable indicator configured to maintain a debug reenable signal set by a user to authorize early boot debugging of a computing system; a debugging interface configured to receive a debugging request; a reenable status indicator configured to maintain a reenable status signal indicating that the user has set the debug reenable signal prior to a reinitialization of the computing system; and an authorization logic coupled to the debug reenable indicator, the debugging interface, and an early boot debugging system of the computing system, the authorization logic configured to enable the early boot debugging system subsequent to the reinitialization of the computing system responsive to the setting of the debug reenable signal and the authentication of the debugging request. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an early debug lock including an early debug fuse configured to be permanently set to prevent enablement of the early boot debugging system responsive to the user failing to set the debug reenable signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the debug reenable indicator includes a nonvolatile storage device configured to maintain the debug reenable signal through a next reinitialization of the computing system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the debug reenable indicator is configured to reset to an unset status subsequent to enabling of the early boot debugging. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the debugging interface includes a debugging authentication system configured to authenticate that the debugging request is presented by an authorized source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the debugging authentication system includes a cryptographic authentication system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reenable status indicator is configured to at least one of: maintain the reenable status signal through a next reinitialization of the computing system; or reset the reenable status indicator to an unset status. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the authorization logic is configured, responsive to the reinitialization of the computing system, to enable the early boot debugging system responsive to the debug reenable indicator signal indicating that the debug reenable signal has been set and the reenable status indicator indicating that the reenable status signal has been set. ### Claim 9 An apparatus comprising: a debug reenable indicator configured to maintain a debug reenable signal set by a user to authorize early boot debugging of a computing system; a debugging interface configured to receive a debugging request; a reenable status indicator configured to maintain a reenable status signal through a next reinitialization of the computing system; and an authorization logic coupled to the debug reenable indicator, the debugging interface, and an early boot debugging system of the computing system, the authorization logic configured to enable the early boot debugging system subsequent to a reinitialization of the computing system responsive to the setting of the debug reenable signal and the authentication of the debugging request. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the authorization logic is configured, responsive to the reinitialization of the computing system, to enable the early boot debugging system responsive to the debug reenable indicator signal indicating that the debug reenable signal has been set and the reenable status indicator indicating that the reenable status signal has been set. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an early debug lock including an early debug fuse configured to be permanently set to prevent enablement of the early boot debugging system responsive to the user failing to set the debug reenable signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the debug reenable indicator includes a nonvolatile storage device configured to maintain the debug reenable signal through a next reinitialization of the computing system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the debugging interface includes a debugging authentication system configured to authenticate that the debugging request is presented by an authorized source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reenable status indicator is configured to at least one of: maintain a reenable status signal indicating that the user has set the debug reenable signal prior to the reinitialization of the computing system; or reset the reenable status indicator to an unset status. ### Claim 15 An apparatus comprising: a debug reenable indicator configured to maintain a debug reenable signal set by a user to authorize early boot debugging of a computing system; a debugging interface configured to receive a debugging request; a reenable status indicator configured to reset the reenable status indicator to an unset status; and an authorization logic coupled to the debug reenable indicator, the debugging interface, and an early boot debugging system of the computing system, the authorization logic configured to enable the early boot debugging system subsequent to a reinitialization of the computing system responsive to the setting of the debug reenable signal and the authentication of the debugging request. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the authorization logic is configured, responsive to the reinitialization of the computing system, to enable the early boot debugging system responsive to the debug reenable indicator signal indicating that the debug reenable signal has been set and the reenable status indicator indicating that the reenable status signal has been set. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an early debug lock including an early debug fuse configured to be permanently set to prevent enablement of the early boot debugging system responsive to the user failing to set the debug reenable signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the debug reenable indicator includes a nonvolatile storage device configured to maintain the debug reenable signal through a next reinitialization of the computing system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the debugging interface includes a debugging authentication system configured to authenticate that the debugging request is presented by an authorized source. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the reenable status indicator is configured to at least one of: maintain a reenable status signal indicating that the user has set the debug reenable signal prior to the reinitialization of the computing system; or maintain a reenable status signal through a next reinitialization of the computing system.