US 2008/0270776 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING MEMORY DURING SYSTEM INITIALIZATION

Abstract

A system and method for protecting memory during system initialization is provided. A complex programmable logic device (CPLD) is operatively interconnected with a multiplexer to enable control of a memory to be switched between a memory controller and the CPLD in response to error conditions. If an error condition is identified, the CPLD assumes control of the memory and activates a battery subsystem to provide memory refreshes until system re-initialization. Upon system bring-up, interactions between the BIOS and CPLD assure that protected memory is fully recovered by the system. The contents of memory will remain protected from any further faults that may occur during the bring-up sequence.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A method for protecting memory, the method comprising the steps of:

initializing a computer system;
determining whether the memory is currently storing preserved data;
in response to determining that the memory is not storing preserved data, setting a signal to cause a memory subsystem to persistently maintain contents of the memory during an error condition of the computer system;
and
in response to determining that the memory is storing preserved data, persistently storing the stored data on a storage device.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for protecting memory during system initialization

Life of this patent

System and method for protecting memory during system initialization

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28