Device tree runtime mechanism
AssigneeVMware, Inc.
InventorsAndrei Warkentin, Regis Duchesne, Renukanthan Raman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are included for causing a computing device to boot by retrieving hardware information from a device tree and further properties by utilizing a native access method call identified in the device tree. The access method can allow for getting a property, getting a property length, or setting a property. A table within firmware can identify the method, which then can retrieve the property information from memory. This Device tree Runtime (“DTRT”) mechanism can allow the computing device to retrieve the hardware configuration and act as a power management interface for turning on the correct hardware and hardware properties on the computing device.
Claims20
A method for booting a computing device using a device tree runtime (“DTRT”) mechanism, comprising:
- during boot of the computing device, retrieving hardware data from a device tree, wherein the device tree is stored in firmware and describes hardware of the computing device, wherein the device tree includes a node with runtime method information;
- based on the runtime method information, identifying an access method using an application programming interface (“API”), wherein the access method retrieves a property of hardware described in the device tree, wherein the property is not already coded into the device tree;
- making a runtime call by executing the access method to retrieve the property;
- and
- managing, by a kernel of an operating system, physical hardware of the computing device based on the hardware data and the retrieved property.
A computing device using a device tree runtime (“DTRT”) mechanism during boot, comprising:
- a processor;
- an operating system;
- and
- firmware comprising a device tree that includes hardware data and a table for accessing runtime calls, wherein the hardware data describes hardware of the computing device,
- wherein the processor performs stages including:
- during boot of the computing device, retrieving the hardware data and runtime method information from the device tree;
- using the runtime method information to access, from the table, a method for retrieving a property of a node in the device tree, wherein the property is not in the device tree;
- making a runtime call by executing the method to retrieve the property;
- and
- managing, by the operating system, a physical hardware of the computing device based on the hardware data and the retrieved property.
A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the processor to perform stages for managing hardware on a computing device, the stages comprising:
- during boot of the computing device, retrieving hardware data and runtime method information from a device tree in firmware;
- using the runtime method information to access, from a table in the firmware, a method for retrieving a property of a node in the device tree, wherein the property is not in the device tree;
- making a runtime call by executing the method to retrieve the property;
- and
- managing, by the operating system, a physical hardware of the computing device based on the hardware data and the retrieved property.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.