US 6,446,153 B1 · Shared embedded microcontroller interface

Abstract

A computer system is described where one or more processors executing operating system (OS) code and System Management (SM) code can access the same host interface of an embedded controller. The embedded controller, in turn, is coupled to one or more system devices such as an IDE power plane switch, a thermal A/D monitor, a System Management Bus (SMBus), etc. The embedded controller asserts a system management interrupt (SMI) to the system management environment of the processing unit(s) as well as a system control interrupt to the operating system environment of the processing unit(s). Accordingly, the processing unit(s) executing operating system code and system management code is able to control and/or monitor a number of system devices in the computer system by communicating with the embedded controller via its host interface and interrupts.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A computer system comprising:

a central processing unit adapted to execute operating system code stored in a first memory area and to execute system management code stored in a second memory area;
an embedded controller including a host interface coupled to said central processing unit;
a first interrupt output coupled to said central processing unit, said first interrupt output initiates execution of operating system code in said central processing unit and a second interrupt output coupled to said central processing unit, said second interrupt output initiates execution of system management code in said central processing unit;
and
said embedded controller coupled to at least one system device in said computer system, said central processing unit and said embedded controller communicating via said host interface and said first and second interrupt outputs such that said central processing unit is capable of at least one of monitoring and controlling said system device via said embedded controller during execution of at least one of said operating system code and said system management code.

2 more elements

A computer system comprising:

a first processing unit adapted to execute operating system code stored in a first memory area;
a second processing unit adapted to execute system management code stored in a second memory area;
an embedded controller including
a host interface coupled to each of said first and second processing units;
a first interrupt output coupled to at least said first processing unit, said first interrupt output initiates execution of operating system code in said first processing unit;
and
a second interrupt output coupled to at least said second processing unit, said second interrupt output initiates execution of system management code in said second processing unit;
and
said embedded controller coupled to at least one system device in said computer system, said first and second processing units and said embedded controller communicating via said host interface and said first and second interrupt outputs, such that said each of said processing units is capable of at least one of monitoring and controlling said system device via said embedded controller during execution of at least one of said operating system code and said system management code.

6 more elements

A method of operating a computer system including a central processing unit and an embedded controller coupled to said central processing unit via a host interface and at least one system device coupled to said embedded controller, comprising:

executing operating system code stored in a first memory area by the central processing unit;
executing system management code stored in a second memory area by said central processing unit;
outputting a first interrupt from said embedded controller to said central processing unit, said first interrupt initiating execution of operating system code in said central processing unit;
outputting a second interrupt from said embedded controller to said central processing unit, said second interrupt initiating execution of operating system code in said central processing unit;
and
communicating between said central processing unit and said embedded controller via said host interface and said first and second interrupts such that said central processing unit is capable of at least one of monitoring and controlling said system device via said embedded controller during execution of at least one of said operating system code and said system management code.

3 more elements

A method of operating a computer system including at least first and second processing units and an embedded controller coupled to said processing units via a host interface and at least one system device coupled to said embedded controller, comprising:

executing operating system code stored in a first memory area by the first processing unit;
executing system management code stored in a second memory area by the second processing unit;
outputting a first interrupt from said embedded controller to said first processing unit, said first interrupt initiating execution of operating system code in said first processing unit;
outputting a second interrupt from said embedded controller to said second processing unit, said second interrupt initiating execution of system management code in said second processing unit;
and
communicating between said processing units and said embedded controller via said host interface and said first and second interrupts such that said processing units are capable of at least one of monitoring and controlling said system device via said embedded controller during execution of at least one of said operating system code and said system management code.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Shared embedded microcontroller interface

Life of this patent

Shared embedded microcontroller interface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18