JP7069551B2 - Information processing equipment and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method.

System management interrupts, called SMIs (System Management Interrupts), are used to provide extended functionality. System management interrupts can also be used for system management work. System-managed interrupts are similar to NMIs (Non-Mastable Interrupt) in that they use special electrical signal lines directly in the processor. System management interrupts generally cannot be masked.

Upon receiving the system management interrupt, the processor enters a system management mode called SMM (System Management Mode). In this mode, very low level handler routines are executed to handle system management interrupts. The system management mode is generally provided directly from system management firmware such as BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface).

Since the system management interrupt occurs without being directly related to the higher-level software such as the higher-level OS (Operating System) and driver of the system-management firmware, it may adversely affect the operation of the higher-level software. Incompletely described system management interrupt handling routines can take a long time. As a result, higher-level software cannot anticipate handlers when needed. This condition causes a high delay on a regular basis even in a system that is tuned correctly and has high responsiveness. As described above, in the system management mode, only the system management firmware can operate, and the higher-level software cannot operate at all.

In addition, the system management mode is also the only mode in which the code of the system management firmware can be operated independently among the runtimes of the higher-level software. Therefore, the system management firmware has a wide range of functions including not only basic functions as system management firmware but also value-added functions such as platform-specific failure handling, writing of non-volatile memory, garbage collection of non-volatile memory, and live memory dump function. It is possible to execute specific processing over.

The time required for specifying the system management firmware using the system management mode may be long, for example, due to the high availability of the RAS (Reliability Availability Service) function and the increase in the processing amount due to the improvement of high reliability. be.

For example, in a communication environment of 10 gigabits per second, if the system management mode time is 1 millisecond, a packet loss of about 10 megabits will occur. The amount of packet loss at the same time will increase further with the improvement of communication technology in the future.

As a technique related to such a background, Patent Document 1 discloses a device capable of optimizing the program processing time of the system management mode during the operation of the OS without adversely affecting the operation of the OS. The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 stores a program executed in the system management mode. The device then determines if the processor is in sleep mode. Then, while the processor is executing the OS, this device shifts the processor to the system management mode, executes a part of the program, and then terminates the system management mode until the execution of the program is completed. Repeat for one cycle or more, refer to the judgment result immediately before the transition to the system management mode, and in the sleep mode, the execution time of the program per cycle is longer than in the non-sleep mode, and the program is executed. Let the processor do it.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-089622

In the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is considered to reduce the time required for the specific processing of the system management firmware using the system management mode. However, in reality, the reduction of the time required for such a specific process is becoming a limit.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even if the time required for the specific processing of the system management firmware using the system management mode is not shortened, the delay in the higher-level software due to such specific processing can be caused. On the other hand, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing method that can be suitably dealt with.

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes system management firmware and higher-level software of the higher-level software, and the higher-level software is the higher-level software for processing and data transfer processing time. However, when a predetermined specific time elapses longer than the standard processing time or the estimated processing time, the cause of the delay in the higher-level software is the specific processing of the system management firmware using the system management mode. The higher-level software further has a delay determination unit for determining whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing, and the factor determination unit is used for the specific processing. When the delay determination unit determines that there is an unacceptable delay, it is determined that the cause of the delay in the higher-level software is due to the specific processing, and the higher-level software determines that the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the said. Further, the delay determination unit has a processing time acquisition unit for acquiring the actual processing time required for the specific processing, and the delay determination unit is based on the estimated processing time acquired by the processing time acquisition unit and the actual processing time. It is determined whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing, and the system management firmware uses the storage area accessible from the higher-level software in which the estimated processing time and the actual processing time are stored. Further, the storage area notification unit for notifying the higher-level software is provided, and the processing time acquisition unit acquires the estimated processing time and the actual processing time stored in the storage area notified from the system management firmware .

Further, in order to achieve the above invention, in the information processing method according to the present invention, the higher-level software of the system management firmware uses the higher-level software to set the processing time for processing or data transfer to the standard processing time or estimation. Includes a factor determination step for determining whether the cause of the delay in the higher-level software is due to the specific processing of system management by the system management firmware when a predetermined specific time has elapsed more than the processing time. The higher-level software further has a delay determination step of determining whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific process, and the delay determination step determines that the factor determination step has an unacceptable delay in the specific process. In this case, it is determined that the cause of the delay in the higher-level software is due to the specific processing, and the higher-level software acquires the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing. The delay determination stage further has an acquisition stage, and the delay determination stage determines whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing based on the estimated processing time acquired by the processing time acquisition stage and the actual processing time. The system management firmware further has a storage area notification stage for notifying the higher-level software of a storage area that is accessible from the higher-level software and in which the estimated processing time and the actual processing time are stored. The processing time acquisition step acquires the estimated processing time and the actual processing time stored in the storage area notified by the system management software .

In such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately cope with the delay in the higher-level software caused by such a specific process without shortening the time required for the specific process of the system management firmware using the system management mode. can.

It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the information processing apparatus in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the information stored in the specific processing information storage part in a table format. It is a figure which shows an example of the information stored in a processing time storage part in a table format. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process of BIOS associated with the specific process using the system management mode. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the processing of the OS accompanying the notification of a storage area from BIOS. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the processing of the OS with the time-out detected by the OS. It is a figure which shows an example of the information processing apparatus of the minimum configuration.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server 100 in this embodiment. Here, the server 100 is a computer that provides its own functions, services, data, and the like to other computers in a computer network. The server 100 is an example of the "information processing device" in the present invention.

The server 100 includes a BIOS 110 and an OS 120. Here, the BIOS 120 is a system management firmware that is stored in the main board or the like of the server 100 and performs reading of the OS 120 at startup and basic input / output control for connected devices / devices. On the other hand, the OS 120 is software that manages the entire system by implementing functions for basic management and control of devices, basic functions commonly used by many software, and the like. The BIOS 110 is an example of the "system management firmware" in the present invention. On the other hand, the OS 120 is an example of the "upper software" in the present invention.

The BIOS 110 includes a specific processing execution unit 111, an estimated processing time calculation unit 112, an actual processing time calculation unit 113, a storage area notification unit 114, a specific processing information storage unit 115, and a processing time storage unit 116.

The specific process execution unit 111 executes the specific process using the system management mode. The system management mode is a dedicated mode for power management and hardware control. On the other hand, the specific processing includes not only basic functions as system management firmware but also value-added functions such as platform-specific failure handling, writing of non-volatile memory, garbage collection of non-volatile memory, and live memory dump function. Includes processing over.

The estimated processing time calculation unit 112 calculates the estimated processing time required for the specific processing.

The actual processing time calculation unit 113 calculates the actual processing time required for the specific processing.

The storage area notification unit 114 notifies the OS 120 of a storage area that is accessible from the OS 120 and in which the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing are stored. For example, the storage area notification unit 114 notifies the OS 120 of the storage area in which the estimated processing time calculated by the estimated processing time calculation unit 112 is stored. Further, for example, the storage area notification unit 114 notifies the OS 120 of the storage area in which the actual processing time calculated by the actual processing time calculation unit 113 is stored.

Information about the specific process is stored in the specific process information storage unit 115.

The processing time storage unit 116 is a storage area accessible from the OS 120. The processing time storage unit 116 stores the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing.

The OS 120 has a processing time acquisition unit 121, a delay determination unit 122, a factor determination unit 123, and a processing time storage unit 124.

The processing time acquisition unit 121 acquires the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing. For example, the processing time acquisition unit 121 acquires the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing stored in the storage area notified from the BIOS 110.

The delay determination unit 122 determines whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific process. For example, the delay determination unit 122 determines whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing based on the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing acquired by the processing time acquisition unit 121. do.

When the OS 120 has a time-out, the factor determination unit 123 determines whether the cause of the time-out in the OS 120 is due to the specific processing of the BIOS 110 using the system management mode. For example, when the delay determination unit 122 determines that there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing, the factor determination unit 123 determines that the cause of the timeout in the OS 120 is due to the specific processing. Here, the timeout means that when the processing or data transfer takes too much time, the time-out is terminated in the middle. The time-out is an example of "delay not allowed by the higher-level software" and "delay in the higher-level software" in the present invention.

The processing time storage unit 124 stores the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the specific processing information storage unit 115 in a table format. In the specific processing information storage unit 115, each information of the identifier, the specific processing content, and the estimated processing time is stored in association with each other.

The identifier information is an identification code for uniquely identifying each specific process.

The information of the specific processing content is information indicating the content of the specific processing identified by the identifier. In the example shown in FIG. 2, for example, it is shown that the content of the specific process identified by the identifier “T1” is “process A”.

The information of the estimated processing time is information indicating the estimated processing time required for the specific processing. In the example shown in FIG. 2, for example, it is shown that the estimated processing time required for the specific processing of the “processing A” identified by the identifier “T1” is “5ms”.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the processing time storage unit 116 in a table format. In the processing time storage unit 116, each information of the identifier, the system management mode start time, the estimated total processing time, and the actual processing time is stored in association with each other.

The identifier information is an identification code for uniquely identifying the history of each specific process.

The information on the system management mode start time is information indicating the time when the system management mode is entered. In the example shown in FIG. 3, for example, it is shown that the start time of the specific process corresponding to the history identified by the identifier “S1” is “2017/2/8 2:00: 23.23”.

The information of the estimated total processing time is information indicating the estimated total processing time required for the specific processing. In the example shown in FIG. 3, for example, it is shown that the estimated total processing time required for the specific processing corresponding to the history identified by the identifier “S1” is “30 ms”.

The information of the actual processing time is the information indicating the actual processing time taken for the specific processing. In the example shown in FIG. 3, for example, it is shown that the actual processing time required for the specific processing corresponding to the history identified by the identifier “S1” is “20 ms”.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing of the BIOS 110 accompanying the specific processing using the system management mode. In the description of the operation flow of FIG. 4, FIGS. 1 to 3 are referred to as appropriate.

When the processor receives a system management interrupt for some reason, it shifts the operation mode to the system management mode. Upon transition to the system management mode (step S101; YES), the specific processing execution unit 111 of the BIOS 110 stores the start time of the system management mode in the empty entry in the processing time storage unit 116 (step S102). In the process of step S102, the specific process execution unit 111 may store, for example, the current time acquired from the hardware clock as the start time of the system management mode. In this way, the processing time storage unit 116 of the BIOS 110 stores information on the system management mode start time as shown in FIG.

Then, the specific process execution unit 111 determines whether or not there is an unexecuted specific process among the specific processes to be executed using the system management mode (step S103). Here, the specific processing to be executed using the system management mode differs depending on the content of the system management interrupt that triggered the transition to the system management mode. In the process of step S103, the specific process execution unit 111 may specify the specific process to be executed using the system management mode according to the content of the system management interrupt that triggered the transition to the system management mode.

When there is an unexecuted specific process in the process of step S103 (step S103; YES), the specific process execution unit 111 determines the content of the specific process in executing the unexecuted specific process in the estimated processing time calculation unit. Notify 112. Here, when there are a plurality of unexecuted specific processes and these specific processes are executed in several times, the specific process execution unit 111 need only notify the contents of the specific process to be executed from now on.

Upon receiving the notification from the specific processing execution unit 111, the estimated processing time calculation unit 112 of the BIOS 110 calculates the estimated processing time required for the specific processing, and estimates in the processing time storage unit 116 based on the calculated estimated processing time. The information on the total processing time is updated (step S104). In the process of step S104, the estimated processing time calculation unit 112, for example, among the information stored in the specific processing information storage unit 115, the specific processing content that matches the content of the specific processing notified from the specific processing execution unit 111. Read the estimated processing time information stored in association with the information in. At this time, when the content of a plurality of specific processes is notified from the specific process execution unit 111, the estimated processing time calculation unit 112 reads out all the information of the estimated processing time corresponding to all the notified specific processes, and the estimated processing time calculation unit 112 reads all the information. Add all estimated processing times. Then, the estimated processing time calculation unit 112 is associated with the start time of the system management mode stored in the process of step S102 in the processing time storage unit 116 based on the estimated processing time thus obtained. Update the estimated total processing time information. At this time, if the information of the estimated total processing time to be updated is Null, the estimated processing time calculation unit 112 may store the estimated processing time obtained by calculation or the like as the estimated total processing time as it is. On the other hand, if the information of the estimated total processing time to be updated is not Null, the estimated processing time calculation unit 112 adds the estimated processing time obtained by calculation or the like to the already stored estimated total processing time. The estimated total processing time obtained can be stored. In this way, the processing time storage unit 116 of the BIOS 110 stores information on the estimated total processing time as shown in FIG. Then, when the estimated processing time calculation unit 112 updates the information on the estimated total processing time in the processing time storage unit 116, the estimation processing time calculation unit 112 notifies the specific processing execution unit 111 to that effect.

Upon receiving the notification from the estimated processing time calculation unit 112, the specific processing execution unit 111 executes the unexecuted specific processing (step S105), and then re-executes the processing of step S103.

When there is no unexecuted specific process in the process of step S103 (step S103), that is, when all the specific processes to be executed are executed using the system management mode, the specific process execution unit 111 actually realizes that fact. Notify the processing time calculation unit 113.

Upon receiving the notification from the specific processing execution unit 111, the actual processing time calculation unit 113 of the BIOS 110 calculates the actual processing time required for the specific processing, and stores the calculated actual processing time information in the processing time storage unit 116. Then (step S106), the process shown in FIG. 4 is terminated. In the process of step S106, the actual processing time calculation unit 113 reads, for example, the start time of the system management mode stored in the process of step S102 in the processing time storage unit 116. Further, the actual processing time calculation unit 113 acquires the current time from the hardware clock. Then, the actual processing time calculation unit 113 calculates the time from the start time of the system management mode read from the processing time storage unit 116 to the current time acquired from the hardware clock as the actual processing time required for the specific processing. do. Then, the actual processing time calculation unit 113 stores the calculated actual processing time information in association with the start time of the system management mode stored in the processing of step S102 in the processing time storage unit 116. In this way, the processing time storage unit 116 of the BIOS 110 stores information on the actual processing time as shown in FIG.

The processing after step S102 is not executed when the operation mode does not transition to the system management mode (step S101; NO).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the OS 120 accompanying the notification of the storage area from the BIOS 110. In the description of the operation flow of FIG. 5, FIGS. 1 to 4 are referred to as appropriate.

The storage area notification unit 114 of the BIOS 110 performs specific processing when the information of the actual processing time is stored in the processing time storage unit 116 in the processing of step S106 shown in FIG. 4 or when a notification request from the OS 120 is received. The OS 120 is notified of the storage area in which the estimated processing time and the actual processing time required for the specific processing are stored. Here, the storage area notification unit 114 may notify the address of the processing time storage unit 116.

Upon receiving the notification of the storage area from the BIOS 110, the processing time acquisition unit 121 of the OS 120 accesses the storage area, and the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the specific processing stored in the processing time storage unit 116. The information including the actual processing time taken in the above is acquired (step S202), and the acquired information is stored in the processing time storage unit 124 (step S203). In this way, the processing time storage unit 124 of the OS 120 stores the same information as the information stored in the processing time storage unit 116 of the BIOS 110 shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing of the OS 120 when the timeout is detected in the OS 120. In the description of the operation flow of FIG. 6, FIGS. 1 to 5 are referred to as appropriate.

The OS 120 may execute a time-out process when the process or data transfer takes too much time. When the time-out process is executed (step S301; YES), the OS 120 updates the retry count value, which is the stored value of the retry counter provided in the predetermined area of the RAM, so as to add 1 (step S302), and after the update. It is determined whether or not the retry count value has reached a specific value (step S303). Here, the specific value to be compared with the retry count value is the number of times that the target process or data transfer for which the timeout process has been executed should be retried, and is defined for each type of process or data transfer executed by the OS 120. You just have to.

If the retry count value has not reached the specific value in the process of step S303, the OS 120 executes the process of the target for which the timeout process has been executed and the data transfer retry process (step S304).

If the process or data transfer process is normally executed by the retry process executed in step S303 and the timeout process is not executed (step S301; NO), the OS 120 re-executes the processes after step S302. Instead, the process shown in FIG. 6 is terminated.

When the retry count value reaches a specific value in the process of step S303 (step S303; YES), the delay determination unit 122 of the OS 120 determines whether there is an unacceptable delay in the specific process executed by the BIOS 110 (step). S305). In the process of step S305, the delay determination unit 122 specifies, for example, based on the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing stored in the processing time storage unit 124 of the OS 120. It may be determined whether there is an unacceptable delay in the processing. At this time, the delay determination unit 122 makes a determination targeting the specific process executed in the specific period from the start of the process or data transfer of the target for which the timeout process is executed to the execution of the timeout process. Just do it. The execution period of the specific process can be specified by the information of the system management mode start time and the information of the actual processing time among the information stored in the processing time storage unit 124. Then, if there is a specific process executed in the specific period, the delay determination unit 122 determines whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific process. For example, the delay determination unit 122 compares the estimated total processing time required for the specific processing with the actual processing time required for the specific processing, and if the actual processing time is longer than the estimated total processing time, the specific processing It may be determined that there was an unacceptable delay. Further, for example, if the length of the actual processing time with respect to the estimated total processing time is longer than a predetermined ratio, the delay determination unit 122 may determine that there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing. Further, for example, the delay determination unit 122 may have different determination criteria and determination methods depending on the type of specific processing. Further, for example, the delay determination unit 122 may make a plurality of determinations based on a plurality of determination criteria and determination methods, and make a final determination based on the plurality of determination results. For example, when the delay determination unit 122 determines whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing executed by the BIOS 110, the delay determination unit 122 notifies the factor determination unit 123 of the determination result.

Upon receiving the notification from the delay determination unit 122, the factor determination unit 123 of the OS 120 determines whether the cause of the timeout in the OS 120 is due to the specific processing of the BIOS 110 using the system management mode. ..

When the determination result by the process of step S305 is the determination result that "there was no unacceptable delay in the specific process" (step S305; NO), the factor determination unit 123 determines that the cause of the timeout in the OS 120 is system management. It is determined that it is not caused by the specific processing of the BIOS 110 using the mode (step S306), and the processing shown in FIG. 6 is terminated.

As described above, since it can be estimated that the cause of the timeout in the OS 120 is not due to the specific processing of the BIOS 110 using the system management mode but due to some kind of failure, the OS 120 is the target for which the timeout processing is executed. It is possible to prevent unnecessary retry processing from being executed for the processing and data transfer.

On the other hand, when the determination result by the process of step S305 is the determination result that "there was an unacceptable delay in the specific process" (step S305; YES), the factor determination unit 123 determines that the cause of the timeout in the OS 120 is. It is determined that the cause is due to the specific processing of the BIOS 110 using the system management mode (step S307).

After executing the process of step S307, the OS 120 updates the retry count value by 1 (step S308), and executes the process of the target for which the timeout process has been executed and the retry process of data transfer (step S304). ..

As described above, in the OS 120, when the cause of the timeout in the OS 120 is due to the specific processing of the BIOS 110 using the system management mode, if the retry processing is executed, the processing of the target for which the timeout processing is executed can be performed. Since there is a high possibility that the data transfer will be executed correctly, by executing the retry process without counting the number of retries, it is possible to suitably cope with the timeout caused by the specific process.

As described above, the information processing apparatus 100 includes a BIOS 110 and an OS 120. Then, the OS 120 has a factor determination unit 123 that determines whether the cause of the time-out in the OS 120 is due to the specific processing of the BIOS 110 using the system management mode when the time-out occurs in the OS 120. As a result, the delay in the OS 120 caused by such a specific process can be suitably dealt with without shortening the time required for the specific process of the BIOS 110 using the system management mode.

Further, the OS 120 further includes a delay determination unit 122 for determining whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing. Then, when the delay determination unit 122 determines that there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing, the factor determination unit 123 determines that the cause of the delay in the OS 120 is due to the specific processing. As a result, it is not necessary for the BIOS 110 to determine whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing, so that the processing load of the BIOS 110 in the system management mode can be suppressed.

Further, the OS 120 further includes a processing time acquisition unit 121 for acquiring an estimated processing time required for the specific processing and an actual processing time required for the specific processing. Then, the delay determination unit 122 determines whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing based on the estimated processing time and the actual processing time acquired by the processing time acquisition unit 121. As a result, the OS 120 can independently determine whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing without bothering the server administrator.

Further, the BIOS 110 is a storage area accessible from the OS 120, and is a storage area notification unit that notifies the OS 120 of a storage area in which the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing are stored. It also has 114. Then, the processing time acquisition unit 121 acquires the estimated processing time and the actual processing time stored in the storage area notified from the BIOS 110. As a result, the OS 120 can acquire information regarding the specific processing of the BIOS 110 using the system management mode even if it cannot know whether the system management mode has been executed.

Further, the BIOS 110 further has an actual processing time calculation unit 113 for calculating the actual processing time required for the specific processing. Then, the storage area notification unit 114 notifies the OS 120 of the storage area in which the actual processing time calculated by the actual processing time calculation unit 113 is stored. This makes it possible to accurately determine whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific process.

Further, the BIOS 110 further has an estimated processing time calculation unit 111 for calculating the estimated processing time, and the storage area notification unit 114 has a storage area in which the estimated processing time calculated by the estimated processing time calculation unit 111 is stored in the OS 120. Notify to. This makes it possible to accurately determine whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific process.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. For example, the server 100 does not have to have all the technical features shown in the above embodiment, and is a part of the configuration described in the above embodiment so as to be able to solve at least one problem. It may be provided with.

In the above embodiment, the server 100 has been described as an example of the "information processing apparatus" in the present invention. However, the "information processing apparatus" in the present invention may be any one provided with system management firmware and higher-level software of the system management firmware, for example, a personal computer which is a general-purpose computer for individuals, a corporate information system, and the like. It may be a main frame, which is a large-scale, high-performance computer used in the above, a super computer, which is an ultra-high-performance computer used for scientific and technological calculations, and the like. Further, the "information processing apparatus" in the present invention includes a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, various communication devices, a video recorder, a digital television, a digital camera, and the like, which are equipped with system management firmware and higher-level software of the system management firmware. It may be a computer application product that is an electric machine that handles information and data by incorporating a kind of computer in some form, such as a game machine, an electronically controlled home appliance, or an industrial machine.

In the above embodiment, the BIOS 110 has been described as an example of the "system management firmware" in the present invention. However, the "system management firmware" in the present invention may have a function of controlling basic control of circuits and devices inside the main body, for example, EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) and UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware). Interface) or the like.

In the above embodiment, OS120 has been described as an example of the "upper software" in the present invention. However, the "upper software" in the present invention may be any higher level of the system management firmware such as BIOS, EFI, and UEFI, and may be, for example, a driver such as a device driver or a test driver.

In the above embodiment, it has been described that the OS 120 acquires the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing, triggered by the notification of the storage area from the BIOS 110. However, the opportunity for the OS 120 to acquire the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing is not limited to this. For example, the storage area accessible from the OS 120 may be an immutable storage area. That is, even if the BIOS 110 always stores the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing in the same storage area instead of a different storage area each time the system management mode is used. good. Then, the OS 120 accesses the known storage area of the BIOS 110 with the time-out in the OS 120 as a trigger, regardless of the notification from the BIOS 110, and takes the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the specific processing. The actual processing time may be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the timeout has been described as an example of "delay not allowed by the higher-level software" and "delay in the higher-level software" in the present invention. However, the "delay not allowed by the higher-level software" and the "delay in the higher-level software" in the present invention are not limited to the time-out, and for example, the standard processing time required for the processing and data transfer, even if the time-out does not occur. Alternatively, it may be that a predetermined specific time has elapsed rather than the estimated processing time.

In the above-described embodiment, for the purpose of explaining the "information processing apparatus" in the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, an embodiment including all configurations that can be adopted in the "information processing apparatus" in the present invention has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the server 100 of the embodiment corresponding to the "information processing apparatus" having the minimum configuration in the present invention includes a BIOS 110 and an OS 120, and the OS 120 has a factor determination unit 123. Just do it.

100 server 110 BIOS
120 OS
123 Factor determination unit

Claims (4)

System management firmware and
Equipped with higher-level software of the system management firmware
The higher-level software is
When the processing time of processing or data transfer in the higher-level software elapses longer than the standard processing time or a predetermined specific time longer than the estimated processing time, the cause of the delay in the higher-level software is It has a factor determination unit that determines whether it is caused by the specific processing of the system management firmware using the system management mode.
The higher-level software is
Delay determination unit that determines whether there is an unacceptable delay in the specific process
Further have
When the delay determination unit determines that there is an unacceptable delay in the specific process, the factor determination unit determines that the cause of the delay in the higher-level software is due to the specific process.
The higher-level software is
Further, it has a processing time acquisition unit for acquiring the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing.
The delay determination unit determines whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing based on the estimated processing time acquired by the processing time acquisition unit and the actual processing time.
The system management firmware is
Further, it has a storage area notification unit that notifies the higher-level software of a storage area that is accessible from the higher-level software and in which the estimated processing time and the actual processing time are stored.
The processing time acquisition unit acquires the estimated processing time and the actual processing time stored in the storage area notified by the system management firmware.
Information processing equipment. The system management firmware is
Actual processing time calculation unit that calculates the actual processing time
Further have
The storage area notification unit notifies the higher-level software of the storage area in which the actual processing time calculated by the actual processing time calculation unit is stored.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The system management firmware is
Estimated processing time calculation unit that calculates the estimated processing time
Further have
The storage area notification unit notifies the higher-level software of the storage area in which the estimated processing time calculated by the estimated processing time calculation unit is stored.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. When the higher-level software of the system management firmware elapses a predetermined specific time longer than the standard processing time or the estimated processing time in the higher-level software. Including a factor determination step of determining whether the cause of the delay in the higher-level software is due to the specific processing of the system management by the system management firmware.
The higher-level software is
Further, it has a delay determination step of determining whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific process.
When the delay determination step determines that there is an unacceptable delay in the specific process, the factor determination step determines that the cause of the delay in the higher-level software is due to the specific process.
The higher-level software is
Further, it has a processing time acquisition step of acquiring the estimated processing time required for the specific processing and the actual processing time required for the specific processing.
The delay determination step determines whether or not there is an unacceptable delay in the specific processing based on the estimated processing time acquired by the processing time acquisition step and the actual processing time.
The system management firmware is
Further, it has a storage area notification stage for notifying the higher-level software of a storage area that is accessible from the higher-level software and in which the estimated processing time and the actual processing time are stored.
The processing time acquisition step acquires the estimated processing time and the actual processing time stored in the storage area notified from the system management firmware.
Information processing method.

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