TW200410141A - Method and device for loading boot codes - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and a device for loading boot codes for use with a computer host and a portable non-volatile memory card are disclosed. The portable non-volatile memory card stores therein boot codes. The boot-code loading device includes a reading device for the portable non-volatile memory card, and a data bus. The boot-code loading method includes steps of placing the portable non-volatile memory card into the reading device; having the computer host enter a booting procedure, and loading the boot codes stored in the portable non-volatile memory card into the computer host via the reading device and the data bus at the moment the boot codes are being read in the booting procedure.

Description

200410141 V. Description of the invention (1) Technical field to which the invention belongs The present invention relates to a method and a device for loading a boot program, especially a method and a device for loading a boot program used in a computer host. For the prior art, please refer to the first figure, which is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a conventional notebook computer. As can be clearly seen from the figure, the 3.5-inch floppy disk drive 10 occupies a lot of space on the computer host 1, so It will make it difficult to reduce the size of the host computer 1 and increase the weight and cost. Even if the floppy disk drive 10 is designed as an external type, the large volume will cause inconvenience to users. And in the current situation of a file with a data volume of two or three million bytes, the data capacity of a 3.5-inch floppy disk (1.44MB) is indeed a bit inadequate. Therefore, most users today rarely use the 3.5-inch floppy disk drive 10 to access data, but the main reason for its existence is only to provide another way to boot, in order to avoid When using a hard disk to boot, you can use a pre-made 3.5-inch boot floppy disk to boot, so it is rarely used by ordinary users in normal operations. Therefore, how to eliminate the large and improper and outdated system device configuration of the 3.5-inch floppy disk drive without affecting the boot function, thereby reducing the weight, volume and cost of the host computer and improving user convenience. The main purpose for the development of this case

200410141 V. Description of the Invention (2) Summary of the Invention The present invention is a method for loading a boot program, which is applied between a computer host and a portable non-volatile memory card. The computer host has a data bus to communicate with a The portable non-volatile memory card reading device completes the signal connection, and the portable non-volatile memory card has a boot code stored therein. The method includes the following steps: placing the portable non-volatile memory card into the portable non-volatile memory card. The portable non-volatile memory card reading device; enabling the host computer to enter a boot process; and when the boot process is performed to read the boot code, the data bus and the portable non-volatile are accessed through the data bus The memory card reading device loads the boot code stored in the portable non-volatile memory card into the host computer. According to the above conception, the bootloader loading method described in this case applies the specifications of the portable non-volatile memory card as Coin pact F 1 ash Card (CF), Multi-Media Card (MMC), In Memory Stick (MS)-Secure Digital (SD) or Smart Media Card (SM) ο According to the above idea, the data bus used in the bootloader loading method described in this case is an external data bus. According to the above-mentioned concept, the external data bus used in the booting program loading method described in this case is one of Car d B s, Us B or I Ε Ε 1 3 9 4. According to the above conception, the bootloader loading method described in this case applies the data bus to be directly compatible with the portable non-volatile memory.

200410141 V. Description of the invention (3) The bus interface for the card connection. According to the above concept, the boot program loading method described in this case, wherein the data bus directly inherits the code of a floppy disk drive in the basic input output system (B I 0 S). According to the above conception, the boot program loading method described in this case is to modify the driver code originally used to read the floppy disk drive to turn to the data bus to read the data. According to the above idea, the bootloader loading method described in this case, wherein the data bus directly inherits the code of a hard disk drive in the basic input output system (BIOS).

According to the above conception, the boot program loading method described in this case is to modify the driver code originally used to read the hard disk drive to turn to the data bus to read the data.

Another aspect of the case is a booting program loading device, which is applied between a computer host and a portable non-volatile memory card. The portable non-volatile memory card stores a booting code, and its device Including: a portable non-volatile memory card reading device, for the portable non-volatile memory card to be inserted into and read the data stored therein; and an external data bus, the signal is connected to the The host computer and the portable non-volatile memory card reading device, and when the host computer enters a boot process and reads the boot code, it can communicate with the portable non-volatile memory through the external data bus. The volatile memory card reading device loads the boot code stored in the portable non-volatile memory card into the host computer. According to the above idea, the boot program loading device described in this case,

Page 7 200410141 V. Description of the invention (4) The specifications of the portable non-volatile memory card used are C o Fact ash Card (CF) 'Multi-Media Card (MMC) ^ Memory Stick (MS), One of Secure Digital (SD) or Smart Media Card (SM) ο According to the above concept, the data bus used in the bootloader loading device described in this case is an external data bus. According to the above concept, the boot program loading device described in this case, the external data bus is CardBus, USB or 1 £ "1394 According to the above concept, the data bus applied in this case is According to the above-mentioned concept, the data bus of this case is directly inherited from the code in (BI 0S). The boot program loading device described above is directly related to the portable non-volatile Bootloader loading device for memory fans, in which &

According to the above idea, this case will load the boot program loading method originally used to read the a of the floppy disk drive, which is the bus to read the data. / Activity code, modified to switch to the data According to the above concept, the data bus in this case is directly inherited: the boot code loading device of the fan, where the code in (B10). Change the player in the basic input output system

According to the above idea, this case will load the boot program loading method originally used to read the hard disk drive L, which is the data bus read data. , ^ Move the code, modify it to turn to the information

200410141 V. Description of the invention (5) Another aspect of the case is a method for loading a boot program, which is applied between a computer host and a portable non-volatile memory card module, and the computer host has a data stream It is arranged to complete the signal connection with the portable non-volatile memory card module, and a boot code is stored in the portable non-volatile memory card module, and the method includes the following steps: the portable non-volatile memory card module The memory card module is inserted into the socket of the data bus; the host computer enters a boot process; and when the boot process is read to read the boot code, the external data bus The boot code stored in the portable non-volatile memory card module is loaded into the computer host. According to the above concept, the boot program loading method described in this case, and the portable non-volatile memory applied to it The card specifications are one of C oin pact F 1 ash Card (CF) ^ Multi-Media Card (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Secure Digital (SD) or Smart Media Card (SM). According to the above idea, the data bus used in the boot program loading method described in this case is an external data bus. According to the above idea, the external data bus used in the bootloader loading method described in this case is one of CardBus, USB or I ΕΕΕ1 394. According to the above idea, the data bus used in the bootloader loading method described in this case is a bus interface that can directly connect with the portable non-volatile memory card. According to the above idea, the boot program loading method described in this case, wherein

200410141 V. Description of the invention (6) The data bus directly inherits the code of a floppy disk drive in the basic input output system (BIOS). According to the above conception, the boot program loading method described in this case is to modify the driver code originally used to read the floppy disk drive to turn to the data bus to read the data. According to the above concept, the boot program loading method described in this case, wherein the data bus directly inherits the code of a hard disk drive in the basic input output system (B I 0 S). According to the above conception, the boot program loading method described in this case is to modify the driver code originally used to read the hard disk drive to turn to the data bus to read the data. Simple Schematic Explanation This case can be understood in more depth through the following diagrams and detailed descriptions: Figure 1: It is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a conventional notebook computer. The second picture: it is a schematic diagram of the main functional blocks in a computer host. The third picture (a): It is the external schematic diagram of the universal serial bus socket, I E E 1 3 9 4 bus socket, memory card reading device and memory card on the computer host. The third picture (b): It is the appearance of a portable non-volatile memory card module. Figure 4: A block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present case.

Page 10 200410141 V. Description of the invention (7) Each computer host included in the drawings of this case 1 Central processing unit 20 System memory 2 2 South bridge chip 2 4 Low pin bus 2 2 0 Basic I / O system chip 2 6 1 EEE 1 3 9 4 Bus device 2 8 Memory card reading device 3 0 Universal serial bus socket 3 1 1 PC card slot 3 1 3 External data bus 4 7 Portable and portable non-volatile Memory card 4 9 Memory card 40 For implementation, please refer to the second figure, which is an intent, which mainly includes central memory 2 2, video chip 2 3, 2 4 0 (Low Pin Count bus), 241, and through Super The input and output (su connected to the south bridge chip 24 are listed as follows: · floppy disk drive 1 0 north bridge chip 2 1 video chip 2 3 floppy disk drive 25 super I / O chip 2 4 1 universal serial bus device 2 7 C ard B us bus device 2 9 host computer 3 1 IEEE 1 3 9 4 bus socket 3 1 2 memory card 3 2-type non-volatile memory card reading device 4 8 memory card module 5 0 bus interface 4 1 The main processing block in the host computer shows the processing unit 2 0, Northbridge Sheet 21, the wafer 24 based Southbridge, linear low pin kinds of peripheral device bus output into super (super I / O) chip per I / O) chip 241 is connected to or. It is clear from the figure

Page 11 200410141 V. Description of the invention (8) It can be seen that in addition to the floppy disk drive 25, there are also basic input-output system chips 2 6. Universal serial bus device 2 7 ,! e E E 1 3 9 4 bus devices 2 8 and CardBus bus devices 2 9 and other peripheral devices are connected to the entire system through the super I / O chip 241 or directly through the south bridge chip 24. In order to save the setting of the floppy disk drive 25, we must provide another booting path for users to use, and in other peripheral devices connected to the south bridge chip 24 or the super I / O chip 241, The universal serial bus device 27, IEEE 1 94 bus device 28, and CardBus bus device 29 are all commonly used, so they are quite suitable for being selected as a new path for booting.

In addition, due to the rapid development of various portable non-volatile memory modules, many memory cards with different specifications but large capacities have been developed. For flash memory, there are Memory St, CompactFlash Card > Secure Digital, SmartMedia Card, MultiMedia Card and other types of memory cards have been developed, while micro-disks have specifications such as MicroDrive. And this kind of memory card completed with flash memory is usually used in portable computer peripheral products such as digital cameras to store data such as digital images, and then can be passed through a universal serial bus or IEEE 1 3 9 4 bus to transfer data to a computer for processing. In order to allow ordinary computers to read the data stored in these memory cards, a memory card reading device has been developed. As shown in the third figure (a), one end of the memory card reading device 30 Plug in the universal serial bus socket 3 1 1 or IEEE

Page 12 200410141 V. Description of the invention (9) 1 3 9 4 The bus socket 3 1 2 has a space for the memory cards 32 2 to be inserted. In this way, the computer host 3 1 can pass the universal The serial bus (or IEEE 1394 bus) cooperates with the memory card reading device 30 to read the data stored in these memory cards. As for the portable non-volatile memory card module 3 3 shown in the third figure (b), it directly integrates the original memory card reading device 30 and the memory card 32 into a memory card module (usually (Called F 1 ashdisk). In this way, the host computer 3 1 can directly read the data stored in the memory card modules 33 through the universal serial bus (or IEEE 1 94 bus). .

In addition, the super I / O chip 241 or the south bridge chip 24 can also directly provide a bus interface 41 that can directly connect with the above-mentioned various memory cards 40. Therefore, the block diagram of the preferred embodiment shown in the fourth figure is developed. 'The floppy disk drive has been omitted, so when the host computer enters a boot process and reads the boot code, it originally points to the floppy disk. The machine's boot code reading path will be redirected to the bus interface 4 1 or an external data bus 4 7 (can be the universal serial bus device mentioned above, IEEE 1 3 9 4 bus device Or cardbus bus device, etc.). Taking the external negative material busbar 4 7 as an example, a portable non-volatile memory card reading device 48 is connected to the external data busbar 4 7 through the signal path. The boot code is read in the portable non-volatile memory card 49 inserted in the portable non-volatile memory card reading device 48, and then the booting action is performed. Of course, it is also a feasible solution to directly replace the combination of the portable non-volatile memory card reading device & 8 with the portable non-volatile memory card module 50 and the portable non-volatile memory card 49.

Page 13 200410141 V. Description of the invention (ίο) Relative library 丄 7j $ style body bus 4 7 is a card B us bus, you can use a personal computer card to insert two or three T (/ C Card) specifications, and Cheng Lian Yu. Slot 313 (shown in the second figure (a)) comes with the computer to access the interface address and temporary busbars. 4 7 When the computer is not directly repaired, the basic stream mediator will access it. Boot code bus 4 7 times to directly perform the changer function, instead of replacing the floppy disk drive, the floppy disk drive is loaded in the basic input and output host of the basic modification, and the basic input and output interface is 4 1 or external only at this time. You need to write down the formula. There are two ways to turn the reading path to the bus interface 4 1 or the external method. The first method is to change the hardware by using the bus interface 4 1 or the external type by providing the same decoding interface as the floppy disk drive. Data Sink. In this way, the external data bus 4 7 converts the code in the input and output system (BI 0S) to the input and output system (BI 0) in the case of the system (BI 0 S) and any software. S) to perform the boot process (BI 0 S) and any software will directly treat the sink data bus 4 7 as a floppy disk drive to simulate the data storage format in the memory card into a boot software that is included in the second method system The change in the basic input and output system (BI 0g) means' in the boot process, the drive's private code that was originally used to read the floppy disk drive is modified to switch to the bus interface 41 or an external data stream Row 4 7 'In this way, when the host computer loads the basic input and output system (BI 0 S) for the boot process, the basic input and output system (B 丨 〇s) can use the bus interface 41 or external data Bus 4 7 to read portable One boot code has a non-volatile memory card loaded in the host computer and stored in the 'other call this modified basic input output system (beta] Shu 〇s) mentioned

Page 14 200410141 V. Description of the invention (11) The upper-level software and operating system of the BIOS Functional all or Service Rooutine can still maintain the same compatibility, and can be read here without modification. A floppy disk drive emulated by software. Both of the above methods can be used in the boot selection setting of the basic input output system (BI 0 S) to provide computer users with the option to use the bus interface 4 1 or the external data bus 4 7 as the boot device. Source selection. In addition to the above two methods, in addition to replacing the floppy disk drive, it can also directly replace other boot paths such as hard disk drives, simply by providing the same decoding address and register function as other boot paths such as hard disk drives, or In the booting process, the driver code originally used to read other boot paths such as the hard disk drive is modified to switch to the bus interface 41 or the external data bus 47. To sum up, this case provides another way to start up by using a small-sized and large-capacity memory card, and successfully eliminates the configuration of a traditional floppy disk drive without affecting the startup function, thereby achieving the main purpose of developing this case. However, the invention of this case can be modified by people who are familiar with this skill, but they can not be separated from those who want to protect the scope of patent application.

Page 15 200410141 Schematic illustration of the first picture: It is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a conventional notebook computer. The second picture: it is a schematic diagram of the main functional blocks in a computer host. The third picture (a): It is the general serial bus socket, I E E E 394 bus socket, memory card reading device and memory card. The third picture (b): it is the appearance of a portable non-volatile memory card module. The fourth figure is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present case.

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Claims (1)

200410141 VI. Scope of patent application 1. A boot program loading method is applied between a computer host and a portable non-volatile memory card. The computer host has a data bus to communicate with a portable non-volatile The portable memory card reading device completes the signal connection, and a boot code is stored in the portable non-volatile memory card, and the method includes the following steps: placing the portable non-volatile memory card in the portable non-volatile memory card A volatile memory card reading device; enabling the host computer to enter a booting process; and when the booting process is performed to read the boot code, the data bus and the portable non-volatile memory card reading device are used Load the boot code stored in the portable non-volatile memory card into the computer host. 2 · The bootloader loading method described in item 1 of the scope of the patent application, the specifications of the portable non-volatile memory card to be applied are C ompact F 1 ash Card (CF) 'Multi-Media Card ( MMC)-One of Memory Stick (MS), Secure Digital (SD), or Smart Media Card (SM). 3. The method for loading a boot program as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the data bus to which it is applied is an external data bus. 4. The bootloader loading method described in item 3 of the scope of patent application, the external data bus to which it is applied is one of CardBus, USB or IEEE 13 94. 5 · The bootloader loading method described in item 1 of the scope of the patent application, the data bus to which it is applied is directly compatible with the portable non-volatile memory Page 17 200410141 VI. Scope of patent application Bus interface for card connection. 6. The booting program loading method described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the data bus directly inherits the code of a floppy disk drive in the basic input and output system (B I 0 S). 7. The method for loading a boot program as described in item 1 of the scope of the patent application, which is to modify the driver code originally used to read the floppy disk drive to turn to the data bus to read the data. 8. The booting program loading method described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the data bus directly inherits the code of a hard disk drive in the basic input and output system (B I 0 S). 9. The method for loading a boot program as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, which is to modify the driver code originally used to read the hard disk drive to turn to the data bus to read the data. 10. A booting program loading device, which is used between a computer host and a portable non-volatile memory card. The portable non-volatile memory card stores a booting code. The device includes: A portable non-volatile memory card reading device for inserting and reading data stored in the portable non-volatile memory card; and an external data bus, the signal is connected to the computer host and the A portable non-volatile memory card reading device, and when the host computer enters a boot process and reads the boot code, the external non-volatile memory card and the portable non-volatile memory card can be accessed through the external data bus The device is read to load the boot code stored in the portable non-volatile memory card into the computer host. Page 18 200410141 VI. Scope of Patent Application 11. The boot program loading device described in item 10 of the scope of patent application, the portable non-volatile memory card used in it has the specification of Com pact Flash Card ( CF)-One of Multi-Media Card (MMC), Memory Stick (MS) " Secure Digital (SD) or Smart Media Card (SM). 12. The boot program loading device described in item 10 of the scope of patent application, the data bus to which it is applied is an external data bus. 1 3. According to the bootloader loading device described in Item 12 of the scope of patent application, the external data bus to which the external data bus is applied is one of Car d B s, USB or IEEE 1 394. 1 4. The boot program loading device as described in item 10 of the scope of patent application, the data bus applied to it is a bus interface that can directly connect with the portable non-volatile memory card. 15. The boot program loading device as described in item 10 of the scope of patent application, wherein the data bus directly inherits the code of a floppy disk drive in the basic input and output system (BI 0 S). 16. The method for loading a boot program as described in item 10 of the scope of patent application, which is to modify the driver code originally used to read the floppy disk drive to turn to the data bus to read the data. 1 7. The boot program loading device as described in item 10 of the scope of patent application, wherein the data bus directly inherits the code of a hard disk drive in the basic input output system (B I 0 S). 1 8. The boot program loading method described in item 10 of the scope of patent application, which is to modify the driver code originally used to read the hard disk drive to the Page 19 200410141 VI. Scope of patent application Data bus reads data. 19 · A boot program loading method is applied between a computer host and a portable non-volatile memory card module, and the computer host has a data bus to communicate with the portable non-volatile memory card The module completes the signal connection, and a boot code is stored in the portable non-volatile memory card module. The method includes the following steps: Place the portable non-volatile memory card module in the data bus. Socket Enabling the computer host to enter a booting process; and when the booting process is performed to read the boot code, the booting stored in the portable non-volatile memory card module is performed through the external data bus. The code is loaded into the host computer. 2 0. The boot program loading method described in item 19 of the scope of patent application, the portable non-volatile memory card used by it has the specifications of Com pact Flash Card (CF) ^ Multi-Media Card (MMC ) 'Memory Stick (MS)-Secure Digital (SD) or Smart Media Card (SM). 2 1. According to the method for loading a boot program described in item 19 of the scope of patent application, the data bus to which it is applied is an external data bus. 2 2. The method for loading a boot program as described in item 21 of the scope of patent application, the external data bus to which it is applied is one of Car d B s, USB or IEEE1394. 2 3. The method for loading a boot program as described in item 19 of the scope of the patent application, the data bus applied to the method is directly connected with the portable non-volatile memory. Page 20 200410141 VI. Scope of patent application The memory card interface of the memory card connection. 2 4. The method for loading a boot program as described in item 19 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the data bus directly inherits the replacement of a floppy disk drive in the basic input and output system (B I 0 S). 2 5 · The boot program loading method described in item 19 of the scope of patent application, which is to modify the driver code originally used to read the floppy disk drive to turn to the data bus to read data. 2 6 · The boot program loading method described in item 19 of the scope of patent application, wherein the data bus directly inherits the code of a hard disk drive in the basic input output system (B I 0 S). 2 7. The method for loading a boot program as described in item 19 of the scope of patent application, which is to modify the driver code originally used to read the hard disk drive to turn to the data bus to read the data. Page 21