TWI234111B - Loading method for default values - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention provides a loading method for default values, it is suitable for a computer system with non-volatile memory. Wherein, the non-volatile memory is used to store the previous BIOS configuration of BIOS program for the previous booting. The BIOS configuration is obtained based on the associated information of the BIOS program, such as version and date data, etc., and a default conversion formula in the computer system. The loading method includes the following procedures: firstly, it reads the current BIOS program by the computer from the BIOS ROM for the booting sequence. Secondly, it abstracts the associated information of the BIOS program, and obtains the current BIOS configuration via the conversion formula. Further, it compares the obtained current BIOS configuration with the previous one stored in the non-volatile memory. Furthermore, if the two values are different, it stores the obtained current BIOS configuration in the non-volatile memory as the BIOS configuration for the next booting sequence. Moreover, it loads the default booting values stored in the BIOS ROM to the non-volatile memory. Finally, it makes the computer system conducting the POST sequence based on the default booting values loaded in the non-volatile memory.

Description

1234111 V. Description of the invention (1) [Field of the invention] The present invention relates to a method for loading a preset value. More specifically, it is applicable to a computer system having a non-volatile memory for A method for the computer system to automatically load the startup default value when the BI 0S program is updated. [Background of the Invention] In response to the rapid changes in computer system processing performance and the development of peripheral hardware devices, computer manufacturers have continuously designed different versions of the Basic Input / Output System (hereinafter referred to as BI OS). Program for the computer system to clearly determine what peripheral hardware devices it is currently paired with, so that the peripheral hardware devices and the computer system can operate normally, and then provide a computer system user or BI 0S Program testers perform normal operations on computer systems. Although the BI 0S program is constantly updated, for the loading process of the default boot value (Default) required after the BI 0S update, the setup function provided by the BIOS program or the computer system must be used Set the switch on the motherboard to load the default settings. Therefore, the computer system user or the B I 0S program tester needs to manually load the B I 0S program boot default value into the computer system by manual means. However, manually loading the startup default values is easy for users or testers to ignore, which causes errors in the computer system during operation. Therefore, after the B I 0S program of the computer system is updated, how to effectively avoid the abnormal operation of the system due to the manual setting process of the B I 0S program's boot default setting, and provide a method that can automatically load the boot preset value.

16854.ptd Page 5 1234111 V. Description of Invention (2) The method is the problem that needs to be solved at present. [Objective and Summary of the Invention] In view of the shortcomings of the above-mentioned conventional technology, the main object of the present invention is to provide a method for loading a preset value, which is used to enable a computer system to automatically load a BI 0S program after the BI 0S program is updated. The loading method of the boot default value is to effectively avoid the abnormal operation of the system caused by the manual setting process of the BI 0 S program's boot default value. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for loading a preset value, which can be applied to a computer system generally having a non-volatile memory (such as NVRAM). The non-volatile memory is used for storing Relevant information about the updated BI 0S program for the computer system to determine whether to load the BI 0S program boot default automatically. Therefore, the performance of automatically loading the boot default can be achieved without additional hardware costs. . According to the above object, the present invention provides a method for loading a preset value. The loading method of the default value is suitable for a computer system having a non-volatile memory, and the non-volatile memory is used to store the previous BI 0S program of the previous BI 0S program used by the computer system. Configuration value, and the computer system includes at least a main memory unit for storing the BI 0S program and a boot default value, and the loading method includes at least the computer system reading the BI 0S program from the main memory unit To start the process, and take out the version and date of the BI 0S program, the user's order the computer system to obtain the configuration value of the BI 0S program based on the obtained version and date data, and from the non-volatile Take out the previous BI 0 S program configuration value from the memory, and calculate the BI 0S program configuration value and the previous BI 0S program configuration value based on the BI 0S program in the main memory unit.

16854.ptd Page 6 1234111 V. Description of the invention (3) '' ~~-a "-forcomparison; if the two values are the same, the computer system does not need to load the BIOS program stored in the master into its boot The preset value is further used to execute the p0ST program according to the BWS program of the volatile memory; otherwise, if the two values are different, the configuration value of the BI 0s program obtained according to the main memory unit is stored in the non-volatile memory. The 'volatile memory' is used as a configuration value for comparison at the next boot process, and the boot preset value stored in the main memory is loaded into the non-volatile memory, and the computer system is based on The power-on preset value loaded into the non-volatile memory is used for the P 0s T program. [Detailed description of the preferred embodiment] Please refer to Figure 1 ', which is a block diagram showing the basic application architecture required for the loading method of the preset values of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the preset value loading method of the present invention is applicable to a computer system, such as a notebook computer or a desktop computer. The computer system 1 includes at least a central processing unit 10 (Central Processing Unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU), a North Bridge chip, a South Bridge chip, a Static Random Access Memory 110 (hereinafter referred to as SRAM), a Dynamic Random Access Memory 111 (Dynamic Random Access Memory; hereinafter referred to as DRAM), a cache memory 1 12 (hereinafter referred to as cache), a BIOS R0M1 20, a non-volatile random access memory (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory; Hereinafter referred to as NVRAM, the access controller 12 includes an NVRAM 1 22, an I / O controller and a CMOS unit 123, a keyboard / mouse 124, and a VGA (Video Graphics Array) 125. Among them, the Northbridge chip 11 is mainly responsible for cooperating with the CPU10, SRAM110, DRAM111 and cachell2 memory.

16854.ptd

1234111 V. Description of the invention (4) Material transmission processing to be responsible for high-speed coordination work; and the south bridge chip 1 2 is mainly responsible for the BIOS ROM120, NVRAM access controller 12 I / O controller, and CMOS unit 123, VGA 12 5 and other peripheral hardware device signal control to take charge of slower coordination. Since the above chips, memories, etc. are all units familiar to computer technicians, their functions and internal architecture will not be described in further detail here. Only the parts related to the present invention will be described below. The NVRAM 1 2 2 is a kind of random access memory that can save data even when the power is interrupted. It is used to store the computer system 1 for the previous boot.

The previous BI 0S program configuration value n of the BI 0S program, and the BI 0S program configuration value N is obtained through a conversion formula that is encoded according to the date and version of the BI 0 S program used for the startup. Operate to generate a specific number of digits, by which the obtained specific number of digits is used as the BI 0s program configuration value n. In this

An example shows how to obtain the configuration value n of the BI 0 S program. Because BI $ programs generally have their version date, it is represented by jjjjjj / dd / yy, and the version number, which is represented by Vn · ab If in this embodiment, the negative value of the BI0s program group is set to N = f (BIOS program version date, BI0 ^ version) = i 〇χ 1 dd + η + (in ίο) + (μ 1〇〇), for example If the ΒΙ〇 ^ -type related information includes Compiled 1 1/2 9/99, * Version 5. 28, that is, the configuration value of the M0s program N = 10x 11+ 29+ 5+ (pulling 1〇) + (8 + 1〇〇) = ^ 4 = · 28, therefore, in general, the bi os between different versions of the MOS program; type configuration is difficult. It should be noted here that the conversion public $ is divided by the above BIOS program version date and BI0s program version as parameters ’Other parameters such as the boot date, that is, the conversion formula

16854.ptd Page 8 1234111 V. Description of the invention (5) ~ '~ 一一-The number of meals can be determined according to the required implementation type. 0, by the loading method of the preset value of the present invention, when the computer device is turned on, the South Bridge chip 12 reads the BIOS program from the BIOS ROM 120 ^^ for system self-test work (p〇wer — 〇ri Seif Test; the following f ^ is the post), it must be stated here that the POST program is a necessary program to be executed by a general computer system, so it will not be described in detail here. First of all, the computer device i reads the BIOS version date and βΙ〇 ^ version of the BIOS program stored in the basin from the BI0s ROM12, and obtains the & BIOS program group according to The conversion formula of the state value N is used to obtain the current Bios spear.弋 ,,, heart value N, and then use the obtained b I q $ program configuration value n to compare with the pre-BIOS program configuration value pre-stored in the NVRAM1 22, if different, it means the current The version of the BIOS program for booting has been updated, and the boot presets stored in BI0s ROM 120 are automatically stored in NVRAM 122, I / 0 controller, and CMOS unit 1 2 3. In this way, when the computer device 1 determines that the BIOS program is updated, the boot default value can be automatically loaded, without the need to manually perform a switch device on the motherboard or a setup function provided by the BIOS program Load the default load procedure. Then, please refer to FIG. 2 (A), which shows each flow step required to be performed by the method for loading preset values of the present invention. As shown in the figure, if the computer clothing 1 is turned on, the South Bridge chip 12 will read the BI0 ^ formula from Bi0s and perform the system self-test (Power-On Self lest, hereinafter referred to as POST) to Obtain the relevant hardware u 'on the computer system 1, where the post program includes as shown in steps S1 and S2, which

16854.ptd Page 9 1234111 5. In the description of the invention (6), the step S 1 is performed, and the computer device 1 sets each chip such as the south and north bridge chips (1 1, 12) and each controller such as the NVRA memory. Take the controller, I / 0 controller (1 2 1, 1, 23), etc., for the computer system 1 to obtain the type, model and characteristics of each peripheral hardware device, and then proceed to step S2. In step S2, the computer device 1 sets each memory such as SRA M, DRA M, and cache (no, π !, 112), etc., for the computer system 1 to obtain the storage size of each memory, and then proceeds to Step S 3. In this step S 3, the b 10 S program configuration value conversion processing is performed, which includes steps S 3 0 and S 3 1. This step S 3 0 is performed first, and the computer system 1 is obtained from the BIOS ROM 1 2 0 The version date and version of the BIOS program currently used for booting. For example, the date is January 29th, the version is 5.28, and then proceed to step S31. In step S31, a preset conversion formula (which can be pre-stored in the BI 0 SR 0 Μ 1 2 0 for the computer system 1 to obtain the BI 0 S program configuration processing process) is performed according to The version date and version obtained in step S 30 are used to convert the current B I 0 S program configuration value N. For example, the conversion formula of the B I 0S program group evil value N is January part + day part. + Version digits + (the first digit after the decimal point of the version 1 〇) + (the second digit after the decimal point of the version + 100), that is, the current configuration value of the Bi0s program N ′ = 1 〇χ 11+ 29 + 5+ (2+ 10) + (8+ loo) = 1 44. 28, and then proceed to step S4 ° In this step S4, the computer system 1 takes out NvRAM 1 22 from NvRAM 1 22 after the last BI 0 S program is booted The pre-stored pre-b I 〇s program configuration value N (the configuration value is obtained in the same way as in step S30 and step S3 1 above, here

16854.ptd Page 10 1234111 V. Description of the invention (7) (not to be described in detail), then proceed to step S5. In step S5, the computer system 1 determines whether the b I 〇s program configuration value N ′ converted according to the BI 0 S program in BIOS R0M1 20 is equal to the pre-stored b I 〇s of the NVR Α M1 2 2. The program configuration value N is the same. If the two values are the same, go to step S7; otherwise, go to step S6. In step S6, the computer system 1 creates a preset value loading flag, sets its value to i and stores it in the NVRAM 122, and stores the obtained current BIOS program configuration value N '. In the NVRAM 1 22. In this way, when the electronic system 1 reads the value of the preset load flag as 1, it can be judged that the current BI 0S program has been updated, so it is necessary to automatically load the boot default value (default) to prevent the computer system 1 An error occurred during the operation. Furthermore, the obtained current BIOS program configuration value N is stored in the NVRAM 122 for the next boot-up time and used as a comparison of the BI OS program version. Go to Step S7. ° In step S7, 'When the computer system 1 is turned on and the configuration value conversion, comparison and other related processing of the Bi0s program version are completed, the machine /, Wang ^ π < is continued. POST program. Next, please refer to FIG. 2 (B), which is a further processing flow shown in step S7 of the above-mentioned FIG. As shown in the figure, +1 does not right the computer system. The BI0S program in the BIOS ROM 120 is booted and the configuration value conversion and comparison are completed according to the two T = program version date and version. ^ After the process, the process proceeds to step S. 70. From the computer system, from 1 to 0, the NVRAM 122 reads whether the preset value loading flag value is Bu Ru & go to step S 7 1; otherwise, go to step s 7 2. : ,,, 1 ’

16854.ptd Page 11 1234111 V. Description of the invention (8) In step S71, the computer system 1 automatically sets the default value of the BI0s program provided by the BIOS program in the BIOS ROM 1 20 (default) automatically. It is loaded into the I / O controller and the CMOS unit 123 and the NVRAM 12 2, and then proceeds to step S 7 2.

In step S72, the computer system 1 is caused to perform a POST procedure according to the boot preset values stored in the I / O controller and the CMOS unit 123 and the NVRAMl 22. With the loading method of the preset value of the present invention, there is no additional hardware cost, and only the existing NVRAM 122 generally stored in the computer system i is used to store the BI 0S program configuration value of the previous boot, and then provide the Computer system 1 determines whether the version of the BO IS program used for the boot is updated or not as a basis for automatically loading the boot default value. This provides the user or tester with a loading method that can improve the inconvenience of manually loading the startup presets and can effectively avoid the abnormal startup of the computer system due to manual loading and easy to ignore. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the essential technical content of the present invention. For example, the conversion formula of the configuration value of the BI 0 S program is not limited to the version of the BI 0S program. Or the version is used as the conversion unit, and other parameters with information identifying the BI 0S program can also be added. The essential technical content of the present invention is broadly defined in the scope of the patent application described below. 'Any other person's technical entity or method is the same as the one defined in the scope of the patent application described below, or is the same equivalent. Changes are deemed to be covered by this patent. ’

1234111 Brief description of the drawings [Simplified description of the drawings] In the following, the features and effects of the present invention will be further described in detail with preferred embodiments in conjunction with the attached drawings: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the invention Block diagram of the basic application architecture required for the loading method of the preset value; FIG. 2 (A) is a flowchart showing the steps and processes required for the loading method of the preset value of the present invention; and Figure 2 (B) is a flowchart showing the further processing flow of step S7 in Figure 2 (A). [Description of component symbols]

I Computer system 10 CPU

II Northbridge chip 12 Southbridge chip 110 SRAM III DRAM 112 Cache

120 BIOS ROM 121 NVRAM access controller

122 NVRAM 123 I / O controller and CMOS unit 1 2 4 keyboard / mouse

125 VGA

16854.ptd Page 13

Claims (1)

1234111 VI. Scope of patent application 1. A method for loading a preset value, which allows a computer system to boot with different BI 0S programs and automatically load the boot preset value. The computer system includes at least one for storing The first memory unit of the previous BI 0S program configuration value of the previous BI 0S program used for the previous boot and a second memory unit for storing the BI 0S program and the boot default value. The loading method includes: making the computer The system reads the BI 0S program from the second memory unit for the boot process, and takes out the relevant data of the BI 0S program; and causes the computer system to obtain the BI 0S program configuration value based on the obtained relevant data, and The first BI 0S program configuration value is taken out from the first memory unit, and the BI 0S program configuration value obtained according to the BI 0S program of the second memory unit is compared with the previous BI 0S program configuration value; if two If the value is the same, the computer system does not need to load the BI 0S program stored in the second memory into its boot default value, and then execute the POST procedure according to the BIOS program of the first memory; otherwise, if the two values do not , The BI 0S program configuration value obtained according to the second memory unit is stored in the first memory unit as a comparison of the configuration value at the next startup procedure, and the second memory is stored The power-on preset value is loaded into the first memory unit, and the computer system performs a POST process according to the power-on preset value loaded in the first memory unit. 2. If the method of loading the default value of item 1 of the scope of patent application, the relevant information includes at least the version and date of the B I 0S program. 3. For example, the method for loading a preset value in the scope of patent application, wherein the computer system sets a preset value loading flag in the second memory unit. 16854.ptd Page 14 1234111 6. Scope of patent application for the computer system as a basis for determining whether the B I 0S program can be loaded with the default value after booting. 4. The method for loading the preset value of item 3 in the scope of patent application, wherein if the configuration value of the BI 0S program obtained from the second memory unit and the previous BI 0S program stored with the first memory unit When the configuration values are different, the computer system sets the preset value loading flag value as a specific level signal for the computer system to load the boot default value basis after determining that the BI 0S program is updated. 5. If the method of loading the preset value of item 4 of the scope of patent application, wherein if the computer system sets the preset value loading flag value to a specific level signal, the second memory is stored The boot-up preset value is loaded into the first memory unit, and the computer system performs a POST process according to the boot-up preset value of the first memory unit. 6. If the method of loading the preset value of item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the specific level signal refers to one of the high level signal and the low level signal-〇7. As the item 1 of the scope of patent application The default value loading method, wherein the BI 0S program configuration value is obtained through a conversion formula. 8. For the loading method of the preset value of item 7 in the scope of patent application, wherein the conversion formula is based on the relevant data of the BI 0S program to perform a coding operation to generate a specific number of bits, and the obtained specific number of bits will be As the BIOS program configuration value of the BI 0S program. 9. The method for loading a preset value according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first memory unit refers to a non-volatile memory unit. 16854.ptd Page 15 1234111 VI. Application scope of patent 10. For the method of loading the preset value of item 9 of the scope of patent application, wherein the non-volatile memory unit refers to NVR Α Μ (Ν ο η- V ο 1 ati 1 e R and 〇m Access Memory) o 1 1. The method for loading the default value of the first scope of the patent application, wherein the computer system is any one of a desktop computer and a notebook computer . 16854.ptd Page 16