Apparatus and method for storing BIOS data of computer system

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for storing a BIOS(Basic Input/Output System) data of a computer system, and in particular to an improved apparatus and a method for storing a BIOS data of a computer which are capable of storing a BIOS data by setting a predetermined region in a SRAM(Static Random Access Memory) used as a cache memory without using a ROM(Read Only Memory) as a storing apparatus for storing a BIOS data.

[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a BIOS data storing apparatus for a conventional computer system which includes a ROM 1 storing a BIOS data therein, a main memory 2 in which a BIOS data stored in the ROM 1 is copied into a shadow region 2-1, a CPU(Central Processing Unit) 3 for driving a computer system by accessing the BIOS data stored in the ROM 1, a cache memory 4 for storing a part of a program therein for performing an instruction at a higher speed, and a controller 5 for controlling each element.

[0006] The operation of the BIOS data storing apparatus for a conventional computer system will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.

[0007] First, when an electric power is supplied to the computer system in S1, the CPU 3 accesses the BIOS data stored in the ROM 1 and boots the system for driving the computer system in S2.

[0008] Here, the BIOS data stored in the ROM 1 includes a POST(Power On Self Test) routine and a boot load routine. Therefore, when supplying the electric power to the computer system, the CPU 3 accesses the BIOS data stored in the ROM 1, namely, the POST and boot load routines for thereby checking the hardware installed and driving the computer system.

[0009] The BIOS data stored in the ROM 1 are copied into the shadow region 2-1 of the main memory 2 in S3.

[0010] At this time, only the read operation is available for protecting the BIOS data copied into the shadow region 2-1 by masking the shadow region 2-1 of the main memory 2 for preventing the write operation in S4.

[0011] Thereafter, if the BIOS data is needed, the CPU 3 accesses an instruction and data from the shadow region 2-1 of the main memory 2 for thereby performing the program in S5.

[0012] In the above described BIOS data storing apparatus for a computer system, when the electric power is supplied to the computer system, the BIOS data stored in the ROM 1 are accessed for thereby driving the computer system. The thusly accessed data are copied into the shadow region 2-1 of the main memory 2. When the BIOS data are needed, the data copied into the shadow region 2-1 are accessed for thereby performing a corresponding program. The ROM 1 is used for a very short time when the electric power is supplied to the computer system. For this, the fabrication cost of the system is increased due to an expensive ROM.

[0013] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for storing a BIOS data of a computer which overcomes the aforementioned problems encountered in the conventional art.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for storing a BIOS data of a computer system which is capable of significantly decreasing the fabrication cost of the system by storing a BIOS data into a SDRAM used as a cache memory of the computer system.

[0015] To achieve the above objects, there is provided an apparatus for storing a BIOS data of a computer which includes a first storing means for performing a function as a memory and a function as a storing means for storing a BIOS data therein, a second storing means in which a BIOS data stored in the first storing means is copied and stored therein, a CPU(Central Processing Unit) for accessing a BIOS data stored in the first storing means and driving a computer system when an electric power is supplied to the computer system, a main power controlling for supplying or blocking a main power, a controller for controlling each element of the system, and a system power unit for applying a system power to the first storing apparatus and the controller, respectively.

[0016] To achieve the above objects, there is provided a method for storing a BIOS data of a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention which includes a first step in which the CPU accesses a BIOS data stored in a predetermined region of the first storing means and drives a computer system when an electric power is supplied to the computer system, a second step in which the BIOS data stored in a predetermined region of the first storing means is copied into a predetermined region of the second storing means, a third step in which the BIOS data stored in a predetermined region of the second storing means is copied into a predetermined region of the first storing means, a fourth step in which the main power controller turns off an electric power supplied to the computer system, a fifth step in which the system power unit supplies a system power to a predetermined region of the first storing means and a predetermined region of the controller.

[0017] To achieve the above objects, there is provided a method for storing a BIOS data of a computer according to another embodiment of the present invention which includes a first step in which a computer system is driven when an electric power is supplied to the computer system, a second step in which a BIOS data stored in a predetermined region of the first storing means is copied into a predetermined region of a second storing means, a third step in which a BIOS data stored in a predetermined region of the second storing means is copied into a predetermined region of the first storing means, a fifth step in which the power supplied to the computer system is turned off, and a sixth step in which a system power is supplied to a predetermined region of the second storing means and a third storing means.

[0018] Additional advantages, objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the description which follows.

[0019] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a BIOS data storing apparatus for a conventional computer system;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the conventional art;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a BIOS data storing apparatus for a computer system according to the present invention; and

[0023] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a BIOS data storing apparatus for a computer system according to the present invention. As shown therein, the BIOS data storing apparatus includes a cache/BIOS memory 10 for storing a part of a program when performing the program and serving as a cache memory for implementing a high speed operation for an instruction and as a BIOS data storing apparatus for storing a BIOS data therein, a main memory 20 for copying a BIOS data stored in the cache/BIOS memory 10 and storing the same therein, a CPU(Central Processing Unit) 30 for accessing the BIOS data stored in the cache/BIOS memory 10 when an electric power is supplied to the computer system and driving the computer system, a main power controller 40 for supplying or blocking the main power, a controller 50 for controlling each element of the system, and a system power unit 60 for supplying a system power to the cache/BIOS memory 10 and the controller 40 for preventing the loss of the data stored.

[0025] The cache/BIOS memory 10 includes a ROM BIOS region 10-1 for storing the BIOS data therein. For example, if the SDRAM of 256 KB is used for the cache/BIOS memory 10, 128 KB is allocated to the ROM BIOS region 10-1.

[0026] The main memory 20 includes a shadow region 20-1 for copying the BIOS data stored in the ROM BIOS region 10-1 of the cache/BIOS memory 10 and storing the same therein.

[0027] The controller 50 includes a CMOS region 50-1 for storing a basic function therein for the case that the computer system is not booted up due to an error when copying the BIOS data into the cache/BIOS memory 10.

[0028] The operation of the BIOS data storing apparatus for a computer system according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 4.

[0029] First, when an electric power is supplied to the computer system in S11, the CPU 30 accesses the BIOS data stored in the ROM BIOS region 10-1 of the cache/BIOS memory 10 and drives the computer system in S12.

[0030] The BIOS data stored in the ROM BIOS region 10-1 of the cache/BIOS memory 10 is copied into the shadow region 20-1 of the main memory 20 in S13, and the controller 50 masks the shadow region 20-1 of the main memory 20 for implementing only a read operation by preventing the write operation for protecting the BIOS data copied into the shadow region 20-1 of the main memory 20 in S14. In addition, the controller 50 clears the ROM BIOS region 10-1 of the cache/BIOS memory 10 for using the entire spaces of the cache/BIOS memory 10 for the cache memory in S15.

[0031] Thereafter, when using the BIOS data, the CPU 30 accesses the BIOS data stored in the shadow region 20-1 of the main memory 20 for thereby performing a corresponding program.

[0032] If a user wishes to turn off the electric power supplied to the computer system, the main power controller 40 outputs a first recognition signal CON1 indicating that an instruction is inputted to turn off the power to the controller 50 in accordance with a power off instruction signal OFF, and the controller 50 copies the BIOS data stored in the shadow region 20-1 of the main memory 20 into the ROM BIOS region 10-1 of the cache/BIOS memory 10 in accordance with the first recognition signal CON l of the main power controller 40 in S16 and outputs a second recognition signal CON2 indicating a data copy completion to the main power controller 40 for thereby turning off the main power by the main power controller 40 in S17.

[0033] Here, when the BIOS data stored in the shadow region 20-1 of the main memory 20 is copied into the ROM BIOS region of the cache/BIOS memory 10, a predetermined error may occur, so that the computer system may not be booted up even when the electric power is supplied to the system. In order to prevent the above-described problem, the BIOS data is previously stored into the CMOS region 50-1 of the controller 50 for implementing a basic BIOS function.

[0034] At the initial stage, the electric power is supplied from the system power unit 60 to the CMOS region 50-1 of the controller 50 for preventing the loss of the data, and the electric power is supplied to the cache/BIOS memory 10 for thereby continuously maintaining the BIOS data in S18.

[0035] The method for driving the BIOS data storing apparatus for a computer system according to the present invention will be explained.

[0036] In a first step STEP1, when an electric power is supplied to the computer system, the CPU 30 accesses the BIOS data stored in the cache/BIOS memory 10 and drives the computer system.

[0037] In a second step STEP2, the BIOS data stored in the ROM BIOS region 10-1 of the cache/BIOS memory 10 are copied into the shadow region 20-1 of the main memory 20, and the shadow region 20-1 of the main memory 20 is masked, and the ROM BIOS region 10-1 of the cache/BIOS memory 10 is cleared.

[0038] In a third step STEP3, when an instruction for stopping the supply of the electric power to the computer system is inputted, the main power controller 40 outputs a first recognition signal CON1 to the controller 50, and the BIOS data stored in the shadow region 20-1 of the main memory 20 are copied into the ROM BIOS region 10-1 of the cache/BIOS memory 10.

[0039] In a fourth step STEP4, a second recognition signal CON2 indicating that the operation for copying the BIOS data stored in the shadow region 20-1 of the main memory 20 into the ROM BIOS region 10-1 of the cache/BIOS memory 10 is completed is outputted to the main power controller 40 for thereby stopping the power supplying operation of the main power controller 40.

[0040] In a fifth step STEP5, when the main power controller 40 turns off the main power, the system power unit 60 supplies the system power to the ROM BIOS region 10-1 of the cache/BIOS memory 10 and the CMOS region 50-1 of the controller 50 for preventing the loss of the data stored.

[0041] As described above, in the BIOS data storing apparatus and method for a computer system according to the present invention, since the BIOS data are stored into a predetermined region of the SDRAM used as a cache memory, an expensive ROM is not used in the present invention thus resulting in savings in the fabrication cost of the system.

[0042] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as recited in the accompanying claims.