Method for managing memory space during system initialization
View Patent ↗A method for managing use of a fixed memory space of a computer system is provided. The computer system interfaces with controllers for managing operation of devices that operate with the computer system. The method includes determining whether sufficient memory is allocated in the fixed memory space for initializing code for the controllers, and jumping to swappable portion of the fixed memory space. The method also includes executing code in the swappable portion of the fixed memory space. The method further includes loading additional code needed to initialize the controllers from an external memory chip to the fixed memory space where the additional code is executed to complete initialization of the controllers of the computer system.
1. A method to optimize memory resources, comprising:
loading an initialization code and a runtime code into an Option ROM memory space;
determining availability of the memory resources of extended memory, conventional memory, and the Option ROM memory space;
when the memory resources of the extended memory, the conventional memory, and the Option ROM memory space are not available,
running a portion of the initialization code located in a swappable space of the Option ROM memory space;
copying a configuration code over the portion of the initialization code that has been run in the swappable space of the Option ROM memory space; and
running the configuration code in the swappable space of the Option ROM memory space.
2. The method to optimize memory resources as recited in claim 1 , wherein running the portion of the initialization code includes,
jumping to the swappable space of the Option ROM memory space containing the portion of the initialization code, and
processing the portion of the initialization code in the swappable space.
3. The method to optimize memory resources as recited in claim 1 , wherein copying the configuration code includes,
determining whether an interrupt has been initiated to run the configuration code;
when the interrupt has been initiated,
loading the configuration code into the swappable space where the portion of the initialization code has just been run.
4. The method to optimize memory resources as recited in claim 1 , wherein running a portion of the initialization code includes,
determining whether an interrupt has been initiated to run the configuration code.
5. The method to optimize memory resources as recited in claim 1 , wherein the copying of the configuration code is from a flash memory device to the Option ROM memory space.
6. The method to optimize memory resources as recited in claim 2 , wherein running a portion of the initialization code includes,
returning to a memory space where the jumping was initiated after the portion of the initialization code is run.
7. The method to optimize memory resources as recited in claim 2 , wherein determining availability of the extended memory is done by a memory allocator.