System and method for generating ACPI machine language tables
View Patent ↗An ACPI-compatible system is provided that comprises a database for storing a device-specific descriptor for a hardware device. The system further comprises an ACPI agent operable to autonomously construct an ACPI table entry for the hardware device using the device-specific descriptor. Also, a method for an ACPI-compatible system autonomously constructing an ACPI table entry for a hardware device is provided. The method comprises receiving from firmware associated with the hardware device, a device-specific descriptor for such hardware device, and an ACPI agent executing on the ACPI-compatible system using the device-specific descriptor to autonomously construct an ACPI table entry for the hardware device.
1. An Advanced Configuration and Power Management Interface (ACPI)-compatible system comprising:
database for storing a device-specific descriptor for a hardware device; and
ACPI agent operable to autonomously construct an ACPI table entry for said hardware device using said device-specific descriptor.
2. The ACPI-compatible system of claim 1 wherein said ACPI agent is operable to autonomously construct ACPI Machine Language (AML) code that is included in said ACPI table entry.
3. The ACPI-compatible system of claim 1 further comprising:
device-specific firmware associated with said hardware device, wherein said device-specific firmware comprises said device-specific descriptor.
4. The ACPI-compatible system of claim 1 wherein said device-specific descriptor comprises ACPI Machine Language (AML) code for said hardware device.
5. The ACPI-compatible system of claim 1 further comprising:
an ACPI-compatible operating system, wherein said operating system is operable to access said ACPI table entry to acquire a description of said hardware device.
6. The ACPI-compatible system of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one flag associated with said device-specific descriptor, wherein said operation of said ACPI agent in autonomously constructing said ACPI table entry is controlled by said at least one flag.
7. The ACPI-compatible system of claim 2 further comprising:
at least one flag associated with said device-specific descriptor, wherein said operation of said ACPI agent in autonomously constructing said AML code is controlled by said at least one flag.
8. The ACPI-compatible system of claim 7 wherein said at least one flag comprises a build mask flag that specifies whether AML code for implementing a given functionality is to be constructed by said ACPI agent.
9. A method for an Advanced Configuration and Power Management Interface (ACPI)-compatible system autonomously constructing an ACPI table entry for a hardware device, said method comprising:
receiving from firmware associated with said hardware device, a device-specific descriptor for said hardware device; and
an ACPI agent executing on said ACPI-compatible system using said device-specific descriptor to autonomously construct an ACPI table entry for said hardware device.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
storing said device-specific descriptor to a database accessible by said ACPI agent.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein said device-specific descriptor comprises ACPI Machine Language (AML) code for said hardware device.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein said ACPI agent constructs ACPI Machine Language (AML) code that is included in said ACPI table entry.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
an ACPI-compatible operating system executing on said ACPI-compatible system accessing said ACPI table entry to acquire a description of said hardware device.
14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
said ACPI agent determining the type of information to include in said ACPI table entry based at least in part on at least one flag associated with said device-specific descriptor.
15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
said ACPI agent determining the AML code to construct based at least in part on at least one flag associated with said device-specific descriptor.
16. An Advanced Configuration and Power Management Interface (ACPI)-compatible system comprising:
means for storing a device-specific descriptor for a hardware device; and
means for autonomously generating ACPI Machine Language (AML) code for said hardware device using said device-specific descriptor.
17. The ACPI-compatible system of claim 16 wherein said means for autonomously generating said AML code is operable to autonomously construct an ACPI table entry for said hardware device.
18. The ACPI-compatible system of claim 17 wherein said ACPI table entry comprises said AML code.
19. The ACPI-compatible system of claim 16 wherein said device-specific descriptor comprises said AML code for said hardware device.
20. Computer-executable code stored to a computer-readable medium, said computer-executable code comprising:
code for receiving from firmware associated with a hardware device, a device-specific descriptor for said hardware device; and
code for autonomously constructing an Advanced Configuration and Power Management Interface (ACPI) table entry for said hardware device using the received device-specific descriptor.