IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,081,965
Granted Patent B2
US 9,081,965 · App. 13/746,979 · Granted Jul 14, 2015

Systems and methods for command-based entry into basic input/output system setup from operating system

Inventors: Douglas M. Anson (Dripping Springs, TX); Charles D. Robison (Round Rock, TX); David Konetski (Austin, TX); Frank H. Molsberry (Georgetown, TX); Anand Joshi (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F21/575G06F9/4401
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,081,965
App. No.
13/746,979
Filed
Jan 22, 2013
Granted
Jul 14, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2115
USPC
713/2
Abstract

In accordance embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include, during execution of an operating system on an information handling system and responsive to a user input indicating a desire to invoke a basic input/output system (BIOS) setup program for configuring a BIOS, prompting for and receiving user-provided credentials via a user interface communicatively coupled to the processor. The method may also include, during execution of the operating system, passing BIOS credentials to the BIOS based on the user-provided credentials. The method may additionally include, during execution of the operating system determining, by the BIOS, if the BIOS credentials are valid. The method may further include, responsive to determining that the BIOS credentials are valid, setting a flag to a value indicating that the BIOS setup program is to be invoked on a subsequent boot of the information handling system.

Claims (57)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

an operating system comprising one or more instructions embodied in computer-readable media communicatively coupled to the processor, the instructions for causing the processor to, when read and executed by the processor:

responsive to a user input indicating a desire to invoke a basic input/output system (BIOS) setup program for configuring a BIOS, prompt for and receive user-provided credentials via a user interface communicatively coupled to the processor; and

pass BIOS credentials to the BIOS based on the user-provided credentials; and

the BIOS comprising one or more instructions embodied in computer-readable media communicatively coupled to the processor, the instructions for causing the processor to, when read and executed by the processor:

determine if the BIOS credentials are valid;

responsive to determining that the BIOS credentials are valid, set a flag to a value indicating that the BIOS setup program is to be invoked on a subsequent boot of the information handling system;

during a boot of the information handling system, determine the value of the flag;

during the boot and responsive to determining that value of the flag is set, invoke the BIOS setup program prior to loading and executing an operating system on the processor; and

during the boot and responsive to determining that value of the flag is not set, load and execute the operating system without invoking the BIOS setup program.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the BIOS credentials comprise the user-provided credentials.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the user-provided credentials comprise at least one of a username and a password.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein:

the user-provided credentials are in a format which the BIOS cannot process; and

passing the BIOS credentials to the BIOS based on the user-provided credentials comprises passing BIOS credentials in a format in which the BIOS can process to the BIOS based on the user-provided credentials.

5. The information handling system of claim 4 , wherein the passing the BIOS credentials to the BIOS based on the user-provided credentials comprises:

indexing a database entry based on the user-provided credentials; and

passing BIOS credentials present in the indexed database entry as the BIOS credentials.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 , the BIOS further configured to cause the processor to store a timestamp associated with the flag and indicative of the time at which the flag was set.

7. The information handling system of claim 6 , the BIOS further configured to cause the processor to:

during the boot, determine the value of the timestamp;

during the boot and responsive to determining that the value of the timestamp is below a particular value, invoking the BIOS setup program prior to loading and executing an operating system on the processor; and

during the boot and responsive to determining that the value of the timestamp is above a particular value, loading and executing the operating system without invoking the BIOS setup program.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein:

the operating system may further cause the processor to digitally sign or encrypt the BIOS credentials; and

the BIOS may further cause the processor to validate a digital signature of the BIOS credentials or decrypt the BIOS credentials.

9. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein:

the BIOS may further cause the processor to digitally sign or encrypt the flag; and

the BIOS setup program may cause the processor to validate the digital signature of the flag or decrypt the flag.

10. A method comprising:

during execution of an operating system on an information handling system and responsive to a user input indicating a desire to invoke a basic input/output system (BIOS) setup program for configuring a BIOS, prompting for and receiving user-provided credentials via a user interface communicatively coupled to the processor;

during execution of the operating system, passing BIOS credentials to the BIOS based on the user-provided credentials;

during execution of the operating system determining, by the BIOS, if the BIOS credentials are valid; and

responsive to determining that the BIOS credentials are valid, setting a flag to a value indicating that the BIOS setup program is to be invoked on a subsequent boot of the information handling system.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

during a boot of the information handling system, determining the value of the flag;

during the boot and responsive to determining that the value of the flag is set, invoking the BIOS setup program prior to loading and executing an operating system on the processor; and

during the boot and responsive to determining that the value of the flag is not set, loading and executing the operating system without invoking the BIOS setup program.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the user-provided credentials comprise at least one of a username and a password.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the user-provided credentials are in a format which the BIOS cannot process; and

passing the BIOS credentials to the BIOS based on the user-provided credentials comprises passing BIOS credentials in a format in which the BIOS can process to the BIOS based on the user-provided credentials.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the passing the BIOS credentials to the BIOS based on the user-provided credentials comprises:

indexing a database entry based on the user-provided credentials; and

passing BIOS credentials present in the indexed database entry as the BIOS credentials.

15. The method of claim 10 , the BIOS further configured to cause the processor to store a timestamp associated with the flag and indicative of the time at which the flag was set.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

during the boot, determining the value of the timestamp;

during the boot and responsive to determining that the value of the timestamp is below a particular value, invoking the BIOS setup program prior to loading and executing an operating system on the processor; and

during the boot and responsive to determining that the value of the timestamp is above a particular value, loading and executing the operating system without invoking the BIOS setup program.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

digitally sign or encrypt the BIOS credentials during execution of the operating system; and

validating a digital signature of the BIOS credentials or decrypting the BIOS credentials by the BIOS.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

digitally signing or encrypting the flag by the BIOS during execution of the operating system; and

during the subsequent boot, validating the digital signature of the flag or decrypting the flag by the BIOS.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2013
From: ANSON, DOULGAS M.; ROBISON, CHARLES D.; KONETSKI, DAVID; MOLSBERRY, FRANK H.; JOSHI, ANAND
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 029671/0565 →
Continuity (1)
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