IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,652,251
Granted Patent B2
US 9,652,251 · App. 14/523,644 · Granted May 16, 2017

Pre-boot diagnostic display

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,652,251
App. No.
14/523,644
Granted
May 16, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pre-boot diagnostic display may be controlled by an embedded controller of an information handling system. The embedded controller may generate pre-boot diagnostic content during power on self-test (POST) of the information handling system. The pre-boot diagnostic content may be displayed to a user on a primary display of the information handling system during POST and before the information handling system is booted to an operating system.

Claims (39)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an embedded controller of an information handling system, a power signal to power on the information handling system, wherein the embedded controller is a second processor device having access to a second memory, wherein the information handling system includes a first processor device having access to a first memory separate from the second memory;

responsive to receiving the power signal, outputting a display mode signal to a display controller of a display coupled to the information handling system, the display mode signal indicating to the display controller to display pre-boot display content on the display; and

prior to initiating booting of the information handling system, outputting the pre-boot display content to the display controller; and

initiating booting of the information handling system;

generating modifying the pre-boot display content during booting of the information handling system; and

outputting the modified pre-boot display content during the booting using a logic interface, wherein the logic interface emulates a sideband channel of a video interface to the display controller.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting the display mode signal includes outputting a first general purpose input/output signal to the display controller.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein outputting the display mode signal includes outputting a second general purpose input/output signal to a display switch that controls display input to the display controller, the second general purpose input/output signal indicating to the display switch to route the display input from the embedded controller.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-boot display content is indicative of a status of a hardware component included in the information handling system.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the pre-boot display content includes an error message associated with the hardware component.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-boot display content includes diagnostic information intended for a user of the information handling system.

7. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor subsystem having access to a first memory;

an embedded controller comprising a secondary processor having access to a second memory separate from the first memory, the second memory storing instructions executable by the secondary processor to:

receive a power signal to power on the information handling system; responsive to receiving the power signal, output a display mode signal to a display controller of a display coupled to the information handling system, the display mode signal indicating to the display controller to display pre-boot display content on the display; and

prior to initiating booting of the information handling system on the processor subsystem, output the pre-boot display content to the display controller; and

initiate booting of the information handling system;

modify the pre-boot display content during booting of the information handling system; and

output the modified pre-boot display content to the display controller during the booting using a logic interface, wherein the logic interface emulates a sideband channel of a video interface to the display controller.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to output the display mode signal include instructions to output a first general purpose input/output signal to the display controller.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a display switch that controls display input to the display controller,

wherein the instructions to output the display mode signal include instructions to output a second general purpose input/output signal to the display switch, the second general purpose input/output signal indicating to the display switch to route the display input from the embedded controller.

10. The information handling system of claim 7 , wherein the pre-boot display content is indicative of a status of a hardware component included in the information handling system.

11. The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein the pre-boot display content includes an error message associated with the hardware component.

12. The information handling system of claim 7 , wherein the pre-boot display content includes diagnostic information intended for a user of the information handling system.

13. An embedded controller for an information handling system having a primary processor and a primary memory, the embedded controller comprising:

a secondary processor having access to a second memory separate from the primary memory, the second memory storing instructions executable by the secondary processor to:

receive a power signal to power on the information handling system;

responsive to receiving the power signal, output a display mode signal to a display controller of a display coupled to the information handling system, the display mode signal indicating to the display controller to display pre-boot display content on the display; and

prior to initiating booting of the information handling system, output the pre-boot display content to the display controller; and

modify the pre-boot display content during booting of the information handling system; and

output the modified pre-boot display content during the booting to the display controller using a logic interface,

wherein the logic interface emulates a sideband channel of a video interface to the display controller.

14. The embedded controller of claim 13 , wherein the instructions to output the display mode signal include instructions to output a first general purpose input/output signal to the display controller.

15. The embedded controller of claim 14 , wherein the instructions to output the display mode signal include instructions to output a second general purpose input/output signal to a display switch that controls display input to the display controller, the second general purpose input/output signal indicating to the display switch to route the display input from the embedded controller.

16. The embedded controller of claim 13 , wherein the pre-boot display content is indicative of a status of a hardware component included in the information handling system, wherein the status includes error messages for the hardware component.

17. The embedded controller of claim 13 , wherein the pre-boot display content includes diagnostic information intended for a user of the information handling system.

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: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
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: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 034590 FRAME 0731 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 040027/0070 →
RELEASE OF REEL 034591 FRAME 0391 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 040027/0719 →
RELEASE OF REEL 034590 FRAME 0696 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 040016/0964 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Dec 10, 2014
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034591/0391 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Dec 10, 2014
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034590/0696 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Dec 10, 2014
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034590/0731 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2014
From: GILLON, JAMES T.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 034033/0594 →