Dongle-less wireless human interface device (HID) pairing during data processing system in preboot
Methods and systems for managing data processing systems during a startup process of the data processing systems are disclosed. A human interface device (HID) is paired with a management controller of a data processing system instead of a dongle device is configured as a pair with the HID. No dongle devices are connected or plugged into any external-facing ports of the data processing system. The management controller includes a processor that operates separately and independently from a main processor of the data processing system that is responsible for initiating and executing a bootup sequence of the data processing system. The data processing system, while still in the startup process before an operating system (OS) of the data processing system is fully booted and operational, is controlled by the HID through the management controller instead of the non-existent dongle device.
1 . A method comprising:
obtaining, by a management controller installed within a data processing system and while the data processing system is in a preboot state, input instructions from a human interface device (HID) that is wirelessly paired with the data processing system through the management controller instead of through a dongle device configured for the HID; and
providing, by the management controller, the input instructions to hardware resources installed within the data processing system to cause the hardware resources to execute the input instructions while the data processing system is in the preboot state, wherein
the hardware resources are configured with first wireless device connection capabilities, the first wireless device connection capabilities being off until the data processing system reaches a fully booted state after completing one or more actions required to be executed during the preboot state, and
the management controller is configured with second wireless device connection capabilities that are separate and independent from the first wireless device connection capabilities, the second wireless device connection capabilities being on while the data processing system is in the preboot state, and the HID is paired with the management controller while the data processing system is in the preboot state using the second wireless device connection capabilities.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
the hardware resources comprise a first processor of the data processing system that is responsible for initiating and executing a bootup sequence of the data processing system, and
the management controller comprises a second processor of the data processing system, the second processor being separate and independent from the first processor.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first processor is a main processor on which an operating system (OS) of the data processing system runs, and the management controller is unable to execute the bootup sequence of the data processing system.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the management controller is a system-on-a-chip that operates independently of the first processor of the data processing system.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the dongle device is not connected to the data processing system while the management controller is paired with the HID, and the HID is a Bluetooth® device.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein, in the preboot state, the data processing system is displaying a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of the data processing system to a user of the data processing system.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before obtaining the input instructions:
obtaining, by the management controller and while the data processing system is in the preboot state or in a powered-off state, device pairing information from the HID; and
using, by the management controller, the device pairing information to pair the management controller with the HID while the data processing system is still in the preboot state and while the dongle device configured for the HID is not connected to the data processing system.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
a start up of an operating system (OS) of the data processing system is not complete until the data processing system reaches the fully booted state, and
once the data processing system reaches the fully booted state, the method further comprises:
providing, by the management controller, an HID profile of the HID to the hardware resources to automatically pair the HID paired with the management controller to the hardware resources without user intervention.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein automatically pairing the HID to the hardware resources comprises terminating, by the management controller, a first wireless connection between the management controller and the HID to allow a second wireless connection to be formed between the HID and the hardware resources, the first and second wireless connections being Bluetooth® connections.
10 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a management controller installed within a data processing system, cause the management controller to perform operations, the operations comprising:
obtaining, while the data processing system is in a preboot state, input instructions from a human interface device (HID) that is wirelessly paired with the data processing system through the management controller instead of through a dongle device configured for the HID; and
providing the input instructions to hardware resources installed within the data processing system to cause the hardware resources to execute the input instructions while the data processing system is in the preboot state, wherein
the hardware resources are configured with first wireless device connection capabilities, the first wireless device connection capabilities being off until the data processing system reaches a fully booted state after completing one or more actions required to be executed during the preboot state, and
the management controller is configured with second wireless device connection capabilities that are separate and independent from the first wireless device connection capabilities, the second wireless device connection capabilities being on while the data processing system is in the preboot state, and the HID is paired with the management controller while the data processing system is in the preboot state using the second wireless device connection capabilities.
11 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein
the hardware resources comprise a first processor of the data processing system that is responsible for initiating and executing a bootup sequence of the data processing system, and
the management controller comprises a second processor of the data processing system, the second processor being separate and independent from the first processor.
12 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the first processor is a main processor on which an operating system (OS) of the data processing system runs, and the management controller is unable to execute the bootup sequence of the data processing system.
13 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the management controller is a system-on-a-chip that operates independently of the first processor of the data processing system.
14 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the dongle device is not connected to the data processing system while the management controller is paired with the HID, and the HID is a Bluetooth® device.
15 . A data processing system comprising:
hardware resources installed within the data processing system; and
a management controller installed within the data processing system, wherein the management controller stores instructions that cause the management controller to perform operations, the operations comprising:
obtaining, while the data processing system is in a preboot state, input instructions from a human interface device (HID) that is wirelessly paired with the data processing system through the management controller instead of through a dongle device configured for the HID; and
providing the input instructions to hardware resources installed within the data processing system to cause the hardware resources to execute the input instructions while the data processing system is in the preboot state, wherein
the hardware resources are configured with first wireless device connection capabilities, the first wireless device connection capabilities being off until the data processing system reaches a fully booted state after completing one or more actions required to be executed during the preboot state, and
the management controller is configured with second wireless device connection capabilities that are separate and independent from the first wireless device connection capabilities, the second wireless device connection capabilities being on while the data processing system is in the preboot state, and the HID is paired with the management controller while the data processing system is in the preboot state using the second wireless device connection capabilities.
16 . The data processing system of claim 15 , wherein
the hardware resources comprise a first processor of the data processing system that is responsible for initiating and executing a bootup sequence of the data processing system, and
the management controller comprises a second processor of the data processing system, the second processor being separate and independent from the first processor.
17 . The data processing system of claim 16 , wherein the first processor is a main processor on which an operating system (OS) of the data processing system runs, and the management controller is unable to execute the bootup sequence of the data processing system.
18 . The data processing system of claim 16 , wherein the management controller is a system-on-a-chip that operates independently of the first processor of the data processing system.
19 . The data processing system of claim 18 , wherein the dongle device is not connected to the data processing system while the management controller is paired with the HID, and the HID is a Bluetooth® device.
20 . The data processing system of claim 19 , wherein, in the preboot state, the data processing system is displaying a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of the data processing system to a user of the data processing system.