Bootstrap processor selection architecture in SMP systems

Patent 5904733 Issued on May 18, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

July 31, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventor

Jayakumar, Muthurajan

Application

No. 904109 filed on 07/31/1997

US Classes:

713/2, Loading initialization program (e.g., booting, rebooting, warm booting, remote booting, BIOS, initial program load (IPL), bootstrapping)713/1, DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM INITIALIZATION OR CONFIGURATION (E.G., INITIALIZING, SET UP, CONFIGURATION, OR RESETTING)713/100RECONFIGURATION (E.G., CHANGING SYSTEM SETTING)

Examiners

Primary: Sheikh, Ayaz R.
Assistant: Vo, Tim

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Novakoski; Leo V.

International Class

G06F 9/4/45

Abstract

A method is provided for selecting a bootstrap processor from among the processors of a multiprocessor system. Each processor has an identity code and each processor that is eligible to serve as the bootstrap processor sends an election message to processors having lower valued identity codes. If no processor having a lower valued identity code responds to the election message, the processor that originated the election message designates itself as the bootstrap processor and sends a message to all processors indicating itself as the bootstrap processor.