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Microprocessor-with-OEM-mode-for-power-management-with-input-output-intiated-selection-of-special-address-space

Microprocessor with OEM mode for power management with input/output intiated selection of special address space

Details

Inventors: Bracking, Jimmy E.; Richter, David E.; Blomgren, James S.;
Assignee: Chips and Technologies, Inc. (San Jose, CA)
Primary Examiner: Anderson; Lawrence E.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Galbi; Elmer

The present invention provides a microprocessor with a special OEM mode of operation that can be used by an OEM system integrator to implement special tasks such as power management. The OEM mode provided by the present invention is designed for use by a system integrator who integrates a microprocessor into a larger system such as a personal computer. The OEM mode of operation provided by this invention adds features to the overall system; however, it is transparent to system programmers. The system integrator can use the OEM mode to configure a system so that the system has certain special power management features, which can not be accessed by programmers who use the system. The OEM mode provided by the present invention is accessed by a signal on a special I-O pin. For example, an external timer can periodically provide signals to this special pin, thereby periodically interrupting the microprocessor and putting the microprocessor in the OEM mode. Special power management code stored in an external ROM can be executed each time the microprocessor is placed in OEM mode. At the end of the operations performed in OEM mode, the microprocessor is restored to the state where the OEM mode of operation began.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a microprocessor with a special OEM mode of operation that can be used by an OEM system integrator to implement special tasks such as power management.
The present invention takes into account the fact that single chip microprocessors are "commodity" chips that are integrated in a variety of different systems by OEM system integrators.
The OEM mode provided by the present invention is designed for use by a system integrator who integrates a microprocessor into a larger system such as a personal computer.
The OEM mode of the present invention is not designed for use by the programmer or operator who is using a system built by a system integrator.
System integrators have two potentially conflicting desires.
First, a system integrator wants the final system to be fully compatible with the programming specifications for the microprocessor chip that is being used, that is, a system integrator wants the final system to be able to run all programs which are written to run on a conventional microprocessor of the type being used.
Second, a system integrator wants the final system to have differentiating features from other systems which are implemented using the same microprocessor.
The OEM mode of operation provided by the present invention allows an OEM system integrator to satisfy these two potentially conflicting requirements.
The OEM mode of operation provided by this invention provides a means for executing special programming in the microprocessor that add special features or functions to the overall system; however, the special programming is transparent to system users and programmers.
For example, a system integrator can use the OEM mode to configure a system so that the system will periodically run a special power management program that provides certain special power management features.
The program that is periodically run with the processor in OEM mode will not be accessible to or interfere with any other programs which a programmer or operator loads into the system

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