TWI796082B - Method of keeping bios setup data - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of keeping BIOS setup data is implemented by a computing device and includes: (A) for each bios setup variable, comparing a set value of the bios setup variable storing in the computing device and a default vale of the bios setup variable so as to obtain at least one changing bios setup variable; (B) for each changing bios setup variable, obtaining a hash value of the changing bios setup variable based on variable name of the changing bios setup variable and structure name of structure corresponding to the changing bios setup variable; and (C) for each changing bios setup variable, storing the hash value and the set value of the changing bios setup variable.

Description

Basic input and output system setting data storage and inheritance method

The present invention relates to a method for saving and reusing data, in particular to a method for saving and reusing basic input and output system setting data for reusing and saving basic input and output system setting data.

When the power of the computer is turned on, the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) will be loaded and executed to perform a power-on self-test (POST), thereby testing and initializing the CPU, RAM, direct memory access controller, chip Group, keyboard, floppy disk, hard disk and other devices. In response to different usage requirements, the system administrator sometimes needs to change the BIOS settings. However, after the BIOS is updated, the BIOS settings changed by the previous system administrator will be lost with the BIOS update, which is really inconvenient.

Therefore, the prior art proposes to store the BIOS setting data in the storage device in advance, and after the BIOS is updated, take out the BIOS setting data from the storage device to restore the previous BIOS setting, thereby avoiding destroying the BIOS setting due to updating the BIOS code data, resulting in the loss of BIOS settings previously changed by the system administrator.

However, when the prior art stores the BIOS setting data, no matter whether the value corresponding to the BIOS setting option is changed or not, the values of all the BIOS setting options will be saved, which will cause a waste of storage space. When data is saved, the name of the BIOS setting option and its corresponding setting value in the BIOS setting menu are saved. If the name of the BIOS setting option is changed, it will cause the new BIOS setting menu to find Settings from cannot be inherited.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a basic input output system setting data storage method that saves storage space and is not subject to functional failure due to changes in the text description of the options.

Therefore, the basic input output system setting data storage method of the present invention is implemented by a computer device, and the computer device includes a first storage unit storing a BIOS program, a second storage unit, and an electrical connection to the first storage unit With the processing unit of the second storage unit, the BIOS setting data preservation method includes the following steps: (A) For each BIOS setting variable, the BIOS setting variable is stored in the first storage by the processing unit The setting value of the unit and its original default value to obtain at least one changed BIOS setting variable; (B) for each changed BIOS setting variable, by the processing unit root According to the variable name of the changed BIOS setting variable and the structure name of the structure corresponding to the changed BIOS setting variable, a hash value corresponding to the changed BIOS setting variable is obtained; and (C) for each changed BIOS setting variables, storing the hash value corresponding to the changed BIOS setting variable and the changed setting value in the second storage unit through the processing unit.

The effect of the present invention is: the processing unit only stores the hash value corresponding to the changed BIOS setting variable and the changed setting value, and the stored data is only a simple numerical type of data type, so It can greatly save storage space. In addition, the stored hash value is obtained from the data structure name and variable name of the BIOS setting variable, so the function will not be invalidated by changing the name of the BIOS setting option, so that the setting can be continuously used go down.

11:Computer device

111: the first storage unit

112: the second storage unit

113: Processing unit

12: Remote device

21~26: Steps

31~40: Steps

331~332: sub-steps

Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the implementation manner with reference to the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of implementing the method for saving and continuing to use the basic input and output system setting data of the present invention The computer device is connected with a remote device; Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a BIOS setting data saving program of an embodiment of the present invention's basic input and output system setting data saving and continuing use method; Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a BIOS setting data follow-up program of an embodiment of the present invention's BIOS setting data preservation and use method; and Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating how the computer device revises its BIOS settings.

Referring to Fig. 1, the embodiment of the present invention's basic input output system setting data preservation and continued use method is implemented by a computer device 11, and this computer device 11 includes a first storage unit 111 storing a BIOS program, a second storage unit 112 and a processing unit 113 electrically connected to the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 112 . The BIOS program includes multiple BIOS setting variables and their corresponding values. The computer device 11 is also connected to a remote device 12 via a communication network 100, and the remote device 12 is used to transmit a configuration modification request related to the BIOS of the computer device 11 to remotely modify the BIOS of the computer device 11. set up.

In this embodiment, the implementation of the computer device 11 can be a personal computer, a notebook computer, or a server, etc., the implementation of the first storage unit 111 is, for example, an NVRAM, and the second storage unit The implementation of 112 is, for example, an EEPROM. The implementation of the remote device 12 can be a personal computer, a notebook computer, a server, a tablet computer, or a smart phone.

The following will illustrate the relationship between the computer device 11 and the components in the remote device 12 by using an embodiment of the present invention's BIOS setting data storage and follow-up method. In action, this embodiment includes a BIOS setting data saving program and a BIOS setting data inheriting program.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the BIOS setting data saving program illustrates how to save the BIOS setting data, and includes the following steps.

In step 21, the processing unit 113 determines whether to enter the BIOS setting menu. When the processing unit 113 determines to enter the BIOS setting menu, the process proceeds to step 22; when the processing unit 113 determines not to enter the BIOS setting menu, the process ends.

In step 22, the processing unit 113 determines whether a configuration storage request related to the BIOS of the computer device 11 is received (for example, whether the system administrator triggers the storage option in the BIOS configuration menu). When the processing unit 113 determines that the setting storage request has been received, the process proceeds to step 23 ; when the processing unit 113 determines that the setting storage request is not received, the process proceeds to step 26 .

In step 23, for each BIOS setting variable, the processing unit 113 compares the setting value of the BIOS setting variable stored in the first storage unit 111 with its original default value to obtain at least one changed BIOS setting variable. It is worth mentioning that the BIOS program will also include the original factory default values of each BIOS setting variable, so as to restore the original factory settings.

In step 24, for each changed BIOS setting variable, the processing unit 113 obtains the changed BIOS setting variable according to the variable name of the changed BIOS setting variable and the structure name of the structure corresponding to the changed BIOS setting variable corresponding to a hash value.

In step 25 , for each changed BIOS setting variable, the processing unit 113 stores the hash value corresponding to the changed BIOS setting variable and the changed setting value in the second storage unit 112 . Since the stored hash value is obtained from the data structure name and variable name of the BIOS setting variable, the function will not be invalidated due to the change of the BIOS setting option name, so that the setting can be continuously used. For example, the BIOS setting option name of the BIOS setting variable is CPU FAN Speed, the variable name of the BIOS setting variable is Fanspeed, the structure name of the structure corresponding to the BIOS setting variable is FanStruct, and the second storage unit 112 stores The data corresponding to the BIOS setting variable is a hash value calculated from the data structure name "FanStruct" of the BIOS setting variable and the variable name "Fanspeed". Even if the BIOS setting option name of the BIOS setting variable is changed to CPU Min FAN Speed, the calculated The output hash value will not lose its function due to the change of the name of the BIOS setting option.

In step 26, the processing unit 113 determines whether to leave the BIOS setup menu. When the processing unit 113 determines to leave the BIOS setup menu, the process ends; when the server 14 determines not to leave the BIOS setup menu, the process returns to step 22 .

Through the execution of the BIOS setting data saving program, the hash value corresponding to each changed BIOS setting variable and the changed setting value can be stored in the second storage unit 112, so that even if the BIOS The program is updated and will not It affects the BIOS setting data stored in the second storage unit 112 .

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 , the BIOS setting data inheriting program illustrates how to inherit the saved BIOS setting data, and includes the following steps.

In step 31 , the processing unit 113 executes the POST and determines whether the POST is the first POST after the BIOS program is updated. When the processing unit 113 determines that the POST is the first POST after the BIOS program is updated, the flow proceeds to step 32; when the processing unit 113 determines that the POST is not the BIOS program When the updated POST is performed for the first time, the process proceeds to step 34 .

In step 32 , the processing unit 113 obtains a hash value and a setting value corresponding to each changed BIOS setting variable from the second storage unit 112 .

In step 33 , the processing unit 113 modifies the BIOS setting of the computer device 11 according to the hash value and the setting value corresponding to each changed BIOS setting variable, and restarts the computer device 11 .

It is worth mentioning that step 33 includes the following sub-steps (see Figure 4).

In sub-step 331, for the hash value corresponding to each changed BIOS setting variable, the processing unit 113 obtains the corresponding hash value from the BIOS setting variable stored in the first storage unit 111 according to the hash value The BIOS setting variable to be set.

In sub-step 332, for each BIOS setting variable to be set, by The processing unit 113 sets the value of the BIOS setting variable to be set as the setting value corresponding to the hash value corresponding to the BIOS setting variable to be set, and restarts the computer device 11 .

In step 34, for each BIOS setting variable, the processing unit 113 compares the setting value of the BIOS setting variable stored in the first storage unit 111 with its original default value to obtain at least one modified BIOS setting variable.

In step 35, for each changed BIOS setting variable, the processing unit 113 obtains the changed BIOS setting variable according to the variable name of the changed BIOS setting variable and the structure name of the structure corresponding to the changed BIOS setting variable corresponding to a hash value.

In step 36, for each changed BIOS setting variable, the processing unit 113 determines whether the changed BIOS setting variable stored in the first storage unit 111 is the same as the set value stored in the second storage unit 112 , wherein, the set value of the changed BIOS setting variable stored in the second storage unit 112 is the set value stored in the second storage unit 112 corresponding to the hash value of the changed BIOS setting variable. When the processing unit 113 determines that the changed BIOS setting variable is stored in the first storage unit 111 and the setting value stored in the second storage unit 112 is not the same as the setting value stored in the second storage unit 112, the process proceeds to step 37; when the processing unit 113 When it is determined that the set value of the modified BIOS setting variable stored in the first storage unit 111 is the same as the set value stored in the second storage unit 112 , the process proceeds to step 38 .

In step 37, the processing unit 113 updates the setting value corresponding to the changed BIOS setting variable stored in the second storage unit 112 to the setting value stored in the first storage unit 111 by the changed BIOS setting variable, And store the hash value corresponding to the modified BIOS setting variable not stored in the second storage unit 112 and the setting value stored in the first storage unit 111 in the second storage unit 112 , and then proceed to step 38 .

In step 38 , the processing unit 113 determines whether the configuration modification request from the remote device 12 is received. When the processing unit 113 determines that the setting modification request from the remote device 12 is received, the process proceeds to step 39; when the processing unit 113 determines that the setting modification request from the remote device 12 is not received , the process proceeds to step 40.

In step 39 , the processing unit 113 modifies the BIOS settings of the computer device 11 according to the configuration modification requirement, and restarts the computer device 11 .

It is worth mentioning that since the computer device 11 may receive a configuration modification request from a remote end, the BIOS configuration variable modified by the remote configuration modification request may not be limited to the at least one changed in steps 21-26. The BIOS setting variables may also include other BIOS setting variables. Therefore, step 34 is required to re-determine the BIOS setting variables changed by the remote setting. When other BIOS setting variables are changed, in step 37, also Further store the hash value corresponding to the modified BIOS setting variable that is not stored in the second storage unit 112 and store it in the first storage unit The setting value of the unit 111 is stored in the second storage unit 112 , so as to ensure that the modification requirements of remote settings can also be stored in the second storage unit 112 .

In step 40, the processing unit 113 continues to perform the POST.

The following uses three usage scenarios to illustrate the execution of the BIOS setting data inheritance program.

In the first usage scenario, the computer device 11 is booted for the first time after the BIOS program is updated. At this time, when performing the determination in step 31, the processing unit 113 determines that the boot self-test is the BIOS. The first boot self-test after the program is updated, so the processing unit 113 then executes steps 32 to 33 to continue to use the BIOS setting data previously stored in the second storage unit 112, and then restarts the computer device 11.

In the second use situation, the computer device 11 is turned on for the second time after the BIOS program is updated. At this time, when the judgment in step 31 is performed, the processing unit 113 determines that the self-test of the boot is not the BIOS. After the program is updated, the first power-on self-test is performed, so the processing unit 113 then executes steps 34-36. Since the computer device 11 has not received the setting modification request from the remote device 12 before the second power-on, Therefore, the setting value stored in the first storage unit 111 by the BIOS setting variable of each change is exactly the setting value stored in the second storage unit 112 before the previous (that is, the first time) startup, so in When performing the determination of step 36, the processing unit 113 determines that the BIOS setting variables for each change are stored in the first storage unit The setting value of 111 is the same as the setting value stored in the second storage unit 112, so the flow proceeds to step 38, if the processing unit 113 determines that the setting modification request from the remote device 12 is received, the The processing unit 113 proceeds to step 39. If the setting modification requirement has changed to any modified BIOS setting variable and is stored in the set value of the first storage unit 111, the processing unit 113 will immediately perform step 36 when the next boot is performed. It is determined that the setting values stored in the first storage unit 111 for each modified BIOS setting variable are not all the same as the setting values stored in the second storage unit 112 , and the following process will be described in detail in the third usage scenario.

In the third usage scenario, the computer device 11 is turned on for the third time after the BIOS program is updated. At this time, when the judgment in step 31 is performed, the processing unit 113 determines that the self-test of the boot is not the BIOS. After the program is updated, the first power-on self-test is performed, so the processing unit 113 proceeds to execute steps 34-36. Since the computer device 11 has received the setting modification request from the remote device 12 before the third power-on, And any changed BIOS setting variable is stored in the setting value of the first storage unit 111, therefore, the processing unit 113 will determine that each changed BIOS setting variable is stored in the setting of the first storage unit 111 The values are not all the same as the set value stored in the second storage unit 112, so the flow proceeds to step 37, the processing unit 113 updates the set value corresponding to the modified BIOS setting variable stored in the second storage unit 112 as The changed BIOS setting variable is stored in the first storage unit 111 and will not be stored in the second storage unit 112. The hash value corresponding to the BIOS setting variable and the setting value stored in the first storage unit 111 are stored in the second storage unit 112, so as to update the BIOS setting data stored in the second storage unit 112, thereby, the The setting modification request transmitted by the remote device 12 will also be updated synchronously to the BIOS setting data stored in the second storage unit 112, and the process proceeds to step 38. Similarly, if the processing unit 113 determines that a request from When the setting modification of the remote device 12 is required, the processing unit 113 then proceeds to step 39 , and so on for subsequent power-on scenarios.

To sum up, in the method for saving and continuing to use the BIOS setting data of the present invention, the processing unit 113 only stores the hash value corresponding to the changed BIOS setting variable and the changed setting value, and the stored The data is only a simple numerical type of the data type, so the storage space of the second storage unit 112 can be greatly saved. In addition, the stored hash value is obtained by the data structure name and the variable name of the BIOS setting variable, so The function is not invalid due to the change of the name of the BIOS setting option, so that the setting can be continuously used. Moreover, the setting modification request sent by the remote device 12 will also be updated to the second storage unit 112 synchronously. The stored BIOS setting data can indeed achieve the purpose of the present invention.

But the above-mentioned ones are only embodiments of the present invention, and should not limit the scope of the present invention. All simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the patent scope of the present invention and the content of the patent specification are still within the scope of the present invention. Within the scope covered by the patent of the present invention.

21~26: Steps

Claims (7)

A basic input output system setting data storage method, implemented by a computer device, the computer device includes a first storage unit storing a BIOS program, a second storage unit, and an electrical connection between the first storage unit and the second storage unit Two processing units of the storage unit, the basic input output system setting data storage method includes the following steps: (O) determine whether a setting storage requirement related to the BIOS of the computer device is received by the processing unit, wherein when the processing When the unit determines that a setting storage requirement related to the BIOS of the computer device has been received, step (A) is executed; (A) for each BIOS setting variable, the processing unit compares the BIOS setting variable stored in The set value of the first storage unit and its original preset value are used to obtain at least one changed BIOS set variable; (B) for each changed BIOS set variable, by the processing unit according to the changed BIOS set variable variable name and the structure name of the structure corresponding to the BIOS setting variable of the change, obtain a hash value corresponding to the BIOS setting variable of the change; and (C) for each changed BIOS setting variable, store by the processing unit The hash value corresponding to the changed BIOS setting variable and the changed setting value are stored in the second storage unit. A method for continuing to use the saved basic input and output system setting data as in claim 1, comprising the following steps: (D) performing a power-on self-test by the processing unit, and determining whether the power-on self-test is the result of the BIOS program being activated first time after update POST; (E) when the processing unit determines that the POST is the first POST after the BIOS program is updated, the processing unit obtains the information of each change from the second storage unit The hash value and the setting value corresponding to the BIOS setting variable; and (F) modifying the BIOS setting of the computer device according to the hash value and setting value corresponding to each changed BIOS setting variable by the processing unit. The method for inheriting the setting data of the basic input and output system as described in claim 2, after the step (F), further includes a step (G) of restarting the computer device. According to the basic input and output system setting data inheritance method described in claim 2, the BIOS program stored in the first storage unit includes each BIOS setting variable and its corresponding value, wherein step (F) includes the following sub-steps: (F-1) For the hash value corresponding to each changed BIOS setting variable, the processing unit obtains the corresponding hash value to be set from the BIOS setting variable stored in the first storage unit according to the hash value BIOS setting variable; (F-2) For each BIOS setting variable to be set, the processing unit sets the value of the BIOS setting variable to be the setting value corresponding to the hash value corresponding to the BIOS setting variable to be set . As the basic input and output system setting data inheritance method described in claim 2, the BIOS program stored in the first storage unit includes each BIOS setting variable and its corresponding value, after step (D), it also includes the following steps Step: (H) When the processing unit determines that this POST is not the first POST after the BIOS program is updated, for each BIOS setting variable, the processing unit compares the BIOS setting variable stored The setting value of the first storage unit and its original default value, to obtain at least one changed BIOS setting variable; (1) for each changing BIOS setting variable, the processing unit is based on the variable of the changed BIOS setting variable Name and the structure name of the structure corresponding to the BIOS setting variable of the change, obtain a hash value corresponding to the BIOS setting variable of the change; (J) for each BIOS setting variable of the change, determine the change by the processing unit Whether the setting value of the BIOS setting variable stored in the first storage unit is the same as the setting value stored in the second storage unit; and (K) for each changed BIOS setting variable, when the processing unit determines that the changed When the setting value of the BIOS setting variable stored in the first storage unit is different from the setting value stored in the second storage unit, the processing unit stores the setting corresponding to the modified BIOS setting variable stored in the second storage unit The value is updated to the set value stored in the first storage unit by the changed BIOS setting variable, and the hash value corresponding to the changed BIOS setting variable that is not stored in the second storage unit is stored in the first storage unit. The setting value of the unit is stored in the second storage unit. According to the basic input and output system setting data inheritance method described in claim 5, the computer device is also connected to a remote device through a communication network, and the remote device is used to transmit a configuration modification related to the BIOS of the computer device. Modifying the requirement to remotely modify the setting of the BIOS of the computer device, after the step (K), also includes the following steps: (L) determining whether the setting modification request from the remote device is received by the processing unit; and (M) When the processing unit determines that the setting modification request from the remote device is received, the processing unit modifies the BIOS setting of the computer device according to the setting modification request. The method for inheriting the setting data of the basic input and output system as described in claim 6, after the step (M), further includes a step (N) of restarting the computer device.

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