1. Field
The invention relates to the field of computer configuration and, more particularly, to the storage of computer configuration signals.
2. Background Information
Computer systems may store configuration signals in a memory. A computer system is any device including a processor capable of executing one or more instructions to generate signals. Such signals typically take the form of sequences of binary signals known as bits. Examples of computer systems are personal computers, workstation computers, server computers, hand held computers, and set top boxes to name just a few examples. Configuration signals are signals that may determine various settings for the operation of the computer system. For example, configuration signals may determine whether various input/output (I/O) ports comprised by the system are enabled, and I/O addresses for these ports. Configuration signals may determine other computer system settings as well. Such computer configuration signals are well known in the art as “set up information”. On personal computers, setup information is also often stored in a memory known as a real time clock (RTC) complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS).
Setup information may be applied prior to or during the booting of a program to control the computer system. Booting is the process of placing a sequence of instructions (a program) in control of various computer system resources. Resources include memory, interrupts, files, and I/O ports. An example of a program to boot is an operating system. An operating system is a program which controls various computer resources including those mentioned previously and further including typical I/O devices, such as a mouse and keyboard. Examples of operating systems are the Unix™ operating system and the Microsoft™ Windows™ operating system.
Setup information may be read, altered, and written back to a CMOS or other memory, where it is stored using a special program called a “setup program.” The setup program may be part of the sequence of instructions comprising the computer system's power-on self test (POST) program. Often, the POST executes prior to the basic input/output system (BIOS) program of the computer system in order to initialize settings.
The settings determined by setup information may vary among different computer makes and models. Furthermore, the location and lengths of the bit sequences that comprise the setup information in the memory in which they are stored may vary. Accordingly, it may be difficult to create one set up program to read, alter, and write back set up) information for various makes and models of computer systems. Instead, multiple set up programs may be called for different makes and models of computer system.
Existing setup programs typically employ a crude “textual” interface. Textual interfaces are well known in the art and may comprise an 80×25 matrix of character positions. The number, type, and position of characters in a textual interface is limited as are the number of colors in which such characters may be displayed. It is well known that such textual interfaces are more limited than modem “graphical user interfaces” (GUI) which provide individual control of the color and position on a per pixel basis on the computer system display. Typically, it is the operating system which implements a graphical user interface for the computer system. However, setup programs may execute before the operating system boots, and, therefore, the setup program may employ a less sophisticated textual interface instead of a GUI.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a setup program which may operate with various makes and models of computer systems and which may take advantage of graphical user interface features provided by an operating system.