Remote configuration/setup of computer systems operated as embedded controllers without keyboard or video display resources

摘要

Method and program product operable on a computer for changing configuration/setup parameters in an embedded controller type X86 based computer system, the system characterized by the absence of any keyboard or video display, from a remote terminal. The power on self test sequence is modified to produce an externally detectable audio-visual signal indicating potential access through a port as an aspect of communicating configuration/setup from the remote terminal. Communication is established through the port of the embedded controller using a refined interrupt which selectively accepts keyboard data entered at a remote terminal and translates that data into configuration/setup parameters for the embedded controller. Similarly, configuration/setup menu and the like information generated in the embedded controller is intercepted by a refined interrupt, filtered in graphical content for alpha numeric characters, and restructured into data transmittable from the port of the embedded controller to the remote terminal. To change configuration/setup parameters, the operator connects the remote terminal cable to the embedded controller port, initiates a power on self test mode, detects an audio-visual response indicating a window of access to change the configuration/setup parameters, enters the appropriate control signals to initiate the change, and thereafter interacts with the remote terminal display and keyboard to change the configuration/setup parameters as if accomplished local to the embedded controller.