Patent ID: 6178550
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a computer system comprising system memory and a processor capable of operating in a system management mode (SMM), a method for enabling the optimization of the location in said system memory of machine-dependent code for implementing a plurality of functions comprising an applications program interface (API), a portion of said system memory comprising secure memory space accessible only while said SMM is invoked, the method comprising:storing code for implementing less than all of said plurality of functions in said secure memory space;storing code for implementing each of the remaining ones of said plurality of functions in memory space other than said secure memory space;responsive to an applications program calling one of said plurality of functions, determining whether code for implementing said called one of said plurality of functions is stored in said secure memory space;responsive to a determination that said code for implementing said called one of said plurality of functions is stored in said secure memory space;invoking said SMM;executing said code for implementing said called one of said plurality of functions; andreturning from said SMM; andresponsive to a determination that said code for implementing said called one of said plurality of functions is not stored in said secure memory space, executing said code for implementing said called one of said plurality of functions.