Patent ID: 7558884

Claim:
In a computing environment having a main computer system and auxiliary device firmware including an auxiliary display, the auxiliary device firmware being capable of operating that operates independently of the main computer system, a method comprising: receiving first data at the auxiliary device firmware from the main computer system with which the auxiliary device firmware is associated, the first data being received while components of the main computer system are powered up such that a main CPU, operating system, and application programs of the main computer system are running, wherein the auxiliary device firmware comprises a secondary processor and cache that are powered up even when the components of the main computer system are powered down; displaying the first data on the auxiliary display such that the display of the first data is primarily controlled by the main CPU of the main computer system while the components of the main computer system are powered up; storing the first data in the cache of the auxiliary display firmware; receiving second data at the auxiliary device firmware from a source other than the main computer system while the components of the main computer system are powered down such that the main CPU, operating system, and application programs of the main computer system are not running; and the auxiliary device firmware processing the second data in the auxiliary device firmware to modify the first data stored in the cache while the components of the main computer system are powered down; and the auxiliary device firmware displaying the modified first data on the auxiliary display while the components of the main computer system are powered down such that the display of the modified first data is controlled only by the auxiliary device firmware, wherein a battery controller of the main computer system continues to operate while the components of the main computer system are powered down, and wherein the auxiliary device firmware is connected to the main computer system via SMBus (System Management bus).