Dynamic non-volatile memory update in a computer system
US5579522A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 24, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 26, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F8/656
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system wherein a portion of code/data stored in a non-volatile memory device can be dynamically modified or updated without removing any covers or parts from the computer system. The computer system of the preferred embodiment includes a flash memory component coupled to a computer system bus for storing non-volatile code and data. Using the present invention, the contents of a portion of the flash memory may be replaced, modified, updated, or reprogrammed without the need for removing and/or replacing any computer system hardware components. The flash memory device used in the preferred embodiment contains four separately erasable/programmable non-symmetrical blocks of memory. One of these four blocks may be electronically locked to prevent erasure or modification of its contents once it is installed. This configuration allows the processing logic of the computer system to update or modify any selected block of memory without affecting the contents of other blocks. One memory block contains a normal BIOS. An electronically protected flash memory area is used for storage of a recovery BIOS which is used for recovery operations. The present invention also includes hardwar…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.