System for the automatic substitution of control firmware embedded in a removable disk drive
US5717887A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 1995 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0673
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A host computer is connected with a computer interface to a disk drive that accepts removable disk drive cartridges. A FLASH memory provides the non-volatile storage of a default embedded control program and an alternative control program for a processor. A special maintenance track on the removable cartridge is accessible by the processor and an alternative program can be uploaded from it and stored in the FLASH memory if a user interlock and the function and revision codes included in the system permit the upload. A fail-safe switch to the embedded default control program is made when problems are experienced with any uploaded program.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.