Automated programmable fireware store for a personal computer system
US5826075A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 27, 1991 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 27, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/1433
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An automated programmable firmware store for a personal computer system includes a plurality of nonvolatile alterable electronic memories connected in a mutually paralleled circuit arrangement. The memories are connected to a means for automatically controlling the memories to read firmware from and write firmware into the electronic memories, and to write-protect at least one of the memories. Any memory can be write-protected as initially selected by the automatic control means. The initial selection can be changed easily to write-protect another of the memories. The firmware in one memory includes code for checking the validity of firmware stored in another memory, and for selecting one or the other of the memories dependent upon a version code of the firmware. The control means also includes an update code for updating the firmware in a selected memory. The automated store further includes means for allowing the computer system to recover automatically from invalid firmware stored in one of the memories.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.