Method of updating firmware without affecting initialization information
US6237091A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F8/65
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A firmware controlled device saves status and configuration information in a separate portion of memory that is not affected by a firmware update. In addition, information that may change during a firmware update, and may need to remain constant, is saved in the separate portion of memory that is not affected by a firmware update. In a first example embodiment, a reset process for the firmware controlled device is divided into two portions. In a first portion of the device reset process, the contents of the separate portion of memory are updated, either from firmware or by interaction with other devices. In a second portion of the device reset process, all other reset functions are performed. The first portion of the reset process is performed only during a power-on reset, or in response to an overall system reset. In particular, the first portion of the device reset process is not performed after a firmware update. In the second example embodiment, data that needs to remain constant are copied to the separate portion of memory as part of a firmware update process. Then, as part of a reset process, the device checks to see if a firmware update has occurred. If a firmware update has…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.