Method of flash programming or reading a ROM of a computer system independently of its operating system
US6243809A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2221/2105
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system provides for flashing a non-volatile memory image to a non-volatile memory and reading data from a non-volatile memory independently of an operating system. An image buffer is allocated in a volatile memory of the computer system. If flashing a non-volatile memory image to the non-volatile memory is desired, the image buffer is loaded with a portion of the non-volatile memory image. BIOS interface code is then called to place an SMI event code into a memory and to generate a system management interrupt causing the computer system to enter a system management mode. SMI handler code examines the SMI event code and calls SMI service code. Next, the image buffer is located and the portion of the non-volatile memory in the image buffer is flashed to the non-volatile memory by the SMI service code. Locating the image buffer may include locating an image header defined within the volatile memory. The image header may include a password for providing access to the non-volatile memory. The steps of loading the image buffer, calling BIOS interface code, and flashing a portion of the non-volatile memory image to the non-volatile memory may be repeated until the entire non-vo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.