Method and apparatus for updating firmware
US6357021B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/1004
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A peripheral device and method are provided for reliably updating and checking firmware or other coded information stored within a nonvolatile memory of the device. The device comprises a microcontroller and a memory with a fixed part and an updateable part. Both the fixed part and the updateable part store firmware. When firmware in the updateable part is updated (such as by using a USB connection with a host PC), a first error detection code is generated and stored in the updateable part. As part of an initialization procedure, the firmware stored in the fixed part generates a second error detection code based on the updated firmware stored in the updateable part and compares the second error detection code to the first error detection code stored in the updateable part. If the error detection codes indicate that the firmware stored in the updateable part is valid, the microcontroller uses the firmware stored in the updateable part to operate the device; otherwise, the microcontroller uses firmware stored in the fixed part to operate the device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.