Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for synchronizing firmware

US6678741B1 · kind B1 · utility

58Cited by
18References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 9, 1999
Grant dateJan 13, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 9, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99953
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention is a method and apparatus for synchronizing firmware associated with a first computer device and a second computer device, such as a server and a client computer. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of providing information regarding a characteristic of the firmware associated with the first and second devices, comparing the provided firmware information to determine if the firmware is synchronized, and associating new firmware with the second device to synchronize the firmware if the firmware is found to not be synchronized in the comparing step. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the firmware associated with the second device is not modified unless the integrity of the firmware to be installed on the second device is verified using a digital signature.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.