Method and apparatus for fault-tolerant update of flash ROM contents
US6918017B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 24, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C16/102
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Method and apparatus for updating the contents of a first memory of a computer system. In one embodiment, new information intended for the first memory is received by the computer system from an external source, wherein the first memory is for storing information that is required during startup of the computer system. The new information thus received is stored in a second memory capable of retaining information stored therein upon a restart of the computer system. The computer system is restarted without relying on the new information. The new ROM image can be pre-flighted before it is flashed into ROM. In this embodiment, the new information stored in the second memory can be verified to ensure that it is safe to load the new information into the first memory. When a positive verification result is obtained, the new information is loaded from the second memory into the first memory such that the new information can be used for a subsequent startup of the computer system. In a specific embodiment, the present invention includes the above and wherein the first memory comprises a flash ROM. In one embodiment, the present invention includes the above and wherein the computer system i…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.