Updatable firmware having boot and/or communication redundancy
US7185191B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 2004 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 13, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/1417
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A distributed nodal system with a source computer processor node storing program code for target node(s). A target node has an updatable firmware memory storing program code for operating a target processor. The target code comprises application code for controlling an embedded device, primary communication code for communicating with a network, backup communication code also having copy code for copying code between portions of the firmware memory, and primary boot code for booting the target processor and having check code. The check code determines whether the primary communication code is corrupted, and if it is corrupted, employs the copy code to overwrite the primary communication code with the backup code. If uncorrupted, the check code determines whether the application code is corrupted, and if corrupted, prevents execution of the code.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.