System and method for reducing memory requirements of firmware
US7603562B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/575
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A mechanism for making increased amounts of firmware available to a computer pre-boot is discussed. To increase the amount of firmware available pre-boot, a design decision is made during the build process as to which segments of the firmware need to be placed on the ROM part and which segments of the firmware can be located elsewhere. The segments of the firmware that are stored remotely from the ROM are referred to as “virtual ROM modules”. Each of the virtual ROM modules is assigned a generated unique identifier, and a “message digest” is constructed for each module using an algorithm such as MD5 or SHA-1. In the software build of the ROM image, the message digest-unique identifier pair created for each Virtual ROM module is used as a logical pointer for the virtual module. Additionally, a search path variable is placed into the ROM image in non-volatile storage. The search path provides for one or more locations in which to look for the Virtual ROM modules, and may be updated at a later point in time.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.