System and method for automatic recovery of firmware image

• US 10,395,038 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2018
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Chang, Ying-Che, Tsai, Kung-Lung, Lo, Wen-Hua, Tsai, Chung-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Application Number:
  US15/886,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20190236277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories

Abstract

A system and method for automatic recovery of a firmware image is disclosed. The method can include creating a shadow firmware image in a storage device from a firmware image in non-volatile memory. It is determined whether an abnormal event affecting the firmware image has occurred. The shadow firmware image is recovered from the storage device. The shadow firmware image is copied to the non-volatile memory.

Claims

1. A method for recovering a firmware image in a computer device, the method comprising:

creating a shadow firmware image in a storage device from a firmware image in non-volatile memory;

determining whether a predetermined event affecting the firmware image has occurred;

recovering, by a control circuit, the shadow firmware image from the storage device,

wherein the control circuit includes an internal memory with an internal bit indicating the predetermined event;

copying, by the control circuit, the shadow firmware image to the non-volatile memory;

updating the firmware image in the non-volatile memory;

determining whether the shadow firmware image is identical to the firmware image; and

replacing the shadow firmware image in the storage device with the updated firmware image in the non-volatile memory,

wherein a check sum of the shadow firmware image is determined, and

a check sum of the firmware image is determined in determining whether the shadow firmware image is identical to the firmware image.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sequencing power to a main chip; and

accessing the firmware image via the main chip to operate the computer device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the main chip is one of a central processing unit, a baseboard management controller, or a micro-controller unit.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the abnormal event is a lack of power to the main chip.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory is EEPROM.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the recovering of the shadow firmware image and the copying of the shadow firmware image in the non-volatile memory is performed by a control circuit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the control circuit includes an internal memory with an internal bit indicating an abnormal event, and an internal bit indicating the shadow firmware image is different from the firmware image.

8. An electronic computer device, comprising:

a non-volatile memory storing a firmware image;

a main chip executing the firmware image;

a storage device storing a shadow firmware image; and

a control circuit operable to;

create the shadow firmware image in a storage device from the firmware image in non-volatile memory;

determine whether a predetermined event affecting the firmware image has occurred;

recover the shadow firmware image from the storage device, wherein the control circuit includes an internal memory with an internal bit indicating the predetermined event;

copy the shadow firmware image to the non-volatile memory;

update the firmware image in the non-volatile memory;

determine whether the shadow firmware image is identical to the firmware image; and

replace the shadow firmware image in the storage device with the updated firmware image in the non-volatile memory,

wherein the control circuit determines a check sum of the shadow firmware image a check sum of the firmware image to determine whether the shadow firmware image is identical to the firmware image.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is further operable to sequence power to a main chip, and access the firmware image via the main chip to operate the computer device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the main chip is one of a central processing unit, a baseboard management controller, or a micro-controller unit.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the abnormal event is a lack of power to the main chip.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the non-volatile memory is EEPROM.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the control circuit includes an internal memory with an internal bit indicating an abnormal event, and an internal bit indicating the shadow firmware image is different from the firmware image.