Method and apparatus for embedding configuration data

• US 20030187818A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: McCarty, Christopher J., Besmer, Brad D., Johnson, Stephen B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,007,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for embedding information from a first configuration data set having data structures into an embedded processing system, wherein embedding the information maintains user-defined variables. Embedding information includes comparing a first identifier from the first configuration data set with a second identifier from a second configuration data set having data structures to determine if the first identifier differs from the second identifier. In response to a determination of the first identifier differing from the second identifier, a decision is made to merge the first configuration data set with the second configuration data set to form a merged configuration data set. Afterwards, the merged configuration data set is written to the embedded processing system, wherein the merged configuration data set includes maintained user-defined variables.

Claims

1. A method of embedding information from a first configuration data set having data structures into an embedded processing system, wherein the method maintains user-defined variables, including steps of:

comparing a first identifier from the first configuration data set with a second identifier from a second configuration data set having data structures to determine if the first identifier differs from the second identifier; and

in response to a determination of the first identifier differing from the second identifier, performing the steps of

merging the first configuration data set with the second configuration data set to form a merged configuration data set, and

writing the merged configuration data set to a storage device, wherein the merged configuration data set includes maintained user-defined variables.

2. The method of claim 1 further including a step of storing the merged configuration data set in the storage device that includes a non-volatile memory device.

3. The method of claim 1 further including a step of storing the first configuration data set in the storage device that includes a volatile memory device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of merging includes a step of copying the second configuration data set to generate a duplicate second configuration data set.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of copying the second configuration data set includes a step of storing the duplicate second configuration data set into the storage device that includes a volatile memory device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of merging includes a step of establishing data boundaries based on sizes of the individual data structures of the first configuration data set.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of writing the merged configuration data set includes a step of establishing data boundaries based on sizes of the individual data structures of the merged configuration data set.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of writing the merged configuration data set includes sequentially writing the individual data structures of the merged configuration data set according to the data boundaries beginning with a last data structure and ending with a first data structure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded processing system is configured to operate as an input/output controller.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-defined variables include information regarding stripes of a Redundant Array of Independent Disks.

11. A system for embedding information from a first configuration data set having data structures into an embedded processing system, wherein the method maintains user-defined variables, including:

a means for comparing a first identifier from the first configuration data set with a second identifier from a second configuration data set having data structures to determine if the first identifier differs from the second identifier; and

in response to a determination of the first identifier differing from the second identifier, operating

a means for merging the first configuration data set with the second configuration data set to form a merged configuration data set, and

a means for writing the merged configuration data set to a storage device, wherein the merged configuration data set includes maintained user-defined variables.

12. The system of claim 11 further including a means for storing the merged configuration data set in the storage device that includes a non-volatile memory device.

13. The system of claim 11 further including a means for storing the first configuration data set in the storage device that includes a volatile memory device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for merging includes a means for copying the second configuration data set to generate a duplicate second configuration data set.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for copying the second configuration data set includes a means for storing the duplicate second configuration data set into the storage device that includes a volatile memory device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for merging includes a means for establishing data boundaries based on sizes of the individual data structures of the first configuration data set.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for writing the merged configuration data set includes a means for establishing data boundaries based on sizes of the individual data structures of the merged configuration data set.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for writing the merged configuration data set includes sequentially writing the individual data structures of the merged configuration data set according to the data boundaries beginning with a last data structure and ending with a first data structure.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the embedded processing system is configured to operate as an input/output controller.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the user-defined variables include information regarding stripes of a Redundant Array of Independent Disks.

21. A development system for embedding information from a first configuration data set having data structures into a storage device having first and second storage components, wherein embedding maintains user-defined variables and the first configuration data set is located in the first storage component, including:

a comparator having a first input communicatively connected to the first storage component and a second input communicatively connected to the second storage component, configured to compare a first identifier from the first configuration data set with a second identifier from a second configuration data set having data structures, wherein the second configuration data set is located in the second storage component;

a decision circuit having an input connected to an output of the comparator, configured to determine a difference between the first identifier and the second identifier; and

an update controller connected to an output of the decision circuit and communicatively connected to the first storage component and to the second storage component, operating in response to the difference to update the second configuration data set with the first configuration data set, wherein the updated second configuration data set includes maintained user-defined variables.

22. The development system of claim 21, wherein the first storage component includes a volatile memory device.

23. The development system of claim 21, wherein the second storage component includes a non-volatile memory device.

24. The development system of claim 21, wherein the update controller establishes data boundaries based on sizes of the individual data structures of the first configuration data set and the second configuration data set.

25. The development system of claim 24, wherein the update controller updates the second configuration data set with the first configuration data set by merging the first configuration data set with the second configuration data set to form a merged configuration data set and by sequentially writing the individual data structures of the merged configuration data set according to the data boundaries beginning with a last data structure and ending with a first data structure.

26. The development system of claim 21, wherein the user-defined variables include information regarding stripes of a Redundant Array of Independent Disks.