Firmware architecture supporting safe updates and multiple processor types
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- providing a generic firmware module which includes instructions that are executable by multiple different processor types;
providing one or more processor-specific firmware modules; and
providing a firmware interface table which includes one or more searchable references to one or more processor-specific firmware modules, the generic firmware module capable of searching the firmware interface table for the one or more processor-specific firmware modules.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the invention provides a firmware architecture which splits firmware modules to support safe updates of specific modules as well as supporting multiple different processors. A firmware image is partitioned into several different binaries based on their update requirements and processor/platform dependence. A firmware interface table enables safe updates by enabling the option of redundant copies of specific modules as well as supporting systems with different and/or multiple processor types, mixed processors from the same family, and/or fault resilient firmware updates.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a generic firmware module which includes instructions that are executable by multiple different processor types;
providing one or more processor-specific firmware modules; and
providing a firmware interface table which includes one or more searchable references to one or more processor-specific firmware modules, the generic firmware module capable of searching the firmware interface table for the one or more processor-specific firmware modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. The device comprising:
an electronic storage device including, a generic firmware module which includes instructions that are executable by multiple different processor types, one or more processor-specific firmware modules, and a firmware interface table which includes one or more searchable references to one or more processor-specific modules, the generic firmware module capable of searching the firmware interface table for the one or more processor-specific firmware modules. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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an electronic storage device including, a generic firmware module which includes instructions that are executable by multiple different processor types, one or more processor-specific firmware modules, and a firmware interface table which includes one or more searchable references to one or more processor-specific modules, the generic firmware module capable of searching the firmware interface table for the one or more processor-specific firmware modules; and
a processor coupled to the electronic storage device, the processor to execute one or more instructions in the generic firmware module, and one or more instructions in a corresponding processor-specific firmware module from the one or more processor specific firmware modules. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A machine-readable medium having one or more instructions for initializing a system, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
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providing a generic firmware module which includes instructions that are executable by multiple different processor types;
providing one or more processor-specific firmware modules; and
providing a firmware interface table which includes one or more searchable references to one or more processor-specific firmware modules, the generic firmware module capable of searching the firmware interface table for the one or more processor-specific firmware modules. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification