System and method for booting embedded systems using removable storage

• US 20060085631A1
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Joel K., Zarns, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A system and method of booting an embedded system having a processor, nonvolatile memory and a remote media interface connected to the processor. Boot code is executed within the nonvolatile memory. The processor determines if a storage device is connected to the remote media interface and, if a storage device is connected to the remote media interface, program code loaded from the storage device to the processor is executed.

Claims

1. An embedded computer system., comprising:

a processor;

a system interface connected to the processor; and

a remote media interface connected to the processor;

wherein the processor includes nonvolatile memory and means for loading and executing boot code through the remote media interface.

2. The embedded computer system according to claim 1, wherein the remote media interface is a USB interface.

3. The embedded computer system according to claim 1, wherein the remote media interface is a CF interface.

4. A method of booting an embedded system having a processor, nonvolatile memory and a remote media interface connected to the processor, the method comprising:

executing boot code within the nonvolatile memory;

determining if a storage device is connected to the remote media interface;

if a storage device is connected to the remote media interface, executing program code loaded from the storage device to the processor, wherein executing program code loaded from the storage device to the processor includes;

executing program code for accessing the storage device;

loading program code from the storage device to the processor; and

executing the program code loaded from the storage device to the processor.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the method further comprises, executing boot code from nonvolatile memory if a storage device is not connected to the remote media interface.

6. An article comprising a computer readable medium having instructions thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed in a computer, create a system for executing the method of claim 4.