METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FIRMWARE UPDATES

• US 20100241838A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Geist Manufacturing Inc. (Pce, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Geist Manufacturing Inc. (Pce, Inc.)
• Inventors: DeKeratry, Pedro, McCormack, Ron, Cohen, Jason, Cullen, Gerard L.
• Application Number:
  US12/408,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20100241838A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1004 to protect a block of data words, e.g. CRC or checksum G06F11/1076 takes precedence; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorized activity G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1443 Transmit or communication errors
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/09 Error detection only, e.g. using cyclic redundancy check [CRC] codes or single parity bit
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence

Abstract

A method for updating computing device firmware may comprise: (a) receiving a transmission of firmware update data; (b) writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition; and (c) writing the firmware update data to an active firmware partition.

A system for updating computing device firmware comprising: (a) means for receiving a transmission of firmware update data; (b) means for writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition; and (c) means for writing the firmware update data to an active firmware partition.

Claims

1. A method for updating computing device firmware comprising:

receiving a transmission of firmware update data;

writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition; and

writing the firmware update data to an active firmware partition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a transmission of firmware update data further comprises:

transmitting a firmware update request to a remote firmware server via a communications network; and

receiving a transmission of firmware update data from the remote firmware server via the communications network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition further comprises:

writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition having memory addresses distinct from the active firmware partition.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

booting the computing device to the active firmware partition according to a state of a firmware transfer switch.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the booting the computing device to the active firmware partition according to a state of a firmware transfer switch further comprises:

setting the firmware transfer switch.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the booting the computing device to the active firmware partition according to a state of a firmware transfer switch further comprises:

resetting the firmware transfer switch.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a failed transfer of firmware update data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the detecting a failed transfer of firmware update data further comprises:

comparing a firmware update data identification parameter to a firmware update data header identification parameter.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the detecting a failed transfer of firmware update data further comprises:

comparing a firmware update data size to a firmware update data header size parameter.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the detecting a failed transfer of firmware update data further comprises:

comparing a computed firmware cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value associated with the firmware update data to a firmware update data header CRC parameter.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a second transmission of the firmware update data.

12. A system for updating computing device firmware comprising:

means for receiving a transmission of firmware update data;

means for writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition; and

means for writing the firmware update data to an active firmware partition.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for receiving a transmission of firmware update data further comprises:

means for transmitting a firmware update request to a remote firmware server via a communications network; and

means for receiving a transmission of firmware update data from the remote firmware server via the communications network.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition further comprises:

means for writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition having memory addresses distinct from the active firmware partition.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

means for booting the computing device to the active firmware partition according to a state of a firmware transfer switch.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for booting the computing device to the active firmware partition according to a state of a firmware transfer switch further comprises:

means for setting the firmware transfer switch.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for booting the computing device to the active firmware partition according to a state of a firmware transfer switch further comprises:

means for resetting the firmware transfer switch.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

means for detecting a failed transfer of firmware update data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for detecting a failed transfer of firmware update data further comprises:

means for comparing a firmware update data identification parameter to a firmware update data header identification parameter.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for detecting a failed transfer of firmware update data further comprises:

means for comparing a firmware update data size to a firmware update data header size parameter.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for detecting a failed transfer of firmware update data further comprises:

means for comparing a computed firmware cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value associated with the firmware update data to a firmware update data header CRC parameter.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for receiving a second transmission of the firmware update data.

23. A computer-readable medium including computer readable program instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving a transmission of firmware update data;

instructions for writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition; and

instructions for writing the firmware update data to an active firmware partition.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions for writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition further comprise:

instructions for writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition having memory addresses distinct from the active firmware partition.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising:

instructions for booting the computing device to the active firmware partition according to a state of a firmware transfer switch.