Memory Apparatus and Method of Updating Firmware of the Memory Apparatus

• US 20100257519A1
• Filed: 04/02/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Chang, Sil Wan
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method of updating firmware that is included in a memory apparatus that includes first and second volatile memories and a non-volatile memory, can be provided by storing new firmware in the second volatile memory when old firmware is loaded into the first volatile memory and determining on a component basis which of a plurality of components of the old firmware is an updated component in the new firmware.

Claims

1. A method of updating firmware included in a memory apparatus comprising a first volatile memory, a second volatile memory, and a non-volatile memory, the method comprising:

storing new firmware in the second volatile memory when old firmware is loaded into the first volatile memory; and

determining on a component basis which of a plurality of components of the old firmware is an updated component in the new firmware.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing context information corresponding to the updated component in the non-volatile memory; and

updating the context information stored in the non-volatile memory with context information corresponding to the new firmware.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining which component from among the components of the old firmware is updated in the new firmware comprises:

comparing version information for each of the components of the old firmware with version information for each of a plurality of components corresponding to the components of the old firmware, the plurality of components being included in the new firmware; and

if the version information for the old firmware is different from the version information for the new firmware, storing update information corresponding to the component updated in the new firmware in the first volatile memory.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing predetermined restart information in the second volatile memory, wherein the storing is performed by the new firmware stored in the second volatile memory,

wherein if the predetermined restart information is stored in the second volatile memory, context information corresponding to the updated component is updated, and if the predetermined restart information is not stored in the second volatile memory, all of context information corresponding to the components are updated.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein, if the predetermined restart information is not stored in the second volatile memory, the new firmware sets the update information so that the update information corresponds to all of the components.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the old firmware and the new firmware accesses context information corresponding to each of the components by referring to a context table including information about locations in which context information corresponding to the components are stored.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the context information comprises at least one of mapping information for the non-volatile memory and cache information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first volatile memory, the second volatile memory, and the non-volatile memory are a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), and a NAND flash memory, respectively.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory apparatus comprises a Solid State Disk (SSD).

10. A method of updating firmware included in a memory apparatus comprising a first volatile memory, a second volatile memory, and a non-volatile memory, the method comprising:

updating firmware located in at least one volatile memory by updating only a part of context information corresponding to the firmware.

11. A memory apparatus comprising:

at least one volatile memory; and

a non-volatile memory,

wherein the memory apparatus updates firmware located in the at least one volatile memory by updating only a part of context information corresponding to the firmware.