Method and apparatus for remotely altering programmable firmware stored in an interactive network board coupled to a network peripheral
First Claim
1. In a local area network, a method for remotely updating an old ROM firmware image stored in a PROM disposed on a designated interactive network board having a local area network interface, said method comprising the steps of:
- activating a local area network communication program, said communication program operating (i) to broadcast an inquiry through the local area network for the designated interactive network board, (ii) to receive location information of the designated interactive network board in response to the broadcast inquiry, and (iii) to establish communication with the designated interactive network board via the local area network interface;
downloading, over the local area network interface, a new ROM firmware image into a RAM on the designated interactive network board;
verifying that the new ROM firmware image stored in the RAM is valid prior to loading the new ROM firmware image from the RAM into the PROM;
updating firmware of the PROM, in a case where the new ROM firmware image is valid, by (i) storing a predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware image in the RAM, (ii) erasing predetermined PROM storage locations, and (iii) loading the new ROM firmware image and the predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware image from the RAM into the PROM; and
re-initializing the designated interactive network board, in a case where the new ROM firmware image is valid, using the new ROM firmware image and the predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware image loaded in the PROM.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for remotely altering programmable firmware stored in a PROM disposed on a target interactive network board having a local area network interface comprises activating a local area network communication program. The communication program operates to broadcast an inquiry through the local area network for the designated interactive network board, to receive location information of the designated board in response to the broadcast inquiry, and to establish communication with the designated board. A ROM firmware image is downloaded into a RAM on the designated board, preferably through the local area network interface. A verifying step verifies that the ROM firmware image stored in RAM is valid, and the PROM is controlled to erase memory locations, to transfer preservable data from the PROM into predetermined locations within the ROM firmware image stored in RAM, and to load into the PROM the ROM firmware image from the RAM. After completing the flash operation, the designated board may be re-initialized to execute instructions from the firmware image stored in the PROM.
288 Citations
23 Claims
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1. In a local area network, a method for remotely updating an old ROM firmware image stored in a PROM disposed on a designated interactive network board having a local area network interface, said method comprising the steps of:
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activating a local area network communication program, said communication program operating (i) to broadcast an inquiry through the local area network for the designated interactive network board, (ii) to receive location information of the designated interactive network board in response to the broadcast inquiry, and (iii) to establish communication with the designated interactive network board via the local area network interface; downloading, over the local area network interface, a new ROM firmware image into a RAM on the designated interactive network board; verifying that the new ROM firmware image stored in the RAM is valid prior to loading the new ROM firmware image from the RAM into the PROM; updating firmware of the PROM, in a case where the new ROM firmware image is valid, by (i) storing a predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware image in the RAM, (ii) erasing predetermined PROM storage locations, and (iii) loading the new ROM firmware image and the predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware image from the RAM into the PROM; and re-initializing the designated interactive network board, in a case where the new ROM firmware image is valid, using the new ROM firmware image and the predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware image loaded in the PROM. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a local area network, an apparatus for remotely altering an old ROM firmware image stored in a PROM disposed on a designated interactive network board having a local area network interface, said apparatus comprising:
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local area network communicating means (i) for broadcasting an inquiry through a local area network for the designated interactive network board, (ii) for receiving location information of the designated interactive network board in response to the broadcast inquiry, (iii) for establishing communication with the designated interactive network board via the local area network interface, and (iv) for downloading to the designated interactive network board, over the local area network interface, a new ROM firmware image, a designated identifier code, and a checksum packet; a RAM, resident on the designated interactive network board, for storing the new ROM firmware image, designated identifier code, and checksum packet; a PROM, resident on the designated interactive network board, for storing the old ROM firmware image and another designated identifier code; comparing means, resident on the designated interactive network board, for performing a checksum operation on the new ROM firmware image stored in said RAM, prior to loading the new ROM firmware image into said PROM, using the checksum packet stored in said RAM; and control means for controlling said PROM, in a case where the new ROM firmware image is valid, (i) to preserve a predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware image by storing the predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware image in said RAM, (ii) to erase predetermined PROM storage locations, (iii) to load the new ROM firmware image and the predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware image from said RAM into said PROM, and (iv) to re-initialize the designated interactive network board using the new ROM firmware image and the predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware image loaded in said PROM. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In a local area network (LAN), an apparatus for remotely altering old ROM firmware in a PROM disposed on an interactive network board coupled to the LAN, said apparatus comprising:
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a LAN interface, disposed on the interactive network board, for receiving from a remote LAN location, new ROM firmware and a verification signal; a RAM, disposed on the interactive network board, for storing the new ROM firmware, a predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware, and the verification signal; and a processor, disposed on the interactive network board, for (i) causing the new ROM firmware and verification signal to be stored in said RAM, (ii) verifying that the new ROM firmware is valid using the verification signal prior to loading the new ROM firmware into the PROM, (iii) writing the predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware the PROM to said RAM in a case where the new ROM firmware is valid, (iv) updating the old ROM firmware in the PROM by loading the new ROM firmware and the predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware into the PROM from said RAM in a case where the new ROM firmware is valid, and (v) re-initializing the interactive network board using the new ROM firmware and the predesignated portion of the old ROM firmware stored in the PROM in a case where the new ROM firmware is valid.
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23. In a local area network, an apparatus for remotely altering an old ROM firmware image stored in a PROM disposed on a designated interactive network board having a local area network interface coupled to the local area network, the local area network interface for downloading a new ROM firmware image and a checksum packet over the local area network, said apparatus comprising:
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a RAM, resident on the designated interactive network board, for storing the new ROM firmware image and the checksum packet; a PROM, resident on the designated interactive network board, for storing the old ROM firmware image; comparing means, resident on the designated interactive network board, for performing a checksum operation on the new ROM firmware image stored in said RAM using the checksum packet stored in said RAM in order to validate the new ROM firmware image, the checksum operation being performed prior to loading the new ROM firmware image into said PROM; and control means, resident on the designated interactive network board, for controlling said PROM to update at least a portion of the old ROM firmware image stored in said PROM in a case where the new ROM firmware image is valid by (i) transferring portions of the old ROM firmware image which are to be preserved to said RAM, (ii) erasing from said PROM at least those portions of the old ROM firmware image which are not to be preserved, (iii) loading from said RAM into said PROM the new ROM firmware image and the portions of the old ROM firmware image transferred to said RAM, and (iv) re-initializing the designated interactive network board using the new ROM firmware image and the portions of the old ROM firmware image transferred to said PROM.
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Specification