Method for generating a read only memory image

• US 7,055,035 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hack, Stephen Patrick, Silva, Stephen, Allison, Michael S
• Primary Examiner(s): Moise, Emmanuel L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MINH DIEU T
• Application Number:
  US09/918,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 713 1- 2, 713/100, 713/176, 713/200, 713/164, 713/187, 711102-103
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures

Abstract

A system and method generate a read only memory (ROM) image for a ROM. The ROM image generator operates with a data image builder. The ROM image generator processes an input file to identify data images for a build. The image identifier generates tokens for building each data image. A data image builder uses the tokens as an input to build each data image. A ROM image builder builds the ROM image using each data image build and generates a data image build validating signature for each data image build, such as a checksum. Once each data image build and associated validating signature is written to the ROM image, the ROM image is completed with a checksum of the entire ROM image.

Claims

1. A method for generating a ROM image comprising at least one data image build comprising:

processing an input file to identify at least one data image for a ROM image build and to generate a token file comprising at least one token for the data image;

processing the data image with its associated token file to create the data image build;

generating a data image build validating signature for the data image build;

writing the data image build and the data image build validating signature to the ROM image;

generating a ROM image validating signature for the ROM image; and

aligning the data image using a fill pattern and an alignment value prior to validating the data image.

2. A method for generating a ROM image comprising at least one data image build comprising:

processing an input file to generate a token file with a first image identifier and a temporary token file with a second image identifier, the token file and the temporary token file each representing tokens for each data image identified in the input file;

comparing the token file with the temporary token file and, if the same, generating a data image validating signature for each data image;

writing each data image and each data image validating signature to the ROM image, and, thereafter, generating a separate ROM image validating signature for the ROM image; and

aligning at least one data image using a fill pattern and an alignment value prior to validating the data image.

3. A method for generating a ROM image comprising at least one data image build comprising:

processing an input file to generate a token file and a temporary token file, the token file and the temporary token file each representing tokens for each data image identified in the input file;

comparing the token file with the temporary token file and, if the same, generating a data image validating signature for each data image;

writing each data image and each data image validating signature to the ROM image, and, thereafter, generating a separate ROM image validating signature for the ROM image; and

looping through each data image to compute a size of each data image, to align each data image, if necessary, and to generate a validating signature for each data image.

4. A method for generating a ROM image comprising at least one data image build comprising:

processing an input file to generate a token file and a temporary token file, the token file and the temporary token file each representing tokens for each data image identified in the input file;

comparing the token file with the temporary token file and, if the same, generating a data image validating signature for each data image;

writing each data image and each data image validating signature to the ROM image, and, thereafter, generating a separate ROM image validating signature for the ROM image; and

looping through each byte in the ROM image and, if a location of the byte in the ROM image being processed is the same as a parameter location of a selected data image, writing the parameter location to the byte in the ROM image being processed.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the writing the parameter location step comprises writing at least one member of a group consisting of a validating signature location, a size location, a storage location at which a data image starting location is stored, and a starting location.

6. A method for generating a ROM image using inputs from an input file comprising:

identifying a plurality of data images to be placed in the ROM image based upon the inputs from the input file;

generating a data image validating signature for each data image with each associated input;

writing each data image and data image validating signature to a starting address of the ROM image, at least one starting address being dynamically allocated, and, thereafter, generating a ROM image validating signature for the ROM image;

transmitting the data images with the data image validating signatures and the ROM image validating signature to a memory for storage as the ROM image; and

aligning at least one of the data images using a fill pattern and an alignment value prior to generating the data image validating signature for the at least one data image.