Updating firmware with multiple processors

• US 8,136,108 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2008
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computime Electronics Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Computime Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Ha, Wai-leung, Lei, Kairy Kai, Qian, Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHILLIP H
• Application Number:
  US12/203,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20100058316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168, 717/169, 717/176, 717/178, 717/170, 717/173, 714/1, 714/100
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media for updating memory containing representations of computer-executable instructions in a processing system. A primary processor receives original sets of computer-readable instructions and updated sets of computer-readable instructions for the processors in processor system from a host system. The sets of computer-readable instructions are stored in memory (e.g., flash memory), where each processor in the system may utilize different sets. The primary processor then initiates updating its firmware with the corresponding updated set. If the update is unsuccessful, the primary processor reverts to the original set and the update process is terminated. Otherwise, the firmware update proceeds to the secondary processor. If the firmware update succeeds, the next secondary processor is updated. Otherwise, all of the updated processors revert to the corresponding original set of computer-readable instructions and the updating process is terminated.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a second processor;

a communications interface;

a first processor configured to;

receive an initiation request to update computer-readable instructions for the apparatus that are executable on a plurality of processors that include the first processor and the second processor;

notify, through the communications interface, a host system about original computer program versions associated with the plurality of processors, wherein a first original computer program version is associated with the first processor and a second original computer program version is associated with the second processor;

receive, through the communications interface, a first original set of computer-readable instructions and a first updated set of computer-readable instructions that are associated with the first processor and a second original set of computer-readable instructions and a second updated set of computer-readable instructions that are associated with the second processor;

store the first original set, the first updated set, the second original set, and second updated set in the memory;

initiate updating the first processor with the first updated set of computer-readable instructions from the memory;

when the first processor does not successfully update, revert to the first original set of computer-readable instructions for the first processor;

when the first processor has successfully updated with the first updated set of computer-readable instructions, initiate updating the second processor with the second updated set of computer-readable instructions from the memory; and

when the second processor does not successfully update, revert to the second original set of computer-readable instructions for the second processor and to revert to the first original set of computer-readable instructions for the first processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third processor; and

wherein the first processor is further configured to;

receive a third original set of computer-readable instructions and a third updated set of computer-readable instructions that are associated with the third processor;

store the third original set and the third updated set in the memory;

initiate updating the third processor with the third updated set of computer-readable instructions from the memory when the first processor and the second processor have successfully updated; and

when the third processor has not successfully updated, revert to the original sets of computer-readable instructions for the corresponding processors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a flash memory.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first original set of computer-readable instructions is embedded on the first processor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first processor is further configured to:

verify, by a data security mechanism, the first original set, the first updated set, the second original set, and second updated set in the memory after storing the sets in the memory.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the data security mechanism comprises a checksum.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an internal communications bus; and

wherein the first processor is further configured to;

instructing, over the internal communications bus, the second processor to terminate operation before initiating updating.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first original computer program version is different from the second original computer program version.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications interface interfaces to a wireless communications channel.

10. A method comprising:

receiving an initiation request to update computer-readable instructions that are executable on a plurality of processors that include a first processor and a second processor;

notifying a host system about original computer program versions associated with the plurality of processors, wherein a first original computer program version is associated with the first processor and a second original computer program version is associated with the second processor;

receiving a first original set of computer-readable instructions and a first updated set of computer-readable instructions that are associated with the first processor and a second original set of computer-readable instructions and a second updated set of computer-readable instructions that are associated with the second processor;

storing the first original set, the first updated set, the second original set, and second updated set in a memory;

updating the first processor with the first updated set of computer-readable instructions from the memory

when the first processor does not successfully update, reverting to the first original set of computer-readable instructions for the first processor;

when the first processor has successfully updated with the first updated set of computer-readable instructions, updating the second processor with the second updated set of computer-readable instructions from the memory; and

when the second processor does not successfully update, reverting to the second original set of computer-readable instructions for the second processor and reverting to the first original set of computer-readable instructions for the first processor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a third original set of computer-readable instructions and a third updated set of computer-readable instructions that are associated with a third processor;

storing the third original set and the third updated set in the memory;

updating the third processor with the third updated set of computer-readable instructions from the memory when the first processor and the second processor have successfully updated; and

when the third processor has not successfully updated, reverting to the original sets of computer-readable instructions for the corresponding processors.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the memory comprises a flash memory.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first original set of computer-readable instructions is embedded on the first processor.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

verifying the first original set, the first updated set, the second original set, and second updated set in the memory after storing the sets in the memory.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

verifying the stored sets of computer-readable instructions with a checksum.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

instructing the second processor to terminate operation before initiating updating.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first original computer program version is different from the second original computer program version.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the first processor communicates the host computer over a wireless communications channel.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that when executed perform:

receiving an initiation request to update firmware that is executable on a plurality of processors that include a first processor and a second processor;

notifying a host system about original computer program versions associated with the plurality of processors, wherein a first original computer program version is associated with the first processor and a second original computer program version is associated with the second processor;

receiving a first original set of computer-readable instructions and a first updated set of computer-readable instructions that are associated with the first processor and a second original set of computer-readable instructions and a second updated set of computer-readable instructions that are associated with the second processor;

storing the first original set, the first updated set, the second original set, and second updated set in a memory;

updating the first processor with the first updated set of computer-readable instructions from the memory;

when the first processor does not successfully update, reverting to the first original set of computer-readable instructions for the first processor;

when the first processor has successfully updated with the first updated set of computer-readable instructions, initiate updating the second processor with the second updated set of computer-readable instructions from the memory; and

when the second processor does not successfully update, revert to the second original set of computer-readable instructions for the second processor and to revert to the first original set of computer-readable instructions for the first processor.