Dynamically updating a computer system firmware image

• US 8,555,043 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends International, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Nallagatla, Purandhar, Doppalapudi, Harikrishna
• Primary Examiner(s): Elamin, M
• Application Number:
  US12/539,132
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/156, 717/168, 709/203
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer-readable media for customizing a computer system firmware image utilizing a firmware configuration data structure. At least one firmware configuration data structure is created in a firmware image. Each data structure contains configuration data stored within a data field. A data structure signature identifying the data structure is stored within a data field of the data structure. A pointer to the configuration data within the data structure is stored in at least one firmware program module. An application may search for a firmware configuration data structure according to the data structure signature and content signatures corresponding to specific data entries, retrieve the applicable data structure and data entry, and store modifications to data stored therein.

Claims

1. A memory for storing a firmware image for creating a computer system firmware, the firmware image comprising:

a firmware configuration data structure having an array of data fields populated by

a data structure signature identifying the firmware configuration data structure,

configuration data for customizing the computer system firmware, the configuration data comprising strings for display during execution of the computer system firmware created using the firmware image, and

a plurality of content signatures, wherein each content signature corresponds to a single configuration data entry; and

a firmware program module having a pointer that references the configuration data stored within the firmware configuration data structure.

2. The memory of claim 1, wherein the configuration data comprises chipset register data.

3. The memory of claim 1, wherein the configuration data comprises IRQ routing data.

4. The memory of claim 1, wherein the firmware configuration data structure further comprises a structure version identifier that identifies a version of the firmware configuration data structure.

5. A system for creating a computer system firmware, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a firmware image stored on the memory, the firmware image comprising

a firmware configuration data structure comprising a plurality of content signatures, each content signature of the plurality of content signatures corresponding to a configuration data entry, and further comprising an array of data fields populated by

a data structure signature identifying the firmware configuration data structure, and

configuration data for customizing the computer system firmware, and

a firmware program module having a pointer that references the configuration data stored within the firmware configuration data structure.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the configuration data comprises chipset register data.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the configuration data comprises IRQ routing data.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the configuration data comprises strings for display during execution of the computer system firmware created using the firmware image.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the array of data fields further populated by a plurality of content signatures, each content signature corresponding to a configuration data entry within the firmware configuration data structure.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the firmware configuration data structure further comprises a structure version identifier that identifies a version of the firmware configuration data structure.

11. A system for creating a computer system firmware, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a firmware image stored on the memory, the firmware image comprising

a firmware configuration data structure comprising an array of data fields populated by

a data structure signature identifying the firmware configuration data structure,

configuration data for customizing the computer system firmware, and

a plurality of content signatures, each content signature of the plurality of content signatures corresponding to a configuration data entry within the firmware configuration data structure, and

a firmware program module having a pointer that references the configuration data stored within the firmware configuration data structure.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the firmware configuration data structure further comprises a structure version identifier that identifies a version of the firmware configuration data structure.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the configuration data comprises chipset register data.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the configuration data comprises IRQ routing data.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the configuration data comprises strings for display during execution of the computer system firmware created using the firmware image.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the firmware configuration data structure further comprises a plurality of content signatures, wherein each content signature corresponds to a single configuration data entry.

17. A memory for storing a firmware image for creating a computer system firmware, the firmware image comprising:

a firmware configuration data structure having an array of data fields populated by

a data structure signature identifying the firmware configuration data structure,

configuration data for customizing the computer system firmware, the configuration data comprising strings for display during execution of the computer system firmware created using the firmware image, and

a plurality of content signatures, each content signature corresponding to a configuration data entry within the firmware configuration data structure; and

a firmware program module having a pointer that references the configuration data stored within the firmware configuration data structure.