Memory apparatus and method of updating firmware of the memory apparatus

• US 8,694,984 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2010
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen, Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROPHY, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US12/753,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20100257519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 717/169
• US Class Current: 717/169
• 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;

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

and writing context information only for updated components in the new firmware to the non-volatile memory

wherein the context information comprises at least one of mapping information for the non-volatile memory and cache information,

and further wherein no context information for the old firmware is stored on the non-volatile memory prior to the writing.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

avoiding storing context information corresponding to a remainder of the plurality of components of the of the old firmware in the non-volatile memory.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

comparing version information for each of the components of the new firmware with version information corresponding to the components of the old firmware; and

if the version information for the old firmware is different from the version information for the new firmware, copying updated information corresponding to the component updated in the new firmware from the second volatile memory directly into the first volatile memory without writing into the non-volatile memory.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing predetermined restart information in the second volatile memory by executing 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 4, wherein, if the predetermined restart information is not stored in the second volatile memory, the new firmware sets 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 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.

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

9. 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 from an old firmware to a new firmware by

determining on a component basis which of a plurality of components of the old firmware stored on at least one volatile memory is an updated component in the new firmware;

only writing that part of context information corresponding to a new component of the firmware to the non-volatile memory

wherein the context information comprises at least one of mapping information for the non-volatile memory and cache information,

and further wherein no context information of the old firmware is stored on the non-volatile memory prior to the writing.

10. A method of operating a memory apparatus comprising a first volatile memory, a second volatile memory, and a non-volatile memory, the method comprising:

reading a restart signature to determine if a general power-on operation is to be performed;

and updating only components of old firmware indicated as being updated in new firmware if the restart signature indicates a general power-on is not to be performed determining on a component basis which of a plurality of components of an old firmware stored on at least one volatile memory is an updated component in the new firmware;

only writing that part of context information corresponding to a new component of the firmware to the non-volatile memory

wherein the context information comprises at least one of mapping information for the non-volatile memory and cache information,

and further wherein no context information for the old firmware is stored on the non-volatile memory prior to the writing.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising wherein updating all components of the old firmware regardless of which are indicated as being updated in the new firmware if the restart signature indicates the general power-on is to be performed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein updating only the components of the old firmware comprises reading component update information from the new firmware.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein reading the restart signature comprises reading the restart signature from the first volatile memory.