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Conditional processor auto boot with no boot loader when coupled with a nonvolatile memory

  • US 9,928,079 B2
  • Filed: 09/23/2014
  • Issued: 03/27/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method to start a processor without requiring a boot controller, comprising:

  • a) providing the processor configured to execute firmware instructions that it has fetched from a non-volatile memory and an instruction intercept circuit configured to detect an un-programmed non-volatile memory value and to substitute the un-programmed non-volatile memory value by a SLEEP opcode;

    b) fetching by the processor from the non-volatile memory a first instruction from a default address PC INIT or from an address stored in a register PC_INIT;

    c) checking, if the first instruction of the non-volatile memory is un-programmed or if it is programmed with firmware and, if the first instruction of the non-volatile memory is un-programmed, go to step d), else go to step f);

    d) substitute the first instruction by a sleep instruction and stopping code execution by the processor by the sleep instruction until a valid trigger event occurs;

    e) programming firmware into the memory with an entry point at the PC_INIT address or loading firmware and associated data into the non-volatile memory from a host interface with a firmware entry point while the processor has stopped execution and, when the loading of the firmware and of the associated data is complete the valid trigger event starts the firmware execution; and

    f) executing firmware code directly from the programmed memory without the need of a boot controller.

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