Method and system of switching between two or more images of firmware on a host device

• US 20030221092A1
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ballard, Curtis C., Torrey, Bill, Howe, Colette
• Granted Patent: US 7,080,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method of switching between two or more images of firmware on a host device includes storing two or more images of firmware in non-volatile memory of the host device and loading one of the images upon startup in response to a user-controllable indicator. A host device that runs firmware during operation may include a non-volatile memory unit that stores a boot code module and is configured to hold two or more firmware images, a processor for executing the boot code module and firmware, said processor being in communication with the non-volatile memory and a switch in communication with the processor, where the boot code module is configured to cause the processor to execute a particular firmware image in response to a position of the switch. Alternatively, a host device that runs firmware during operation may include a non-volatile memory unit that stores a boot code module and at least one firmware image, a processor for executing firmware that communicates with the non-volatile memory unit and a digital flag associated with each firmware image in the non-volatile memory unit, where the boot code module is configured to execute a particular firmware image in response to the digital flags.

Claims

1. A method of switching between two or more images of firmware on a host device, said method comprising:

storing two or more images of firmware in non-volatile memory of said host device; and

loading one of said images upon startup in response to a user-controllable indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing one of said images upon startup further comprises checking a position of a switch and executing a particular firmware image in accordance with the position of said switch.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising operating said host device with a different firmware image by changing the position of said switch and restarting said host device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said loading one of said images upon startup further comprises reading a digital flag associated with each of said firmware images and loading a particular firmware image in accordance with said digital flags.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising entering a command via a user interface to make a change to at least one of said flags.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing one of said images further comprises copying a selected firmware image from non-volatile memory to random access memory.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing a boot module stored in said non-volatile memory, wherein selection of a firmware image for execution is performed by said boot module.

8. A host device that runs firmware during operation, said host device comprising:

a non-volatile memory unit that stores a boot code module and is configured to hold two or more firmware images;

a processor for executing said boot code module and firmware, said processor being in communication with said non-volatile memory; and

a switch in communication with said processor;

wherein said boot code module is configured to cause said processor to execute a particular firmware image in response to a position of said switch.

9. The host device of claim 8, wherein said non-volatile memory unit comprises two or more memory devices.

10. A host device that runs firmware during operation, said host device comprising:

a non-volatile memory unit that stores a boot code module and at least one firmware image;

a processor for executing firmware that communicates with said non-volatile memory unit; and

a digital flag associated with each of said at least one firmware image in said non-volatile memory unit;

wherein said boot code module is configured to execute a particular firmware image in response to said digital flags.

11. The host device of claim 10, wherein said non-volatile memory unit comprises two or more memory devices.

12. A system for rapidly switching between two or more images of firmware on a host device, said system comprising:

means for storing two or more images in said host device; and

means for loading one of said images upon startup in response to a user-controllable indicator.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said means for loading further comprise:

means for checking a position of a switch; and

means for running a particular firmware image in accordance with the position of said switch.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said means for loading further comprise:

means for reading a digital flag associated with each of said firmware images; and

means for loading a particular firmware image in accordance with said digital flags.