Intel Corporation

Siyuan Fu

Sarathy Jayakumar

Ruixia Li

Mohan J Kumar

Murugasamy K Nachimuthu

Jiewen Yao

Chuan Song

Jiaxin Wu

Lui He

Yao Jiewen

A modular microcode (uCode) patch method to support runtime persistent update and associated apparatus. The method enables BIOS uCode patches to be received during platform runtime operations and written to first and second uCode extension regions as uCode images for a firmware device layout that further includes a uCode base region in which a current uCode image is stored. Following a platform reset, the first and second uCode extension regions are inspected to determine if one or more valid and newer uCode images (than the current uCode image) are present. If so, the newest uCode image is booted rather than the current uCode image. Following a successful boot, the newest uCode image is copied to the uCode base region to sync-up the current uCode image to the newest version. In one aspect, received uCode images are written to the first and second uCode extension regions in an alternating manner to support roll-back.

Modular microcode (uCode) patch method to support runtime persistent update

Methods and apparatus for seamless SMM (System Management Mode) global driver update base on SMM Root-of-Trust. Mechanisms are provided to load and replace SMM drivers at runtime in a secure manner, without requiring an SMM firmware update and platform reset. SMM code is executed by BIOS during boot in a hidden area of memory called SMRAM space. Seamless update using an SMM Global Driver Update provides a method to load and replace all SMM drivers (including SMM infrastructure) on an already shipped platform production for purposes such as bug fixes. The principles and teachings may also be applied to update other types of secure execution mode code in addition to SMM code.

Seamless SMM global driver update base on SMM root of trust

Growing community of inventors

Shanghai, China

Siyuan Fu