The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 18, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 17, 1997
Jeffrey Raymond Steffan, San Jose, CA (US);
Lih-Chung Kuo, San Jose, CA (US);
Barbara Yvonne Bailey, San Jose, CA (US);
Calvin Kuo-Lee Tang, Saratoga, CA (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention concerns a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture which provides an efficient way to change the function of a programmable logic unit included in a control device--where the control device manages the operational characteristics of a hardware unit--without having to disable system access to the hardware unit during the updating process. The hardware unit remains fully functional throughout execution of the updating method. To perform the update, the hardware unit must be connected to a host system by at least two communication channels. Each communication channel includes a control device including a programmable logic unit. The programmable logic unit is pre-programmed by a first data set which establishes its predetermined operational characteristics. Upgrading the programmable logic unit is accomplished by logically removing one of the communication channels leading from the host system to the hardware unit. A second data set is copied to the programmable logic unit along the removed channel after its integrity is verified. System access to the hardware unit via the logically removed channel is then reestablished.