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:
Oct. 29, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1999
Joel Gerald Goodwin, Austin, TX (US);
Yi-Ming Ku, Austin, TX (US);
John Steven Langford, Austin, TX (US);
Michael Y. Lim, Leander, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A computer system including a central processing unit and a system memory accessible to the central processing unit via a host bus. A primary non-volatile storage element and a backup non-volatile storage element are incorporated into the system's motherboard. The primary non-volatile storage element contains the system's boot code that is executed following a reset or power on event. The backup non-volatile storage element contains a restoration sequence that is suitable for reprogramming a first portion of the boot code in the primary non-volatile storage element. A jumper block on the motherboard determines which of the non-volatile storage elements is initially addressed following a power on event. Preferably, the first portion of the boot code comprises the system's boot block or gold code and includes a sequence for downloading and reprogramming remaining portions of the boot code. The primary non-volatile storage element is preferably implemented as a multiple sector flash memory device. In one embodiment, the gold code is stored in a first sector of the flash module and the update code is stored in remaining sectors.