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:
Sep. 29, 2009
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2005
Andrew T. Sultenfuss, Leander, TX (US);
Ronald D. Shaw, Austin, TX (US);
Andrew T. Sultenfuss, Leander, TX (US);
Ronald D. Shaw, Austin, TX (US);
Dell Products L.P., Round Rock, TX (US);
Abstract
Interoperable firmware for an information handling system supports embedded controller and chipset operations from a common SPI flash ROM. The embedded controller is disposed between the chipset and the flash ROM with a pass through port integrated in the embedded controller selectively providing primary access to firmware by the chipset or the embedded controller. The pass through port provides chipset access to firmware without inducing delays for normal system operations, yet provides an integrated switch for control and access of the firmware by the embedded controller for updating of firmware settings and firmware diagnostics. Application of power to the embedded controller allows access to chipset firmware even where the chipset lacks power, such as during manufacture of the information handling system.