US 2006/0136710 A1 · Allowing or disallowing firmware upgrade based on comparison of firmware-related bits

Abstract

A first series of bits corresponds to compatibility information of firmware of a computer system. Each bit corresponds to an attribute of the firmware or the system, is equal to one when the attribute denotes a potential incompatibility factor as to the attribute, and is otherwise equal to zero. A second series of bits corresponds to a firmware image with which the firmware is to be upgraded. Each bit indicates whether the firmware image is compatible with the attribute of a corresponding first series bit, is equal to one where the firmware image is compatible with the attribute, and is otherwise equal to zero. A logical AND operation is performed on the first and the second series of bits. Where the result of the logical AND operation is equal to the first series of bits, the firmware is allowed to be upgraded with the image, and otherwise is disallowed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

determining a first series of firmware-related bits, the first series of bits corresponding to firmware compatibility information of firmware of a computer system, each bit of the first series corresponding to an attribute of at least one of the computer system and the firmware;
determining a second series of firmware-related bits, the second series of bits corresponding to a firmware image with which the firmware of the computer system is desired to be upgraded, each bit of the second series indicating whether the firmware image is compatible with the attribute of a corresponding bit of the first series;
performing a logical AND operation on the first series of bits and the second series of bits;
where a result of the logical AND operation is equal to the first series of bits, allowing the firmware of the computer system to be upgraded with the firmware image;
and,
where the result of the logical AND operation is unequal to the first series of bits, disallowing the firmware of the computer system from being upgraded with the firmware image.

3 more elements

An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer-readable medium;
and,
means in the medium for upgrading a firmware of a computer system with a firmware image based on comparing a first series of bits associated with the firmware with a second series of bits associated with the firmware image,
each bit of the first series corresponding to an attribute of at least one of the computer system and the firmware, and
each bit of the second series indicating whether the firmware image is compatible with the attribute of a corresponding bit of the first series.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Allowing or disallowing firmware upgrade based on comparison of firmware-related bits

Life of this patent

Allowing or disallowing firmware upgrade based on comparison of firmware-related bits

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20