Method and system for updating firmware

A method for updating firmware through a DisplayPort interface, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a source device with a transmission interface distinct from a DisplayPort interface, the source device including
• a storage circuit for storing and providing an updated firmware, and
• an output circuit that outputs a signal with a predetermined signal format for outputting the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format;
• providing a sink device with a DisplayPort interface,
• the sink device including
• a main link,
• a sink device auxiliary channel, the sink device using at least two pins of the main link and the sink device auxiliary channel to receive the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format,
• a selector circuit coupled to the main link and the sink device auxiliary channel for outputting the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format, and
• a memory unit for updating firmware according to the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format;
• and
• updating firmware of the memory unit through said at least two pins of the main link and the sink device auxiliary channel.

A method for updating firmware of a sink device with a DisplayPort interface, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a source device with a transmission interface distinct from a DisplayPort interface, the source device including
• a storage circuit for storing and providing an updated firmware, and
• an output circuit that outputs a signal with a predetermined signal format for outputting, via the transmission interface, the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format;
• providing a sink device with a DisplayPort interface,
• the sink device including
• a firmware update channel, that is independent of standard channels of the DisplayPort interface of the sink device, for receiving the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format, and
• a memory unit coupled to the firmware update channel for updating firmware according to the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format;
• and
• updating firmware of the memory unit through the transmission interface of the source device and the firmware update channel of the sink device.

A method for updating firmware using a DisplayPort interface, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first source device with a DisplayPort interface for providing DisplayPort interface signals;
• providing a second source device with a transmission interface distinct from a Displayport interface, the second source device including
• a storage circuit for storing and providing an updated firmware, and
• an output circuit that outputs a signal with a predetermined signal format for outputting the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format;
• providing a signal combining device that is coupled to the first and second source devices for combining the DisplayPort interface signals from the first source device and the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format from the second source device into a combined signal;
• and
• providing a sink device with a DisplayPort interface,
• the sink device being coupled to the signal combining device and including
• a signal splitting circuit for extracting the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format from the combined signal, and
• a memory unit for updating firmware according to the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format.

A system for updating firmware through a DisplayPort interface, said system comprising:

• a source device with a DisplayPort interface, said source device including
• a storage circuit for storing and providing an updated firmware, and
• a source device auxiliary channel for outputting the updated firmware with an auxiliary channel signal format;
• and
• a sink device with a DisplayPort interface, said sink device including
• a sink device auxiliary channel for receiving the updated firmware with the auxiliary channel signal format and thereby generating an output signal,
• an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) auxiliary channel device servicer coupled to said sink device auxiliary channel for receiving the output signal and generating an I2C protocol updated firmware, and
• a memory unit for updating firmware according to the I2C protocol updated firmware.

A system for updating firmware through a DisplayPort interface, said system comprising:

• a source device with a transmission interface distinct from DisplayPort interface, said source device including
• a storage circuit for storing and providing an updated firmware, and
• an output circuit that outputs a signal with a predetermined signal format for outputting the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format;
• and
• a sink device with a DisplayPort interface, said sink device including
• a main link,
• a sink device auxiliary channel, said sink device receiving the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format using at least two pins of said main link and said sink device auxiliary channel,
• a selector circuit coupled to said main link and said sink device auxiliary channel for outputting the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format, and
• a memory unit for updating firmware according to the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format.

A system for updating firmware through a DisplayPort interface, said system comprising:

• a source device with a transmission interface distinct from DisplayPort interface, said source device including
• a storage circuit for storing and providing an updated firmware, and
• an output circuit that outputs a signal with a predetermined signal format and that is coupled to said storage circuit for outputting, via the transmission interface, the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format;
• and
• a sink device with a DisplayPort interface, said sink device including
• a firmware update channel, that is independent of standard channels of the DisplayPort interface of said sink device, for receiving the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format, and
• a memory unit coupled to said firmware update channel for updating firmware according to the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format.

A system for updating firmware through a DisplayPort interface, said system comprising:

• a first source device with a DisplayPort interface for providing DisplayPort interface signals;
• a second source device with a transmission interface distinct from DisplayPort interface, said second source device including
• a storage circuit for storing and providing an updated firmware, and
• an output circuit that outputs a signal with a predetermined signal format for outputting the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format;
• a signal combining device that is coupled to said first and second source devices for combining the DisplayPort interface signals from said first source device and the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format from said second source device into a combined signal;
• and
• a sink device with a DisplayPort interface, said sink device being coupled to said signal combining device and including
• a signal splitting circuit for extracting the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format from the combined signal, and
• a memory unit for updating firmware according to the updated firmware with the predetermined signal format.