Dynamic non-volatile memory update in a computer system

A computer system comprising:

• a processor for executing processing logic;
• a programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device coupled to said processor, said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device having BIOS firmware programmed therein, portions of said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device being write modifiable;
• a random access memory (RAM) device coupled to said processor;
• means for transferring a first portion of said BIOS firmware from said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device to said RAM, said first portion being specifically directed to updating other portions of said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said means for transferring coupled to said processor;
• means for erasing a portion of said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said means for erasing coupled to said processor;
• and,
• means for updating application specific BIOS firmware residing in a second portion of said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device while said first portion of said BIOS firmware is executing from said RAM, said means for updating coupled to said processor.

In a computer system having a processor for executing processing logic, a random access memory (RAM) coupled to said processor and a programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device coupled to said processor, said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device having firmware programmed therein, portions of said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device being write modifiable, said firmware including a first portion programmed into an electronically write protected area of said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said first portion being specifically directed to updating said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, a process for updating portions of said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device while said firmware is executing from said RAM, said process comprising the steps of:

• transferring said first portion from said electronically protected area of said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device to said RAM;
• executing said first portion to update a second portion of said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device;
• and
• updating said second portion while said first portion is executing from said RAM.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor for executing logic instructions;
• a programmable flash memory electrically connected to said processor, said programmable flash memory subdivided into a first part and a second part;
• said first part of said programmable flash memory stores BIOS instructions for a normal update mode, wherein said normal update mode includes the instructions needed to save, verify, or update areas of flash memory including said second part of said programmable flash memory;
• said second part of said programmable flash memory stores BIOS instructions for a recovery update mode, wherein said recovery update mode includes instructions needed to start the computer system and update the first part of said programmable flash memory.

A method of updating a BIOS stored in a programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device in a computer, said method comprising the steps of:

• creating two portions of BIOS, a normal update portion and a recovery update portion and storing each portion in a section of said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device;
• using a hardware device to switch between two start-up modes in said computer;
• choosing to load into RAM memory either said normal update portion of BIOS or said recovery update portion of BIOS depending on setting of said hardware device;
• loading the chosen portion of BIOS into said RAM memory;
• and
• updating the portion of BIOS not loaded into said RAM memory.