Method and apparatus for secure remote programming of firmware and configurations of a computer over a network

Abstract

A method and related apparatus enables one station on a local area network (LAN) 24 to remotely and securely modify sensitive information of another station on the LAN 24. A workstation 12, acting as a remote management console, generates a wake-up packet 32 or 42 intended for a desktop computer 14 on the LAN 24. A network interface 64 receives and processes the wake-up packet, and issues a signal to wake up the desktop computer. In response to the signal, the desktop computer 14 bootstraps. Data indicating that the network interface 64 has issued the signal is stored in register 104. In the course of bootstrapping, the processor 78 examines the register 104 to determine that the network interface 64 has initiated the wake-up of the desktop computer 14. Once this determination is made, the write protection circuitry 76 places the BIOS ROM 74 in an unprotected state wherein the contents BIOS ROM 74 can be modified by the workstation 12.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.