Mechanism to commit data to a memory device with read-only access
AssigneeDell USA, L.P.
InventorsMarc D. Alexander, Todd Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for accessing locked-down flash memory in a computer system that utilizes a general purpose input/output port coupled to the flash memory, and includes program instructions that generate a reset signal, output the reset signal to the general purpose input/output port, sense the reset signal, unlock the flash memory to allow write access to the flash memory, update the flash memory, and lock the flash memory to locked down mode. The present invention allows flash memory to be updated during normal operation of the computer system.
Claims24
A method of updating flash memory in a computer system during operation of the computer system wherein the flash memory is in locked-down mode, the method comprising:
- generating a reset signal;
- outputting the reset signal on a general purpose input/output port, wherein the general purpose input/output port is coupled to reset circuitry for the flash memory;
- sensing the reset signal;
- unlocking the flash memory to allow write access to the flash memory;
- updating the flash memory;
- and
- locking the flash memory to locked down mode.
A computer system comprising:
- a processor;
- a flash memory coupled to the processor;
- a general purpose input/output port coupled to the flash memory;
- first program instructions operable to:
- generate a reset signal;
- output the reset signal to the general purpose input/output port, wherein the general purpose input/output port is coupled to reset circuitry for the flash memory;
- sense the reset signal;
- unlock the flash memory to allow write access to the flash memory;
- update the flash memory;
- and
- lock the flash memory to locked down mode.
An apparatus for accessing flash memory in a computer system, the apparatus comprising:
- a general purpose input/output port coupled to the flash memory;
- first program instructions operable to:
- generate a reset signal;
- output the reset signal to the general purpose input/output port, wherein the general purpose input/output port is coupled to reset circuitry for the flash memory;
- sense the reset signal;
- unlock the flash memory to allow write access to the flash memory;
- update the flash memory;
- and
- lock the flash memory to locked down mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.