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US 6,651,150 B2Granted
Data-processing apparatus and method of controlling the rewriting of a nonvolatile storage device
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
InventorMayumi Maeda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a computer, software may make an access to a controller in order to rewrite the contents of a nonvolatile storage device. If so, an interruption signal is automatically supplied to a CPU. In response to the interruption signal the CPU stops executing the software and starts performing an interruption process. During the interruption process it is determined whether the access made by the software is a right one. If the access is a wrong one, the rewriting of the contents of the nonvolatile storage device is prohibited at once.
Claims28
A data-processing apparatus comprising:
- a nonvolatile storage device;
- a controller configured to rewrite the contents of the nonvolatile storage device;
- means for accessing the controller to rewrite the contents of the nonvolatile storage device;
- means for determining whether a rewriting program is authorized to rewrite the contents of the nonvolatile storage device;
- and
- means for prohibiting the controller from rewriting the contents of the nonvolatile storage device when the determining means determines that the rewriting program is not authorized to rewrite the contents of the nonvolatile storage device.
3 more elements
A data-processing apparatus comprising:
- a nonvolatile storage device;
- a controller configured to rewrite the contents of the nonvolatile storage device;
- means for accessing the controller to rewrite the contents of the nonvolatile storage device;
- means for generating an interruption signal when the accessing means accesses the controller;
- and
- a CPU configured to perform an interruption process upon receipt of the interruption signal, determines, in the interruption process, whether the access made by the accessing means is a right one or not, and prohibits the controller from rewriting the contents of the nonvolatile storage device when the access made by the accessing means is a not right one.
3 more elements
A method of rewriting the contents of a nonvolatile storage device provided in a data-processing apparatus, said method comprising:
- generating an interruption signal to a CPU provided in the apparatus, when software executed by the CPU makes an access to a controller provided in the apparatus to rewrite the contents of the nonvolatile storage device;
- determining whether the access made by the software is a right one or not, during an interruption process that the CPU performs in response to the interruption signal;
- and
- prohibiting rewriting of the contents of the nonvolatile storage device when the access made by the software is a not right one, and allowing rewriting of the contents of the nonvolatile storage device when the access made by the software is an right one.
1 more element
A data-processing apparatus comprising:
- a nonvolatile storage device;
- a CPU;
- a controller configured to rewrite contents of the nonvolatile storage device, having a write-protecting function for protecting the contents of the nonvolatile storage device from accidental rewriting;
- means for accessing the controller to rewrite the contents of the nonvolatile storage device;
- an interruption signal generator configured to generate an interruption signal to the CPU, when the accessing means makes an access to the controller to release the write-protecting function of the controller;
- means for determining whether the access made by the accessing means is a right one or not, wherein the determining means is activated by the CPU when the CPU receives the interruption signal;
- and
- means for prohibiting the controller from rewriting the contents of the nonvolatile storage device when the determining means has determined that the access made by the accessing means is not a right one.
5 more elements
A data-processing apparatus comprising:
- a nonvolatile storage device;
- a controller configured to rewrite the contents of the nonvolatile storage device, having a write-protecting function for protecting the contents of the nonvolatile storage device from accidental rewriting;
- means for accessing the controller to rewrite the contents of the nonvolatile storage device;
- means for generating an interruption signal when the accessing means accesses the controller to release the write-protecting function of the controller;
- and
- a CPU configured to perform an interruption process upon receipt of the interruption signal, determines, in the interruption process, whether the access made by the accessing means is a right one or not, and prohibits the controller from rewriting the contents of the nonvolatile storage device when the access made by the accessing means is not a right one.
3 more elements
A method of rewriting contents of a nonvolatile storage device provided in a data-processing apparatus, said method comprising:
- generating an interruption signal to a CPU provided in the apparatus, when software executed by the CPU makes an access to a controller provided in the apparatus to release a write-protecting function for protecting the contents of the nonvolatile storage device from accidental rewriting;
- determining whether the access made by the software is a right one or not, during an interruption process that the CPU performs in response to the interruption signal;
- and
- prohibiting rewriting of the contents of the nonvolatile storage device when the access made by the software is not a right one, and allowing rewriting of the contents of the nonvolatile storage device when the access made by the software is a right one.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.