Automatic selection of firmware for a computer that allows a plurality of process types
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsSachin Chheda, Dhruv Choksey
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Abstract
A firmware selector is provided for a computer that includes a processor. The selector receives the identity of the processor, and in response to the identity, causes the processor to access firmware that corresponds to the processor. Because such a selector can automatically direct the processor to the appropriate firmware when the computer stores multiple firmware, the selector allows a customer to change the processor without requiring him to change the firmware memory or the board on which the firmware memory resides.
Claims9
A firmware selector for a computer that includes a processor, the processor having an identity of a plurality of identities, the selector operable to:
- receive the identity of the processor;
- in response to receiving the identity, map a first firmware to a first location that the processor addresses during start of the computer and map, a second firmware to a second location that the processor is operable to address;
- and
- select the first firmware to be executed during the start up of the computer.
A firmware selector for a computer that includes a processor, the processor having an identity of a plurality of identities, the selector operable to:
- receive the identity of the processor;
- in response to receiving the identity, map a corresponding firmware to a first location that the processor addresses during start of the computer and man a non-corresponding firmware to a second location that the processor is operable to address;
- and
- cause the processor to access the corresponding firmware.
A computer, comprising:
- a processor having an identity of a plurality of identities and operable to provide the identity;
- a plurality of firmware memories that are operable to store respective firmware;
- and
- a firmware selector coupled to the processor and to the firmware memories, the selector operable, in response to the processor identity, to select a first firmware to be executed during the start up of the computer, map a first firmware memory storing the first firmware to a first location that the processor addresses during start of the computer and map a second firmware memory storing a second firmware to a second location that the processor is operable to address.
A method, comprising:
- receiving an identity of a processor;
- mapping a first firmware to a first location that the processor addresses during start of the computer;
- mapping a second firmware to a second location that the processor is operable to address;
- and
- in response to receiving the identity, selecting the first firmware to be executed during the start up of the computer.
A method, comprising:
- receiving an identity of a processor;
- in response to receiving the identity, mapping a corresponding firmware to a first location that the processor addresses during start of the computer,
- mapping a non-corresponding firmware to a second location that the processor is operable to address;
- and
- causing the processor to execute the corresponding firmware.
A method, comprising:
- providing a computer that includes:
- a plurality of firmware memories that are operable to store respective firmware;
- and
- a firmware selector coupled to the firmware memories, the selector operable, in response to a processor identity, to select a first firmware to be executed during the start up of the computer, map a first firmware memory storing the first firmware to a first location that the processor addresses during start of the computer, and map a second firmware memory storing a second firmware to a second location that the processor is operable to address;
- installing in the computer a processor that is operable to provide its identity;
- receiving the identity of the processor by the firmware selector;
- and
- in response to the identity, the firmware selector selecting a first firmware to be executed during the start up of the computer, mapping a first firmware memory storing the first firmware to a first location that the processor addresses during start of the computer, and mapping a second firmware memory storing a second firmware to a second location that the processor is operable to address.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.