Methods, systems and computer program products for secure firmware updates

A system for controlling updates of a programmable memory of a device, comprising:

• means for providing an update window of predefined duration during which the programmable memory may be updated;
• and
• means for allowing updates of the programmable memory only during the update window;
• wherein the means for providing an update window and the means for allowing updates, comprise:
• means for allowing access to the programmable memory based on the state of an access latch;
• means for setting the access latch to allow access to the programmable memory after a hardware reset of the device;
• means for executing an update control program to control access to the programmable memory;
• means for resetting the latch to prevent access to the programmable memory upon completion of the update control program;
• means for allowing access to a memory where the update control program resides when the access latch allows access to the programmable memory;
• and
• means for preventing access to the memory where the update control program resides when the access latch prevents access to the programmable memory.