Changing processor functions by changing function information
AssigneeNEC Corporation
InventorShinjiro Taeshima
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An information processing equipment comprises: a processor configured to refer to a function information indicating an assigned function and to execute a firmware code corresponding to the function information; and a memory in which the firmware code and the function information are stored. The information processing equipment further comprises a function change module configured to rewrite the function information.
Claims14
An information processing equipment comprising:
- a plurality of processors;
- a memory;
- and
- a function change module,
- wherein said memory comprises:
- a code area in which a plurality of firmware codes are stored;
- and
- a processor function information area in which a plurality of function information associated with said plurality of processors respectively are stored,
- wherein each of said plurality of function information indicates a corresponding function assigned to the associated processor by referring to one of a firmware code of said plurality of firmware codes,
- wherein each of said plurality of processors refers to said associated function information stored in said processor function information area to execute a firmware code, and
- wherein said function change module rewrites function information associated with a specified processor among said plurality of processors by referring to a different firmware code of said plurality of firmware codes to change a function of said specified processor without rewriting said plurality of firmware codes.
A method of changing a processor function in an information processing equipment that includes a plurality of processors, a memory and a function change module, said memory comprises a code area in which a plurality of firmware codes are stored, said method comprising:
- storing in a processor function information area a plurality of function information associated with said plurality of processors respectively, each of said plurality of function information indicates a corresponding function assigned to the associated processor by referring to one of a firmware code of said plurality of firmware codes;
- executing a firmware code by each of said plurality of processors by to said associated function information stored in said processor function information area;
- and
- rewriting said function information associated with a specified processor among said plurality of processors by referring to a different firmware code of said plurality of firmware codes to change a function of said specified processor without rewriting said plurality of firmware codes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.