Memory flash apparatus and method for providing device upgrades over a standard interface

A host device comprising:

• an interface module having a communication port for communicating with a peripheral stand-alone device attached to said communication port;
• a memory interface module for communicating with a memory subsystem of the host device including a boot Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM);
• and
• a routing logic coupled to said interface module and said memory interface module, said routing logic operative to route boot code upgrade data, from said peripheral stand-alone device that is external to said host device, to said boot PROM to bypass a processor of said host device in response to said peripheral stand-alone device transmitting a data packet to the electronic host device indicating that a boot code upgrade will be performed when connected at said communication port, said processor operative to boot from said boot PROM, said boot code upgrade data for modifying a boot code stored on said boot PROM.

A method comprising:

• detecting a device at an interface port of an electronic host device;
• detecting, by a routing logic, that a peripheral stand-alone device, connected at a communication port of said electronic host device, is a PROM (programmable read only memory) programming device, wherein said peripheral stand-alone device is external to said electronic host device;
• and
• routing boot code upgrade data, from said peripheral stand-alone device to a memory subsystem of said electronic host device to bypass a processor of said electronic host device in response to said peripheral stand-alone device transmitting a data packet to the electronic host device indicating that a boot code upgrade will be performed when connected, said boot code upgrade data for modifying or replacing said boot code stored within said memory subsystem, said processor operative to boot from said boot code.

A non-transitory computer readable memory comprising:

• executable instructions for execution by at least one processor, that when executed cause said at least one processor to:
• detect a device at an interface port of an electronic host device including a processor;
• detect that a peripheral stand-alone device, connected at a communication port of said electronic host device including said at least one processor, is a PROM (programmable read only memory) programming device, wherein said peripheral stand-alone device is external to said electronic host device;
• and
• route boot code upgrade data, from said peripheral stand-alone device to a memory subsystem of said electronic host device, to bypass said processor of said electronic host device in response to said peripheral stand-alone device transmitting a data packet to the electronic host device indicating that a boot code upgrade will be performed, said boot code upgrade data for modifying or replacing said boot code stored within said memory subsystem, said processor operative to boot with said boot code.