US4024504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Firmware loader for load time binding
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-21
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Granted: 1977-05-17
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Expires: 1993-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A loader which itself may be implemented in firmware, being permanently resident within a read-only microinstruction memory in a microprogrammable digital processor, or which may be implemented by a hardwired digital logic equivalent, is provided for binding the firmware structure of such microinstruction processor at user-program, load-time. This loader is preferably activated by the loading operation to read the loaded program's operating requirements and to equate these to system requirements and to firmware controller requirements. The loader may then call upon a library of firmware which may be optionally incorporated into the system, to select the specific firmware modules which are needed to execute that particular program, and to bind the selected firmware into the processor's microprogram read-write memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick J. Chowning
- 👤 Diane W. Cikoski
- 👤 Thomas R. Cikoski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/22; G06F9/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for storing both microinstructions and source level instructions in a shared memory of a data processor, comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of firmware modules in auxiliary storage outside of the shared memory; specifying particular ones of said plurality of firmware modules needed to run a particular program; translating said firmware module specifications at load time of said particular program into a set of required firmware modules; loading each firmware module in said set of required firmware modules into an area in the shared memory; separating said area in the shared memory so loaded from a user dumpable area; and loading source level instructions into the shared memory at a location outside said separated area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for storing both microinstructions and source level instructions in a shared memory of a data processor, comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of firmware modules in auxiliary storage outside of the shared memory; specifying particular ones of said plurality of firmware modules needed to run a particular program; translating said firmware module specifications at load time of said particular program into a set of required firmware modules; loading each firmware module in said set of required firmware modules into an area in the shared memory; separating said area in the shared memory so loaded from a user dumpable area; and loading source level instructions into the shared memory at a location outside said separated area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of storing includes: labeling each said stored firmware module; indexing each said stored firmware module; and constructing a table of said stored firmware module labels and indexes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of specifying includes: constructing a table in storage of binding informations referenced to said particular program; and heading said particular program with a program name, and the storage address of said binding information for said particular program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of translating includes: locating the binding information in storage for said particular program; reading each said firmware module specification in turn; and accessing said table of said stored firmware module labels and indexes for addressing each firmware module required.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of loading also includes: reindexing each loaded firmware module according to its bound location in said shared memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
A firmware loader for use with a microprogrammable computer system having a shared memory for storing both firmware modules and user program object code, said system being adapted to receive a program having encoded header information for identifying the beginning of the program and the particular firmware modules required therefor, said loader comprising: an auxiliary storage system for storing firmware modules; decoder means responsive to the encoded header information for detecting the beginning of a program; instruction decoding means responsive to said detecting of said decoder means and to the encoded header information for specifying particular ones of said firmware modulus to be loaded into the shared memory; and firmware binding means controlled by said instruction decoding means for loading from said auxiliary storage system into the shared memory said specified particular ones of said firmware molules.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
A firmware loader for use with a microprogrammable computer system having a shared memory for storing both firmware modules and user program object code, said system being adapted to receive a program having encoded header information for identifying the beginning of the program and the particular firmware modules required therefor, said loader comprising: an auxiliary storage system for storing firmware modules; decoder means responsive to the encoded header information for detecting the beginning of a program; instruction decoding means responsive to said detecting of said decoder means and to the encoded header information for specifying particular ones of said firmware modulus to be loaded into the shared memory; and firmware binding means controlled by said instruction decoding means for loading from said auxiliary storage system into the shared memory said specified particular ones of said firmware molules.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The firmware loader according to claim 6 wherein: said auxiliary storage system includes means for indexing said firmware modules according to their auxiliary storage locations; and said firmware binding means includes means for reindexing said specified particular ones of said firmware modules according to their shared memory storage locations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-16 | 1980-11-15 | 1981-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-16 | 1984-11-15 | 1985-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-16 | 1988-11-15 | 1989-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |