Programmable bootstrap loading system

Claim 1

A programmable bootstrap loader apparatus for loading software into the main memory of a computer system having an interconnected processor comprising: nonvolatile storage memory means coupled to the main memory and having an electrically repeatedly alterable firmware structure for storing a set of instructions forming a bootstrap loader program that is not lost when power to the system is lost, said nonvolatile storage alterable memory means includes firmware means for providing a selected number of addressable data storage locations, and for enabling data storage at a particular one of said addressable locations to be selectively altered, while preventing loss of stored data when electric power is cut off from the alterable memory means; computer processor-peripheral interface means coupled to the main memory for decoding instructions of said computer system, and for generating peripheral control signals; and alterable memory access means coupled to said processor, to said processor-peripheral interface means to receive the peripheral control signals and to said nonvolatile storage memory means for selectively altering discrete instructions of said stored bootstrap loader program in response to a discrete instruction provided by the processor and the peripheral control signals provided by the processor-peripheral interface means, said alterable memory access means further includes means for transferring a plurality of instructions including said bootstrap loader program from said alterable memory means into said main memory in response to a single instruction provided by said processor.