Patent US1917983A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6266809B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6266809B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods, systems and computer program products for secure firmware updates
Assignee: Lenovo PC International Ltd
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Filing: 1997-08-15
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Granted: 2001-07-24
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Expires: 2017-08-15
Abstract
Abstract Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which update firmware in a network computer by replacing the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system. The firmware update operating system is then downloaded to the network computer and initiated to update the firmware of the network computer. The firmware update operating system may then be replaced with the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer. The network computer may then be reinitialized by, for example, a cold boot, so as to load the standard operating system. The cold boot may be server initiated so as to allow for firmware updates with intervention by an operator at the network computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Craig
- 👤 John L. Harter
- 👤 Robert A. Johnson
- 👤 Brian Stuart Lauber
- 👤 James M. Stafford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4416; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/65
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of updating firmware in a network computer, which initializes using a boot image comprising a standard operating system on a network server, the method comprising: detecting, at the network server, whether the network computer firmware is to be updated; performing the following steps if the network server detects that the network computer firmware is to be updated: replacing, at the network server, the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system; then downloading the firmware update operating system to the network computer at initialization of the network computer; then initiating the firmware update operating system to update the firmware of the network computer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of updating firmware in a network computer, which initializes using a boot image comprising a standard operating system on a network server, the method comprising: detecting, at the network server, whether the network computer firmware is to be updated; performing the following steps if the network server detects that the network computer firmware is to be updated: replacing, at the network server, the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system; then downloading the firmware update operating system to the network computer at initialization of the network computer; then initiating the firmware update operating system to update the firmware of the network computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of replacing, at the network server, the firmware update operating system with the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 2 , wherein said step of replacing the firmware update operating system comprises the step of reinitializing the network computer so as to load the standard operating system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method according to claim 2 , wherein said step of replacing, at the network server, the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system comprises the step of replacing the boot image for the standard operating system with a firmware update boot image, and wherein said step of replacing the firmware update operating system with the standard operating system comprises the step of replacing the firmware update boot image with the standard operating system boot image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of validating the firmware update operating system prior to the step of initiating the firmware update operating system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of replacing, at the network server, the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system comprises the step of replacing, at the network server, the boot image for the standard operating system with a firmware update boot image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said firmware update operating system updates the firmware of a device attached to the network computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting step comprises the step of sending an SNMP query to an SNMP agent resident on the network computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the firmware update operating system causes the update of a plurality of devices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of reinitializing the network computer comprises the step of initiating a cold reboot of the network computer.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for updating firmware in a network computer, which initializes using a boot image comprising a standard operating system on a network server, comprising: means for detecting, at the network server, whether the network computer firmware is to be updated; means for replacing the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system; means for downloading the firmware update operating system to the network computer at initialization of the network computer; and means for initiating the firmware update operating system to update the firmware of the network computer; wherein the means for replacing the standard operating system, the means for downloading the firmware update operating system, and the means for initiating the firmware update operating system are operably associated with the means for detecting so as to only update the network computer firmware if the means for detecting detects that the network computer firmware is to be updated.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for updating firmware in a network computer, which initializes using a boot image comprising a standard operating system on a network server, comprising: means for detecting, at the network server, whether the network computer firmware is to be updated; means for replacing the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system; means for downloading the firmware update operating system to the network computer at initialization of the network computer; and means for initiating the firmware update operating system to update the firmware of the network computer; wherein the means for replacing the standard operating system, the means for downloading the firmware update operating system, and the means for initiating the firmware update operating system are operably associated with the means for detecting so as to only update the network computer firmware if the means for detecting detects that the network computer firmware is to be updated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 11 , further comprising means for replacing the firmware update operating system with the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 12 , wherein said means for replacing the firmware update operating system comprises means for reinitializing the network computer so as to load the standard operating system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
A system according to claim 12 , wherein said means for replacing the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system comprises means for replacing the boot image for the standard operating system with a firmware update boot image, and wherein said means for replacing the firmware update operating system with the standard operating system comprises means for replacing the firmware update boot image with the standard operating system boot image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 11 , further comprising means for validating the firmware update operating system prior to the initiating of the firmware update operating system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 11 , wherein said means for replacing the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system comprises means for replacing the boot image for the standard operating system with a firmware update boot image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 11 , wherein said firmware update operating system updates the firmware of a device attached to the network computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 11 , wherein the firmware update operating system causes the update of a plurality of devices.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 11 , wherein said means for reinitializing the network computer comprises means for initiating a cold reboot of the network computer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
211 words
A computer program product for updating firmware in a network computer, which initializes using a boot image comprising a standard operating system on a network server, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising: computer-readable program code means for detecting, at the network server, whether the network computer firmware is to be updated, computer-readable program code means for replacing the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system; computer-readable program code means for downloading the firmware update operating system to the network computer at initialization of the network computer; and computer-readable program code means for initiating the firmware update operating system to update the firmware of the network computer; wherein the computer-readable program code means for replacing the standard operating system, the computer-readable program code means for downloading the firmware update operating system, and the computer-readable program code means for initiating the firmware update operating system are operably associated with the computer-readable program code means for detecting so as to only update the network computer firmware if the computer-readable program code means for detecting detects that the network computer firmware is to be updated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
211 words
A computer program product for updating firmware in a network computer, which initializes using a boot image comprising a standard operating system on a network server, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising: computer-readable program code means for detecting, at the network server, whether the network computer firmware is to be updated, computer-readable program code means for replacing the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system; computer-readable program code means for downloading the firmware update operating system to the network computer at initialization of the network computer; and computer-readable program code means for initiating the firmware update operating system to update the firmware of the network computer; wherein the computer-readable program code means for replacing the standard operating system, the computer-readable program code means for downloading the firmware update operating system, and the computer-readable program code means for initiating the firmware update operating system are operably associated with the computer-readable program code means for detecting so as to only update the network computer firmware if the computer-readable program code means for detecting detects that the network computer firmware is to be updated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer program product according to claim 20 , further comprising computer-readable program code means for replacing the firmware update operating system with the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program product according to claim 21 , wherein said computer-readable program code means for replacing the firmware update operating system comprises computer-readable program code means for reinitializing the network computer so as to load the standard operating system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer program product according to claim 21 , wherein said computer-readable program code means for replacing the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system comprises computer-readable program code means for replacing the boot image for the standard operating system with a firmware update boot image, and wherein said computer-readable program code means for replacing the firmware update operating system with the standard operating system comprises computer-readable program code means for replacing the firmware update boot image with the standard operating system boot image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer program product according to claim 20 , further comprising computer-readable program code means for validating the firmware update operating system prior to the initiating of the firmware update operating system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer program product according to claim 20 , wherein said computer-readable program code means for replacing the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system comprises computer-readable program code means for replacing the boot image for the standard operating system with a firmware update boot image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program product according to claim 20 , wherein said firmware update operating system updates the firmware of a device attached to the network computer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer program product according to claim 20 , wherein said computer-readable program code means for reinitializing the network computer comprises computer-readable program code means for initiating a cold reboot of the network computer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program product according to claim 20 , wherein the firmware update operating system causes the update of a plurality of devices.
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) | 2004-07-23 | 2005-01-22 | 2005-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-23 | 2009-01-22 | 2009-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-23 | 2013-01-22 | 2013-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |