Information processing apparatus and BIOS update method

Abstract

To reduce restart time in BIOS update.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus comprises: a BIOS storage unit that stores at least a program for a BIOS; a main control unit that starts up an OS by executing the program for the BIOS; and a sub-control unit that manages a peripheral device and can access the BIOS storage unit. The BIOS storage unit has a first area in which the current program for the BIOS is stored, and a second area for storing an update program for the BIOS. The sub-control unit comprises a BIOS update unit that, in update processing of the BIOS, stores the update program for the BIOS acquired by the main control unit in the second area, executes restart, and makes effective the update program stored in the second area as the program for the BIOS.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and a BIOS updating method. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, a technique for safely updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) has become known for information processing devices such as personal computers (PCs) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such conventional information processing devices, a BIOS storage unit that stores the BIOS program and setting information is locked to prevent unauthorized changes to the BIOS while the OS (Operating System) is running. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-153334 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional information processing devices, the BIOS storage unit is locked, so the BIOS cannot be updated while the OS is running. Therefore, in conventional information processing devices, the update program is temporarily stored in a storage unit other than the BIOS storage unit, and when the information processing device is restarted, the update program is written to the BIOS storage unit to update the BIOS, which poses a problem that restarting the device after a BIOS update takes a long time.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device and a BIOS updating method that can shorten the restart time when updating the BIOS. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention is an information processing device comprising a BIOS memory unit that stores at least a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) program, a main control unit that starts an OS (Operating System) by executing the BIOS program, and a sub-control unit that manages peripheral devices and is able to access the BIOS memory unit, wherein the BIOS memory unit has a first area that stores the current BIOS program and a second area for storing an update program for the BIOS, and the sub-control unit has a BIOS update unit that, during the BIOS update process, stores the BIOS update program acquired by the main control unit in the second area, performs a restart, and enables the update program stored in the second area as the BIOS program.

[0007] In addition, one aspect of the present invention is that in the above-mentioned information processing device, when the BIOS update process is restarted, the BIOS update unit may change the reference used to access the BIOS program from the BIOS program in the first area to the update program in the second area, and enable the update program as the BIOS program.

[0008] In addition, one aspect of the present invention is that in the above-mentioned information processing device, the BIOS program in the first area is set to be prohibited from being changed from the OS, and when the BIOS update unit enables the update program as the BIOS program, it may change the setting of the update program to be prohibited from being changed from the OS.

[0009] In addition, one aspect of the present invention is that the above-mentioned information processing device is provided with a backup memory unit that stores a backup of the BIOS program, and the BIOS update unit enables the update program as the BIOS program, then transfers and stores the update program to the backup memory unit, and if verification of the BIOS program fails, the sub-control unit executes a recovery process to repair the BIOS program that starts the OS using the backup stored in the backup memory unit.

[0010] In addition, as another aspect of the present invention, in the information processing device described above, the first area and the second area may be independent storage devices.

[0011] In addition, one aspect of the present invention is that in the above information processing device, the storage device may be an electrically rewritable memory chip and may be connected to the sub-control unit via an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface).

[0012] In addition, as another aspect of the present invention, in the information processing device described above, the storage device that constitutes the second area may be an electrically rewritable memory chip or an SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention is a BIOS update method for an information processing device that includes a BIOS memory unit that stores at least a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) program, a main control unit that starts an OS (Operating System) by executing the BIOS program, and a sub-control unit that manages peripheral devices and is accessible to the BIOS memory unit, wherein the BIOS memory unit has a first area that stores the current BIOS program and a second area for storing an update program for the BIOS, and the BIOS update method includes a BIOS update step in which the sub-control unit stores the BIOS update program acquired by the main control unit in the second area during the BIOS update process, performs a reboot, and enables the update program stored in the second area as the BIOS program. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the above aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the reboot time when updating the BIOS. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main hardware configuration of a notebook PC according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a notebook PC according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a first diagram illustrating an example of a BIOS update process for a notebook PC according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a second diagram illustrating an example of the BIOS update process of the notebook PC according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a third diagram illustrating an example of the BIOS update process of the notebook PC according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a fourth diagram illustrating an example of the BIOS update process of the notebook PC according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7]5 is a flowchart showing an example of a BIOS update process of the notebook PC according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of recovery processing by backing up the BIOS of the notebook PC according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a notebook PC according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An information processing device and a BIOS updating method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] [First embodiment] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the main hardware configuration of a notebook PC 1 according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the notebook PC 1 (notebook personal computer) will be described as an example of an information processing device.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the notebook PC 1 includes a CPU 11, a main memory 12, a video subsystem 13, a display unit 14, a chipset 21, an SSD 22, a USB connector 23, an audio system 24, a WLAN card 25, an embedded controller (EC) 31, a BIOS memory 32, an input unit 33, and a power supply circuit 34. In this embodiment, the CPU 11 and the chipset 21 correspond to the main control unit 10.

[0019] A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 executes various arithmetic processes under program control and controls the entire notebook PC 1. The main memory 12 is a writable memory used as a read area for the execution program of the CPU 11 or as a work area for writing processing data for the execution program. The main memory 12 is composed of, for example, multiple DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) chips. The execution program includes a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) program, an OS, various drivers for operating peripheral devices, various service / utility programs, application programs, etc.

[0020] Video subsystem 13 is a subsystem for realizing functions related to image display, and includes a video controller. This video controller processes drawing commands from CPU 11, writes the processed drawing information to a video memory, and also reads the drawing information from the video memory and outputs it to display unit 14 as drawing data (display data).

[0021] The display unit 14 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays a display screen based on the drawing data (display data) output from the video subsystem 13.

[0022] The chipset 21 includes controllers for a Universal Serial Bus (USB), a serial ATA (AT Attachment), a serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, a PCI-Express bus, and an embedded serial peripheral interface (eSPI) bus, and is connected to a plurality of devices. In FIG. 1, an SSD 22, a USB connector 23, an audio system 24, a WLAN card 25, and an embedded controller 31 are connected to the chipset 21 as examples of devices.

[0023] The SSD (Solid State Drive) 22 stores the OS, various drivers, various services / utilities, application programs, and various data. The SSD 22 may be accessible from the chipset 21 via the embedded controller 31.

[0024] The USB connector 23 is a connector for connecting peripheral devices that use USB. The audio system 24 records, plays back, and outputs sound data. A WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) card 25 connects to a network via a wireless LAN to perform data communication.

[0025] The embedded controller 31 (an example of a sub-controller) is a one-chip microcomputer that monitors and controls various devices (peripheral devices, sensors, etc.) regardless of the system state of the notebook PC 1. In other words, the embedded controller 31 is an embedded controller that manages peripheral devices and can access the BIOS memory 32.

[0026] The embedded controller 31 also has a power management function that controls the power supply circuit 34. The embedded controller 31 is composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. (not shown), and also has A / D input terminals for multiple channels, D / A output terminals, a timer, and digital input / output terminals. The embedded controller 31 is connected to, for example, an input unit 33 and a power supply circuit 34 via these input / output terminals, and the embedded controller 31 controls the operations of these components.

[0027] The embedded controller 31 also has an SPI and is connected to the BIOS memory 32 via the SPI. In this embodiment, for example, the BIOS memory 32 is connected to the embedded controller 31 by a Slave Attached Flash method, and the main control unit 10 can access the BIOS memory 32 via the embedded controller 31. In the Slave Attached Flash method, the main control unit 10 acts as a master and is connected to the embedded controller 31 as a slave, and the BIOS memory 32 is further connected to the embedded controller 31 as a slave. This connection enables the embedded controller 31 to access the BIOS memory 32, and also enables the main control unit 10 to access the BIOS memory 32 via the embedded controller 31.

[0028] Furthermore, the embedded controller 31 can detect, via the power supply circuit 34, whether the notebook PC 1 is supplied with power from an external power supply or from a battery 35 built into the notebook PC 1 (its own device). Furthermore, during the BIOS update process, the embedded controller 31 writes (stores) the BIOS update program in, for example, the BIOS memory 32, and executes a process to validate the update program. Details of the BIOS update process will be described later.

[0029] The BIOS memory 32 is configured with an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or a flash ROM. The BIOS memory 32 is connected to the embedded controller 31 by a method such as a slave attached flash method that allows the main control unit 10 to access the BIOS memory 32 via the embedded controller 31, and the BIOS memory 32 is configured to be accessible from the main control unit 10 via the embedded controller 31. The BIOS memory 32 stores the BIOS and system firmware for controlling the embedded controller 31, etc. The BIOS memory 32 stores, for example, a BIOS program, various setting information, etc. The BIOS memory 32 also stores a digest value (hash value) previously obtained from the BIOS program data.

[0030] The BIOS memory 32 includes a BIOS main memory 321 , a redundant memory 322 , and a backup memory 323 . The BIOS main memory 321 is an SPI memory (an example of a storage device) connected to the embedded controller 31 via an SPI, and mainly stores the BIOS main program, setting information, various firmware, and the like.

[0031] The redundant memory 322 is an SPI memory (an example of a storage device) connected to the embedded controller 31 via an SPI, and stores a BIOS update program, which will be described later.

[0032] The backup memory 323 is an SPI memory (an example of a storage device) connected to the embedded controller 31 via an SPI, and stores a backup of the BIOS program.

[0033] The input unit 33 is an input device such as a keyboard, a pointing device, or a touchpad. The power supply circuit 34 includes, for example, a DC / DC converter, a charge / discharge unit, etc., and converts the external power supply from the AC / DC adapter or the DC voltage supplied from the battery 35 into multiple voltages required to operate the notebook PC 1. The power supply circuit 34 also supplies power to each component of the notebook PC 1 under the control of the embedded controller 31.

[0034] The battery 35 is, for example, a lithium ion battery, and when external power is supplied from the AC / DC adapter, it is charged by the power supply circuit 34. Furthermore, when external power is not supplied from the AC / DC adapter, the battery 35 supplies power to each component of the notebook PC 1 via the power supply circuit 34.

[0035] Next, the functional configuration of the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment. 2, the notebook PC 1 includes a main control unit 10, an embedded controller 31, a storage unit 40, an NW (network) communication unit 41, and a BIOS storage unit 320. Note that only the main functional configuration related to the present embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.

[0036] The storage unit 40 is realized by, for example, the main memory 12, and stores various types of information used by the notebook PC 1. The storage unit 40 stores, for example, various types of information used in BIOS processing and OS processing.

[0037] The NW communication unit 41 is a functional unit realized by, for example, the WLAN card 25, and connects to the network NW1 via network communication such as wireless LAN or wired LAN to perform data communication. The NW communication unit 41 is used, for example, to obtain a BIOS update program.

[0038] The main control unit 10 has a CPU 11 and a chipset 21, and starts an OS (e.g., Windows (registered trademark)) by executing a BIOS program. After the OS starts, the main control unit 10 executes various applications that run on the OS. The main control unit 10 includes, for example, a BIOS processing unit 101 and an OS processing unit 102.

[0039] The BIOS processing unit 101 is a functional unit that is realized by causing the CPU 11 to execute a BIOS program, and executes various BIOS processes. The BIOS processing unit 101 executes, for example, a process of starting up the OS. The OS processing unit 102 is a functional unit that is realized by causing the CPU 11 to execute an OS program, and executes various processes of the OS.

[0040] The BIOS storage unit 320 is a storage unit realized by, for example, the BIOS memory 32, and stores at least a BIOS program. The BIOS storage unit 320 includes the above-mentioned BIOS main memory 321, redundant memory 322, and backup memory 323. In this embodiment, the BIOS main memory 321 corresponds to the main area A1 of the BIOS storage unit 320, and the redundant memory 322 corresponds to the redundant area A2 of the BIOS storage unit 320. The backup memory 323 corresponds to the backup area A3 of the BIOS storage unit 320. In other words, the BIOS storage unit 320 has the main area A1 (first area), the redundant area A2 (second area), and the backup area A3 (third area).

[0041] The main area A1 is an area for storing the current BIOS program, the redundant area A2 is an area for storing BIOS update programs, and the backup area A3 is an area for storing a backup of the BIOS program, and is an example of a backup storage unit.

[0042] In this embodiment, the BIOS main memory 321 (main area A1), the redundant memory 322 (redundant area A2), and the backup memory 323 (backup area A3) are connected via SPI so as to be accessible from the embedded controller 31. In this embodiment, the main area A1, the redundant area A2, and the backup area A3 are each an independent storage device (SPI memory).

[0043] The embedded controller 31 includes a BIOS redirection information storage unit 311 and a BIOS update unit 312. The BIOS redirection information storage unit 311 stores redirection information that indicates a reference destination used to access a BIOS program.

[0044] In the BIOS update process, the BIOS update unit 312 stores the BIOS update program acquired by the main control unit 10 in the redundant area A2, performs a reboot, and enables the update program stored in the redundant area A2 as a BIOS program.

[0045] For example, when restarting the BIOS update process, the BIOS update unit 312 changes the reference destination used to access the BIOS program from the BIOS program in the main area A1 to the update program in the redundant area A2, and enables the update program as the BIOS program. That is, the BIOS update unit 312 changes the redirect information stored in the BIOS redirect information storage unit 311 from the main area A1 to the redundant area A2, disables the BIOS program in the main area A1, and enables the update program as the BIOS program.

[0046] Furthermore, when the BIOS update unit 312 validates the update program as a BIOS program, it changes the setting of the update program so that it cannot be changed from the OS. The BIOS update unit 312 locks the redundant area A2 so that the BIOS program in the redundant area A2, which is the update program, cannot be directly accessed from the OS.

[0047] After validating the update program as a BIOS program, the BIOS update unit 312 transfers the update program to the backup area A3 and stores it therein. If the embedded controller 31 fails to verify the validity of the BIOS program in a Power On Self Test (POST) executed when starting the OS, the embedded controller 31 executes a recovery process to restore the BIOS program that starts the OS using the backup stored in the backup area A3.

[0048] Next, the operation of the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the BIOS update process of the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6 are diagrams illustrating an example of the BIOS update process of the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows the state of the notebook PC 1 before the BIOS is updated, and illustrates the BIOS and OS startup process in the state before the BIOS is updated. 3, when the notebook PC 1 is powered on or reset (restarted), the main control unit 10 uses eSPI to access the main area A1 of the BIOS storage unit 320 via the embedded controller 31, reads (loads) the BIOS program (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the BIOS program), and starts the BIOS. The main control unit 10 also uses the BIOS to start the OS.

[0050] In the state shown in FIG. 3, the backup area A3 stores the same BIOS program as that stored in the main area A1 as a backup of the BIOS program. After the OS is started, the BIOS program (main) in the main area A1 is locked so that it cannot be directly accessed by the OS.

[0051] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the details of the writing process (storing process) of the update program in the BIOS update process of the notebook PC 1 will be described. 4, the main control unit 10 transfers a BIOS update program (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as an update program) acquired, for example, via the network NW1 and the NW communication unit 41, to the embedded controller 31. The BIOS update unit 312 of the embedded controller 31 determines a redundant area A2 (here, an area within the redundant memory 322) in the BIOS storage unit 320, and stores the update program acquired from the main control unit 10 in the redundant area A2.

[0052] Here, the reason why the BIOS update unit 312 stores the update program in the redundant area A2 is that the main area A1 is locked, and therefore the update program cannot be stored directly in the main area A1. Furthermore, the BIOS update unit 312 performs a restart (global reset) after storing the update program in the redundant area A2.

[0053] Next, the reboot process after the update program is stored in the redundant area A2 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, in the reboot process, the BIOS update unit 312 enables the update program in the redundant area A2, disables the BIOS program in the main area A1, and starts the BIOS with the update program.

[0054] The BIOS update unit 312 changes the redirection information of the reference destination of the BIOS program stored in the BIOS redirection information storage unit 311 from the main area A1 to the redundant area A2, enables the update program, and disables the BIOS program in the main area A1.

[0055] Furthermore, the embedded controller 31 reads (loads) the update program in the redundant area A2 as the latest BIOS program and transfers it to the main control unit 10. The main control unit 10 reads (loads) the update program in the redundant area A2 via the embedded controller 31 and starts up the BIOS and OS.

[0056] The main control unit 10 uses eSPI to access the main area A1 of the BIOS storage unit 320 via the embedded controller 31, reads (loads) the BIOS program (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the BIOS program), and starts up the BIOS. The main control unit 10 also uses the BIOS to start up the OS. After the OS is started, the update program in the redundant area A2 is locked so that it cannot be directly accessed from the OS.

[0057] Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a backup process of the BIOS program (update program) after reboot will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the BIOS update unit 312 of the embedded controller 31 transfers the update program in the redundant area A2 to the backup area A3 of the BIOS storage unit 320, and stores it as a backup of the BIOS program.

[0058] After the BIOS update process, the BIOS update unit 312 may treat the redundant area A2 that has been enabled as a BIOS program as the main area during the next BIOS update, and may use the disabled main area A1 as the redundant area for the next BIOS update, or may use another free area in the redundant memory 322 as the redundant area for the next BIOS update.

[0059] Next, the operation of the embedded controller 31 in the BIOS update process of the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the BIOS update process of the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment.

[0060] 7, in the BIOS update process, the embedded controller 31 of the notebook PC 1 first determines a redundant area A2 and stores the BIOS update program acquired from the main control unit 10 in the redundant area A2 (step S101). The BIOS update unit 312 of the embedded controller 31 stores the update program acquired from the main control unit 10 using eSPI in the redundant area A2 using SPI. The BIOS update unit 312 determines the redundant area A2 from, for example, an empty area of ​​the redundant memory 322.

[0061] Next, the BIOS update unit 312 restarts the notebook PC 1, enables the update program in the redundant area A2 as a BIOS program, and disables the BIOS program in the main area A1 (step S102). The BIOS update unit 312, for example, executes a global reset to restart the notebook PC 1 and changes the redirection information stored in the BIOS redirection information storage unit 311 from the main area A1 to the redundant area A2. As a result, the update program in the redundant area A2 is enabled and the BIOS program in the main area A1 is disabled.

[0062] Furthermore, when the notebook PC 1 is restarted, the BIOS update unit 312 responds to a BIOS program read request from the main control unit 10 by reading the update program from the redundant area A2 based on the redirect information in the BIOS redirect information storage unit 311, and transmits the read update program to the main control unit 10. This causes the BIOS to be started up by the update program.

[0063] Next, the BIOS update unit 312 stores the updated program in the backup area A3 as a backup after the OS is started using the updated program (step S103). As a runtime process after the OS is started, the BIOS update unit 312 reads the updated program from the redundant area A2 and stores it in the backup area A3 as a backup. After the process of step S103, the BIOS update unit 312 ends the BIOS update process.

[0064] Next, the recovery process of the BIOS of the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of recovery processing by backing up the BIOS of the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment.

[0065] 8, the embedded controller 31 of the notebook PC 1 first executes a POST process (step S201) when the notebook PC 1 is started up. The embedded controller 31 verifies the validity of the BIOS program, for example, by using a digest value (hash value) previously obtained from the BIOS program data.

[0066] Next, the embedded controller 31 determines whether the validity of the BIOS has been confirmed based on the result of the POST processing (step S201). If the validity of the BIOS has been confirmed based on the result of the POST processing (step S202: YES), the embedded controller 31 proceeds to step S203. If the validity of the BIOS has not been confirmed based on the result of the POST processing (step S202: NO), the embedded controller 31 proceeds to step S204.

[0067] In step S203, the notebook PC 1 starts up the OS by the BIOS. That is, the main control unit 10 of the notebook PC 1 reads (loads) the BIOS program via the embedded controller 31 and executes the BIOS program to start up the OS. After the processing of step S203, the startup processing of the notebook PC 1 ends.

[0068] Furthermore, in step S204, the embedded controller 31 restores the BIOS program using the backup in the backup area A3. The embedded controller 31 reads the backup of the BIOS program stored in the backup area A3 and rewrites it to the area (main area A1 or redundant area A2) where the current BIOS program is stored. The embedded controller 31 determines the area where the backup is to be rewritten based on the redirect information stored in the BIOS redirect information storage unit 311. After processing step S204, the embedded controller 31 returns the process to step S101.

[0069] In the above description, the processing in steps S101 and S202 is executed by the embedded controller 31, but the main control unit 10 may execute these steps instead of the embedded controller 31.

[0070] As described above, the notebook PC 1 (information processing device) according to this embodiment includes a BIOS storage unit 320, a main control unit 10, and an embedded controller 31 (sub-control unit). The BIOS storage unit 320 (BIOS memory 32) stores at least a BIOS program. The main control unit 10 starts up the OS by executing the BIOS program. The embedded controller 31 (sub-control unit) manages peripheral devices and is configured to be able to access the BIOS storage unit 320. The BIOS storage unit 320 also includes a main area A1 (first area) that stores the current BIOS program and a redundant area A2 (second area) for storing BIOS update programs. The embedded controller 31 includes a BIOS update unit 312. During the BIOS update process, the BIOS update unit 312 stores the BIOS update program acquired by the main control unit 10 in the redundant area A2, restarts the device, and validates the update program stored in the redundant area A2 as the BIOS program.

[0071] As a result, the notebook PC 1 (information processing device) according to this embodiment enables the BIOS update program stored in the redundant area A2 (second area) as a BIOS program and uses it as is, so there is no need to move the update program to the main area A1 when rebooting. Therefore, the notebook PC 1 (information processing device) according to this embodiment can shorten the reboot time when updating the BIOS.

[0072] Furthermore, in the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment, the pre-update BIOS program remains in the main area A1. Therefore, the BIOS update unit 312 disables the BIOS program stored in the redundant area A2 and enables the BIOS program stored in the main area A1 again, thereby allowing the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment to safely and easily return to the BIOS before the update.

[0073] In addition, in this embodiment, when restarting the BIOS update process, the BIOS update unit 312 changes the reference used to access the BIOS program from the BIOS program in the main area A1 to the update program in the redundant area A2, and enables the update program as the BIOS program.

[0074] As a result, the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment can validate the update program as a BIOS program by simply changing the reference destination used for access. Also, in the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment, the main control unit 10 does not need to be aware that the storage location of the BIOS program has been changed by the update process, and the effect is that the processing of the conventional main control unit can be used as is.

[0075] In this embodiment, the BIOS program in the main area A1 is set to be prohibited from being changed by the OS. When the BIOS update unit 312 validates the update program as a BIOS program, it changes the setting of the update program to be prohibited from being changed by the OS.

[0076] As a result, in the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment, the BIOS program cannot be changed from the OS, and therefore the BIOS program can be protected and prevented from being changed illegally.

[0077] The notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment also includes a backup area A3 (an example of a backup storage unit) that stores a backup of the BIOS program. The BIOS update unit 312 validates the update program as a BIOS program, and then transfers the update program to the backup area A3 for storage. If verification of the BIOS program fails, the embedded controller 31 executes recovery processing to restore the BIOS program that starts the OS using the backup stored in the backup area A3.

[0078] As a result, in the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment, if the BIOS program is corrupted due to, for example, corrupted data stored in the BIOS memory 32, the BIOS program can be safely repaired and restored.

[0079] In this embodiment, the main area A1 and the redundant area A2 are each an independent storage device (SPI memory). Here, the storage device is an electrically rewritable memory chip, and is connected to the embedded controller 31 via SPI.

[0080] As a result, the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment can be configured with independent storage devices (SPI memories), thereby greatly increasing the BIOS program area and easily expanding the functionality.

[0081] Furthermore, a BIOS update method according to this embodiment is a BIOS update method for a notebook PC 1 that includes at least a BIOS storage unit 320 that stores a BIOS program, a main control unit 10 that starts up an OS by executing the BIOS program, and an embedded controller 31 that manages peripheral devices and can access the BIOS storage unit 320, and includes a BIOS update step. The BIOS storage unit 320 has a main area A1 that stores the current BIOS program and a redundant area A2 for storing a BIOS update program. In the BIOS update step, the embedded controller 31 stores the BIOS update program acquired by the main control unit 10 in the BIOS update process in the redundant area A2, performs a reboot, and validates the update program stored in the redundant area A2 as the BIOS program.

[0082] As a result, the BIOS update method according to this embodiment has the same effect as the notebook PC 1 described above, and can shorten the restart time when updating the BIOS.

[0083] [Second embodiment] Next, a notebook PC 1a according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a modified example will be described in which a backup storage unit 221 configured with an SSD 22 is used instead of the backup memory 323 .

[0084] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the notebook PC 1a according to this embodiment. The main hardware configuration of the notebook PC 1a according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 9, the notebook PC 1a includes a main control unit 10, an embedded controller 31, a storage unit 40, a NW communication unit 41, a BIOS storage unit 320a, and a backup storage unit 221. In FIG. 9, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0086] The BIOS storage unit 320a is a storage unit realized by, for example, the BIOS memory 32, and stores at least a BIOS program. The BIOS storage unit 320a includes the BIOS main memory 321 and the redundant memory 322 described above.

[0087] The backup storage unit 221 is a storage unit realized by, for example, the SSD 22, and stores a backup of the BIOS program, similar to the backup memory 323 of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the backup storage unit 221 corresponds to the backup area A3.

[0088] The embedded controller 31 according to this embodiment also includes a BIOS redirection information storage unit 311 and a BIOS update unit 312a. The basic functions of the BIOS update unit 312a are the same as those of the BIOS update unit 312 of the first embodiment described above, except that the backup storage unit 221 is used instead of the backup memory 323 in the backup area A3.

[0089] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the backup storage unit 221 is realized by the SSD 22, but the redundant area A2 (redundant memory 322) may also be realized by the SSD 22. That is, the storage device that constitutes the redundant area A2 may be an electrically rewritable memory chip or the SSD 22.

[0090] As described above, the notebook PC 1a according to this embodiment includes a BIOS storage unit 320a, a main control unit 10, and an embedded controller 31 (sub-control unit). The BIOS storage unit 320a (BIOS memory 32) stores at least a BIOS program. The BIOS storage unit 320a has a main area A1 (first area) that stores the current BIOS program, and a redundant area A2 (second area) for storing a BIOS update program. The embedded controller 31 includes a BIOS update unit 312a. In a BIOS update process, the BIOS update unit 312a stores the BIOS update program acquired by the main control unit 10 in the redundant area A2, performs a reboot, and validates the update program stored in the redundant area A2 as the BIOS program.

[0091] As a result, the notebook PC 1a according to this embodiment has the same effect as the first embodiment described above, and can shorten the restart time when updating the BIOS.

[0092] The notebook PC 1a according to this embodiment also includes a backup storage unit 221 (backup area A3) that stores a backup of the BIOS program. After the BIOS update unit 312 validates the update program as a BIOS program, the BIOS update program is transferred to and stored in the backup storage unit 221. If verification of the BIOS program fails, the embedded controller 31 executes recovery processing to restore the BIOS program that starts the OS using the backup stored in the backup storage unit 221.

[0093] As a result, in the notebook PC 1a according to this embodiment, if the BIOS program is corrupted due to data corruption in the BIOS memory 32, for example, the BIOS program can be safely repaired and restored.

[0094] In this embodiment, the main area A1 and the redundant area A2 are independent storage devices. The storage device that constitutes the redundant area A2 may be an electrically rewritable memory chip or an SSD 22.

[0095] As a result, the notebook PC 1 according to this embodiment can significantly increase the BIOS program area by using an electrically rewritable memory chip or SSD 22 as the redundant area A2, and can easily expand its functions.

[0096] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the information processing device is the notebook PC 1, but the information processing device is not limited to this, and may be, for example, another information processing device such as a tablet terminal device or a desktop PC.

[0097] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, an example has been described in which the redundant area A2 and the backup area A3 are provided outside the BIOS main memory 321, but this is not limited to this, and the redundant area A2 and the backup area A3 may also be provided inside the BIOS main memory 321.

[0098] In the above embodiments, the notebook PC 1 (1a) acquires the BIOS update file via the network NW1. However, the BIOS update file may be acquired as a capsule file encapsulated using encryption technology. In this case, by using the capsule file, the notebook PC 1 (1a) can reduce the possibility that the BIOS update program will be tampered with during transfer, and can perform the BIOS update process safely.

[0099] Each component of the notebook PC 1 (1a) described above has an internal computer system. A program for implementing the functions of each component of the notebook PC 1 (1a) described above may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to perform processing in each component of the notebook PC 1 (1a). Here, "reading a program recorded on a recording medium into a computer system and executing it" includes installing the program into a computer system. The term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, a "computer system" may include multiple computer devices connected via a network, including communication lines such as the Internet, WAN, LAN, and dedicated lines. Furthermore, a "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system. Thus, the recording medium storing the program may be a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0100] The recording medium also includes internal or external recording media accessible from a distribution server for distributing the program. The program may be divided into multiple parts, downloaded at different times, and then combined into various components of the notebook PC 1 (1a), or each divided program may be distributed by a different distribution server. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" also includes a medium that stores a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory (RAM) within a computer system that serves as a server or client when a program is transmitted over a network. The program may also be a medium that realizes part of the above-described functions. Furthermore, the program may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can realize the above-described functions in combination with a program already stored in the computer system.

[0101] Furthermore, some or all of the above-described functions may be realized as an integrated circuit such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration). Each of the above-described functions may be individually implemented as a processor, or some or all of the functions may be integrated into a processor. Furthermore, the integrated circuit implementation method is not limited to LSI, and may be implemented using a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. Furthermore, if an integrated circuit implementation technology that can replace LSI emerges due to advances in semiconductor technology, an integrated circuit based on that technology may be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0102] 1, 1a Notebook PC 10 Main control unit 11 CPU 12. Main memory 13 Video Subsystem 14 Display section 21 Chipset 22 SSD 23 USB connector 24 Audio System 25 WLAN cards 31 Embedded Controller (EC) 32 BIOS memory 33 Input section 34 Power supply circuit 35 Battery 40 Storage section 41 Network Communications Department 101 BIOS processing unit 102 OS processing unit 221 Backup memory unit 311 BIOS redirection information storage 312, 312a BIOS update section 320, 320a BIOS storage 321 BIOS main memory 322 redundant memory 323 Backup Memory A1 Main Area A2 redundant area A3 backup area NW1 Network

Claims

1. a BIOS storage unit that stores at least a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) program; a main control unit that starts an OS (Operating System) by executing the BIOS program; a sub-controller that manages peripheral devices and can access the BIOS storage unit; Equipped with the BIOS storage unit has a first area for storing a current BIOS program and a second area for storing an update program for the BIOS; The sub-controller includes a BIOS updater that stores the BIOS update program acquired by the main controller in the second area, restarts the computer, and validates the update program stored in the second area as a program of the BIOS. Information processing device.

2. The BIOS update unit changes a reference destination used to access the BIOS program from the BIOS program in the first area to the update program in the second area at the time of the restart of the BIOS update process, thereby enabling the update program as the BIOS program. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The BIOS program in the first area is set to be prohibited from being changed by the OS, The BIOS update unit changes the setting of the update program to prohibit changes from the OS when the update program is enabled as a program of the BIOS. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. a backup storage unit for storing a backup of the BIOS program; the BIOS update unit validates the update program as a program of the BIOS, and then transfers the update program to the backup storage unit and stores it therein; When verification of the BIOS program fails, the sub-controller executes a recovery process to restore the BIOS program that starts the OS using the backup stored in the backup storage unit. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The first area and the second area are each an independent storage device. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. The storage device is an electrically rewritable memory chip and is connected to the sub-controller via an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface). The information processing device according to claim 5 .

7. The storage device that constitutes the second area is an electrically rewritable memory chip or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The information processing device according to claim 5 .

8. A BIOS update method for an information processing device including a BIOS storage unit that stores at least a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) program, a main control unit that starts an OS (Operating System) by executing the BIOS program, and a sub-control unit that manages peripheral devices and is accessible to the BIOS storage unit, comprising: the BIOS storage unit has a first area for storing a current BIOS program and a second area for storing an update program for the BIOS; The BIOS update process includes a BIOS update step in which the sub-controller stores the BIOS update program acquired by the main control unit in the second area, restarts the computer, and validates the update program stored in the second area as a BIOS program. How to update BIOS.

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