Boot Firmware Streaming Through Shared Interconnect Hubs

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge of efficiently updating firmware in computing systems is exacerbated by the need to manage multiple devices with limited motherboard space and interconnects, leading to inefficiencies in accessing and streaming firmware.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where boot firmware is loaded for security engines and communication circuitry, followed by streaming firmware from the same or different memory devices, utilizing a limited number of interconnects through a hub, and prioritizing the loading of firmware components to establish a streaming channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple physical interconnects are used to access firmware for multiple devices, then firmware access capability is improved, but motherboard space consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmware access capabilityVSAvoidmotherboard space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple firmware access operations into a single shared interconnect by implementing a firmware hub that receives firmware images and distributes them to multiple devices sequentially. This allows multiple devices to share one physical interconnect, reducing the total number of interconnects needed while maintaining the ability to update firmware for all devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The firmware hub acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the single interconnect and multiple firmware storage locations. It receives firmware images through one interconnect, processes them, and distributes appropriate firmware to different devices, eliminating the need for direct dedicated interconnects to each device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If firmware is loaded sequentially for multiple devices, then interconnect requirements are reduced, but firmware update time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterconnect requirementsVSAvoidfirmware update time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system loads firmware images into the firmware hub in advance before actual firmware updates are needed. The hub pre-processes and stores firmware images for multiple devices, so when updates are required, the distribution phase is much faster since the firmware is already prepared and staged in the hub.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The firmware hub dynamically switches between different firmware distribution modes - it can sequentially service different devices or prioritize certain devices based on system needs. The system can adapt its firmware loading and distribution strategy in real-time, switching between single-device and multi-device update modes as conditions change.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20260010379A1Firmware access technologies

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Examples described herein relate to booting a processor by: reading, by a communication circuitry of the processor, boot firmware from a boot firmware storage device; executing, by the communication circuitry, the boot firmware; after the communication circuitry loads and executes the boot firmware, circuitry of the processor utilizing the communication circuitry to load boot firmware by streaming boot firmware from a second boot firmware storage device; and executing, by the circuitry of the processor, the streamed boot firmware.