Firmware Component Modification via Archive Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional system ROM updates are monolithic, requiring the entire set of firmware to be updated, which is time-consuming and can lead to unintended side effects, and do not allow for flexible modification of individual firmware components without altering the entire system.

Innovation Solution

A firmware modification system that employs an archive of individual firmware components, which can be added, modified, or removed independently, using a modification utility and a component abstraction store to manage and update these components without altering the entire system ROM, allowing for flexible and extensible firmware management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If monolithic ROM updates are used, then system stability is maintained, but update time increases and flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate efficiencyVSAvoidupdate time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the monolithic ROM into separate firmware components stored in an archive. Each component can be independently identified, selected, and updated without affecting the entire ROM. This segmentation enables selective updates of only the modified components, significantly reducing update time and improving productivity while maintaining system stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual firmware components are modified, then flexibility and extensibility improve, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmware flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a modification utility as an intermediary component that manages the archive of firmware components. This utility provides standardized interfaces for adding, modifying, and removing components, abstracting the complexity from the user. The utility handles the intricate operations of component management, allowing users to simply select components for modification without dealing with the underlying system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If full ROM updates are performed, then reliability is ensured, but unintended side effects increase and testing complexity grows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmware reliabilityVSAvoidunintended side effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts individual firmware components from the monolithic ROM and stores them separately in an archive. This extraction allows specific components to be tested and modified independently before being integrated back into the system. By taking out only the necessary components for modification, the system prevents unintended side effects from propagating through the entire firmware, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling safer testing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS8688933B2Firmware component modification

Publication Date: 2014.04.01 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with firmware modification are described. One system embodiment includes modification utility configured to modify a less-than whole portion of the archive based on a modification request. The system embodiment may also include a nonvolatile memory containing an archive of one or more firmware components.