Firmware Update via PCIe-AXI Direct Memory Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the low processing capability and storage capacity of the CPU and RAM in the sub-system hinder high-speed firmware updates due to their lower capabilities compared to the main system.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a transfer device in the main system to transfer data to the sub-system, where a writing device in the sub-system writes the received update data directly to a nonvolatile memory, bypassing the CPU and volatile memory in the sub-system, enabling efficient firmware updates by utilizing the PCIe-AXI converter for address mapping and data conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sub-system CPU and RAM are used for firmware update, then the update process can be controlled by the sub-system, but the update speed is limited by the low processing capability and storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a PCIe-AXI converter as an intermediary device between the main system and sub-system. This converter acts as a mediator that enables direct data transfer from the main system's RAM to the sub-system's nonvolatile memory, bypassing the sub-system's CPU and RAM. The converter translates PCIe interface signals to AXI bus signals, facilitating high-speed firmware updates without being constrained by the sub-system's limited processing capabilities.
2Reliability
If data is written through the sub-system CPU and volatile memory, then data can be processed and verified, but the write speed is reduced due to processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the main system CPU prepare and verify the firmware update data before transfer. The main system's higher-capacity RAM is used to store the complete update data, and the main system CPU performs necessary validations. This preliminary preparation ensures data integrity before the high-speed direct transfer to the sub-system's nonvolatile memory, eliminating the need for the sub-system's limited CPU to process the data during the critical write phase.
Data Source
AI summary
In an image forming apparatus that includes a first system including a first CPU, and a second system including a second CPU and a memory configured to store firmware to be executed by the second CPU, the second CPU makes, on a writing device that writes received data to a device of the second system, a setting to enable the writing device to directly write update data for the firmware received from the first system, to the memory of the second system.