Runtime Firmware Hotfix Framework for Processor Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional firmware updates in processor-based systems require rebooting, leading to downtime and increased costs in mission-critical environments, as they necessitate stopping the workload to apply updates.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a hotfix-framework that allows for the loading and execution of hotfix-firmware at runtime, utilizing pre-executed boot time resources and scheduled interrupts to apply updates to firmware without rebooting the system, thereby reducing downtime and enhancing system availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If firmware updates are applied by rebooting the system, then the firmware can be updated to fix bugs or add features, but the system experiences downtime and increased costs in mission-critical environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by loading the firmware update into memory before the system needs to reboot, and by preparing the update mechanism during system initialization. The update is staged and ready to be applied immediately when the system is running, eliminating the need for disruptive reboots while ensuring the update can be applied reliably.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling the firmware update process to occur during system operation rather than requiring a static reboot state. The update mechanism dynamically applies changes to the firmware while the system is running, allowing the transition from old to new firmware to happen live without interrupting system functionality.
2Productivity
If firmware updates are applied at runtime without rebooting, then system availability is improved, but the complexity of the update mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a dedicated update mechanism that acts as a mediator between the firmware update source and the running system. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of applying updates during operation, isolating the complexity from the main system logic and enabling runtime updates without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the firmware update process into distinct manageable components: loading the update, verifying the update, applying the update, and handling rollbacks. This segmentation allows each component to be implemented and tested independently, making the overall complex update mechanism more manageable and maintainable.
3Ease of manufacture
If firmware updates are applied without signing verification, then the update process is simplified, but the integrity and security of the updates cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing signing verification before the firmware update is applied to the running system. The update is verified for authenticity and integrity during the loading/staging phase, so that when it is applied at runtime, the complexity of verification does not add to the operational overhead, while still ensuring security and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Example implementations relate to method and system for storing and applying updates to a firmware at runtime of a processor-based system. The processor-based system includes a system management (SM) memory, a platform hardware, a main processor, the firmware, and a hotfix-framework. The hotfix-framework includes a hotfix dispatcher module and a service driver module having one or more boot time resources. The firmware and the hotfix-framework are pre-executed in the SM memory. The platform hardware stores a hotfix-firmware including updates to the firmware into a memory of the processor-based system, and generates an interrupt to direct the main processor into an SM mode and get the hotfix-framework notification about the hotfix-firmware. The hotfix dispatcher module loads the hotfix-firmware from the memory into the SM memory, and executes the hotfix-firmware by utilizing the one or more boot time resources to apply the updates to the firmware at runtime of the processor-based system.