Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Reconfiguration
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-04
2001-01-16
Lee, Thomas C. (Department: 2787)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Reconfiguration
C713S001000, C713S002000, C711S102000, C711S104000, C710S104000, C709S213000, C709S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175919
ABSTRACT:
CLAIMS OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application for METHOD FOR UPGRADING BIOS USING A SERIAL COMMUNICATION earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on the May 2, 1997 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 17054/1997.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a basic input-output system (BIOS) of a computer, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for upgrading the BIOS of a computer for upgrading an existing BIOS.
2. Related Art
Up to this point, methods for upgrading the BIOS of a computer have been burdened by several disadvantages. Typically, such methods involve the use of many floppy disks which have to be loaded into the computer in sequence since the BIOS has to be upgraded by floppy disk. The sequential loading of the floppy disks is accompanied by the necessity for the user to input commands using a keyboard. Thus, current systems for upgrading the BIOS of a computer consume much unnecessary time. There is also the disadvantage that the floppy disks must be stored, and this results in a waste of storage space.
Therefore, there is a need for the development of a method for upgrading the BIOS of a computer using another, less time-consuming technique. Specifically, there is a need for the development of a method for upgrading a BIOS using serial communication, so that it is possible to collectively upgrade the BIOS's of a plurality of computers, thereby saving time by using serial communication and not using a floppy disk.
The following patents are considered to be representative of the prior art, and are burdened by the disadvantages set forth herein: U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,056 to Totani, entitled
Disk Drive Control Computer And Method For Rewriting Control Program In Flash EEPROM With Serial Communication Using Unassigned Pins Of SCST Or ATA Connector,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,419 to O'Brien, entitled
System And Method For Merging Disk Change Data From A Floppy Disk Controller With Data Relating To AN IDE Drive Controller,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,357 to Moran et al., entitled
Flash Memory System Providing Both BIOS And User Storage Capability,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,843 to Moran et al., entitled
Flash Memory System Providing Both BIOS And User Storage Capability,
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,267 to Chan et al, entitled
Method And Apparatus For Updating And Restoring System BIOS Functions While Maintaining BIOS Integrity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for upgrading a BIOS using serial communication so that it is possible to collectively upgrade the basic input-output systems (BIOS's) of a plurality of computers, and to save time by upgrading the BIOS using serial communication without need of a floppy disk.
To achieve the above object, there is provided a method and apparatus for upgrading a BIOS using a serial communication, comprising the steps and functions of:
at a host computer, transferring predetermined BIOS upgrade software and a BIOS image corresponding to a computer to the computer through a selecting means using serial communication when the computer connected to the host computer through the selecting means requests the BIOS to be upgraded; and
at the computer which requested the BIOS to be upgraded, upgrading the BIOS by removing the existing BIOS stored in a BIOS ROM, and writing the BIOS image into the BIOS ROM by executing the received BIOS upgrade software.
It is preferable that the step of transferring the BIOS upgrade software and BIOS image executed in the host computer comprise the steps of:
continuously checking whether the BIOS is requested to be upgraded when the BIOS is not requested to be upgraded, and proceeding to the next step when the BIOS is requested to be upgraded after checking whether the computers have requested the BIOS to be upgraded;
obtaining a model ID from a corresponding computer when it is determined that the BIOS is requested to be upgraded during the step of checking whether upgrade of the BIOS has been requested;
loading predetermined BIOS images and BIOS upgrade software corresponding to the model ID into a memory;
transferring the BIOS images and BIOS upgrade software to the computers which requested the BIOS to be upgraded through the selecting means using serial communication;
displaying a transfer completion message for announcing that the transfer is completed; and
returning to the step of checking whether the BIOS is requested to be upgraded when a program terminate command of a user is not input, and terminating the program when the program terminate command of the user is input after checking whether the program terminate command of the user is input.
It is preferable that the step or function of upgrading the BIOS executed in the computer which requested the BIOS to be upgraded comprise the steps or functions of:
starting the power on self test of the BIOS when the computer is booted;
proceeding with a general power-on self-test when it is determined that the computer is not connected to the host computer, and proceeding to the next step when it is determined that the computer is connected to the host computer after checking whether the computer is connected to the host computer;
requesting the host computer to upgrade the BIOS and transferring a model ID when it is determined that the host computer is connected to the computer during the step of checking whether the host computer is connected to the computer;
receiving BIOS images and BIOS upgrade software from the host computer and storing them in a memory; and
removing an existing BIOS stored in a BIOS ROM by executing the BIOS upgrade software and writing the BIOS image into the BIOS ROM.
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Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Du Thuan
Lee Thomas C.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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