Patent ID: 7178141
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for upgrading an installed firmware with a candidate firmware, comprising: determining if each of said installed and candidate firmwares has a control block, wherein each of said control blocks includes a firmware family code, firmware stepping level and compatibility table of an associated firmware; acquiring firmware family codes and firmware stepping levels of said installed and candidate firmwares in response to said determination that both of said installed and candidate firmwares have a control block, wherein each said firmware family code uniquely identifies a product family of a firmware image; comparing said family codes and said stepping levels of said installed and candidate firmwares; and determining if said installed and candidate firmwares are compatible utilizing said compatibility tables in response to said family codes and said stepping levels of said installed and candidate firmwares not matching; and in response to determining that said installed firmware does not have a firmware family control block that includes a firmware family code, firmware stepping level and compatibility table for said installed firmware, causing a flash utility to refuse to install said candidate firmware.