Patent ID: 6745325
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
For use in a communication device comprising a plurality of network interface cards for communicating with an external data network, an apparatus for simultaneously transferring a replacement program into a plurality of dedicated memories in said plurality of network interface cards, said apparatus comprising:a replacement program memory capable of storing said replacement program; a first microcontroller coupled to said replacement program memory and having a first dedicated memory associated therewith; a second microcontroller coupled to said replacement program memory and having a second dedicated memory associated therewith, wherein, after a power reset has occurred, said first microcontroller monitors a first signal line to said replacement program memory to determine if said second microcontroller is transferring said replacement program from said replacement program memory to said second dedicated memory and wherein said first microcontroller, in response to a determination that said second microcontroller is transferring said replacement program, transfers at least a portion of said replacement program to said first dedicated memory as said replacement program is read from said replacement program memory by said second microcontroller.