Patent ID: 8499295

Claim:
A system memory device for a computer system, comprising: a processor; firmware; a random access memory (RAM); and a read-only memory (ROM) having stored thereon the firmware, wherein the firmware is configured to include boot block data and operational code data, wherein the processor is configured to execute the boot block data from the ROM, wherein the operational code data comprise computer-executable instructions having fixed addresses of the RAM and which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions including enabling a plurality of different interfaces each to receive a firmware update from a firmware update provider, wherein the boot block data comprise computer-executable instructions having fixed addresses of the ROM and which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions including executing code data at a fixed address of the RAM; determining if the operational code data are valid; and in response to determining that the operational code data are valid, copying the operational code data from the ROM to the RAM at the fixed address of the RAM such that the boot block data are able to cause the processor to execute the operational code data; and in response to determining that the operational code data are not valid, causing a particular one of the plurality of enabled interfaces to wait for an available firmware update and, when a firmware update is available, receiving the firmware update from the firmware update provider.