Patent ID: 7017004

Claim:
In a computer system containing a processor coupled to a non-volatile memory system for storing a non-volatile memory image representing read-only-memory of the computer system, a method for updating the non-volatile memory image with a software update, the method comprising: processing the software update by the processor to validate the software update, wherein the processor is to execute an operating system; partitioning the non-volatile memory image into a plurality of non-volatile memory regions, the non-volatile memory regions each potentially having a varying size, allocating an image buffer for storing an address location, a size, and a purpose for at least a portion of the non-volatile memory regions; designating a selected non-volatile memory region to receive the software update by identifying an existing non-volatile memory region at least large enough to accommodate the software update or repartitioning a portion of the non-volatile memory image to form a new non-volatile memory region at least large enough to accommodate the software update; overwriting the selected non-volatile memory region with the software update without having to overwrite the non-volatile memory image in its entirety; and updating the image buffer such that the address location, the size, and the purpose for the selected non-volatile memory region are current.