Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for firmware hub programming on a circuit board. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for low pin count (LPC) firmware hub recovery on a circuit board via a firmware hub recovery module. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Conventional computer systems include a variety of peripheral and memory devices that communicate with the systems&#39;s central processing unit (CPU) or chip-set processor via an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus or an Expansion bus (X-bus). The CPU or chip-set processor includes a large amount of pins (e.g., approximately 50-70) and associated circuitry to support the ISA bus or X-bus signals that are used to interface the CPU or chip-set processor with the peripheral devices including input/output(I/O) or I/O controllers, floppy disk controller, keyboard controllers, and memory devices such as non-volatile memory devices that store, for example basis input-output system (BIOS) information. 
   The large number of pins needed to support the ISA bus and X-bus standards generally increase the overall system cost. For example, larger packages are required for a CPU or chip-set. The development of the low pin count (LPC) bus has obviated to some extent the problem mentioned above. The LPC bus includes general purpose signal lines that carry substantially all time-multiplexed address, data and control information to implement memory, I/O, and bus transactions between the CPU and other system devices. 
   Presently there are no other peripheral components that are connected to the LPC bus because the LPC bus is designed to be a “local bus” servicing the chip-set. The LPC bus does not provide for expandability for add-on features like that provided for by a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) (e.g., PCI Local Bus Specification, version 2.1, a copy of which may be obtained from the PCI Special Interest Group) bus for example. In general the LPC bus may be limited to being coupled to a system bus interface controller and one or more memory devices. As used herein, the term “firmware hub” refers to the memory devices coupled to a LPC bus. 
   The firmware in the firmware hub is a computer program including a series of instructions or statements arranged in a specific sequence and written in a language executable by the processor of the computing device to achieve a certain result. 
   Firmware, as used herein, refers to those computer programs whose instructions and/or data are stored and maintained permanently in the computing device without the need for the continued application of power. One such computer program is the basic input/output system (BIOS). These computer programs, like the BIOS are typically stored in non-volatile read only memory (ROM), programmable read only memory (PROM) or erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM). Use of a non-volatile memory obviates the need to reload the programming into the computing device in the event of a power loss or turn-off. 
   Erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) does not require replacing memory chips storing firmware when programming corrections or upgrades are required. The EEPROM includes a read only memory device whose individual data storage locations (addresses) are erasable and can be reprogrammed by applying certain electrical signals to the chip. New firmware can thus be stored in the chip without removing the chip from the computing device. However, in situations where the computing device&#39;s firmware has been corrupted to an extent that the computing device is unable to boot-up, the above mentioned method of supplying new firmware is not available. In these cases, there is no other solution but to replace the firmware chip. 
   In view of the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a substantial need exists for a method and apparatus for low pin count firmware hub recovery. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in combination with the figures listed below. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an circuit board including a low pin count (LPC) bus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a firmware hub updating module according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for low pin count (LPC) firmware hub recovery in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Embodiments of methods and systems for low pin count (LPC) firmware hub recovery using a firmware hub recovery module. 
   In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated, however, by one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form. Furthermore, one skilled in the art can readily appreciated that the specific sequence in which methods are presented and performed are illustrative and it is contemplated that the sequences can be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a computer system&#39;s circuit board  27  including a low pin count (LPC) bus  39  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Circuit board  27  may be a mother board and typically includes a processor such as a central processing unit or CPU  20 . The CPU is the “brains” or “engine” of the computer system responsible for overseeing all execution of operations in the computer. Motherboard  27  also includes CPU interface logic  21 , coupled to CPU  20  and interfacing CPU  20  with other circuit components such as a system bus interface controller  33  and main memory  26 . As shown, system bus interface controller  33  may be any type of expansion bus controller such as a PCI bus or peripheral bus I/O controller. System bus interface controller  33  is coupled to CPU interface logic  21  and is coupled to peripheral connectors  25  via expansion bus  38 . A bus that complies with a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCT) standard (e.g., PCI Local Bus Specification, version 2.1, a copy of which may be obtained from the PCI Special Interest Group) is a example of such an expansion bus. Main memory  26  may include random access memory (RAM)  28  and read only memory (ROM)  30  which coupled to CPU interface logic  21 . 
   Also included on motherboard  27  is a header connector  40  and a jumper  41 . Header connector  40  is an internal connector soldered to motherboard used to connect a firmware hub recovery module to the motherboard. Jumper  41  may be a strapping jumper for setting an identification (ID) for a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) firmware hub  24  as described in detail below. 
   Firmware hub  24  includes a collection of software routines and functions that communicate directly with the hardware of motherboard  27 . The BIOS of firmware hub  24  includes code that performs a limited diagnostic of the computer system during the power-on stage know as the “Power On Self Test (POST).” When power is applied to the computer system, BIOS firmware is executed by the CPU  20  before the computer system&#39;s operating system is activated. Firmware hub  24  further includes ID pins which require configuration to have CPU  20  recognize it as the booting firmware hub. Strapping jumper  41  is added to the motherboard to allow the ID for the booting firmware hub to changed. This enables an alternative firmware hub, beside firmware hub  24 , to be recognized by the CPU as the booting firmware hub, by simply moving the strapping jumper  41  from one location to another location. In the event the firmware located on firmware hub  24  has become corrupted, strapping jumper  24  can be moved such that another firmware hub can be recognized as the booting firmware. According to an embodiment of the present invention and described in detail below, firmware hub  24  can be reprogrammed by a firmware hub recovery module. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the hardware components of motherboard  27  communicate along data pathway or busses  35 ,  36 ,  37 ,  38  and  39  which is included on motherboard  27  which houses the CPU  20 , main memory  26 , and other components including BIOS firmware chip  24  and bus and I/O controller  33 . Several types of busses shown in  FIG. 1  may include for example, CPU Interface Busses, Memory Interface Busses, System Expansion Busses and Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) Buses. 
     FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a firmware hub recovery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Firmware hub recovery module  50  may be implemented as an external card coupled to header connector  40  which communicates with LPC bus  39  on motherboard  27 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, firmware hub recovery module requires no external connections via cable, etc. All necessary signals are presented on the LPC bus  39 . Firmware hub recovery module  50  includes firmware hub module  51  and a connector  52 . Connector  52  is plugged into connector  40  on motherboard  27  to connect the module with the motherboard. Firmware hub module  51  may be stored on an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM). 
   Firmware hub module  51  is powered by motherboard  27  through connectors  40  and  52  as shown by power line  53 , and communicates with the other system components of motherboard  27  via LPC bus  39 . Firmware hub module  51  provides firmware so that CPU  20  can perform various functions of compensating for an inadequate BIOS found on firmware hub  24 . Such functions may include booting operations, system diagnostics and system reprogramming. 
   By way of further illustration,  FIG. 3  illustrates a method for a low pin count (LPC) firmware hub recovery that may be implemented using the structures described with reference to the embodiments in  FIGS. 1-2 . In accordance with this embodiment, the firmware hub recovery module  50  is coupled to the motherboard  27  by mating connector  52  of the recovery module with header connector  40  of the motherboard (Step  100 ). This coupling provides an electrical as well as a mechanical connection between firmware hub recovery module  50  and motherboard  27  such that power will be supplied to the recovery module  50  and information will be transmitted to and from the motherboard  27  and firmware hub recovery module  50 . Strapping jumper  41  is moved from one pin location to another pin location such that firmware hub  24  is no longer recognized as the booting firmware hub. Instead, firmware hub recovery module  50 , once connected to motherboard  27 , is now recognized as the booting firmware hub (Step  200 ). The computer system is then powered on (Step  300 ). The CPU out an ID for the booting firmware hub. Since strapping jumper  41  changed the booting firmware hub ID from firmware hub  24  to firmware hub recovery module  50 , the system is booted by firmware hub module  51  on the recovery module  50 . After the computer has been booted up, the firmware hub module  51  is used along with CPU to reprogram the firmware hub  24  on the motherboard (Step  400 ). After the firmware hub has been reprogrammed, the computer system is powered off and jumper  41  is moved back to its original pin position, assigning firmware hub  24  as the booting firmware hub (Step  500 ). Thus, the next time the computer system is powered on, firmware hub  24  is used for the booting process. 
   In the foregoing, detailed descriptions of the apparatus accordance with embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the present specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Moreover, although software or hardware are described to control the certain functions, such functions may be performed using either software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware, as is well know in the art.

Technology Category: 3