Method and apparatus for replacing resident peripheral device control microcode by download via an application program

Patent 5659801 Issued on August 19, 1997. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 7, 2014. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Kopsaftis, William D.

Assignee

EMC Corporation

Application

No. 350555 filed on 12/07/1994

US Classes:

710/62, Peripheral adapting710/5, Input/Output command process710/72, Application-specific peripheral adapting710/74For data storage device

Examiners

Primary: Harvey, Jack B.
Assistant: Travis, John

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Caracappa; David N.

International Class

G06F 013/00

Abstract

A peripheral device capable of replacing resident microcode with new microcode by download by an application program is disclosed. The disclosed peripheral device comprises a non-volatile memory containing the resident microcode. Further circuitry is responsive to the application program for receiving peripheral device commands. A resident processor, which is coupled to the non-volatile memory and the receiving circuitry, is responsive to the resident microcode, and includes a detector for a received initiator peripheral device command. The resident processor also includes a detector for a transfer disk drive command, which includes the new microcode, and which is received while the disk drive is in a waiting state. Further circuitry is coupled between the receiving circuitry and the non-volatile memory and is responsive to the resident processor, for entering the waiting state when an initiator command is detected, and for transferring the new microcode from the receiving circuitry into the nonvolatile memory and restarting the operation of the disk drive when a transfer disk drive command is detected. A method for operating a disk drive to replace resident microcode with new microcode by download by an application program, and an application program for replacing resident microcode in such a disk drive with new microcode by download are also disclosed.