TWI514280B - Computing system - Google Patents

Description

computer system

The present invention relates to a computer system, and more particularly to a computer system that can burn a firmware to its logic module while the device is running or in standby.

With the rapid development of technology, the complexity of computer devices is increasing, and the demand for functions of the chips is increasing. If high-complexity calculations are required, in addition to the latest technology, the firmware can be updated. To achieve the goal.

However, there are still many inconveniences in the firmware update of the chip. For example, traditionally, if a customer needs to update the firmware of the chip, in addition to the tool for installing the firmware, the installer needs to carry the computer to the client, first shut down the client's computer, or will need to update the firmware. The hardware is stopped, and the computer is connected to the client computer to burn the firmware. If the client's computer needs to operate continuously (without interruption), the traditional update method cannot cope with this situation and the needs of customers. And each time the firmware is updated, the installer must go to the client to update it, which is also a burden on the installer.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a computer system capable of burning online or remote firmware, by externally connecting a storage device, burning firmware in the storage device into a working logic module for use. The firmware of the logic module can be updated under the operation of the logic module. Or update the firmware of the logic module through the remote connection.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the computer system is adapted to be coupled to a storage device. The storage device has a second firmware and a booting system. The computer system includes a logic module having a first firmware and a coupled storage device. The control module, a management module coupled to the control module and the logic module, and a central processing unit. The central processing unit is coupled to the control module and runs the booting system. After receiving the programming command, the central processing unit burns the second firmware to the logic module via the control module and the management module.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the logic module includes a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory, and the first tough system is stored in the non-volatile memory, and when the computer system is in an operating state, the computer system runs the The first firmware is in the volatile memory, and when the central processing unit burns the second firmware to the logic module, the logic module is the second firmware in the non-volatile memory The first firmware is covered and the computer system is still running at the first firmware of the volatile memory.

According to an embodiment of the invention, after the computer system is re-run after the first firmware in the non-volatile memory is covered by the second firmware, the computer system runs the second firmware in the volatile memory. in.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the logic module is a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and the control module is a Platform Control Head (PCH), and the management module is a substrate management controller. (Baseboard Management Controller, BMC). The management module simulates a Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) of the logic module by using a general purpose input output (GPIO), and the control module is implemented by the management module. Read and write operations on the logic module. The logic module simulates the I ² C埠 of the management module, so that the control module implements the read and write operations on the logic module through the management module.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the control module and the management module perform signal transmission by using a low pin count bus (LPC bus).

According to an embodiment of the invention, the computer system further includes a display coupled to the control module for displaying the working state of the computer system.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the computer system is adapted to be coupled to a remote device, the remote device having a second firmware, the computer system comprising a logic module having a first firmware, coupled to the logic module The management module and the remote connection module coupled to the remote device and the management module. After receiving the programming command, the remote device burns the second firmware to the logic module via the remote connection module and the management module.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the logic module includes a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory, and the first tough system is stored in the non-volatile memory. When the computer system is in a non-operation state, the remote end After receiving the programming command, the remote device causes the logic module to cover the second firmware in the first toughness of the non-volatile memory via the remote connection module and the management module. body.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the logic module includes a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory, and the first tough system is stored in the non-volatile memory, and the computer system runs when the computer system is in an operating state. The first firmware is in the volatile memory, and the remote device covers the second firmware via the remote connection module and the management module to cover the second firmware in the non-volatile memory. The first firmware, the computer system still runs on the first firmware of the volatile memory. The computer system runs the second firmware in the volatile memory when the computer system is re-run after the first firmware located in the non-volatile memory is covered by the second firmware.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the computer system further includes a control module, a central processing unit and a display. The control module is coupled to the management module, the central processing unit, and the display. The working state of the computer system is displayed. The control module is a Platform Control Head (PCH).

According to an embodiment of the invention, the computer system further includes a standby power module and a power supply module. The power module is connected to the management module, the remote connection module, and the logic module, and the power module to be powered is used to transmit power to the management module, the remote connection module, and the logic module. The group maintains the management module, the remote connection module, and the logic module in an operational state. The power supply module is coupled to the control module. When the power supply module is enabled, the power supply module provides power to enable the control module.

In summary, the central processing unit (CPU) of the computer system of the present invention obtains the second firmware in the storage device (USB Drive) from the storage module (USB) through the control module (PCH), and through the management module ( BMC) The connection between the analog and logic module (CPLD), the second firmware is burned in the non-volatile memory of the logic module, because the logic module operates on the first firmware of the volatile memory Therefore, the burning action does not affect the operation of the logic module. The user can also perform the firmware update of the logic module under the continuous operation of the logic module. Alternatively, the second firmware of the remote computer device can be burned to the non-volatile memory of the logic module via the remote connection module and the management module through the remote connection module.

The above description of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments of the present invention are intended to illustrate and explain the spirit and principles of the invention.

10,50‧‧‧ computer system

12,52‧‧‧Logic Module

14,54‧‧‧Management Module

16,56‧‧‧Control Module

18,58‧‧‧Central Processing Unit

20,66‧‧‧ display

60‧‧‧Remote connection module

62‧‧‧ Waiting for power module

64‧‧‧Power supply module

90‧‧‧Storage device

92‧‧‧ Remote device

1 is a functional block diagram of a computer system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a functional block diagram of a computer system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the Detailed Description of the Detailed Description of the <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> <RTIgt; The objects and advantages associated with the present invention can be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The following examples are intended to describe the present invention in further detail, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Trademark Notice: Windows referred to herein is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation, Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds, and Lattice and TransFR are trademarks of Lattice Semiconductor.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the computer system 10 includes a logic module 12, a management module 14, a control module 16, and a central processing unit (CPU).

The computer system 10 is adapted to be coupled to a storage device 90. The storage device 90 stores a booting system and a second firmware. The storage device 90 can be any device capable of coupling a computer system and having a storage space, such as but not limited to a USB drive, a floppy disk with a floppy disk, a Hard Disk Drive, a memory card. (Memory Card), wherein the memory card can also be called a Flash Memory Card, such as but not limited to a Secure Digital Memory Card, a micro SD card or a Micro SD card. The aforementioned booting system may be, but not limited to, a Disk Operating System (DOS), a Linus (Linux) operating system, a Windows operating system (Windows OS), and the like.

The logic module 12 has a second firmware, and the logic module 12 can be used to run the second firmware. The control module 16 is coupled to the storage device 90. The management module 14 is coupled to the control module 16 and the logic module 12. The central processing unit 18 is coupled to the control module 16 and runs the booting system. After receiving the programming command, the central processing unit 18 passes the second firmware through the control module 16 and the management module 14 . Burned to the logic module 12.

For ease of explanation, the foregoing modules are exemplified, but are not intended to limit the invention to those examples.

The logic module 12 is a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), the control module 16 is a Platform Control Head (PCH), and the management module 14 is a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). ).

The logic module 12 can be, but not limited to, a CPLD having Lattice's TransFR technology. The logic module 12 includes non-volatile memory (also known as non-volatile memory, non-volatile). Memory, NVRAM) and volatile memory (also known as volatile memory, VRAM), wherein the volatile memory can be, but not limited to, Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) Or Static Random Access Memory (SRAM). The non-volatile memory can be, but not limited to, a read-only memory (ROM) or a flash memory.

The first tough system is stored in the non-volatile memory. When the computer system 10 is in an operating state, the computer system 10 runs the first firmware in the volatile memory, and when the central processing unit 18 When the two firmware is burned in the logic module 12, the logic module 12 covers the first firmware in the non-volatile memory and the computer system 10 is still in the volatile state. The first firmware of the memory. The first firmware located in the non-volatile memory is second tough After the computer system 10 is re-run, the computer system 10 runs the second firmware in the volatile memory, so that the computer system 10 can be shut down and maintain the original operating state (including The firmware of the logic module 12 is updated in the case where the original state of the input/output port (I/O) is maintained.

The control module 16 is coupled to the management module 14. As described above, the control module 16 is a PCH, the management module 14 is a BMC, and the control module 16 is a low-frequency bus (LPC bus, Low). Pin count bus) performs signal transmission with the management module 14.

Secondly, the management module 14 is coupled to and communicates with the logic module 12. As described above, if the management module is a BMC and the logic module is a CPLD, the management module 14 can output a general purpose input signal (General Purpose Input Output). The GPIO is a Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) of the analog logic module 12, and the control module 16 implements the read and write operations on the logic module 12 through the management module 14.

In addition, as described above, if the management module is a BMC, the logic module is a CPLD, and the management module 14 has multiple I ² C ports, the logic module 12 can also simulate the I ² C of the management module 14. Hey, for firmware burning or updating operations.

The computer system 10 can further include a display 20 coupled to the control module 16 for displaying the operating state of the system 10, for example, when the computer system 10 is in operation (the central processing unit 18 is powered on by the storage device 90). System operation), all operating states can be displayed to the operator by display 20.

Please refer to "FIG. 2", which is a functional block diagram of a computer system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The computer system 50 is coupled to a remote device 92. The remote device stores a second firmware. The computer system 50 includes a logic module 52, a management module 54, and a remote connection module 60.

The logic module 52 has a first firmware and can be, but is not limited to, a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The management module 54 is coupled to the logic module 52 and may be, but not limited to, a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). The remote connection module 60 is coupled to the remote device 92 and the management module 54. The remote connection module 60 includes an RJ45 network connector and a physical layer chip (PHY).

After receiving the programming command, the remote device 92 burns the second firmware to the logic module 52 via the remote connection module 60 and the management module 54.

The logic module 12 can be, but is not limited to, a CPLD having Lattice's TransFR technology, and the logic module 12 includes non-volatile memory and volatile memory. The logic module 12 includes a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory. The first tough system is stored in the non-volatile memory. When the computer system 50 is in a non-operating state, the remote device 92 receives the burning. After the command is recorded, the remote device 92 causes the logic module 52 to cover the first firmware located in the non-volatile memory via the remote connection module 60 and the management module 54. In this way, the computer system 50 can update the firmware of the logic module 52 without shutting down and maintaining the original operating state (including maintaining the original state of the input/output port (I/O)).

Secondly, if the computer system 50 is in an operating state, the computer system 50 runs the first firmware in the volatile memory, and the remote device 92 passes the remote connection module 60 and the management module 54. When the logic module 52 covers the first firmware in the non-volatile memory, the computer system 50 still runs on the first firmware of the volatile memory. Thereafter, after the computer system 50 is re-run (restart) after the first firmware in the non-volatile memory is covered by the second firmware, the computer system 50 runs the second firmware to the volatile In memory.

In addition, as described above, the management module 54 can simulate the JTAG signal of the logic module 52 of the GPIO. Therefore, the remote device 92 implements the read and write operations of the logic module 52 through the management module 54.

In another embodiment, the logic module 52 can simulate the I ² C埠 of the management module 54 so that the remote device 92 can perform read and write operations on the logic module 52 through the management module 54.

In one embodiment, the computer system 50 can include a control module 56, a central processing unit 58 and a display 66. The control module 56 is coupled to the management module 54, the central processing unit 58, and the display. 66. The display 66 is used to display the working state of the computer system 50. The control module 56 can be, but not limited to, a south bridge wafer (PCH). The control module 56 and the management module 54 can perform signal transmission by using a low pin count bus (LPC bus).

The computer system 50 can further include a standby power module (62) and a power supply module 64. The standby power module (62) is coupled to the management module 54, the remote connection module 60, and the logic module 52. The power module 62 to be powered is used to transmit power to the management module 54, The remote connection module 60 and the logic module 52 maintain the management module 54, the remote connection module 60, and the logic module 52 in an operational state.

The power supply module 64 is coupled to the control module 56, the central processing unit 58, and the display 66. When the power supply module 64 is enabled, the power supply module 64 provides power to enable the control module 56 and central processing. Unit 58, display 66.

Therefore, when the power-on power module 62 is in operation and the power supply module 64 is not operating, the computer system 50 is in a standby state. At this time, the central processing unit 58, the control module 56, and the display 66 are not operating, but The remote device 92 can still perform read and write operations and firmware updates on the logic module 52 via the remote connection module 60 and the management module 54.

In summary, the central processing unit 18 of the computer system 10 of the embodiment of the present invention causes the computer system to operate the booting system in the storage device 90, and the central processing unit 18 can be connected to the management module 14 via the control module 16 The second firmware in the storage device 90 covers the first firmware located in the non-volatile memory of the logic module 12, and achieves the purpose of updating the firmware of the logic module 12. The remote device of the computer system 50 of another embodiment of the present invention may perform firmware update of the logic module 52 via the remote connection module 60 and the management module when the computer system 50 is not operating, in other words, The user can turn on and off the computer system 50 and read and write operations and firmware updates to the logic module at the remote end.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above in the foregoing embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. It is within the scope of the invention to be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Please refer to the attached patent application for the scope of protection defined by the present invention.

10‧‧‧Computer system

12‧‧‧Logic Module

14‧‧‧Management module

16‧‧‧Control Module

18‧‧‧Central Processing Unit

20‧‧‧ display

90‧‧‧Storage device

Claims (8)

A computer system is adapted to be coupled to a storage device, the storage device storing a booting system and a second firmware, the computer system comprising: a logic module having a first firmware; a control module coupled The storage device; a management module coupled to the control module and the logic module; and a central processing unit coupled to the control module and running the booting system, the central processing unit receiving a burning After the command, the second firmware is burned to the logic module via the control module and the management module. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the logic module is a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and the control module is a Platform Control Head (PCH), and the management module is Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). The computer system of claim 2, wherein the logic module comprises a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory, the first tough system is stored in the non-volatile memory, when the computer system is in operation The computer system runs the first firmware in the volatile memory. When the central processing unit burns the second firmware to the logic module, the logic module is the second firmware. The non-volatile memory covers the first firmware and the computer system still runs the first firmware located in the volatile memory. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the computer system runs the second firmware when the computer system is re-run after the first firmware in the non-volatile memory is covered by the second firmware In volatile memory. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the control module and the management module perform signal transmission by using a low pin count bus (LPC bus). The computer system of claim 2, wherein the management module simulates a joint test work group signal (JTAG, Joint Test Action Group) of the logic module by using a general purpose input output (GPIO). The control module implements read and write operations on the logic module through the management module. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the logic module simulates an I ² C埠 of the management module, so that the control module implements a read and write operation on the logic module through the management module. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the control module for displaying an operating state of the computer system.