Firmware updating system and method

{
  "publication_number": "US2012246628A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Firmware updating system and method",
  "abstract": "A computing system and method updates firmware to a baseboard management controller (BMC) of a motherboard. The computing system updates firmware of the BMC according to the parameters, wherein the parameters includes a predetermined number of times to update the firmware of the BMC. The computing system counts a number of successful updates, in response to a determination that a current update of the firmware is successful. The computing system records information of each of the successful updates and generates a log file for storing the information, in response to a determination that counted number of the successful updates equal to the predetermined number of times.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A computing system, the computing system in electronic communication with a motherboard comprising: a storage system; at least one processor; and one or more programs stored in the storage system and being executable by the at least one processor, the one or more programs comprising: a setting module operable to set parameters for updating firmware to a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the motherboard, wherein the parameters comprise a predetermined number of times to update the firmware of the BMC; an updating module operable to update the firmware of the BMC according to the parameters; a determination module operable to determine if a current update of the firmware is successful; a counting module operable to calculate a number of successful updates, in response to a determination that the current update is successful; and a generating module operable to record information of each of the successful updates and generate a log file for storing the information, in response to a determination that the counted number of the successful updates is equal to the predetermined number of the times. 2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the parameters comprise two or more versions of the firmware, a time interval between two consecutive updates, and a path directory for storing the log file generated by the BMC during updating the firmware of the BMC. 3. The computing system of claim 2, wherein the updating module repeatedly updates the firmware of the BMC using the two or more versions of the firmware at the time interval. 4. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the information of each of the successful updates includes a beginning time of each of the successful updates and a stop time of each of the successful updates. 5. A firmware updating method implemented by a computing system, the computing system in electronic communication with a motherboard, the method comprising: setting parameters for updating firmware to a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the motherboard, wherein the parameters comprises a predetermined number of times to update the firmware of the BMC; updating the firmware of the BMC according to the parameters; determining if a current update of the firmware is successful; counting a number of successful updates, in response to a determination that the current update is successful; and recording information of each of the successful updates and generating a log file for storing the information, in response to a determination that the counted number of the successful updates is equal to the predetermined number of the times. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the parameters comprise two or more versions of the firmware, a time interval between two consecutive updates, and a path directory for storing the log file generated by the BMC during updating the firmware of the BMC. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the updating module repeatedly updates the firmware of the BMC using the two or more versions of the firmware at the time interval. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the information of each of the successful updates includes a beginning time of each of the successful updates and a stop time of each of the successful updates. 9. A non-transitory computing system-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computing system, the computing system in electronic communication with a motherboard, causing the computing system to perform a firmware updating method, the method comprising: setting parameters for updating firmware to a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the motherboard, wherein the parameters comprises a predetermined number of times to update the firmware of the BMC; updating the firmware of the BMC according to the parameters; determining if a current update of the firmware is successful; counting a number of successful updates, in response to a determination that the current update is successful; and recording information of each of the successful updates and generating a log file for storing the information, in response to a determination that the counted number of the successful updates is equal to the predetermined number of the times. 10. The non-transitory medium of claim 9, wherein the parameters comprise two or more versions of the firmware, a time interval between two consecutive updates, and a path directory for storing the log file generated by the BMC during updating the firmware of the BMC. 11. The non-transitory medium of claim 10, wherein the updating module repeatedly updates the firmware of the BMC using the two or more versions of the firmware at the time interval. 12. The non-transitory method of claim 9, wherein the information of each of the successful updates includes a beginning time of each of the successful updates and a stop time of each of the successful updates."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Technical Field\n\nEmbodiments of the present disclosure relate to information processing technology, and particularly to a firmware updating system and method.\n\n2. Description of Related Art\n\nA baseboard management controller (BMC) is a specialized microcontroller embedded in a motherboard of a computing system. The BMC manages interfaces between system management software and platform hardware. Each BMC includes a firmware. The firmware is a fixed program that internally controls the BMC. In order to improve original features or add new features of the BMC, the firmware of the BMC may need to be updated to a new version. Generally, a user may manually update the firmware. However, the BMC may need to be updated repeatedly to test stability of the BMC, which is not convenient to the user and results in low efficiency. Improved methods of updating the firmware of the BMC are desired.\n\nFIG. 1 is a system view of one embodiment of a firmware updating system.\n\nFIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a computing system included in the FIG. 1.\n\nFIG. 3 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a firmware updating method.\n\nThe disclosure is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 8/65",
    "G06F 8/60",
    "G06F 9/44"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 9/44",
    "G06F 9/445"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Hongfujin Precision Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd",
    "Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Ming Li",
    "Xiao Liang"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2011-08-30",
  "publication_date": "2012-09-27",
  "priority_date": "2011-03-25",
  "application_number": "US-201113221866-A",
  "family_id": "46858654",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
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}