Method and apparatus for remotely altering programmable firmware stored in an interactive network board coupled to a network peripheral

摘要

Method and apparatus for remotely altering programmable firmware stored in a PROM disposed on a target interactive network board having a local area network interface comprises activating a local area network communication program. The communication program operates to broadcast an inquiry through the local area network for the designated interactive network board, to receive location information of the designated board in response to the broadcast inquiry, and to establish communication with the designated board. A ROM firmware image is downloaded into a RAM on the designated board, preferably through the local area network interface. A verifying step verifies that the ROM firmware image stored in RAM is valid, and the PROM is controlled to erase memory locations, to transfer preservable data from the PROM into predetermined locations within the ROM firmware image stored in RAM, and to load into the PROM the ROM firmware image from the RAM. After completing the flash operation, the designated board may be re-initialized to execute instructions from the firmware image stored in the PROM.