US 7426633

Here is a concise summary of US patent 7426633:

Title: System and method for reflashing disk drive firmware

Current Assignee: Flash Uplink LLC
Original Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP

Inventors: Mark J. Thompson, Mark B. Harris, Peter C. Fry

Filing Date: 2005-05-12

Issue Date: 2008-09-16

Abstract: There is provided a system and a method for reflashing disk drive firmware. Specifically, there is provided a method comprising storing a firmware flash image in a storage area on a disk drive, initiating power-on self test operations for the computer, and reflashing firmware associated with the disk drive using the firmware flash image stored on the disk drive, wherein the reflashing occurs during the power-on self test operations.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a method for updating disk drive firmware that involves several steps:

  1. Storing a new firmware image on a storage area of a first disk drive.
  2. Starting the computer's power-on self test (POST) operations.
  3. Reflashing the firmware of a second disk drive using the firmware image stored on the first disk drive. This reflashing happens during the computer's POST operations.

• Claim 8 (Computer System): This claim outlines a computer system designed for firmware updates, which includes:

  1. A disk drive with firmware that can be reflashed.
  2. A host computer connected to the disk drive, configured to copy an "update request package" to the disk drive before the computer reboots. This package contains the new firmware image and instructions for the disk drive controller.
  3. A disk drive controller connected to both the host computer and the disk drive. This controller is configured to reflash the disk drive's firmware using the update request package while the host computer is rebooting.

• Claim 15 (Method): This claim details a method for updating firmware across multiple disk drives, particularly focusing on how many drives are updated concurrently based on a "fast mode" setting:

  1. Identifying a subset of disk drives that are marked for a pending firmware update.
  2. Checking if "fast mode" reflashing is enabled.
  3. If "fast mode" is enabled, all disk drives in the identified subset are reflashed simultaneously.
  4. If "fast mode" is not enabled, a "recoverable number" of disk drives from the subset are reflashed simultaneously. (The patent text clarifies that "recoverable number" relates to RAID configurations, allowing for data recovery if a drive fails during the process).

• Claim 21 (Hard Disk Drive): This claim describes a hard disk drive with integrated firmware update capabilities:

  1. A processor.
  2. A read-only memory (ROM) storing firmware.
  3. A disk with a storage area configured to hold a firmware flash image and instructions for the processor to perform the firmware reflash. The processor is configured to use this stored firmware image and instructions to reflash the firmware in its own ROM.

• Claim 23 (Method): This claim presents a method for reflashing firmware across multiple disk drives with staggered start times:

  1. Storing a firmware flash image in a storage area on a plurality of disk drives.
  2. Initiating the power-on self test (POST) operations for a computer connected to these disk drives.
  3. Reflashing the firmware for these disk drives using the stored flash image during the POST operations, with each disk drive beginning its reflashing process at different starting times.

Litigation Information:
As of April 26, 2026, the Google Patents entry for US7426633B2 indicates that the patent family has litigation, with US cases filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (case numbers 2:26-cv-00085 and 2:26-cv-00072). A direct search for this specific patent number in CAFC 2026 dockets did not yield immediate specific case details.