Prior art — US Patent 7426633

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 7426633, I will analyze the patents cited within its "Patent Citations (42)" section. I will prioritize patents whose titles suggest direct relevance to disk drive firmware updates, especially those occurring during system boot or involving specific controller actions.

Here's an analysis of selected relevant prior art:

Most Relevant Prior Art for US7426633

US6675258B1: Methods and apparatus for seamless firmware update and propagation in a dual raid controller system
- Full Citation: US6675258B1, Methods and apparatus for seamless firmware update and propagation in a dual raid controller system.
- Publication Date: 2004-01-06
- Priority Date: 2000-06-30
- Assignee: Lsi Logic Corporation
- Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for updating firmware in a dual RAID controller system without interrupting operations. It involves storing a new firmware image in a spare memory region, performing integrity checks, and then switching to the new firmware. This approach aims to provide seamless updates in a redundant system.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  - Claim 8 (Computer System): This patent anticipates elements of Claim 8 by disclosing a system with a disk drive controller (RAID controller) that updates firmware. While US7426633 specifies the update occurring during reboot and storing an update package on the disk drive, US6675258B1 focuses on seamless updates in a RAID environment. However, the concept of a controller updating firmware in a multi-drive system is present.
  - Claim 15 (Method): This patent directly addresses firmware updates in a RAID system, aiming for "seamless" updates, which relates to managing downtime and potentially parallel operations (though not explicitly "fast mode" or "recoverable number" as detailed in US7426633). The underlying concept of updating multiple drives in an array is relevant.
US6728833B2: Upgrading firmware on disks of the raid storage system without deactivating the server
- Full Citation: US6728833B2, Upgrading firmware on disks of the raid storage system without deactivating the server.
- Publication Date: 2004-04-27
- Priority Date: 2002-02-28
- Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
- Brief Description: This patent describes a method for upgrading firmware on disks within a RAID storage system while the server remains active. It involves copying new firmware to a disk, taking disks offline one by one for update, and then bringing them back online, ensuring data availability throughout the process.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  - Claim 1 (Method): This patent is highly relevant as it describes storing a firmware flash image on a disk and updating firmware. While US7426633 specifies updating during POST, and US6728833B2 focuses on "without deactivating the server" (i.e., online), the core steps of storing firmware on a disk and then using it to reflash firmware are present.
  - Claim 8 (Computer System): Similar to Claim 1, the system described in US6728833B2 includes disk drives and a mechanism (implied controller) for upgrading their firmware, with the firmware image stored on a disk. The "while the host computer is rebooted" aspect of US7426633 is a distinguishing feature.
  - Claim 15 (Method): This patent describes updating firmware across multiple disks in a RAID, which directly relates to the concept of managing updates in an array. The "recoverable number" concept from US7426633 is addressed by US6728833B2's method of taking drives offline one-by-one to maintain data availability.
US6505278B1: Method for flashing ESCD and variables into a ROM
- Full Citation: US6505278B1, Method for flashing ESCD and variables into a ROM.
- Publication Date: 2003-01-07
- Priority Date: 1998-04-30
- Assignee: Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.P.
- Brief Description: This patent describes a method for flashing Extended System Configuration Data (ESCD) and other variables into a ROM, particularly during a system boot process. It involves a "flashing method hook" that allows for a flash utility to be executed during the boot to update the ROM.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  - Claim 1 (Method): This patent anticipates the "reflashing firmware... during the power-on self test operations" aspect. Although it refers to ESCD and variables in a system ROM rather than disk drive firmware specifically, the timing of the update during boot/POST is highly relevant.
  - Claim 23 (Method): The concept of executing a flashing method during POST operations for a computer is present, though not explicitly for a plurality of disk drives with staggered start times.
US6179492B1: Method of and apparatus for duplicating, upgrading and configuring hard disk drives
- Full Citation: US6179492B1, Method of and apparatus for duplicating, upgrading and configuring hard disk drives.
- Publication Date: 2001-01-30
- Priority Date: 1998-06-15
- Assignee: Intelligent Computer Solutions, Inc.
- Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for duplicating, upgrading, and configuring hard disk drives. It involves using a master drive to program slave drives, including transferring an operating system, applications, and firmware updates. The process can involve copying data and firmware images between drives.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  - Claim 1 (Method): This patent covers the broad concept of "storing a firmware flash image in a storage area on a first disk drive" and "reflashing firmware associated with a second disk drive using the firmware flash image stored on the first disk drive." The specific timing "during the power-on self test operations" in US7426633 is a distinguishing factor, but the core idea of using one drive's storage for another's firmware update is present.
  - Claim 21 (Hard Disk Drive): The apparatus described includes a hard disk drive that can receive firmware updates. While it doesn't explicitly state the processor on that specific disk drive using a stored image on its own storage area to update its own ROM as precisely as Claim 21, the general concept of a hard disk drive being part of a system for firmware updates is present.
US6708231B1: Method and system for performing a peripheral firmware update
- Full Citation: US6708231B1, Method and system for performing a peripheral firmware update.
- Publication Date: 2004-03-16
- Priority Date: 1999-08-12
- Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
- Brief Description: This patent describes a method and system for updating firmware of a peripheral device (e.g., an optical disc drive). It involves receiving firmware from a host, storing it in a non-volatile memory on the peripheral, and then updating the firmware from that memory. It addresses situations where the update might be interrupted.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  - Claim 8 (Computer System): This patent describes a host computer and a peripheral device (analogous to a disk drive) where the host copies an update package (firmware) to the peripheral, and the peripheral then uses that to reflash its firmware. This aligns with the overall system described in Claim 8, though without the specific "during reboot" or "disk drive controller" details.
  - Claim 21 (Hard Disk Drive): This patent describes a peripheral device with a processor, ROM (firmware), and non-volatile storage to store a flash image for updating its own firmware. This is highly similar to the hard disk drive described in Claim 21.
US20040030877A1: Using system BIOS to update embedded controller firmware
- Full Citation: US20040030877A1, Using system BIOS to update embedded controller firmware.
- Publication Date: 2004-02-12
- Priority Date: 2002-08-06
- Assignee: Aleksandr Frid
- Brief Description: This patent application describes a method for updating embedded controller firmware using the system BIOS. During the boot process, the BIOS loads a firmware update utility, which then updates the embedded controller's firmware. This leverages existing BIOS mechanisms for updates.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  - Claim 1 (Method): This patent directly supports the concept of initiating an update "during the power-on self test operations" by leveraging the system BIOS during boot. While it's for an embedded controller rather than a disk drive, the timing and mechanism of a deferred update during boot are strongly anticipated.
  - Claim 23 (Method): The idea of an update occurring during POST is present. The specific "plurality of disk drives" and "different starting times" are not explicitly mentioned but the fundamental timing is.

These selected prior art documents demonstrate various aspects of firmware updates that predate US7426633, particularly in the context of storage systems and during system boot processes. The unique contributions of US7426633 often lie in the combination of these elements, such as storing the update package on the disk drive itself and performing the update via a disk drive controller during POST, especially with considerations for RAID configurations and concurrent updates.