The circuit is a homemade ISP using an ATmega8 with USB communication and software that allows to program AVR microcontrollers more (ATmega, ATiny) to be used as Arduino, an eco-mode.
It is good to always have a backup scheduler as plan B
The schematic and firmware can be observed here. Below are pictures of the experience.
And here's a reading to an Arduino with an ATmega 328:
USBasp ISP with ATmega8