Electronic Device Boot Code Execution via Interrupts
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing boot flow of electronic devices running a Linux system is inefficient as it requires going through ROM boot, Miniboot, and U-boot before reaching the Kernel, leading to delays in executing protected source code.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device coupled with an external storage device that stores boot code, featuring a memory, storage control circuit, and computing circuit, which reads and writes boot code segments and executes target code earlier by using interrupts, allowing for advanced execution of protected source code.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system follows the conventional boot flow (ROM boot, Miniboot, U-boot, Kernel), then the system stability and completeness are ensured, but the time to execute protected source code is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by executing the target code (protected source code) during the Miniboot phase, before the complete U-boot and Kernel initialization. The storage control circuit reads the target code from external storage and loads it into memory during Miniboot, enabling early execution of critical protected functions while the conventional boot流程 continues in the background.
2Productivity
If the target code is executed earlier in the boot process, then the productivity and development efficiency are improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control circuits and interrupt mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the boot code into multiple parts: conventional boot code (ROM boot, Miniboot, U-boot, Kernel) and target code (protected source code). The storage control circuit is designed to read and load specific segments (target code) into memory during the Miniboot phase, while the computing circuit executes these segmented code portions at appropriate times through interrupt mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary interrupt mechanism that mediates between the conventional boot process and the target code execution. The storage control circuit uses interrupts to signal the computing circuit to execute the target code at appropriate moments during boot, without disrupting the overall system initialization flow. This intermediary approach allows early execution of protected code while maintaining system stability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a memory and is coupled to an external storage device that stores a boot code of the electronic device. An operation method of the electronic device includes the following steps: (A) writing a first segment of the boot code into a memory block of the memory, (B) executing a part of the first segment of the boot code; and (C) executing a target code in the memory block in response to an interrupt.