Customized Operating System Upgrades with Virtual A/B Partitions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operating system upgrade methods for customized systems are not compatible with basic system upgrades, leading to user experience issues and inefficient data storage utilization during the upgrade process.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a virtual partition-based A/B upgrade solution that allows for independent upgrades of customized operating systems without entering recovery mode, using a dual partition system with static and dynamic partitions, and leveraging snapshot technology for incremental updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a basic operating system upgrade method is used for a customized operating system, then the upgrade process is simple, but the customized content cannot be properly upgraded and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupgrade process simplicityVSAvoidcustomized content upgrade compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The operating system is divided into a basic system partition and a customized partition. The customized partition contains all customized content including network operator service systems, third-party applications, and customized configurations. This segmentation allows the basic system to be upgraded using standard methods while the customized partition is upgraded separately to maintain compatibility and user experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the entire operating system is upgraded, then all customized content is updated, but data storage space is wasted and upgrade time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomized content update completenessVSAvoidupgrade duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the operating system into basic system partition and customized partition, only the customized partition needs to be upgraded when customized content changes, rather than upgrading the entire operating system. This reduces upgrade time and saves data storage space while ensuring customized content is properly updated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If recovery mode is entered for upgrading, then the upgrade can be performed, but device availability decreases and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupgrade executionVSAvoiddevice availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The customized partition is designed to be upgradeable while the device remains in normal operation mode. The customized partition can be updated independently without requiring the device to enter recovery mode, maintaining device availability and user experience during the upgrade process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If customized content is added to the basic operating system, then user experience is improved, but the upgrade process becomes complex and data storage efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidupgrade process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The operating system is segmented into a basic system partition containing core functionality and a customized partition containing all user-specific content. This segmentation simplifies the upgrade process by allowing independent updates of each partition, reducing upgrade complexity while maintaining enhanced user experience through customized content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4130984B1Upgrade method for operating system, and device, storage medium and computer program product
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4130984B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4130984B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4130984B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide an operating system upgrade method, a device, a storage medium, and a computer program product. The method is applied to an electronic device, and the method includes: obtaining a first upgrade installation package, where the first upgrade installation package includes a first upgrade file; storing the first upgrade file in a user data partition; restarting the electronic device, and loading data in a basic partition and a second static partition; loading data in another sub-partition other than a first sub-partition in a dynamic partition, and loading the first upgrade file; and merging the first upgrade file into the first sub-partition of the dynamic partition. The method further includes: synchronizing data in a first static partition to the second static partition. According to the method in embodiments of this application, independent upgrade may be performed on a customized sub-partition in a dynamic partition, to upgrade a customized operating system.