Data Transfer Controller Parallel Flash Suspend Resume
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data processing technologies face challenges in achieving rapid suspend and resume operations, as previous methods, such as using hard disk drives, cannot provide the necessary high data transfer rates required for seamless application switching, especially in applications like gaming that require quick transitions without user awareness.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a data processing apparatus with a separate non-volatile suspend data memory and a data transfer controller that utilizes multiple memory elements configured for parallel data transfer, along with a multiplexer-demultiplexer, to achieve high data transfer rates, allowing for rapid suspend and resume operations by storing and retrieving data from an array of flash memory elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If hard disk drive is used for storing suspend data, then device complexity is reduced, but data transfer rate is insufficient for rapid suspend and resume operations
Solution Approach 1:
The memory system is segmented into multiple independent flash memory elements that can operate in parallel. The suspend data memory is divided into multiple elements that can be accessed simultaneously through parallel data transfer paths, enabling high data transfer rates while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from sequential data transfer to parallel data transfer by adding a temporal dimension to the data access pattern. Multiple data elements are transferred simultaneously across multiple memory elements, effectively increasing the data transfer rate without proportionally increasing the complexity of the control system
2Loss of time
If rapid suspend and resume operations are implemented, then user experience is improved with seamless switching, but data transfer time must be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously buffering display data in memory during normal operation. When suspend is required, the buffered data is immediately available for rapid retrieval, eliminating the need to wait for data generation during the suspend operation itself
Solution Approach 2:
The display data buffering continues uninterrupted during suspend operations. The system maintains continuous useful action by keeping the display data stream alive in memory, allowing the resume operation to simply retrieve already-buffered data rather than regenerating it, thus minimizing time loss
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing apparatus comprises a processor having an internal state dependent upon execution of application program code, the processor being configured to generate display data relating to images to be displayed and to buffer display data relating to a most recent period of execution of a currently executing application. The apparatus includes RAM for storing temporary data relating to a current operational state of program execution. The apparatus also includes a data transfer controller configured to transfer data from the RAM relating to the currently executing application, data relating to a current internal state of the processor and buffered display data to suspend data memory, and to transfer data from the suspend data memory to RAM and to the processor to recreate an execution state of an application at a time the suspend instruction was executed, and to retrieve display data relating to the resumed application.