Dynamic Memory Allocation for OS Update Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices face inefficiencies in OS updates due to the need for a large reserved memory region, leading to resource wastage and prolonged update times, as well as vulnerability to sudden power-offs during the update process.
Innovation Solution
The method involves utilizing part of the reserved memory region for user data storage, allowing for increased effective user-data memory size, improving transaction data write reliability, and enhancing processing speed by employing virtual mapping and garbage collection techniques to manage memory allocation dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a first memory region is reserved to temporarily store a new OS image for FOTA updates, then the device can perform OS updates, but the effective user-data memory size is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic memory allocation where the first memory region reserved for OS updates is made dynamically shareable with user data. The memory management module dynamically adjusts the allocation between OS update temporary storage and user data storage based on actual needs, allowing the same physical memory to serve dual purposes at different times, thus increasing effective user-data memory size while maintaining OS update capability
Solution Approach 2:
The first memory region is designed to serve multiple functions: it can be used for temporary storage of new OS images during FOTA updates, and simultaneously or alternatively for storing user data. This multi-functional design allows the memory to be utilized more efficiently, reducing the waste of reserved memory and increasing the effective user-data storage capacity
2Reliability
If two write operations are required to update the OS image (one to first memory region, one to second memory region), then the OS update can be performed with backup, but the update time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by first determining the availability of the first memory region and prepping the memory allocation before the actual OS update write operations begin. The memory management module proactively manages the memory state, ensuring that the first memory region is properly allocated and ready for temporary OS image storage, which streamlines the subsequent write operations and reduces overall update time while maintaining reliability
3Reliability
If the entire new OS image must be rewritten from the beginning upon sudden power off during overwrite, then data consistency is maintained, but the processing speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through the memory management module that continuously monitors the state of the first memory region and the progress of OS update operations. Upon detecting a sudden power-off event, the system uses this feedback information to determine the exact state of memory contents and selectively resume or continue operations from the point of failure rather than restarting from the beginning, thus maintaining data consistency while improving processing speed
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a data storage device includes receiving size information of a region needed for a data transaction from a host, calculating the sum of a size of a first region available in an invisible region-to-user and a size of a second region available in a visible region-to-user based on the size information, and communicating a response indicating possibility of the data transaction to the host based on a calculation result.