Dynamic Storage Allocation for Limited Application Memory

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information processing apparatuses with small storage areas face challenges in managing storage for multiple applications, leading to insufficient allocation and potential failure in operation when maximum storage limits are reserved beforehand.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus divides the application program area into a guaranteed minimum area and a general area, allocating a dedicated minimum size to each application and allowing additional storage to be dynamically allocated from the general area as needed, ensuring efficient operation of multiple applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If maximum storage size is reserved beforehand for each application, then storage allocation is simplified and predictable, but storage area becomes insufficient when total reserved size exceeds available storage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage allocation reliabilityVSAvoidavailable storage area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the storage area into two distinct parts: a guaranteed area that ensures minimum storage for each application, and a general area that can be dynamically allocated. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by guaranteeing basic storage needs while allowing flexible use of remaining space, preventing both storage insufficiency and waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If storage area is divided into guaranteed minimum area and general area, then multiple applications can operate concurrently with sufficient storage, but storage management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcurrent application operationVSAvoidstorage management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic storage management where the general area can be flexibly allocated to different applications based on their actual needs. The system dynamically adjusts storage allocation during runtime, allowing applications to use more or less storage as required, which enables concurrent operation of multiple applications while managing complexity through automated dynamic allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3151119B1Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 CANON KK
  • EP3151119B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3151119B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3151119B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

As one of the aspects of the invention, an information processing method to be executed by a processor executing instructions in a memory, the information processing method includes allocating, in a first area of the storage area, an area having a predetermined size to an application" determining whether a processing area to be used when processing of the application is executed is able to be reserved in the first area allocated to the application in the storage area, and upon condition that it is determined that the processing is able to be reserved in the first area, reserving the processing area in the first area as the allocated area having the predetermined size to an application, and upon condition that it is determined that the processing area is not able to be reserved in the first area, trying to reserve the processing area in a second area in the storage area, and performing notification upon condition that the processing is not able to be reserved in the second area.