Fast Boot Wake-Up via Selective OS Image Copying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Processing systems face challenges in balancing power consumption and response time constraints, particularly during wake-up operations from low-power modes, where complete rebooting is time-consuming and power-intensive, impacting system responsiveness.
Innovation Solution
A processing system that includes a processor, read-only memory, and random access memory, with a boot program capable of performing either a full or fast boot copy of the operating system image, selectively copying only predetermined portions during wake-up events to reduce boot time and power consumption, and utilizing an initial program loader and startup program to manage the boot process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complete copy of the image filesystem is transferred from read only memory to random access memory during wake-up, then system reliability is ensured, but system response time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The image filesystem is divided into two portions: a first portion containing critical system data and a second portion containing less critical data. During wake-up operations, only the first portion is copied to random access memory, ensuring system reliability while minimizing wake-up time. The second portion remains in read only memory and is accessed when needed.
2Reliability
If a complete copy of the image filesystem is transferred from read only memory to random access memory, then system reliability is ensured, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image filesystem is segmented into critical and non-critical portions. Only the critical first portion is copied to random access memory during wake-up, reducing the energy required for the copy operation while maintaining system reliability. The larger second portion remains in read only memory.
Solution Approach 2:
The first portion of the image filesystem is pre-identified and marked during system initialization so that during wake-up operations, the processor can immediately copy only this essential portion without needing to analyze or determine what data is critical at wake-up time.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the processor is powered off during low-power mode, then power consumption is reduced, but wake-up time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the image filesystem and keeping only the critical first portion in random access memory (which retains data during low-power mode), the system can power off the processor completely during low-power mode while still enabling fast wake-up through the preserved critical data.
Solution Approach 2:
The critical first portion of the image filesystem is copied to random access memory before entering low-power mode. This copy operation is performed once during normal operation, and the copied data persists in random access memory during low-power mode, enabling rapid wake-up without repeating the full copy operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a large image filesystem is copied from read only memory to random access memory, then complete system functionality is achieved, but boot time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image filesystem is divided into a first portion containing essential system data needed for immediate operation and a second portion containing additional functionality. During boot and wake-up operations, only the first portion is copied to random access memory, enabling fast boot while maintaining core system functionality. The second portion is accessed from read only memory when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing system is set forth that includes a processor, read only memory storing an operating system image file accessible by the processor, and random access memory that is also accessible by the processor. The processing system also includes a boot program that is executable by the processor to initialize the processing system in response, for example, to a power-on event, reset event, or a wake-up event. A power-on event occurs when power is initially provided to the processing system while a wake-up event occurs when the processing system is to exit a low-power mode of operation. A reset event occurs when, for example, a fault is detected that causes the system to restart. The boot program selectively performs a full boot copy of the operating system image file from the read only memory to the random access memory or a fast boot copy of only predetermined portions of the operating system image file from the read only memory to the random access memory. For example, the boot program may execute the full boot copy operation in response to the power-on event and the fast boot copy operation in response to the wake-up event and/or reset event. Further, the boot program may limit execution of the fast boot copy operation to those instances in which the random access memory passes an integrity check of the contents of one or more areas containing selected portions of the operating system copied from the read only memory during a prior full boot copy operation.