File System Prefetching for Multi-Processor Boot Time Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-processor mobile devices with multiple operating systems, the bottleneck of booting time is primarily due to the data copy from non-volatile storage to volatile storage, which accounts for 40% of the total booting time, and existing methods do not effectively synchronize booting states among processors.
Innovation Solution
The method involves prefetching data from non-volatile storage to volatile storage during the waiting period for booting state synchronization, using a main processor to copy data in fixed or dynamically defined sizes to a predefined memory space in volatile storage, and continuing with normal file system creation once synchronization is complete, thereby reducing the time required for data copying and booting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is copied from non-volatile storage to volatile storage during booting, then the booting data becomes accessible for faster processing, but the booting time increases due to the 40% time spent on data copying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by copying required booting data from non-volatile storage to volatile storage during the booting state synchronization period - a time when the system is already waiting for auxiliary processors to complete their boot sequences. This proactive data preparation ensures that when the synchronization completes, the main processor can immediately access all necessary booting data without additional waiting time, thus resolving the contradiction between data access speed and total booting time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by utilizing the booting state synchronization period - traditionally a passive waiting period - to actively perform data copying operations. The main processor continuously executes data copy tasks during what would otherwise be idle time, ensuring that no processing capacity is wasted and the data transfer completes seamlessly before the synchronization finishes, thereby eliminating the 40% time penalty associated with sequential data copying
2Reliability
If the main processor waits for booting state synchronization to complete before copying data, then synchronization is properly established, but the overall booting time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by initiating data copying operations during the booting state synchronization period rather than waiting for its completion. The main processor proactively transfers required data from non-volatile to volatile storage while the synchronization is in progress, ensuring that both synchronization and data preparation are completed before the main processor needs to access the data, thus maintaining reliability while reducing total booting time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transforming the sequential execution model into a parallel execution model. Instead of sequentially completing synchronization first and then copying data, the system operates in two parallel dimensions: the synchronization process continues while data copying simultaneously occurs in the background. This dimensional shift allows both tasks to progress concurrently, resolving the contradiction between maintaining synchronization reliability and reducing booting time
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of file system prefetching is provided. The method is applicable to an electronic device including a volatile storage, a non-volatile storage, and multiple processors with multiple operating systems. The method includes the following steps. When a first static backup table in the non-volatile storage is not empty, copy all data in the first static backup table to a second static backup table in the volatile storage. Check whether the first static backup table includes all required data for booting one of the operating systems in a static partition of the non-volatile storage. When the first static backup table does not include all of the required data, copy a part of the remaining required data in the static partition to the first and the second static backup tables. Return to the checking step when a booting state synchronization of the operating systems is not completed yet.