Firmware-Based Hardware Resource Provisioning for Multi-OS Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large, complex many-core systems with multiple operating systems and heterogeneous resources, existing resource provisioning methods are cumbersome and lack efficient centralized management, especially during boot processes and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
Firmware-based provisioning, where firmware discovers, verifies, and dynamically assigns hardware resources to OS instances, allowing for incremental allocation and reclamation of resources, optimizing performance and boot time while managing resources across multiple nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If firmware dynamically provisions hardware resources to multiple OS instances, then resource allocation efficiency and system performance are improved, but device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces firmware as an intermediary layer between hardware resources and operating systems. The firmware maintains a resource pool and dynamically allocates hardware resources to multiple OS instances, acting as a mediator that simplifies resource management while improving allocation efficiency. This resolves the contradiction by centralizing control in firmware rather than requiring complex inter-OS coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resource provisioning where firmware can allocate and de-allocate hardware resources based on real-time OS requirements. The system transitions from static resource assignment to dynamic allocation, allowing resources to be flexibly assigned to different OS instances as needed, thereby improving productivity while the firmware manages the complexity of these dynamic changes.
2Reliability
If firmware verifies and tests all hardware resources during boot, then resource reliability and system stability are improved, but boot time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary hardware resource verification and testing by firmware during the boot process. All hardware resources are tested and validated before being assigned to any OS instance, ensuring resource reliability is established upfront. This preliminary action prevents runtime failures while the firmware manages the testing efficiently to minimize boot time impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial verification strategies where firmware performs essential hardware tests needed for reliability while potentially skipping less critical tests during initial boot. The verification level can be adjusted based on system requirements, balancing reliability needs against boot time constraints by performing only the necessary portion of hardware verification.
3Reliability
If firmware maintains centralized ownership of hardware resources, then resource security and control are improved, but system complexity and firmware workload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes firmware as a centralized intermediary that maintains ownership and control of all hardware resources. The firmware acts as a security layer between hardware and OS instances, managing resource allocation and access control. This centralized model improves security and control while the firmware's automated management protocols prevent workload from becoming unmanageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where OS instances communicate their resource needs and status to the firmware, which then adjusts resource allocation accordingly. This feedback loop allows the firmware to maintain centralized control and security while reducing its workload by making allocation decisions based on automated feedback from the OS instances rather than continuous manual management.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples relate to firmware-based provisioning of hardware resources. In some of the examples, firmware discovers and takes ownership of a hardware resource. At this stage, the firmware performs a test to verify the hardware resource. The firmware then assigns the hardware resource to an OS instance. At this stage, the firmware can suspend assigning further hardware resources to the OS instance in response to a satisfied notification from the OS instance.