Host Call Mediation for System Services on OS-Less Target Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing devices operating in constrained environments, such as GPUs or specialized chips, lack access to essential system services due to the absence of a self-contained operating system, hindering their ability to execute system calls for tasks like logging data or file operations.
Innovation Solution
A target computing device communicates with a host computing device to issue host calls, generating exceptions that are logged and polled by the host, allowing the host to execute system service requests and send completion indicators back to the target device, thereby enabling the target device to leverage the host's system services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If target computing devices operate without a self-contained operating system, then device complexity is reduced and specialized functions are improved, but access to system services is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the host computing device acts as a mediator to provide system services to the target computing device. The target device generates exception indicators that are captured and handled by the host, which then executes the requested system services on behalf of the target device, enabling service access without requiring the target device to have its own operating system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If target computing devices generate exceptions to request system services, then system service access is enabled, but execution continuity is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the target computing device pre-generate and log exception indicators for system service requests before actual execution needs arise. The host computing device captures these exceptions and executes the requested services in advance or in parallel, reducing the interruption time to minimal periods when exception handling is actually required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the host computing device monitors exception indicators from the target device, executes the appropriate system services, and sends completion indicators back to the target device. This feedback loop allows the target device to resume execution promptly after service completion, minimizing execution interruptions while maintaining continuous system service access.
Data Source
AI summary
An example host computing device includes: a memory and a communications interface; a processor interconnected with the memory and the communications interface, the processor configured to: detect a request, by a target computing device, for execution of a system service by the host computing device; obtain system service parameters for the requested system service; execute the system service in accordance with the system service parameters; and send a completion indicator to the target computing device.