Microcontroller ROM Selection for Dynamic OS Booting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience and risk when changing operating systems (OS) on portable devices, as they need to download and update firmware, which can lead to device malfunction if the update fails, and there is no easy method to dynamically select a booting OS.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that use a micro-controller to detect a selection signal and activate one of two ROMs, load and execute the corresponding firmware, and subsequently load and execute the associated OS, allowing for dynamic selection of the booting OS.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If firmware update is performed to change OS, then OS can be changed, but device may malfunction and cannot be restored if update fails

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveOS change capabilityVSAvoiddevice stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-loading multiple OS images into the storage device before any update is needed. The micro-controller can directly switch between pre-loaded OS images by activating different ROMs, eliminating the need for risky firmware updates and allowing safe OS switching without compromising device stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates copies of multiple OS images and stores them in the storage device. Instead of updating firmware to change OS, the micro-controller loads and executes OS from stored copies by selecting different ROMs, allowing OS changes without modifying the firmware and thus maintaining device reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If firmware update is performed to change OS, then OS can be changed, but user experience is inconvenient due to download and update process

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveOS change capabilityVSAvoidOS switching convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates copies of multiple OS images and stores them in the storage device. Instead of firmware updates, the micro-controller loads and executes OS from stored copies by selecting different ROMs, allowing OS changes without modifying the firmware and thus maintaining device reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10162648B2Methods for dynamically selecting a booting operating system and apparatuses using the same

Publication Date: 2018.12.25 WISTRON CORP

AI summary

The invention introduces a method for dynamically selecting a booting OS (Operating System), executed by a micro-controller of an apparatus, which contains at least the following steps. The micro-controller detects a selection signal output from a selection unit, and determines which one of two ROMs (Read-Only Memories) is to be activated accordingly. After a CS (Chip Select) signal of the determined ROM is asserted, a firmware stored in the determined ROM is loaded and executed, and an OS corresponding to the firmware, which is stored in a storage device, is loaded and executed.