Mobile Driver Library Segmentation for OTA Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile computing devices require full device over-the-air updates for driver changes, which are expensive, time-consuming, and prone to bugs due to complex interdependencies between operating systems and device components, making it difficult to update drivers individually.
Innovation Solution
A dissemination system that detects compatibility of device drivers with operating system builds and delivers updated drivers by establishing a test environment for regression testing, using a driver matcher to determine direct and implied compatibility, and providing access to compatible drivers through a server-based system that communicates with mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full device over-the-air updates are performed for driver changes, then driver updates can be delivered to mobile computing devices, but the process becomes expensive, time-consuming, and prone to bugs due to complex interdependencies between operating systems and device components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the driver update process from the operating system update process. Instead of requiring full device updates that include both OS and drivers, the system separates driver updates into independent, standalone components that can be updated individually. This is achieved by creating a driver library that stores multiple versions of drivers and a driver selector that intelligently chooses compatible drivers without requiring OS updates, thereby reducing update complexity and cost while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a driver library as an intermediary layer between the operating system and device components. This driver library stores multiple versions of drivers and provides a driver selector that acts as a mediator to match applications with compatible drivers. This intermediary structure allows driver updates to be delivered independently of OS updates, reducing the complexity and cost of full device updates while ensuring compatibility and reliability.
2Productivity
If individual driver updates are implemented, then update costs and time are reduced, but compatibility issues may arise between updated drivers and existing operating system builds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-testing driver updates in a test environment before deploying them to production. The system establishes a test environment that simulates various operating system builds and tests driver compatibility in advance. Compatibility results are stored and used by the driver selector to match applications with drivers that have been pre-verified for compatibility, thereby enabling efficient individual driver updates while maintaining reliability through advance compatibility validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through regression testing that automatically evaluates driver compatibility with different operating system builds. The system collects compatibility data from test environments and feeds this information back into the driver library, where it is used by the driver selector to make informed decisions about which drivers to apply. This feedback loop ensures that individual driver updates maintain compatibility with existing system builds while improving update efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are mobile computing devices that employ compatible updated drivers. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device includes: (1) a processor, (2) a driver library configured to store original drivers and updated drivers for applications on the mobile computing device, and (3) a driver selector configured to determine at least one driver from the original drivers or the updated drivers to use for running one of the applications.