Non-Volatile Bootable RAM Disk for Manufacturing Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems face inefficiencies during manufacturing testing due to frequent rebooting and the volatility of RAM memory, which requires slower boot times from hard disk drives or solid state drives, and lacks non-volatile storage for test operating systems and data during testing.
Innovation Solution
A non-volatile bootable RAM disk is created by reserving a portion of RAM memory and maintaining power through standby power or a backup battery, allowing it to emulate a bootable disk and store test operating systems and data, enabling faster access and preserving data across reboots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If RAM memory is used for storing test operating systems and data, then faster access speed is achieved, but data is lost during system reboots due to volatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by reserving a specific portion of RAM memory in advance and configuring it with non-volatile characteristics before testing begins. This reserved RAM disk is pre-configured to maintain power through standby power or backup battery, ensuring data persistence is established beforehand rather than being implemented reactively when data loss occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of RAM memory from volatile to non-volatile by implementing power maintenance mechanisms. Specifically, the system modifies the operational state of the RAM by maintaining its power supply through standby power modes or backup batteries, thereby changing its fundamental characteristic from losing data on power loss to preserving data across reboots.
2Reliability
If hard disk drives or solid state drives are used for booting, then non-volatile storage is provided, but boot times are slower compared to RAM
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a bootable copy of the operating system and test data in the reserved RAM disk. Instead of booting directly from the hard drive or SSD, the system copies the necessary boot images and data to the RAM disk, which then serves as the boot device. This copying process enables the system to boot from the faster RAM medium while the original non-volatile storage retains its data persistence capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If frequent reboots are performed during manufacturing testing, then testing coverage is improved, but testing time increases due to repeated boot processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by maintaining power to the reserved RAM disk during system reboots. When the system reboots, the main RAM is cleared and the system reinitializes, but the reserved RAM disk maintains its power supply through standby power or backup battery, preserving the boot image and test data. This allows the testing process to continue without interruption, as the bootable environment is already prepared and preserved in the non-volatile RAM disk.
Data Source
AI summary
A manufacturing testing system includes an information handling system, a RAM memory device including a reserved physical RAM address space, non-volatile bootable disk, and a header for the reserved physical RAM address space. The head may include a non-volatile bootable disk signature, a start physical address, a length of reserved space, and a processor.