OS Hot-Switching via Resource Namespace

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile terminals can only run one operating system at a time, leading to inefficient hardware resource management and potential damage due to simultaneous use of shared resources by multiple operating systems, which limits user experience and reliability.

Innovation Solution

An operating system hot-switching method that allows for mutually exclusive access to hardware resources by designating a foreground and background operating system, releasing resources when switching, and managing resource allocation through a resource management namespace to ensure coordinated use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple operating systems simultaneously use the same hardware resource, then the functionality and versatility of the mobile terminal is improved, but the reliability of hardware resource usage deteriorates due to potential conflicts and damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-operating system supportVSAvoidhardware resource usage reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a resource management namespace as an intermediary layer between multiple operating systems and hardware resources. This namespace manages resource allocation and access rights, allowing multiple operating systems to coexist without direct conflicts. The namespace acts as a mediator that grants or denies access to hardware resources based on the current foreground operating system, thereby maintaining reliability while supporting multiple systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a mobile terminal is restarted to switch between operating systems, then the reliability of hardware resource allocation is improved, but the time efficiency and user experience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware resource allocation reliabilityVSAvoidsystem switching time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary actions by pre-loading and maintaining multiple operating systems in memory simultaneously, rather than booting them sequentially. The resource management namespace is pre-configured with namespace information for multiple operating systems, allowing rapid switching without full system restarts. This reduces switching time from minutes to seconds while maintaining reliable resource allocation through the namespace mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If hardware resources are shared among multiple operating systems without coordination, then the ease of operation is improved, but the harmful effects increase due to resource conflicts and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating system switching easeVSAvoidresource conflict and damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the resource management namespace continuously monitors the state of hardware resources and operating system contexts. When switching between operating systems, the namespace receives feedback about the current state and adjusts resource allocation accordingly. This feedback loop prevents resource conflicts by ensuring that only the foreground operating system has active access rights to hardware resources at any given time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3223151B1Hot-switching method and device for operating systems, and mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3223151B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3223151B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3223151B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses an operating system hot-switching method, applied to a mobile terminal running multiple operating systems, where the multiple operating systems include one foreground operating system and at least one background operating system, a current foreground operating system is a first operating system, and the at least one background operating system includes a second operating system. The method includes: obtaining an operating system switching instruction, where the operating system switching instruction includes an identifier of the second operating system and a switching identifier; releasing, according to the switching identifier, a hardware resource occupied by the first operating system; and switching the foreground operating system from the first operating system to the second operating system. The operating system hot-switching method ensures, to some extent, mutually exclusive access to and coordinated use of a hardware resource by multiple operating systems, thereby ensuring use reliability of the hardware resource after switching of an operating system.