Programmable Logic Device Offloads Peripheral Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computer systems are burdened by managing peripherals, leading to bloated operating systems that consume excessive resources and generate heat, due to the centralized processing of peripheral management tasks.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a programmable logic device (PLD) that communicates with peripherals using a generic interface, allowing the host operating system to offload peripheral management tasks, thereby simplifying the host system and enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the host operating system manages all peripheral devices directly, then comprehensive peripheral control is achieved, but the operating system becomes bloated and consumes excessive memory and processing resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the peripheral management system into two segments: a host operating system that provides high-level coordination and a programmable logic device that handles specific peripheral control tasks. This segmentation allows the host OS to remain lean while peripheral functionality is maintained through the PLD's dedicated processing capabilities and protocol translation functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The programmable logic device acts as an intermediary between the host operating system and peripheral devices. It receives high-level commands from the host OS, translates them into device-specific protocols, and manages peripheral operations autonomously. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for the host OS to contain extensive device-specific drivers and management code.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the operating system includes extensive drivers and management routines for all possible peripherals, then broad compatibility is achieved, but memory requirements and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The programmable logic device performs self-service by autonomously managing peripheral device communication and control. It maintains its own instruction set and processing capabilities to handle device-specific protocols and data formats, eliminating the need for the host OS to execute extensive device management code. This autonomous operation reduces overall system power consumption while maintaining broad peripheral compatibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more functionality is added to the operating system to manage diverse peripherals, then system capability increases, but heat generation and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts peripheral management functionality from the host operating system and relocates it to a separate programmable logic device. This extraction removes the thermal and processing burden of device-specific protocol translation and peripheral control from the host CPU, allowing it to focus on higher-level application processing. The PLD handles the heat-generating tasks of direct peripheral communication independently.
4Quantity of substance
If the host system directly controls all peripheral operations, then precise control is achieved, but processor efficiency decreases due to cumulative management overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The programmable logic device provides dynamic peripheral control by executing configurable instruction sets that can be programmed to match specific device requirements. This dynamic approach allows precise control of peripheral operations while the host processor remains free to handle application-level tasks. The PLD's ability to be reprogrammed provides both precision and efficiency without requiring host processor involvement in every peripheral operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methods, systems and devices for distributed computing within a computing device that includes a host operating system executing within a host processor, a peripheral subsystem and a host interface. The peripheral subsystem includes a programmable logic device (“PLD”) that contains and executes an instruction autonomously from the host operating system and an electronic device coupled to the PLD via a device interface that executes the instruction. The host interface places the host processor in communication with the PLD whereby the host operating system employs the peripheral subsystem.