Portable Operating System Session Persistence Across Hosts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable non-volatile memory devices lose application state data and compatibility with host devices when transferred, as they do not maintain session data across platforms and may not be compatible with different output devices.

Innovation Solution

A portable operating system saves application state data on the memory device, allowing it to be restored on new hosts and transcoding output formats to match the capabilities of the host device, ensuring seamless data transfer and compatibility across platforms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a portable non-volatile memory device is removed from one host device and inserted into another, then the device can be used across multiple platforms, but application state data is lost and user sessions are interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveportability across multiple platformsVSAvoidapplication state data loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting when the memory device is removed from a host device and proactively saving application state data to the memory device before the actual removal occurs. This ensures that when the device is later inserted into a different host, the application state data is already preserved and can be restored, preventing information loss during platform transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If application data is saved on the removable non-volatile memory device, then data portability is improved, but the data is inaccessible if the required application is not installed on the new host device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata portabilityVSAvoiddata accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism that detects the absence of required applications on the new host device and automatically retrieves the necessary applications from the memory device or other sources. This intermediary process ensures that even if the required application is not initially installed on the new host, the data remains accessible by facilitating the acquisition of the necessary software components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the memory device maintains application state data, then session continuity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional data management requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesession continuityVSAvoiddata management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies universality by designing a memory device that performs multiple functions: it serves as both a standard storage device and an active session management system. The device automatically detects host device changes, saves application state data, and restores sessions without requiring separate dedicated hardware for session management, thereby maintaining session continuity while minimizing additional complexity through multi-functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Manufacturing precision

If the application output format is optimized for the original host device, then output quality is improved, but the output may not be presentable on the new host device with different output capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput format precisionVSAvoidoutput device compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamics by making the application output format adaptable rather than static. When the memory device is inserted into a new host device, the system dynamically detects the host's output capabilities and adjusts the output format accordingly. This allows the application to maintain high output quality optimized for each specific host device while ensuring compatibility across different platforms with varying output capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7606973B2System and method for pervasive computing with a portable non-volatile memory device
Publication Date: 2009.10.20 KYNDRYL INC
  • US7606973B2 patent drawing
  • US7606973B2 patent drawing
  • US7606973B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method, computer program product, and a data processing system for providing pervasive computing with a removable non-volatile memory device is provided. A portable operating system receives a command for removal of a portable memory device from a first host. A running application that is stored on the portable memory device is identified. Application state data of the application is saved in a data structure stored on the portable memory device. The portable memory device may then be removed from the first host and connected with a second host. A determination is made of whether the second host is adapted to run the application. The saved state data is retrieved responsive to determining that the second host is adapted to run the application, and the application is restored to an application state at which the state data was saved.