Shared Cache Memory Management for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile electronic devices face challenges in efficiently managing memory resources due to increasing demands for functionality, leading to a need for frugal use of their resources.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method and apparatus for managing memory in mobile devices by utilizing a shared cache, where data intended for new applications is checked for existence and written to the cache only if not already present, allowing for reuse of data across multiple applications, thereby optimizing memory usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a shared cache is implemented to store data for multiple applications, then memory usage efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvememory usage efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cache memory resources of multiple applications into a single shared cache structure. Instead of each application maintaining separate cache memory, the system consolidates these resources into one shared pool that multiple applications can access, thereby improving memory usage efficiency while the complexity is managed through centralized control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared cache is designed to serve multiple applications simultaneously, making the memory resource universal. The cache structure and management system are engineered to handle requests from different applications with varying data requirements, enabling one memory subsystem to perform multiple functions for different applications

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

2Ease of operation

If data is written to shared cache for each application, then data accessibility is improved, but memory management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidmemory management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cache management system operates autonomously to handle data writing and retrieval operations. When an application needs data, the management system automatically checks if the data exists in the shared cache and writes it if necessary, without requiring manual intervention or complex coordination between applications. This self-service mechanism simplifies the overall management complexity while maintaining high data accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the cache management process continuously monitors cache contents and application requests. When data is requested by an application, the system checks (feedback loop) whether the data is already present in the shared cache, and only writes it if absent, thereby optimizing memory operations and managing complexity through intelligent control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2325753B1Method and apparatus for managing memory in a mobile electronic device
Publication Date: 2018.02.28 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2325753B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2325753B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2325753B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to embodiments described in the specification, a method and apparatus for managing memory in a mobile electronic device are provided. The method comprises: receiving a request to install an application; receiving at least one indication of data intended to be maintained in a shared cache; determining, based on the at least one indication, whether data corresponding to the intended data exists in the shared cache; upon a negative determination, writing the intended data to the shared cache; and repeating the receiving at least one indication, the determining and the writing for at least one additional application.