Time Information Management Across Independent Execution Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer systems face challenges in managing and setting different time information for each execution space, particularly when separate operating systems are executed, as current methods do not ensure secure and accurate time correction across multiple execution spaces.
Innovation Solution
An information-processing apparatus is designed with a time-retention unit, a time-information acquisition unit, and a time-information request unit, implemented in mutually independent execution spaces, which manage and provide time information securely through authentication and encryption, allowing different time settings for each execution space using time-request source identifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If partition offsets are used to set different times in each logical partition, then different time information can be acquired for each execution space, but security is compromised allowing non-administrators to exercise administrator rights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the time management functionality into distinct components: a time-setting unit that receives time setting requests, an authentication unit that verifies administrator credentials, and a time-retention unit that stores time information. This segmentation ensures that only authenticated administrators can modify time settings while other execution spaces can only read time information, thus resolving the security issue while maintaining the ability to provide different time information to different execution spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an authentication unit as an intermediary between the time-setting unit and the time-retention unit. This intermediary verifies administrator credentials before allowing time setting operations, preventing unauthorized access while still allowing the system to provide different time information to different execution spaces through the manager.
2Productivity
If a single timer is shared across multiple execution spaces, then resource utilization is improved, but time management security and accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different execution spaces to receive different time information from the same timer through the manager. Each execution space can be configured with specific time settings or offsets, enabling localized time management while sharing the same physical timer resource. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining resource efficiency while providing customized time information to different execution spaces.
3Measurement precision
If time information is corrected in the timer, then accurate time keeping is achieved, but unauthorized users can modify time settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by requiring authentication before allowing time setting operations. The authentication unit verifies administrator credentials in advance of any time modification, ensuring that only authorized users can correct time information in the timer. This prevents unauthorized modification while still allowing accurate time keeping when corrections are legitimately needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An information-processing apparatus for executing processes in mutually independent execution spaces, the processes comprising a first process for managing time information and acquiring and providing clocked time information in accordance with a request; a second process for receiving a request for acquisition of time information, outputting the request to the first process, and acquiring and outputting provided time information; and a third process for outputting a request for acquisition of time information to the second process in accordance with a request from a request source, acquiring time information output by the second process, and providing the acquired time information to the request source.