USB Device Driver Memory Management via Selective Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency in loading and unloading function drivers in USB devices when switching modes, as existing methods require unloading all drivers from volatile memory and reloading new ones, leading to unnecessary resource allocation and de-allocation.
Innovation Solution
A USB device with a nonvolatile memory for storing L function drivers and a volatile memory that loads M function drivers, where during mode changes, only unnecessary drivers (U) are unloaded from the volatile memory, while maintaining necessary drivers (N) and loading additional required drivers (A), optimizing memory allocation and resource management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all function drivers are unloaded from volatile memory during mode change, then the USB device can switch to a new mode, but the loading and unloading efficiency decreases due to unnecessary operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary function drivers from the volatile memory during mode changes, rather than unloading all drivers. The determination unit identifies which drivers are needed for the target mode, and only those drivers are unloaded along with their associated memory regions and endpoint resources. This selective extraction approach maintains productivity by enabling mode switching while reducing time loss by avoiding unnecessary unloading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-identifying which function drivers are necessary for the target mode before executing the unloading process. The determination unit analyzes the target mode requirements in advance, creating a plan for which drivers to retain and which to unload. This preliminary analysis prevents unnecessary unloading and reloading operations, thereby improving both mode switching speed and reducing the time spent on driver management.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all function drivers are unloaded and reloaded during mode change, then the USB device can operate in the new mode, but memory resource allocation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by removing only the function drivers that are not needed for the target mode, while retaining those that are necessary. This selective removal approach maintains full mode adaptability because the needed drivers remain in memory, while improving memory allocation efficiency by freeing only the necessary memory regions and endpoint resources associated with unloaded drivers, rather than reallocating entire memory spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by selectively discarding (unloading) only those function drivers that are not required for the target mode, while recovering (freeing) only their associated memory regions and endpoint resources. This approach maintains adaptability by preserving needed drivers and optimizes memory efficiency by recovering only the necessary resources, avoiding the energy waste of full memory reallocation.
3Quantity of substance
If unnecessary function drivers are kept in volatile memory during mode change, then memory usage increases, but the loading efficiency decreases due to redundant operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses extraction to remove unnecessary function drivers from volatile memory during mode changes. The determination unit identifies which drivers are not needed for the target mode, and the unloading unit removes only those specific drivers along with their associated memory regions and endpoint resources. This approach optimizes memory usage by eliminating unnecessary occupants while maintaining high loading efficiency by avoiding redundant unload-reload cycles for needed drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining which function drivers are unnecessary for the target mode before executing the unloading process. This preliminary identification allows the system to selectively remove only the unnecessary drivers, thereby optimizing memory usage without sacrificing loading efficiency. The preliminary analysis prevents redundant loading operations by ensuring that needed drivers remain in memory.
Data Source
AI summary
A universal serial bus (USB) device includes a first memory and a second memory. The first memory is configured to store L different function drivers, and during a first operation, the second memory is configured to be loaded with M different function drivers from the first memory and, during a second operation, the second memory is configured to maintain N function drivers among the M function drivers while being loaded with A different function drivers from the first memory, wherein M≦L, N<M, and A<L.