Virtual Extended System for Lossless ROM Flashing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ROM flashing methods for intelligent terminals often result in damage to the original system, making it difficult to recover the previous system and posing risks of destroying the recovery mode, which can only be repaired at a repair shop.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a ROM flashing method that writes the ROM flashing system file into a storage image file of a virtual extended system, using virtualization technology to separate the new system from the original system, allowing for lossless flashing and easy recovery of the original system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ROM flashing is performed by writing system software into the system partition to overwrite the original system, then the new system can be installed, but the original system is completely overwritten and cannot be recovered, and the recovery mode may be destroyed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem customizationVSAvoidoriginal system recoverability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the storage space into separate partitions: a system partition for the original system and a data partition for the new ROM. This segmentation allows the new system to be installed without overwriting the original system, enabling users to switch between systems and recover the original system when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by creating a data partition and copying the original system files to it before installing the new ROM. This preliminary setup ensures that the original system is preserved and can be restored by simply copying files back, eliminating the risk of permanent system loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of repair

If ROM flashing is performed again to recover the previous system, then system recovery is possible, but the process carries risks and may destroy the recovery mode, requiring repair shop intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem recoveryVSAvoidrecovery mode stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the original system in the data partition before flashing the new ROM. This copy serves as a backup that can be restored by simply copying files back to the system partition, providing a safe and reliable recovery method that does not risk destroying the recovery mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the original system is completely overwritten during ROM flashing, then the new system can be fully installed, but the flashing process causes damage to the original system and creates loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem update capabilityVSAvoidoriginal system data
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the storage into system and data partitions, allowing the new system to be installed in the data partition without overwriting the original system in the system partition. This eliminates data loss while maintaining system update capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary copying of the original system to the data partition before installing the new ROM, ensuring that no original system data is lost during the flashing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3270284B1Refurbishment method and intelligent terminal
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3270284B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3270284B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3270284B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the communications field and disclose a ROM flashing method and an intelligent terminal, so as to implement lossless ROM flashing on an original system of the intelligent terminal. A solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention includes: the intelligent terminal includes a virtual extended system and an original system, the original system runs a factory system file of the intelligent terminal, and the virtual extended system runs a ROM flashing system file; when a ROM flashing instruction entered by a user is received, the ROM flashing system file is written into a storage image file of the virtual extended system; and the virtual extended system is started to run the ROM flashing system file. The present invention is used to perform ROM flashing on an intelligent terminal.