KR20080057688A - Method for booting operating system using of non volatile memory - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for booting an OS(Operating System) with a non-volatile memory is provided to shorten a booting time remarkably in home appliances applying a hibernation function by initializing a device with a parallel thread technique when a boot loader is executed. It is checked over whether or not a boot loader is completely executed when an OS loader is started(S202). A device initialization process is progressed in all areas excluding a boot loader area of a non-volatile memory by applying a parallel thread technique of multi-pipeline concept when the boot loader is completely executed(S204). A main image is transferred to the non-volatile memory from the boot loader area by applying a memory-to-memory technique when the device initialization process is completed(S208). A boot process of the main memory is completed when the main image is completely output(S210).

Description

How to boot operating system using nonvolatile memory {METHOD FOR BOOTING OPERATING SYSTEM USING OF NON VOLATILE MEMORY}

1 is a configuration diagram of a computer system for explaining an operating system booting method using a nonvolatile memory according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for booting an operating system using a nonvolatile memory according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: nonvolatile memory 102: boot loader area

200: main memory 201 to 204: thread

300 to 306: device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating system booting technology in a digital home appliance to which a computer system is applied. Particularly, an operating system booting method using a nonvolatile memory suitable for minimizing a booting time in connection with an instant on technology of a home appliance It is about a method.

Computer systems, such as personal computers, often use an initialization procedure while the computer operating system is loading. In general, an operating system for a computer system is stored on a nonvolatile storage medium, such as a magnetic hard disk drive, in which the processor of the computer system executes instructions from so-called system memory, which is addressable memory such as DRAM.

In order to initialize the addressable memory, a small amount of nonvolatile boot-up memory is generally provided in dedicated memory. Dedicated memory includes programs such as so-called basic input / output (BIOS) programs that are used to read the first part of the operating system from the hard disk drive and load it into system memory.

Some of these operating systems can then load and initialize the rest of the operating system. This process is generally referred to as "booting" the operating system. After the computer initializes or "boots" itself, the computer is generally in a default state where the user is ready to initialize some program or process. In general, the computer system is in the same state after all initialization operations, regardless of past user actions.

On the other hand, the hibernation refers to a function of automatically saving work contents which have been executed until the time when the personal computer is turned off to the hard disk drive (HDD) which is a nonvolatile memory. In suspend and resume, some power is consumed even in the standby state. Therefore, data may be lost if left in the suspended state for a long time, but in hibernation system, data is not consumed to maintain memory capacity. There is no risk of loss and it also saves energy. However, since a data storage area (boot loader area) must be secured on the hard disk in advance, it is a different concept from a backup on the premise that a program or data is copied and stored. In other words, backup is a precautionary measure (copying and preserving data) in case of system breakdown or failure, but hibernation is a simultaneous measure to prevent the loss of work in progress.

In summary, typical operating system booting techniques go through a series of initialization processes that pass the operating system (OS) kernel from the boot loader to the main process and main memory, whereas in a hibernation system, the boot load region is separated from main memory such as a hard disk. When the system is powered off and restarted, the initialization process of the main process and main memory is not necessary, so the booting speed is fast and the power saving effect can be expected.

On the other hand, due to the development of electronic technology, recently released digital home appliances are basically equipped with the above operating system, and moreover, hibernation techniques related to instant on (immediate start) technology are being applied.

Hibernation techniques in home appliances need to be differentiated from those in ordinary personal computers. For example, a laptop may play DVDs or MP3s without powering on, which requires faster response times and improved booting techniques compared to hibernation techniques in personal computers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the necessity of the above-described prior art, an operating system booting using a nonvolatile memory that can dramatically shorten the booting time when a hibernation function is applied by performing a device initialization by applying a parallel thread technique when a boot loader is executed. The purpose is to provide a method.

Another object of the present invention is to use a non-volatile memory that can improve the processing speed by transferring a main image by applying a memory to memory technique to the non-volatile memory in the boot loader area after the initialization of the system To provide a way to boot the system.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving this object, a method of booting an operating system of a home appliance to which the hibernation technique is applied, determining whether the boot loader execution is completed when the operating system loader is started; Performing a device initialization process excluding the boot loader area of the nonvolatile memory when execution of the boot loader is completed; transferring a main image from the boot loader area to the nonvolatile memory when the device initialization process is completed; When the image output is completed, the method provides a method of booting an operating system using nonvolatile memory, which includes completing a booting process of main memory.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the following description of the reference numerals to the components of the drawings, it should be noted that the same reference numerals for the same components, even if displayed on different drawings as possible.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a computer system for explaining an operating system booting method using a nonvolatile memory according to an embodiment of the present invention. The nonvolatile memory 100, the main memory 200, and the devices 300, 302, and 304 are shown in FIG. , 306).

As shown in FIG. 1, the nonvolatile memory 100 is a flash memory, for example, a BIOS or a CMOS that maintains a recording state even when the power is turned off.

The nonvolatile memory 100 is provided with a boot loader region 102 for system booting according to the present embodiment. When initialization is completed, as described below, the nonvolatile memory 100 may be installed in the nonvolatile memory 100. Pass the main image. That is, by transferring the main image by applying a memory-to-memory technique in the same memory area, the processing speed may be significantly increased.

The main memory 200 performs initialization of the devices 300, 302, 304, and 306 when the operating system loader is started. According to the present embodiment, the parallel thread scheme of the multi-pipeline concept is implemented. It is characterized by the application. That is, the initialization time of the devices 300, 302, 304, and 306 may be reduced in parallel by processing the initialization of the parallel threads.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an operating system booting method using a nonvolatile memory according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the operating system loader is started (S200), the main memory 200 determines whether boot loader execution is completed (S202).

When execution of the boot loader is completed, the main memory 200 performs a device initialization process except for the boot loader region 102 of the nonvolatile memory 100. At this time, the device initialization process is characterized in that the parallel threading technique of a multi-pipeline concept is applied. In other words, in the present embodiment, the initialization time of each device 300, 302, 304, 306 may be processed in parallel threads, thereby significantly reducing the initialization time.

Thereafter, the main memory 200 determines whether the device initialization process is completed (S206). When the device initialization process is completed, the main memory 200 transfers the main image from the boot loader region 102 to the nonvolatile memory 100 (S208). The main image transfer at this time is characterized in that the memory-to-memory technique is applied. That is, by transferring the main image in the same memory area, the processing speed may be significantly improved.

When the main image output is completed (S210), the main memory 200 completes booting and ends the present process (S212).

As described above, the present invention is implemented to initialize the device in a parallel thread technique and to transfer the main image from the boot loader region to the nonvolatile memory in booting the operating system of the home appliance to which the hibernation technique is applied.

According to the present invention, by booting the operating system of the home appliance to which the hibernation technique is applied, by initializing the device by the parallel thread technique and transferring the main image from the boot loader region to the nonvolatile memory, the system initialization time can be drastically reduced. This has the effect of greatly improving the processing speed.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated concretely based on the Example, this invention is not limited to such an Example, Of course, various deformation | transformation are possible for it within the technical idea and the scope of a claim mentioned later.

Claims (3)

Determining whether the boot loader execution is completed when the operating system loader is started, Performing a device initialization process except for a boot loader region of a nonvolatile memory when the boot loader execution is completed; Transferring a main image from the boot loader area to the nonvolatile memory when a device initialization process is completed; Steps to complete the boot process of main memory when the main image output Operating system boot method using a non-volatile memory to which the hibernation technique is applied. The method of claim 1, The device initialization process is a method for booting an operating system using a non-volatile memory, characterized in that the parallel threading technique of a multi-pipeline concept is applied. The method of claim 1, The main image transfer method, the operating system boot method using a non-volatile memory, characterized in that the memory to memory technique is applied.

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