MEMORY MANAGEMENT FOR APPLICATION LOADING

• US 20170357465A1
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Published: 12/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dzeryn, Antony J., Lamb, Michael J., Crane, Neil G., Schorsch, Brent W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,747,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/5019 Workload prediction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0653 Monitoring storage devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/485 Task life-cycle, e.g. stopping, restarting, resuming execution G06F9/4881 takes precedence

Abstract

Some embodiments can load one or more applications into working memory from persistent storage when permitted by a memory pressure level of a mobile device. Loading the applications into working memory enables the applications to be launched into the foreground quickly when the user indicates the desire to launch. Some embodiments may identify a set of applications that are designated for providing snapshots to be displayed when the mobile device is in a dock mode. Certain embodiments may determine a current memory pressure level. Some embodiments may load an application in the set of applications into working memory from a persistent storage responsive to determining that the memory pressure level is below a threshold. Certain embodiments may continue to load additional applications responsive to determining that the memory pressure level is below the threshold. After determining that the memory pressure level is above the threshold, some embodiments may reclaim memory.

Claims

1. A method comprising performing, by one or more processors of a mobile device having a memory system:

identifying a set of applications that are designated for providing snapshots to be displayed when the mobile device is in a preview mode;

sending a request to the memory system for a current memory pressure level, the memory system communicably coupled with the one or more processors such that applications in the memory system are configured to be executed by the one or more processors;

after determining that the current memory pressure level is below a threshold, loading a first application in the set of applications into the memory system from a persistent storage, wherein the first application is configured to generate a first snapshot of the first application when the first application is loaded into the memory system;

sending another request to the memory system for the current memory pressure level; and

after determining that the current memory pressure level is below the threshold, loading a second application in the set of applications into the memory system from the persistent storage, wherein the second application is configured to generate a second snapshot of the second application when the second application is loaded into the memory system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to determining that the current memory pressure level is greater than the threshold, not loading another application into the memory system from the persistent storage.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to determining that the current memory pressure level is greater than the threshold, unloading the first application from the memory system.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining that a third application in the set of applications is not loaded into the memory system; and

determining that a snapshot for the third application is needed, wherein the first application is unloaded from the memory system further responsive to determining that the third application is not loaded into the memory system and that the snapshot of the third application is needed.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication that a screen of the mobile device is no longer displaying a graphical user interface, wherein the set of applications are identified subsequent to receiving the indication.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to determining that the current memory pressure level is beyond the threshold level;

determining whether a subset of the loaded applications belong to a lower priority band of applications; and

ending at least one or more of the subset of the loaded applications to increase available memory of the memory system.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to determining that a screen of the mobile device is no longer displaying a graphical user interface, determining that a third application in the set of applications has already been loaded; and

determining a remaining subset of applications in the set of applications that have not yet been loaded, wherein the first application and the second application are in the remaining subset of applications.

8. A mobile device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a computer readable medium coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the computer readable medium is encoded with a set of instructions which when executed causes the one or more processors to perform;

identifying a set of applications that are designated for providing snapshots to be displayed when the mobile device is in a preview mode;

sending a request to a memory system for a current memory pressure level, the memory system communicably coupled with the one or more processors such that applications in the memory system are configured to be executed by the one or more processors;

after determining that the current memory pressure level is below a threshold, loading a first application in the set of applications into the memory system from a persistent storage, wherein the first application is configured to generate a first snapshot of the first application when the first application is loaded into the memory system;

sending another request to the memory system for the current memory pressure level; and

after determining that the current memory pressure level is below the threshold, loading a second application in the set of applications into the memory system from the persistent storage, wherein the second application is configured to generate a second snapshot of the second application when the second application is loaded into the memory system.

9. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the one or more processors are further caused to perform:

responsive to determining that the current memory pressure level is greater than the threshold, not loading another application into the memory system from the persistent storage.

10. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the one or more processors are further caused to perform:

responsive to determining that the current memory pressure level is greater than the threshold, unloading the first application from the memory system.

11. The mobile device of claim 10 wherein the one or more processors are further caused to perform:

determining that a third application in the set of applications is not loaded into the memory system; and

determining that a snapshot for the third application is needed, wherein the first application is unloaded from the memory system further responsive to determining that the third application is not loaded into the memory system and that the snapshot of the third application is needed.

12. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the one or more processors are further caused to perform:

receiving an indication that a screen of the mobile device is no longer displaying a graphical user interface, wherein the set of applications are identified subsequent to receiving the indication.

13. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the one or more processors are further caused to perform:

responsive to determining that the current memory pressure level is beyond the threshold level;

determining whether a subset of the loaded applications belong to a lower priority band of applications; and

ending at least one or more of the subset of the loaded applications to increase available memory of the memory system.

14. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the one or more processors are further caused to perform:

responsive to determining that a screen of the mobile device is no longer displaying a graphical user interface, determining that a third application in the set of applications has already been loaded; and

determining a remaining subset of applications in the set of applications that have not yet been loaded, wherein the first application and the second application are in the remaining subset of applications.

15. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions that when executed cause one or more processors of a mobile device to perform:

identifying a set of applications that are designated for providing snapshots to be displayed when the mobile device is in a preview mode;

sending a request to a memory system for a current memory pressure level, the memory system communicably coupled with the one or more processors such that applications in the memory system are configured to be executed by the one or more processors;

after determining that the current memory pressure level is below a threshold, loading a first application in the set of applications into the memory system from a persistent storage, wherein the first application is configured to generate a first snapshot of the first application when the first application is loaded into the memory system;

sending another request to the memory system for the current memory pressure level; and

after determining that the current memory pressure level is below the threshold, loading a second application in the set of applications into the memory system from the persistent storage, wherein the second application is configured to generate a second snapshot of the second application when the second application is loaded into the memory system.

16. The computer product of claim 15 wherein the instructions further comprise:

responsive to determining that the current memory pressure level is greater than the threshold, not loading another application into the memory system from the persistent storage.

17. The computer product of claim 15 wherein the instructions further comprise:

responsive to determining that the current memory pressure level is greater than the threshold, unloading the first application from the memory system.

18. The computer product of claim 17 wherein the instructions further comprise:

determining that a third application in the set of applications is not loaded into the memory system; and

determining that a snapshot for the third application is needed, wherein the first application is unloaded from the memory system further responsive to determining that the third application is not loaded into the memory system and that the snapshot of the third application is needed.

19. The computer product of claim 15 wherein the instructions further comprise:

receiving an indication that a screen of the mobile device is no longer displaying a graphical user interface, wherein the set of applications are identified subsequent to receiving the indication.

20. The computer product of claim 15 wherein the instructions further comprise:

responsive to determining that the current memory pressure level is beyond the threshold level;

determining whether a subset of the loaded applications belong to a lower priority band of applications; and

ending at least one or more of the subset of the loaded applications to increase available memory of the memory system.