System and method for loading, executing, and adapting a portable running operation system from a removable module to multiple computer systems

• US 7,032,053 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Herman, Himmel, Benjamin Andrew, Himmel, Maria Azua
• Primary Examiner(s): Ray, Gopal C.
• Application Number:
  US10/641,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20050038932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 710300-304, 710/104, 714/7, 714/15, 717/174, 709/221, 712/228, 713/1, 713/2, 719/321, 711/115, 711/102
• US Class Current: 710/302
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4418 Suspend and resume; Hibernate and awake

Abstract

A method and system for providing a running image of an operating system on a removable operating system module to multiple computer systems. The removable operating system module includes a memory unit for storing the running image of the operating system. Upon insertion of the module into a computer system, a BIOS loads the operating system from the removable operating system module and initiates the execution of the operating system. In response to a request by the user, the BIOS may resume or restart the operating system. The operating system may also discover any available local and remote devices, resume any available previously running applications, and perform tasks requested by the applications and the user. In response to a user'"'"'s removal request, the state of the operating system is saved on the module and the removable operating system module is removed from the computer system.

Claims

1. A method for operating a computer system, the method comprising:

attaching a removable operating system module to the computer system,

wherein the removable operating system module comprises a memory unit, and

wherein the memory unit stores a running image of an operating system;

detecting the removable operating system module;

loading the running image of the operating system from the removable operating system module to a second memory, accessible from one or more processors included in the computer system; and

executing the operating system by the processors, wherein the executing the operating system comprises restarting execution of the operating system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the attaching comprises inserting the removable operating system module into a removable operating system module interface adapted to receive the removable operating system module.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory unit comprises non-volatile memory.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises a BIOS of the computer system detecting the removable operating system module.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the loading comprises a BIOS of the computer system, the method further comprising:

loading the operating system from the removable operating system module; and

loading a state of the operating system from the removable operating system module.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the restarting execution of the operating system comprises resuming execution of the operating system at a previous suspend point.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the restarting execution of the operating system further comprises:

the operating system discovering the available local and remote devices;

the operating system initializing applications to the applications'"'"' previous state; and

the operating system performing tasks requested by the user and by the applications.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the removable operating system module from the computer system in response to a user'"'"'s removal request.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the removing comprises saving the state of the operating system onto the removable operating system module.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the removing further comprises determining and saving on the removable operating system module a last operating system execution point prior to the removal.

11. An information handling system comprising:

one or more processors;

a first memory unit accessible by the one or more processors;

a removable operating system module interface connected to the one or more processors and adapted to receive a removable operating system module, wherein;

the removable operating system module comprises a second memory unit for storing a running image of an operating system,

the first memory unit is adapted to store a loaded copy of the running image of the operating system from the second memory unit, and

the one or more processors are adapted to execute the operating system; and

a BIOS, wherein the BIOS is adapted to;

detect an insertion of the removable operating system module;

load the running image of the operating system from the second memory unit to the first memory unit;

load a state of the operating system from the second memory unit to the first memory unit; and

restart execution of the operating system.

12. The information handling system of claim 11, wherein the second memory unit comprises nonvolatile memory.

13. The information handling system of claim 11, wherein the second memory unit is further adapted to store a previous suspend point of the operating system, and wherein the BIOS is adapted to initiate an execution of the operating system at the previous suspend point.

14. The information handling system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further adapted to execute the operating system to:

discover the available local and remote devices;

initialize applications to the applications'"'"' previous state; and

perform tasks requested by the user and by the applications.

15. The information handling system of claim 11, further comprising a user input monitoring tool wherein the user input monitoring tool is adapted to receive a module removal request from a user.

16. The information handling system of claim 15, wherein the second memory unit is adapted to store an updated state of the operating system in response to a user requesting removal of the removable operating system module.

17. The information handling system of claim 16, wherein the second memory unit is further adapted to save a last operating system execution point in response to a user requesting removal of the removable operating system module.

18. A computer program product on computer operable media, the computer program product comprising:

means for communicating with a removable operating system module,

wherein the removable operating system module comprises a memory unit, and

wherein the memory unit stores a running image of an operating system;

means for detecting the removable operating system module;

means for loading the running image of the operating system from the removable operating system module to a second memory accessible from one or more processors; and

means for executing the operating system using the processors, wherein the means for executing the operating system comprises restarting execution of the operating system.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the means for communicating comprises communicating through a removable operating system module interface adapted to receive the removable operating system module.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the memory unit comprises nonvolatile memory.

21. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the means for detecting comprises communicating with a BIOS, wherein the BIOS is adapted to detect the removable operating system module.

22. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the means for loading comprises communicating with a BIOS, wherein the BIOS is adapted to:

load the operating system from the removable operating system module, and

load a state of the operating system from the removable operating system module.

23. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the means for restarting execution of the operating system comprises means for resuming execution of the operating system at a previous suspend point.

24. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the means for restarting execution of the operating system comprises:

the operating system discovering the available local and remote devices,

the operating system initializing applications to the applications'"'"' previous state, and

the operating system performing tasks requested by the user and by the applications.

25. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising means for executing a removal application for removing the removable operating system module from the computer system in response to a user'"'"'s removal request.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the means for executing the removal application comprises means for saving the state of the operating system onto the removable operating system module.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the means for executing the removal application further comprises means for determining and saving on the removable operating system module a last operating system execution point prior to the removal.