Software management systems and methods for automotive computing devices

• US 7,155,584 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Drasnin, Sharon, Radko, Ronald Otto, Beckert, Richard Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bragdon, Reginald
• Assistant Examiner(s): GU, SHAWN X
• Application Number:
  US10/985,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/160
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2015 Redundant power supplies power supply failure G06F1/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/08 in hierarchically structured memory systems, e.g. virtual memory systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1009 using page tables, e.g. page table structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1027 using associative or pseudo-associative address translation means, e.g. translation look-aside buffer [TLB]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/122 of the least frequently used [LFU] type, e.g. with individual count value
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/2022 Flash memory

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating automotive computing devices are described. In one embodiment, multiple object store pages are maintained in device SRAM that is configured to be battery backed in an event of a power loss. One or more object store pages are periodically flushed to device non-volatile memory to make room for additional object store pages. The frequency of object store page writes is tracked, and object store pages that are least frequently written to are flushed before object store pages that are more frequently written to. In addition, in the event of a power loss, the SRAM is battery backed.

Claims

1. In an automotive computing device, a method comprising:

maintaining multiple object store pages in device SRAM that is configured to be battery backed in an event of a power loss;

periodically flushing one or more object store pages to device non-volatile memory to make room for additional object store pages;

tracking the frequency of object store page writes, and flushing object store pages that are least frequently written to, before object store pages that are more frequently written to; and

battery-backing the SRAM in the event of a power loss, and further comprising;

determining when to flush pages as a function of how many free SRAM pages are available; and

assigning multiple threads with different priorities to flush pages in accordance with thread priorities, wherein said assigning comprises assigning threads with low, medium, and high priorities.

2. An automotive system comprising:

means for maintaining multiple object store pages in device SRAM that is configured to be battery backed in an event of a power loss;

means for periodically flushing one or more object store pages to device non-volatile memory to make room for additional object store pages;

means for tracking the frequency of object store page writes, and flushing object store pages that are least frequently written to, before object store pages that are more frequently written to; and

means for battery-backing the SRAM in the event of a power loss, and further comprising;

means for determining when to flush pages as a function of how many free SRAM pages are available;

means for assigning multiple threads with different priorities to flush pages in accordance with thread priorities, wherein said means for assigning comprises means for assigning threads with low, medium, and high priorities.

3. An automobile embodying the system of claim 2.

4. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

maintaining multiple object store pages in device SRAM that is configured to be battery backed in an event of a power loss;

periodically flushing one or more object store pages to device non-volatile memory to make room for additional object store pages;

tracking the frequency of object store page writes, and flushing object store pages that are least frequently written to, before object store pages that are more frequently written to; and

battery-backing the SRAM in the event of a power loss, wherein the instructions further implement a method comprising;

determining when to flush pages as a function of how many free SRAM pages are available;

assigning multiple threads with different priorities to flush pages in accordance with tread priorities, wherein said assigning comprises assigning threads with low, medium, and high priorities.