Rapid-boot computing device with dual operating systems

• US 7,689,820 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wahl, John A., Walker, Eric H., Pierce, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choudhury; Zahid
• Application Number:
  US11/535,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/300, 713/400, 713/500, 713/322, 712/28, 712/203, 714/11, 714/13
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4405 Initialisation of multiprocessor systems

Abstract

A computing device is booted in a manner that enables a software application to begin execution with minimal delay. When the device is powered up, a first processor system begins booting under control of a first operating system, and a second processor system begins booting under control of a second operating system. The first operating system is of a type that generally takes longer to complete booting than the second operating system. As soon as the second processor system has booted up, it begins controlling execution of a software application. Then, when the first processor system has booted up, control over the software application is transferred from the second processor system to the first processor system.

Claims

1. A method for booting a computing device to enable a software application to begin execution rapidly, comprising:

detecting an indication to start operating the computing device;

booting under control of a first operating system by a first processor system in response to detection of the indication;

booting under control of a second operating system by a second processor system in response to detection of the indication, the second operating system booting more rapidly than the first operating system;

beginning execution of the software application under control of the second operating system executed by the second processor system when the second operating system completes booting on the second processor system; and

transferring control over the software application to the first operating system executed by the first processor system when the first operating system completes booting on the first processor system.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a mobile vehicular computing device for a motor vehicle.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein the mobile vehicular computing device controls a system associated with the motor vehicle.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein the system associated with the motor vehicle is a system of an emergency responder vehicle.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the system of an emergency vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

beacon light system;

siren system;

video recording system; and

communication system.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the first operating system comprises WINDOWS.

7. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the second operating system is of a UNIX operating system family.

8. The method claimed in claim 7, wherein the second operating system is LINUX.

9. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first operating system comprises WINDOWS; and

the second operating system comprises LINUX.

10. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the computing device comprises a mobile vehicular computing device for an emergency responder motor vehicle and controls a system associated with the emergency responder motor vehicle; and

the system associated with the emergency responder motor vehicle is selected from the group consisting of;

beacon light system;

siren system;

video recording system; and

communication system.

11. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the first operating system comprises WINDOWS; and

the second operating system comprises LINUX.

12. A system for booting a computing device to enable a software application to begin execution rapidly, comprising:

a signal input for receiving an indication to start operating the computing device;

a first processor system having a first operating system, the first processor system booting in response to detection of the indication to start operating; and

a second processor system having a second operating system, the second processor system booting in response to detection of the indication to start operating, the second processor booting more rapidly than the first processor system, the second processor system beginning execution of the software application when the second processor system completes booting, and the second processor system transferring control over the software application to the first processor system when the first processor system completes booting.

13. The system claimed in claim 12, wherein the computing device comprises a mobile vehicular computing device for a motor vehicle.

14. The system claimed in claim 13, wherein the mobile vehicular computing device controls a system associated with the motor vehicle.

15. The system claimed in claim 14, wherein the system associated with the motor vehicle is a system of an emergency responder vehicle.

16. The system d claimed in claim 15, wherein the system of an emergency vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

beacon light system;

siren system;

video recording system; and

communication system.

17. The system claimed in claim 12, wherein the first operating system comprises WINDOWS.

18. The system claimed in claim 12, wherein the second operating system is of a UNIX operating system family.

19. The system claimed in claim 18, wherein the second operating system is LINUX.

20. The system claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the first operating system comprises WINDOWS; and

the second operating system comprises LINUX.

21. The system claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the computing device comprises a mobile vehicular computing device for an emergency responder motor vehicle and controls a system associated with the emergency responder motor vehicle; and

the system associated with the emergency responder motor vehicle is selected from the group consisting of;

beacon light system;

siren system;

video recording system; and

communication system.

22. The method system claimed in claim 21, wherein:

the first operating system comprises WINDOWS; and

the second operating system comprises LINUX.