Apparatus and methods for recordation of device history across multiple software emulations

• US 9,906,255 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2016
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Schell, Stephan V., Mathias, Arun
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US15/045,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20160164560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 455410, 455411, 4555561, 4555562, 455557, 455558, 4554141, 4554321, 4555521, 4554121, 713168, 713193, 713150, 713156, 380270, 726 5, 726 7, 726 8, 726 9, 711111, 711113, 711115, 711154, 711206, 711221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/177 Smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7211 Wear leveling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0631 by allocating resources to storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Apparatus and method for maintaining hardware history profiles for a software-based emulator. In one embodiment, the disclosed software-based emulator monitors the history of the actual hardware device in a secondary device history, the history of the emulated hardware is presented within a primary device history. However, the primary device history is linked to the secondary device history, and receives the device wear history therefrom. In another aspect of the present invention, wear-leveling strategies are disclosed for handling various update sizes. Unlike existing solutions which are optimized for a single SIM that receives small data updates; various embodiments of the present invention are suitable for handling varying data sizes.

Claims

1. A method for modifying a size of a virtualized memory associated with an emulation program, the method comprising:

loading the emulation program that maintains;

first usage information associated the virtualized memory, and

second usage information associated with an underlying physical memory to which the virtualized memory corresponds, wherein the second usage information corresponds to (i) the emulation program, and (ii) at least one different emulation program; and

processing an update that involves modifying the size of the virtualized memory associated with the emulation program, wherein, when the size is increased, aspects of the second usage information are populated into corresponding aspects of the first usage information to account for the updated size of the virtualized memory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first usage information is associated with a historical usage of the virtualized memory.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the historical usage comprises wear leveling information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the update comprises an over-the-air (OTA) update.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the size is increased, the aspects represent a new area of the virtualized memory that is being utilized by the emulation program by way of the update.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the size of the virtualized memory is decreased, the method further comprises:

populating aspects of the first usage information into corresponding aspects of the second usage information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the aspects represent an old area of the virtualized memory that is no longer being used by the emulation program as a result of the update.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a computing device, cause the computing device to modify a size of a virtualized memory associated with an emulation program, by carrying out steps that include:

loading the emulation program that maintains;

first usage information associated the virtualized memory, and

second usage information associated with an underlying physical memory to which the virtualized memory corresponds, wherein the second usage information corresponds to (i) the emulation program, and (ii) at least one different emulation program; and

processing an update that involves modifying the size of the virtualized memory associated with the emulation program, wherein, when the size is increased, aspects of the second usage information are populated into corresponding aspects of the first usage information to account for the updated size of the virtualized memory.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first usage information is associated with a historical usage of the virtualized memory.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the historical usage comprises wear leveling information.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the update comprises an over-the-air (OTA) update.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein, when the size is increased, the aspects represent a new area of the virtualized memory that is being utilized by the emulation program by way of the update.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein, when the size of the virtualized memory is decreased, the steps further include:

populating aspects of the first usage information into corresponding aspects of the second usage information.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the aspects represent an old area of the virtualized memory that is no longer being used by the emulation program as a result of the update.

15. A computing device configured to modify a size of a virtualized memory associated with an emulation program, the computing device comprising:

a processor configured to cause the computing device to carry out steps that include;

loading the emulation program that maintains;

first usage information associated the virtualized memory, and

second usage information associated with an underlying physical memory to which the virtualized memory corresponds, wherein the second usage information corresponds to (i) the emulation program, and (ii) at least one different emulation program; and

processing an update that involves modifying the size of the virtualized memory associated with the emulation program, wherein, when the size is increased, aspects of the second usage information are populated into corresponding aspects of the first usage information to account for the updated size of the virtualized memory.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the first usage information is associated with a historical usage of the virtualized memory.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the historical usage comprises wear leveling information.

18. The computing device of claim 15, wherein, when the size is increased, the aspects represent a new area of the virtualized memory that is being utilized by the emulation program by way of the update.

19. The computing device of claim 15, wherein, when the size of the virtualized memory is decreased, the steps further include:

populating aspects of the first usage information into corresponding aspects of the second usage information.

20. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the aspects represent an old area of the virtualized memory that is no longer being used by the emulation program as a result of the update.