Sub-OS virtual memory management layer
View Patent ↗A binary memory image in system is modified. The system may or may not already have virtual memory management enabled. Virtual memory management is enabled and/or modified by inserting a sub-OS virtual memory management layer in the binary memory image. Part of the binary memory image may be compressed to make room for the sub-OS virtual memory management layer.
1. A method comprising:
compressing at least a portion of a binary image to create free space in the binary image, wherein the binary image comprises a real-time operating system that is not configured to utilize virtual memory management;
inserting virtual memory management components into the free space in the binary image, wherein the virtual memory management components are configured to modify registers within a memory management unit of a processor executing the real-time operating system to enable virtual memory management, generate one or more virtual memory fault handlers in the binary image, wherein the virtual memory fault handlers are executed responsive to detecting a page fault, and modify one or more abort vectors of the binary image to point to a first virtual memory fault handler; and
storing the modified binary image in the nonvolatile memory,
wherein the modified binary image is configured to utilize the memory management unit without accessing the real-time operating system.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein compressing comprises compressing executable code.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising reserving at least a portion of the free space for virtual memory pages.
4. A method comprising:
generating a binary image, wherein the binary image comprises a real-time operating system that is not configured to utilize virtual memory management;
compressing at least a portion of the binary image to create space in the binary image for memory management components in a nonvolatile memory, wherein the memory management components are configured to modify registers within a memory management unit of a processor executing the real-time operating system to enable virtual memory management, generate one or more virtual memory fault handlers in the binary image, wherein the virtual memory fault handlers are executed responsive to detecting a page fault, and modify one or more abort vectors of the binary image to point to a first virtual memory fault handler;
inserting the memory management components in the space in the binary image; and
storing the binary image in nonvolatile memory in an electronic device
wherein the memory management components do not access to the portion of the binary image.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile phone.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the electronic device comprises a set-top box.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the electronic device comprises a network router.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when accessed result in a device performing:
reserving space in a binary image from a non-virtual electronic system responsive, at least in part, to compressing at least a portion of the binary image, wherein the binary image comprises a real-time operating system that is not configured to utilize virtual memory management;
inserting virtual memory management components into the reserved space in the binary image, wherein the virtual memory management components are configured to modify registers within a memory management unit of a processor executing the real-time operating system to enable virtual memory management, generate one or more virtual memory fault handlers in the binary image, wherein the virtual memory fault handlers are configured to handle memory faults and page swaps between random access memory and a non-volatile memory in response to a page fault, and modify one or more abort vectors of the binary image to point to a first virtual memory fault handler; and
loading the binary image with the virtual memory management components in the electronic system
wherein the virtual memory management components do not access the portion of the binary image.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein inserting virtual memory management components into the reserved space in the binary image further comprises modifying abort vectors to point to the memory fault handlers.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein compressing at least a portion of the binary image comprises compressing non-boot code.