# US 6,647,492 B1 · Method of providing persistent memory to a hand-held platform operating system on a computer system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,647,492 B1 - Document ID: US6647492B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/628,680 - Filed: 2000-07-28 - Granted: 2003-11-11 - Earliest claimed: 2000-07-28 - Assignees: NCR Corporation - Inventors: Robert H. Nathan; Alan F. Hartman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6647492B1 ## CPC - G06F 9/4406: {Loading of operating system} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method and apparatus for achieving the appearance of persistent memory in a system environment requiring persistent memory using a device having non-persistent memory. More particularly, the device having non-persistent memory has volatile memory and a storage device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer implemented method of providing persistent memory to a hand-held platform operating system on a computer system having volatile memory, and a storage device including a first load format image file comprising the hand-held platform software and information, comprising the steps of: loading the first load format image file from the storage device into the volatile memory; copying the contents of the volatile memory onto a memory image disk file; converting the memory image disk file into a second load format image file; storing the second load format image file onto the storage device; restarting the computer system; and loading the second load format image file from the storage device into the volatile memory. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loading step reads directly from the storage device and the storing step writes directly to the storage device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loading step writes directly to the volatile memory and the storing step reads directly from the volatile memory. ### Claim 4 A computer implemented system for providing persistent memory to a hand-held platform operating system on a computer system, comprising: a processor for receiving and transmitting data; a volatile memory for storing sequences of instructions and information coupled to the processor; and a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device having stored therein a first load format image file comprising a) hand-held platform software and information and b) sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: load the first load format image file from the storage device into the volatile memory; copy the contents of the volatile memory onto a memory image disk file; convert the memory image disk file into a second load format image file; store the load format image file onto the storage device; restart the computer system; and load the second load format image file from the storage device into the volatile memory. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the load instructions read directly from the storage device and the store instructions write directly to the storage device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the load instructions write directly to the volatile memory and the store instructions read directly from the volatile memory. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising, after the step of loading the first load format image file, the step of: executing the hand-held platform operating system on the computer system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising, after the step of loading the first load format image file, the step of: invoking a system reboot or restart function utilizing the hand-held platform operating system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising, after the step of loading the second load format image file, the step of: transferring control of the computer system to the hand-held platform operating system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the second load format image file comprises hand-held platform software and information as of the time before the computer system is restarted. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the processor executes the hand-held platform operating system on the computer system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the processor invokes a system reboot or restart function utilizing the hand-held platform operating system after loading the first load format image file. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the processor transfers control of the computer system to the hand-held platform operating system after loading the second load format image file. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the second load format image file comprises hand-held platform software and information as of the time before the computer system is restarted. ### Claim 15 A method of operating an operating system requiring nonvolatile memory on a computer system including volatile memory and a storage device, the method comprising: executing the operating system requiring nonvolatile on the computer system utilizing the volatile memory; copying the contents of the volatile memory into a memory image disk file; converting the memory image disk file into a load format image file; storing the load format image file onto the storage device; restarting the computer system; loading the load format image file from the storage device into the volatile memory; and executing the operating system on the computer system utilizing the load format image file stored in the volatile memory. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the step of restarting the computer system causes the loss of the contents of the volatile memory. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the load format image file comprises operating system information as of the time before the computer system is restarted.