US 8,543,849 B2 · Fast computer startup

Abstract

Fast computer startup is provided by, upon receipt of a shutdown command, recording state information representing a target state. In this target state, the computing device may have closed all user sessions, such that no user state information is included in the target state. However, the operating system may still be executing. In response to a command to startup the computer, this target state may be quickly reestablished from the recorded target state information. Portions of a startup sequence may be performed to complete the startup process, including establishing user state. To protect user expectations despite changes in response to a shutdown command, creation and use of the file holding the recorded state information may be conditional on dynamically determined events. Also, user and programmatic interfaces may provide options to override creation or use of the recorded state information.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method performed on a computing device comprising a plurality of hardware components, the method comprising:

receiving a command to shutdown the computing device;
providing an application programming interface configured for allowing application components to register as requiring a full shutdown;
determining a condition of the computing device, where the determined condition indicates whether or not a full shutdown is required by an application component;
conditionally processing the received shutdown command based on the determined condition, the conditional processing comprising:
when the determined condition is a first condition, copying state information in volatile storage to non-volatile storage without performing a full shutdown sequence, where the first condition was established in response to a call via the application programming interface from the application component, the call signifying that the application component requires a full shutdown without incorporating hibernation in response to a shutdown command;
and
when the determined condition is a second condition, performing the full shutdown sequence.

4 more elements

At least one computer storage device storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device comprising an operating system comprising a plurality of components configured for performing a shutdown sequence, cause the computing device to perform actions comprising:

providing an application programming interface configured for allowing application components to register as requiring a full shutdown;
receiving, via the application programming interface, a call from an application component on the computing device, where the call signifies that the application component requires a full shutdown without incorporating hibernation in response to a shutdown command;
in response to the call, storing an indication in a data store that a full shutdown is required by the application component in response to the shutdown command.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fast computer startup

Life of this patent

Fast computer startup

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15