Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-12
2001-04-10
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C711S105000, C711S100000, C711S165000, C711S117000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215482
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a web video phone, and in particular, to a method for effectively managing a memory in a web video phone.
2. Description of the Related Art
A web video phone is a new concept telephone having a video LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a keyboard mounted on the telephone body. The web video phone also includes a separate memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and a flash memory, to run various applications (or application programs) such as a web browser, an E-mail application, and a PIM (Personal Information Management) application as well as a known video phone function. The PIM application manages personal information such as an address book, a telephone directory, a scheduler, and a memorandum.
The flash memory stores the above mentioned applications which are statically linked with OS (Operating System) library functions associated with the operating system. When the web video phone is powered on, all the applications statically linked to the OS library functions are downloaded from the flash memory to the DRAM at the same time, so that the applications may be run in the DRAM.
However, since the applications saved in the flash memory are statically linked with the OS library functions, the applications cannot be separated from one another. As a result, when the web video phone is powered on, all the applications are instantaneously and simultaneously downloaded to the DRAM. Therefore, the web video phone needs a high capacity DRAM.
Moreover, when one of the applications is modified, all the other applications should also be compiled and linked again. Therefore, there is a restriction on partially updating the applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a memory swapping method capable of partially updating the applications, with a low capacity DRAM. The low capacity DRAM permits a currently selected application to be run while maintaining a previously selected and executed program, along with its generated data, in a flash memory. This obviates the need to have a large capacity DRAM to download all applications simultaneously.
To achieve the above object, there is provided a method for swapping applications between a flash memory and a DRAM in a web video phone. The applications are encoded to execution codes by an application unit and stored in the flash memory. Upon power up, the web video phone displays on an LCD thereof a top level menu having a plurality of graphic icons. Each icon represents a specific one of the applications. The web video phone checks whether a user chooses one of the applications. If the user chooses one of the applications, it is checked whether the DRAM has another application being executed currently. If the DRAM has another application being executed currently, the application being executed currently is uploaded to the flash memory together with the data generated during execution of the application. Subsequently, the chosen application is downloaded from the flash memory to the DRAM and executed.
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Bayerl Raymond J.
Joseph Thomas J
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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