TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a multi-operating system (multi-OS) device and a notification device. Furthermore, the present disclosure also relates to corresponding methods, a computer program, and a computer program product.

BACKGROUND

A so called multi-OS device is a computing device that has two or more Operating Systems (OSs) installed in the computing device. The multi-OS device is usually implemented using dual-boot, hardware virtualization or container techniques. Computing devices include, but are not limited to smartphones, tablets and personal computers (PCs).

There exist many different types of dual boot devices. For example, a tablet that has both WINDOWS OS and ANDROID OS installed. Thereby, the user of the dual boot device can choose which one of the WINDOWS OS or ANDROID OS to use when the computing device is booting. Another example is a PC with both WINDOWS OS and LINUX OS installed. Yet another example is a smartphone that has both ANDROID OS and FIREFOX OS installed.

Multiple OS in a computing device are often installed for security purpose. For example, on a dual-OS device, one OS may be for personal use, and the other OS for enterprise use. However, other use cases having multi-OS installed are also possible.

SUMMARY

An objective of embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a solution which mitigates or solves the drawbacks and problems of conventional solutions.

An “or” in this description and the corresponding claims is to be understood as a mathematical OR which covers “and” and “or,” and is not to be understand as an exclusive OR (XOR).

The above objectives are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further advantageous implementation forms of the present disclosure can be found in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the disclosure, the above mentioned and other objectives are achieved with a multi-OS device comprising a processor, a transceiver, and an output device, where the processor is configured to host a first OS in the foreground and simultaneously host a second OS in the background, or vice versa, where the output device is configured to be controlled by an OS hosted in the foreground, where the transceiver is configured to receive a first signal S1from a notification device over a communication system, the first signal S1indicating a notification associated to the second OS hosted in the background, where the output device is further configured to output the notification associated to the second OS hosted in the background when the first OS is hosted in the foreground.

The OS in the foreground controls at least the output device of the multi-OS device. Often, the OS in the foreground also controls more or all further hardware of the multi-OS device. Moreover, the OS in the foreground can also handle user inputs. The OS in the foreground is running in the processor of the multi-OS device.

The OS in the background has no control of the output device or (even) any other hardware resources, when the OS is in the background. The OS in the background cannot receive user inputs. The OS in the background does not have any communication capabilities, such as internet access. Hence, an OS in the background can be regarded as “sleeping” or inactive, with currently no resources (except space on a (non-volatile) memory for storing the OS) assigned to it.

It is understood that the first OS and the second OS are different independent OSs.

A multi-OS device which is configured to output the notification associated to the second OS hosted in the background when the first OS is hosted in the foreground according to embodiments of the present disclosure provides a number of advantages.

An advantage is that notifications associated with the OS in the background can be outputted to the user implying notification handling capabilities for the OS in the background. This is not possible with conventional solutions. Thereby, the OS in the background can be suspended or fully turned off without notification handling being penalized. This implies energy saving in the multi-OS device and no or less use of the system resources of the multi-OS device, such as processor, memory, and internal communication means for hosing the OS in the background. However, the capabilities of receiving notifications associated to the OS in the background are still maintained, as theses notifications can be received by the transceiver (e.g. from a cloud) and be visualized by the output device currently controlled by the OS in the foreground.

In a first possible implementation form of a multi-OS device according to the first aspect, the second OS is not running in the processor when hosted in the background.

With this implementation form the system resources are not used at all which means that all system resources can be used for other applications implying more efficient use of system resources.

In a second possible implementation form of a multi-OS device according to the first possible implementation form of the first aspect or to the first aspect as such, the notification is triggered by the second OS when hosted in the foreground.

With this implementation form notifications triggered by the second OS when currently hosted in the foreground can later be notified to the user when the second OS is hosted in the background. Such a notification could for example be a timer or alarm or reminder, etc. set by a user of device, when the second OS was hosted in the foreground.

In a third possible implementation form of a multi-OS device according to the second possible implementation form of the first aspect, the transceiver is further configured to transmit a second signal S2to the notification device, the second signal S2indicating a notification trigger associated to the notification.

With this implementation form notifications triggered by the second OS when hosted in the foreground can later be notified when the second OS is in the background since the notification trigger is transmitted to the notification device (where this notification is registered).

In a fourth possible implementation form of a multi-OS device according to the any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the first aspect or to the first aspect as such, the transceiver is further configured to transmit a third signal S3to the notification device, the third signal S3indicating a request for push notification service associated to the second OS when hosted in the background.

With this implementation form the OSs of the multi-OS device can subscribe or request push notification service no matter the OS is hosted in the background or in the foreground. Based on the push notification service, the notification device can send notifications associated to the several OSs as push notifications.

In a fifth possible implementation form of a multi-OS device according to the any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the first aspect or to the first aspect as such, the processor is further configured to install or remove OSs on the multi-OS device. The transceiver is further configured to transmit a fourth signal S4to the notification device, the fourth signal S4indicating the installation or removal of an OS on the multi-OS device.

With this implementation form the multi-OS device informs the notification device of the currently installed OSs on the multi-OS device. Thereby, the notification device can manage the notifications for the currently installed OSs in the multi-OS device with the use of corresponding OS delegates efficiently. Hence, the notification device is always aware of the several operation systems installed on the multi-OS device and can host a delegate for each OS currently installed on the multi-OS device.

In a sixth possible implementation form of a multi-OS device according to the any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the first aspect or to the first aspect as such, the processor is configured to move the OS currently hosted in the background to the foreground and to move the OS currently hosted in foreground to the background, and the transceiver is further configured (upon the change of the OS in the foreground) to transmit a fifth signal S5to the notification device, the fifth signal S5indicating which OS is currently hosted in the foreground.

With this implementation form the multi-OS device firstly has the capability to move OS between foreground or background mode (e.g. send the first OS to sleep (in the background) and wake (e.g. boot) the second OS. Secondly, the multi-OS device informs the notification device which OS is currently in the foreground and which is in the background so that the notification device can manage and handle notifications for OSs hosted in the multi-OS device even more efficient. As an example, the notification device may send notifications only associated to OSs currently in the background but not associated to OSs currently in the foreground, thereby saving system resources.

In a seventh possible implementation form of a multi-OS device according to the any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the first aspect or to the first aspect as such, the output device is configured to output one or more notification types in the group comprising an audio notification, a visual notification, and a tactile notification.

Therefore, with this implementation form different forms of notifications can be presented to the user of the multi-OS device depending on the application.

According to a second aspect of the disclosure, the above mentioned and other objectives are achieved with a notification device for a multi-OS device, the notification device comprising a processor, and a transceiver, where the processor is configured to host an OS delegate for a corresponding OS hosted on the multi-OS device, where the OS delegate is configured to determine a notification associated to the corresponding OS hosted on the multi-OS device, where the transceiver is configured to transmit a first signal S1to the multi-OS device over a communication system, the first signal S1indicating the notification associated to the corresponding OS hosted on the multi-OS device.

With a notification device capable of hosting OS delegates according to embodiments of the present disclosure a number of advantages are provides.

For example, notifications associated with the OS currently in the background of the multi-OS device can be outputted to the user, as these are generated “in the cloud” at the notification device and signalled by the first signal S1to the multi-OS device. This is not possible with conventional solutions. Thereby, the OS in the background of the multi-OS device can be suspended or fully turned off while the user still can receive notifications associated with the OS currently in the background.

In a first possible implementation form of a notification device according to the second aspect, the transceiver is further configured to receive a second signal S2from the multi-OS device, the second signal S2indicating a notification trigger associated to the corresponding OS, the OS delegate is further configured to determine a notification based on the notification trigger.

With this implementation form notifications triggered by an OS in the foreground can be notified to the user when the said OS currently is in the background. This is not possible with conventional solutions.

In a second possible implementation form of a notification device according to the first possible implementation form of the second aspect or to the second aspect as such, the transceiver is further configured to receive a third signal S3from the multi-OS device, the third signal S3indicating a request for push notification service associated to the corresponding OS when hosted in the background. The OS delegate is further configured to determine notifications according to the push notification service associated to the corresponding OS.

With this implementation form the OSs of the multi-OS device can receive requested push notification services no matter if the OS is currently hosted in the background or in the foreground.

In a third possible implementation form of a notification device according to any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the second aspect or to the second aspect as such, the transceiver is further configured to receive a sixth signal S6from a communication device of the communication system, the sixth signal S6indicating a notification trigger associated to the corresponding OS when hosted in the background. The OS delegate is further configured to determine a notification based on the notification trigger.

With this implementation form notifications triggered by an external communication device can be managed by the OS delegates of the notification device. This also means that notifications triggered by the external communication device can be notified to the user of the multi-OS device even when the associated OS is currently hosted in the background.

In a fourth possible implementation form of a notification device according to any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the second aspect or to the second aspect as such, the processor is further configured to host an OS delegate for each corresponding OS (currently) hosted on the multi-OS device, where the OS delegates are configured to determine notifications associated to the corresponding OSs currently hosted in the background of the multi-OS device, where the transceiver is further configured to transmit first signals S1to the multi-OS device over a communication system, the first signals S1indicating the notifications associated to the corresponding OSs.

With this implementation form each OS installed on the multi-OS device has its own corresponding OS delegate which handles the notifications according to the present solution. Thereby, more efficient notification management is possible.

In a fifth possible implementation form of a notification device according to the fourth possible implementation form of the second aspect, the transceiver is further configured to receive a fourth signal S4, the fourth signal S4indicating the installation or removal of a OS on the multi-OS device. The processor is further configured to, based on the OS indicated in the received fourth signal S4, create (when the corresponding OS indicated was installed on the multi-OS device) or delete (when the corresponding OS indicated was removed from the multi-OS device) a corresponding OS delegate on the notification device.

With this implementation form the notification device is informed of the installed (or active) OSs on the multi-OS device. Thereby, the notification device can manage the notifications for the installed OSs in the multi-OS device with the use of corresponding OS delegates and adapt the number of corresponding OS delegates. Hence, more efficient notification management is possible and system resources can also be used more efficient in the notification device.

In a sixth possible implementation form of a notification device according to the fourth or fifth possible implementation form of the second aspect, the transceiver is further configured to receive a fifth signal S5indicating which of the OSs hosted on the multi-OS device is currently in the foreground, and the transceiver is further configured to transmit the first signals S1to the corresponding OS currently hosted in the foreground.

With this implementation form the notification device is informed which OS that is currently in the foreground and which is or are in the background so that the notification device can manage and handle notifications for the OSs hosted in the multi-OS device in even more efficient manner.

In a seventh possible implementation form of a notification device according to the sixth possible implementation form of the second aspect, the transceiver is further configured to transmit first signals S1indicating notifications associated to the corresponding OSs currently hosted in the background and to omit transmitting first signals S1indicating notifications associated to the corresponding OS currently hosted in the foreground.

With this implementation form only notifications associated to the corresponding OS(s) currently hosted in the background are transmitted to the multi-OS device. This implies reduced signalling.

According to a third aspect of the disclosure, the above mentioned and other objectives are achieved with a method for a multi-OS device, the method comprising hosting a first OS in the foreground and simultaneously hosting a second OS in the background, receiving a first signal S1from a notification device over a communication system, the first signal S1indicating a notification associated to the second OS hosted in the background, outputting the notification associated to the second OS hosted in the background when the first OS is hosted in the foreground.

In a first possible implementation form of a method according to the third aspect, the second OS is not running in the processor when hosted in the background.

In a second possible implementation form of a method according to the first possible implementation form of the third aspect or to the third aspect as such, the notification is triggered by the second OS when hosted in the foreground.

In a third possible implementation form of a method according to the second possible implementation form of the third aspect, the method further comprises transmitting a second signal S2to the notification device, the second signal S2indicating a notification trigger associated to the notification.

In a fourth possible implementation form of a method according to the any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the third aspect or to the third aspect as such, the method further comprises transmitting a third signal S3to the notification device, the third signal S3indicating a request for push notification service associated to the second OS when hosted in the background.

In a fifth possible implementation form of a method according to the any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the third aspect or to the third aspect as such, the method further comprises installing or remove OSs on the multi-OS device, transmitting a fourth signal S4to the notification device, the fourth signal S4indicating the installation or removal of an OS on the multi-OS device.

In a sixth possible implementation form of a method according to the any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the third aspect or to the third aspect as such, the method further comprises moving the OS currently hosted in the background to the foreground and to moving the OS currently hosted in foreground to the background, and transmitting a fifth signal S5to the notification device (upon the change of the OS in the foreground), the fifth signal S5indicating which OS is currently hosted in the foreground.

In a seventh possible implementation form of a method according to the any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the third aspect or to the third aspect as such, the method further comprises outputting one or more notification types in the group comprising an audio notification, a visual notification, and a tactile notification.

According to a fourth aspect of the disclosure, the above mentioned and other objectives are achieved with a method for a notification device for a multi-OS device, the method comprising hosting an OS delegate corresponding to an OS hosted on a multi-OS device, determining a notification associated to the corresponding OS hosted on the multi-OS device, transmitting a first signal S1to the multi-OS device over a communication system, the first signal S1indicating the notification associated to the corresponding OS hosted on the multi-OS device.

In a first possible implementation form of a method according to the fourth aspect, the method further comprises receiving a second signal S2from the multi-OS device, the second signal S2indicating a notification trigger associated to the corresponding OS, determining a notification based on the notification trigger.

In a second possible implementation form of a method according to the first possible implementation form of the fourth aspect or to the fourth aspect as such, receiving a third signal S3from the multi-OS device, the third signal S3indicating a request for push notification service associated to the corresponding OS when hosted in the background, determining notifications according to the push notification service associated to the corresponding OS.

In a third possible implementation form of a method according to any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the fourth aspect or to the fourth aspect as such, receiving a fourth signal S4from a communication device of the communication system, the fourth signal S4indicating a notification trigger associated to the corresponding OS when hosted in the background, determining a notification based on the notification trigger.

In a fourth possible implementation form of a method according to any of the preceding possible implementation forms of the fourth aspect or to the fourth aspect as such, hosting an OS delegate for each corresponding OS hosted on the multi-OS device, determining notifications associated to the corresponding OS s currently hosted in the background of the multi-OS device, transmitting first signals S1to the multi-OS device over a communication system, the first signals S1indicating the notifications associated to the corresponding OSs.

In a fifth possible implementation form of a method according to the fourth possible implementation form of the fourth aspect, the method further comprises receiving a fourth signal S4, the fourth signal S4indicating the installation or removal of a OS on the multi-OS device, based on the OS indicated in the received fourth signal S4, creating (when the corresponding OS indicated was installed on the multi-OS device) or deleting (when the corresponding OS indicated was removed from the multi-OS device) a corresponding OS delegate on the notification device.

In a sixth possible implementation form of a method according to the fourth or fifth possible implementation form of the fourth aspect, the method further comprises receiving a fifth signal S5indicating which of the OSs hosted on the multi-OS device is currently in the foreground, and transmitting the first signals S1to the corresponding OS currently hosted in the foreground.

In a seventh possible implementation form of a method according to the sixth possible implementation form of the fourth aspect, the method further comprises transmitting first signals S1indicating notifications associated to the corresponding OSs currently hosted in the background and to omit transmitting first signals S1indicating notifications associated to the corresponding OS currently hosted in the foreground.

The advantages of any method according to the third or fourth aspects are the same as those for the corresponding implementation forms of the multi-OS device according to the first aspect or to the notification device according to the second aspect.

The present disclosure also relates to a computer program, characterized in code means, which when run by processing means causes said processing means to execute any method according to the present disclosure. Further, the disclosure also relates to a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and said mentioned computer program, where said computer program is included in the computer readable medium, and comprises of one or more from the group Read-Only Memory (ROM), Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable PROM (EPROM), Flash memory, Electrically EPROM (EEPROM) and hard disk drive.

Further applications and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description.

