Pre-loading data

Abstract

A device includes a non-volatile memory configured to store software to facilitate normal functions of the device, a first processing section including a data processor configured to execute the software when the device is in a normal mode, and load the software into a working memory in response to a trigger, and a second processing section coupled to a clock for maintaining a time, the second processing section configured to handle background processes when the device is in a low-power mode and initiate the trigger in response to the time of the clock preceding a user-set time by a preset advance interval, the pre-set advance interval taking into account a length of time to load the software into the working memory, wherein the working memory includes a volatile memory configured to store the software, and wherein in the low-power mode, the volatile memory receives insufficient power to store the software.

1 . A battery powered device comprising:
 a non-volatile memory configured to store software to facilitate normal functions of the device;   a first processing section comprising a data processor configured to execute the software when the device is in a normal mode, and load the software into a working memory in response to a trigger; and   a second processing section coupled to a clock for maintaining a time, the second processing section configured to handle background processes when the device is in a low-power mode and initiate the trigger in response to the time of the clock preceding a user-set time by a preset advance interval, the pre-set advance interval taking into account a length of time to load the software into the working memory, wherein the working memory comprises a volatile memory configured to store the software, and wherein in the low-power mode the volatile memory receives insufficient power to store the software.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the preset advance interval is such as to enable the software to be loaded prior to the user-set time. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the software is at least part of an operating system of the device. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein in the low-power mode the first processing section receives insufficient power to operate normally. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a portable device. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a communication subsystem configured to communicate with a network. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the communication subsystem comprises a communication interface configured to download external content data and a data store configured to store a list of the one or more user-set addresses, and wherein the device is configured to, in response to triggering by the second processing section, download the external content data from the one or more user-set data addresses via the communication interface. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the preset advance interval enables the external content data to be downloaded prior to the user-set time. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the communication interface is configured to receive the data by a wireless data link thereto. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the communication interface is configured to receive the data by radio. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the device is a mobile phone and the communication interface is configured to communicate with a mobile phone network for downloading the data. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , comprising a memory for storing the downloaded data. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a user interface for presenting the downloaded data to a user. 
     
     
         14 . A method to operate a device comprising a non-volatile memory configured to store software to facilitate normal functions of the device, a first processing section comprising a data processor configured to execute the software, the device being configured to operate the first processing section in a normal mode in which it can execute the software and a low-power mode, wherein the device comprises a volatile memory configured to store the software when it has been loaded and wherein in the low-power mode the volatile memory receives insufficient power to store software; and a second processing section having a clock for maintaining a time, and being configured to trigger behavior of the device in response to the time of the clock preceding a user-set time by a pre-set advance interval, the pre-set advance interval taking into account a length of time to load the software into the volatile memory; the method comprising:
 in response to triggering by the second processing section when the first processing section is in the low-power mode, directing the first processing section to load the software into the volatile memory before entering the normal mode.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 using a non-volatile memory of a device to store software to facilitate normal functions of the device;   executing the software when the device is in a normal mode, and loading the software into a working memory in response to a trigger;   processing background processes when the device is in a low-power mode; and   initiating the trigger in response to a time of a clock preceding a user-set time by a pre-set advance interval, the pre-set advance interval taking into account a length of time to load the software into the working memory, wherein the working memory comprises a volatile memory configured to store the software, and wherein in the low-power mode the volatile memory receives insufficient power to store the software.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising setting the pre-set advance interval to enable the software to be loaded prior to the user-set time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the processing of background processes occurs while a data processor performing the processing receives insufficient power for normal operation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising downloading external content data using a communication subsystem of the device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein downloading the external content data comprises downloading the external content data from one or more user-set addresses in response to the trigger. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , comprising setting the pre-set advance interval to enable the external content data to be downloaded prior to the user-set time.