Shared device driver model for virtualized mobile handsets

Abstract

One of the major expected benefits of hardware virtualization in mobile handsets is the ability to use a peripheral device, for which an original device driver has been written for a particular operating system, from applications running on other operating systems. The savings and new opportunities generated by avoiding writing multiple device drivers for the same peripheral because for different operating systems (Symbian, Windows, Linux, and proprietary real-time operating systems) are tremendous, and relevant to the whole eco-system (chipset and hardware peripheral vendors, device manufacturers, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), service providers and even end-users.