A computer application stored on a storage medium (e.g., a portable storage medium such as a compact disk) is automatically launched. Initialization information expressed in accordance with a predefined syntax is stored on the storage medium. Also stored in the computer is "launching" information sufficient, together with the initialization information, to enable the computer to launch the application. The application is automatically launched, without user intervention, by reading the initializ...

A computer system that can rewrite a boot process program during operation, comprising at least two planes of non-volatile memory devices that are rewritable by software, a non-volatile memory device selector for switching at least the two planes of non-volatile memory devices, a multitasking operation system that can operate plural tasks, a boot process program rewrite program for operating as one task on the multitasking operating system and rewriting boot process programs written in the non-v...

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus to permit a computer to manage its software load image. This operation takes place when the computer powers on and when a new software sub-system is dynamically loaded into an address space where a software load is already running. During the booting procedure, after the operating system has been initialized, software sub-systems are started. Typically the linker-loader module of the operating system resolves symbol references for each sub-...

A type mismatch problem in computer programs is said to occur when there is a mismatch between the form or classification of a value encountered during program execution and that anticipated by the program. A method for repairing or testing for many type mismatch problems in programs works by transforming a binary representation of the program into a new binary in which the problem is fixed or identified. The fix or identification is implemented by converting code that operates on variables that...

Method, system and computer program product for determining the targets of branches in a data processing system. A method for determining the target of a branch in a data processing system includes performing at least one pre-calculation relating to determining the target of the branch prior to writing the branch into a Level 1 (L1) cache to provide a pre-decoded branch, and then writing the pre-decoded branch into the L1 cache. By pre-calculating matters relating to the targets of branches befo...

A method is described for creating a self-extracting executable program by compressing an executable program into itself. In an exemplary environment, an executable program comprises the code, data, and resources. The code comprises one or more code segments. The data comprises one or more data segments. The resources comprise one or more resources for the program, such as menus, icons, bitmaps, strings, dialogs, user-defined resources, and the like. One or more code segments from code are trans...

An objects loading method comprising the steps of (1) determining whether an object which is going to be loaded is a first object which is accessed only by another object, (2) if the object which is going to be loaded is determined to be the first object, removing the first object and also at least one second object which is accessed by the first object from the objects to be loaded, and (3) updating a list for managing the loaded objects.

A method and system for updating a software subsystem while services are being provided by the software subsystem is provided. Initially, instructions are processed from a primary software subsystem loaded at a first base address associated with a primary storage unit. A secondary software subsystem is downloaded at a second base address associated with a secondary storage unit while the primary software subsystem is being executed. The secondary software subsystem typically contains an updated ...

The invention relates to a system for downloading software with a module, which includes a control circuit and a storage device for storing software, and with a loading device for delivering software to the module whose control circuit is arranged to download software to be stored in the storage device in response to an appropriate instruction. The software comprises system software, at least consisting of operating system software and downloading software, and application software for controlli...

A system for preventing multiple instances of a dynamic executable module from being loaded on a device is implemented by a method including the steps of maintaining state information for the device; and providing a dynamic executable module to the device if the state information indicates that no other instance of the dynamic executable module is already loaded on the device.