Distributed program relocation for a computer system

• US 20030005158A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Michael L. Howard, Stephen C. Coffin
• Inventors: Howard, Michael L., Coffin, Stephen C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,058,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/54 Link editing before load time

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for preparing program code for a first computer, wherein the systems and methods are implemented on a second computer. The systems include a relocating module that is adapted to relocate program code by modifying locations in the program code identified by location data. The modifications made by the relocating module are based on a memory address. The systems operate on program code for the first computer, where the program code is stored on the second computer. The relocating module is provided the memory address that identifies a memory location in the first computer. The memory address is suitable as a basis for modifying the program code. The relocating module is also provided with location data that identifies locations in the program code to be adjusted based on the memory address. A method practiced in accordance with the disclosed embodiments includes the steps of obtaining the program code; obtaining the memory address; obtaining the location data; and modifying the locations in the program code identified by the location data, by using the memory address and by using the location data, where the modifying step is accomplished at the second computer. One or more computer programs for implementing the described systems and/or methods may be embodied in a computer-readable medium.

Claims

1. A system for preparing program code for a first computer wherein the system is implemented on a second computer, the system comprising:

program code for the first computer, the program code being stored on the second computer;

a memory address identifying a memory location in the first computer, the memory address being suitable as a basis for modifying the program code;

location data, the location data identifying locations in the program code to be adjusted based on the memory address;

a relocating module on the second computer, the relocating module adapted to relocate the program code by modifying the locations in the program code identified by the location data, the modifications being based on the memory address.

2. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising information regarding memory usage of the first computer from which the memory address is derived.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a list that includes the location data.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the memory address is obtained from the first computer.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a communication module at the second computer for obtaining the memory address and for communicating the modified program code to the first computer.

6. A system for preparing program code for a first computer wherein the system is implemented on a second computer, the system comprising:

a first computer, the first computer having a first computer processor, and the first computer also having a first computer memory;

a second computer, the second computer having a second computer processor, the second computer also having a second computer memory, the second computer being in electronic communication with the first computer;

program code for the first computer, the program code being stored on the second computer;

a memory address identifying a memory location in the first computer memory, the memory address being suitable as a basis for modifying memory references within the program code;

a list of the memory references in the program code to be adjusted based on the memory address;

a relocating module on the second computer, the relocating module adapted to relocate the program code by modifying the memory references in the program code identified by the list, the modifications being based on the memory address, the relocating module thereby creating modified program code.

7. The system of claim 6, the system further comprising information regarding memory usage of the first computer from which the memory address is derived.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the memory address is obtained from the first computer.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a communication module at the second computer for obtaining the memory address and for communicating the modified program code to the first computer.

10. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for preparing program code for a first computer wherein the instructions will be implemented on a second computer, wherein the instructions comprise executable instructions for implementing a method comprised of the steps of:

obtaining the program code from a storage device in electronic communication with the second computer;

obtaining a memory address identifying a memory location in the first computer, the memory address being suitable as a basis for modifying the program code;

obtaining location data, the location data identifying locations in the program code to be adjusted based on the memory address; and

modifying the locations in the program code identified by the location data, by using the memory address and by using the location data, the modifying step to be accomplished at the second computer.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step of obtaining information regarding memory usage of the first computer from which the memory address can be derived.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step of obtaining a list that includes the location data.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the memory address is obtained from the first computer.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step of communicating the modified program code to the first computer.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the memory address obtained is suitable as a basis for modifying memory references within the program code.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the modifying step of the method further comprises the step of modifying the memory references in the program code, by using the memory address and by using the location data.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the medium is a data transmission medium.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of obtaining information regarding memory usage of the first computer from which the memory address can be derived.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of obtaining a list that includes the location data.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the memory address is obtained from the first computer.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of communicating the modified program code to the first computer.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the memory address obtained is suitable as a basis for modifying memory references within the program code.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the modifying step further comprises the step of modifying the memory references in the program code, by using the memory address and by using the location data.

18. In a computer system including a first computer and a second computer, the first computer being in electronic communication with the second computer, a method for preparing program code for the first computer wherein the method will be implemented on the second computer, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining the program code from a storage device in electronic communication with the second computer;

obtaining a memory address identifying a memory location in the first computer, the memory address being suitable as a basis for modifying the program code;

obtaining location data, the location data identifying locations in the program code to be adjusted based on the memory address; and

modifying the locations in the program code identified by the location data, by using the memory address and by using the location data, the modifying step to be accomplished at the second computer.