Packaging multiple groups of read-only files of an application's components into multiple shared libraries

• US 20060225072A1
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Krishnaswamy, Srinath, Pingte, Rajendra S., Lari, Mohammad Shoaib
• Granted Patent: US 8,522,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Multiple groups of read-only files, for use by various components of an application program in a computer, are packaged as follows. Several executable files are prepared, each executable file corresponding to a group of read-only files used by one or more components. Each executable file includes an array that has sufficient space to accommodate the group of read-only files to be packaged therein. Each array in each executable file is overwritten with data from a corresponding group of read-only files. The presence or absence of each executable file for a group of read-only files is indicated by an index that is developed during initialization of components. Retrieval of data is from the executable files, if the index indicates, on first accessing each read-only file, that the corresponding executable file is present. If the executable file is indicated by the index as being absent, then the read-only file is directly accessed.

Claims

1. A method of packaging multiple groups of read-only files, the method comprising:

preparing a plurality of executable files, each executable file corresponding to a group of read-only files, each executable file comprising an array, the array having sufficient space to accommodate at least the group of read-only files corresponding to said each executable file;

overwriting the array in said each executable file with data from the group of read-only files corresponding to said each executable file;

adding, to an application program, a first plurality of instructions, to set up an index indicative of presence or absence of said each executable file, in a computer executing said application program; and

adding, to said application program, a second plurality of instructions, to use said index, when accessing said data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the index comprises a hash table in a memory of said computer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the index comprises a linked list in a memory of said computer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said second plurality of instructions comprises a new function to use the index to return a pointer to a location, within an executable file in the plurality of executable files, of data of a read-only file identified to said new function by an additional name.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

said second plurality of instructions comprises checking if a predetermined condition is met and if so invoking said new function and otherwise invoking an operating system function to open said read-only file.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the predetermined condition confirms presence of said executable file.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

each executable file includes a predetermined bit pattern identical to all executable files in said plurality of executable files; and

the overwriting is performed relative to the predetermined bit pattern.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

preparation of each executable file comprises preparing a source file comprising a declaration of said array and compiling the source file.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the application program comprises a plurality of components;

at least one executable file contains data of a number of read-only files of a corresponding number of components in said application program; and

at least another executable file contains data of a read-only file of only one component in said application program.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the name of each group of read-only files identifies a subdirectory under a home directory for the application program.

11. A carrier wave encoded with instructions to perform the acts of preparing and overwriting as recited in claim 1.

12. A carrier wave encoded with an overwritten executable file resulting from overwriting of the executable file in the method of claim 1.

13. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions to perform the acts of preparing and overwriting as recited in claim 1.

14. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with an overwritten executable file resulting from overwriting of the executable file in the method of claim 1.

15. A computer comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory being encoded with:

a first plurality of instructions to automatically prepare a plurality of executable files, each executable file corresponding to a group of read-only files, each executable file comprising an array, the array having sufficient space to accommodate at least the group of read-only files corresponding to said each executable file;

a second plurality of instructions to automatically overwrite the array in said each executable file with data from the group of read-only files corresponding to said each executable file; and

an application program comprising a plurality of instructions to set up an index indicative of presence or absence of said each executable file, in a computer executing said application program.

16. An apparatus for packaging multiple groups of read-only files, the apparatus comprising:

means for automatically preparing a plurality of executable files, each executable file corresponding to a group of read-only files, each executable file comprising an array, the array having sufficient space to accommodate at least the group of read-only files corresponding to said each executable file;

means for automatically overwriting the array in said each executable file with data from the group of read-only files corresponding to said each executable file; and

a memory encoded with an application program comprising a plurality of instructions to set up an index indicative of presence or absence of said each executable file, in a computer executing said application program.