Combining software executable libraries

• US 20070220502A1
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, David, Bower, Fred, Asselin, Albert
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44521 Dynamic linking or loading; Link editing at or after load time, e.g. Java class loading

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, data processing system and computer program product in which a plurality of software executable libraries (sub-libraries) are combined into a single software executable library. The single library comprises a plurality of register functions, each associated with a particular sub-library and each sub-library comprises one or more functions. When the library receives a request to register from a library manager it calls each of the register functions, each of which register the one or more functions of its associated sub-library with the library manager. Advantageously the library manager can subsequently interface with each sub-library as if the sub-library was a standalone library. Further a register function can be used for a library whether the library is sub-library or a standalone library, thereby reducing the effort to switch from one to the other.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a library, a request to register the library with a library manager, the library comprising a plurality of sub-libraries, each sub-library comprising one or more executable software functions and having an associated register function;

in response to the request, calling the associated register function of each of the plurality of sub-libraries; and

in response to a register function being called, registering, with the library manager, details of the one or more executable software functions which the sub-library associated with the register function called comprises.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of at least two of the sub-libraries contain a particular function with a common name and the method further comprises:

receiving a request at the particular function of one of the at least two sub-libraries directly from the library manager.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of registering details comprises:

calling the library manager and including in the call details of the one or more functions which its associated library comprises and an indication which can be used to identify the associated sub-library.

4. The method of claim 1 where in the library manger is a plug-in library manager and the library is a plug-in library.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the register function of each sub-library is unaware that the sub-library is one of a plurality of sub-libraries.

6. A data processing system comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory accessible to the at least one processor;

wherein the data processing system is configured for the at least one processor to perform the sub-processes of;

receiving, at a library, a request to register the library with a library manager, the library comprising a plurality of sub-libraries, each sub-library comprising one or more executable software functions and having an associated register function;

responsive to the request, calling the associated register function of each of the plurality of sub-libraries; and

responsive to a register function being called, registering, with the library manager, details of the one or more functions which the sub-library associated with the register function called comprises.

7. The data processing system of claim 6 wherein each of at least two of the sub-libraries contain a particular function with a common name and the data processing system is configured for the at least one processor to perform the further sub-processes of:

receiving a request at the particular function of one of the at least two sub-libraries directly from the library manager.

8. The data processing system of claim 6 wherein the sub-process of registering details comprises:

calling the library manager and including in the call details of the one or more functions which its associated library comprises and an indication which can be used to identify the associated sub-library.

9. The data processing system of claim 6 where in the library manger is a plug-in library manager and the library is a plug-in library.

10. The data processing system of claim 6 wherein the sub-process, responsive to a register function being called is unaware that the sub-library associated with the function called is one of a plurality of sub-libraries.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving, at a library, a request to register the library with a library manager, the library comprising a plurality of sub-libraries, each sub-library comprising one or more executable software functions and having an associated register function;

in response to the request, calling the associated register function of each of the plurality of sub-libraries; and

responsive to a register function being called, registering, with the library manager, details of the one or more functions which the sub-library associated with the register function called comprises.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein each of at least two of the sub-libraries contain a particular function with a common name and the method further comprises:

receiving a request at the particular function of one of the at least two sub-libraries directly from the library manager.

13. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the step of registering details comprises:

calling the library manager and including in the call details of the one or more functions which its associated library comprises and an indication which can be used to identify the associated sub-library.

14. The computer program product of claim 11 where in the library manger is a plug-in library manager and the library is a plug-in library.

15. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the register function of each sub-library is unaware that the sub-library is one of a plurality of sub-libraries.