System for storing executable code within a resource data section of an executable file

• US 5,548,759 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lipe, Ralph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, PETER
• Application Number:
  US08/584,824
• Time in Patent Office: 222 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/700
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/54 Link editing before load time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

Multiple files are combined into a single file (64a) in new executable format to operate a hardware or software device, such as a peripheral device (30a), while retaining compatibility with an operating system (40). The resources portion (98) of the single file is extended to put one or more non-executable file (96) and executable file (97) in the single file. A header includes a resources table that identifies the location of the non-executable files and executable files within the resources section. The executable file is accessed and loaded by the operating system (40) after the peripheral device (30a) is connected to the computer (10), and the executable file is used to operate the peripheral device (30a).

Claims

1. In a computer system including a microprocessor and an operating system for controlling said computer system, a memory device connectable to said computer system, said memory device storing an executable file formatted in a predetermined format and accessible by said operating system, said executable file including a resources section containing data associated with resources of said computer system, said memory device further comprising:

an executable code section containing executable code for controlling a peripheral device; and

a non-executable text section containing data defining selected characteristics of said peripheral device and identifying that said executable code section is located within said resources section.

2. The memory device of claim 1 wherein said executable file is a dynamic link library file.

3. The memory device of claim 2 wherein said executable code section is a device driver file.

4. The memory device of claim 3 wherein said data of said non-executable text section identifies said peripheral device.

5. The memory device of claim 1 wherein said executable file further includes a resources table in the executable file, said resources table containing identifiers that identify the location of said non-executable text section and said executable code section within said resources section.

6. The memory device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined format is the New-Style Executable File Format for Windows.

7. A memory device for storing data and executable code, the memory device accessible by an operating system running on a computer system and comprising an executable file stored in said memory device and formatted in a predetermined format said executable file including first and second headers, a resources table in said second header, a first executable section of code, a second executable section of code in said predetermined format, and a resources section containing data for resources of said computer system, the memory further comprising:

an executable code file containing executable code within said resources section;

a non-executable text file containing data supplying an indication to said operating system that said executable code file is located within said resources section; and

identifiers in said resources table that identify the location of said executable code file and non-executable text file within said executable file.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said executable code file is a device driver file and said non-executable text file is an INF file.

9. The memory device of claim 7, wherein said data of said non-executable text file identifies a peripheral device that can be driven by said device drive file, said peripheral device associated with said computer system.

10. The memory device of claim 7, wherein said predetermined format is the New-Style Executed File Format for Windows.

11. A memory device for storing data and executable code, said memory device connected to a microprocessor of a computer system, said memory device comprising:

a file stored in said memory device and formatted in new executable format, wherein said file can be accessed by an operating system and at least portions of said file can be accessed by a disk operating system running on said computer system, said file including;

a first header primarily for use by said disk operating system;

a second header for use by said operating system;

a resources table in said second header;

a section of code in new executable format primarily for operation with said operating system;

a resources section containing data for resources of said computer system;

an executable code file containing executable code within said resources section; and

an identifier in said resources table that identifies and points to the location of said executable code file within said resources section.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said executable code file is a device driver file used by said operating system to control a peripheral device connected to the computer system.

13. The memory device of claim 11, wherein said resources section further comprises a non-executable text file containing data which identifies that said executable code file is located within said resources section.

14. The memory device of claim 13, wherein another identifier in said resources table which identifies and points to the location of said non-executable text file within said resources section.

15. In a computer including at least one memory device and an operating system running on said computer, and a plurality of files in a predetermined format, each file stored in one of said memory device and accessible by said operating system, each file including a preassigned section comprising an executable file and a non-executable text file, the non-executable text file containing data identifying one of the peripheral devices that is connectable to the computer and is operable with executable code of the executable file, each file further including a header that identifies and points to the location of the executable file and the non-executable text file, a method of installing a portion of one of the files on the computer to control a selected one of the peripheral devices connected to the computer comprising the steps of:

identifying said selected peripheral device

determining a particular for operating said selected peripheral device in response to identifying said selected peripheral device;

reading said data of said non-executable text file to determine if said file contains said particular executable file

loading said executable code of said particular executable file to enable said computer to control said selected peripheral device in the event that said particular executable file is contained in said file.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said loading step comprises the steps of determining the location of said particular executable file by reading said header and installing said particular executable file on the computer.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined format for said file is new executable format.

18. In a computer including at least one memory device and an operating system running on said computer, and a plurality of files in a predetermined format, each file stored on one of said memory device and accessible by said operating system, each file including a preassigned section comprising an executable file and a non-executable text file, the non-executable text file containing data identifying one of a plurality of peripheral devices operable with executable code of the executable file, each file further including a header that identifies and points to the location of the executable file and the non-executable text file, a method of installing a portion of one of the files to control a selected one of the peripheral devices connected to the computer, comprising the steps of:

identifying a certain one of the files within said memory device having the executable file for operating said selected peripheral device;

reading said data of said non-executable text file of said certain file to determine if said certain file contains said executable file for operating said selected peripheral device; and

in the event that said executable file is located in said certain file,

reading said header of said certain file to determine the location of said executable file within said certain file, and

loading said executable code said executable file in said certain file to enable the computer to control said selected peripheral device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said loading step comprises the steps of determining the location of said executable file by reading said header and installing said particular executable file on the computer.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined format for said file is the New-Style Executive File Format for Windows.

21. A computer system executing an operating system for controlling the operations of said computer system, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a memory device, coupled to said microprocessor and accessible by said operating system, including an executable file formatted in predetermined format and stored in said memory device, said executable file including;

an executable code section containing executable code for controlling a peripheral device; and

a non-executable text section containing data defining selected characteristics of said peripheral device and identifying that said executable code section is contained within said executable file,

said operating system operative to access said data of said non-executable text section to determine that said executable code section is within said executable file and available for installation on said computer system.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said executable code section is a device driver file and said data in said non-executable text section identifies said peripheral device.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said executable code further includes a resources table containing identifiers that identify the location of said non-executable text section and said executable code section within said executable file.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said predetermined format is the New-Style Executable File Format for Windows.