Method and apparatus for constructing an executable program in memory

• US 6,907,597 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ATI International SRL (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mamona, Andrzej, Laksono, Indra
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Application Number:
  US09/687,322
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 717/121, 717124-125, 717/137, 717106-107, 717168-178, 712/1
• US Class Current: 717/121
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A method and apparatus for constructing an executable program, such as drivers in memory, obtains system configuration parameters and dynamically constructs driver code bundles from a set of code modules obtained from a library, based on the actual system configuration parameters. The set of code modules includes code modules associated with a plurality of system configuration parameters. One example of the system configuration parameter include static system configuration parameters such as in the case of a computer, a CPU type, clock speed and system memory size. Other actual system configuration parameters include dynamic configuration parameters which can be changed by the user. One example of a dynamic configuration parameter may be, for example, pixel depth and display screen resolution. After obtaining optimal system configuration depending upon a system'"'"'s setting or configurations, dedicated code modules are used and stored in system memory or other suitable memory. Accordingly, optimal driver code is loaded at all times for a particular chip set and no unnecessary code is loaded from a CD ROM or other source.

Claims

1. A method for constructing a program in memory comprising the steps of:

obtaining at least one actual system configuration parameter; and

dynamically constructing at least one code bundle from a set of code modules based on the actual system configuration parameter that comprises at least a dynamic configuration parameter,

wherein the set of code modules includes at least one code module associated with a first system configuration parameter and at least a second code module associated with a second system configuration parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the program is associated with a software driver and including the step of dynamically constructing a code bundle for every driver entry point associated with the software driver.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of dynamically constructing the at least one code bundle includes adding at least one of a jump instruction and call instruction for every code bundle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each code bundle includes a plurality of code modules.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one actual system configuration parameter also includes at least a static system configuration parameter and wherein the method includes the step of storing the dynamic configuration parameter or the static system configuration parameter.

6. The method of claim 5 including the step of storing a library containing at least the set of code modules and storing a database containing at least an index corresponding to actual system configuration parameters wherein actual system configuration parameters are associated with at least one code module stored in the library and wherein the step of dynamically constructing at least one code bundle includes:

in response to storing dynamic configuration parameters, using indexed code modules associated with the stored dynamic configuration parameters to determine which code modules are selected to define a portion of a software driver.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic code bundle defines at least a portion of a display software driver capable of assisting in rendering graphics for display on a display device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic configuration parameter includes data representing at least one of:

pixel depth and display screen resolution.

8. A storage device that contains programming instructions that when executed by one or more processing devices causes the one or more processing devices to:

obtain at least one actual system configuration parameter; and

dynamically construct at least one code bundle from a set of code modules based on the actual system configuration parameter that comprise at least a dynamic configuration parameter,

wherein the set of code modules includes at least one code module associated with a first system configuration parameter and at least a second code module associated with a second system configuration parameter.

9. The storage device of claim 8 including stored programming instructions that when executed by one or more processing devices causes the one or more processing devices to dynamically construct a code bundle for every driver entry point associated with a software driver.

10. The storage device of claim 8 including stored programming instructions that when executed by one or more processing devices causes the one or more processing devices to dynamically construct the at least one code bundle by adding a jump instruction for every code bundle.

11. The storage device of claim 8 wherein each code bundle includes a plurality of code modules.

12. The storage device of claim 11 wherein the at least one actual system configuration parameter also includes at least one static system configuration parameter and wherein the storage device includes stored programming instructions that when executed by one or more processing devices causes the one or more processing devices to store the dynamic configuration parameter and the static system configuration parameter.

13. The storage device of claim 12 including stored programming instructions that when executed by one or more processing devices causes the one or more processing devices to store a library containing at least the set of code modules and store a database containing at least an index corresponding to actual system configuration parameters wherein actual system configuration parameters are associated with at least one code module stored in the library and in response to storing dynamic configuration parameters, using indexed code modules associated with the stored dynamic configuration parameters to determine which code modules are selected to define a portion of a software driver.

14. The storage device of claim 8 wherein the dynamic code bundle defines at least a portion of a display software driver capable of assisting in rendering graphics for display on a display device.