Method for using header files to call a shared library from a dynamic environment

• US 7,428,737 B1
• Filed: 12/01/2003
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Gaudette, Thomas, Borghesani, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Van H
• Application Number:
  US10/725,859
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 719/310, 719/328, 719331-332, 717/100, 717/101, 717/108, 717/111, 717/114, 717/116, 717/120, 717/121, 717/163
• US Class Current: 719/332
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44521 Dynamic linking or loading; Link editing at or after load time, e.g. Java class loading

Abstract

A method and apparatus executes an automated approach allowing access to a standard shared library without requiring the user to create a custom interface definition for library functions that a user wants to access dynamically using a software application. In accordance with one implementation, in an electronic device, a method of accessing a library function from a dynamic environment includes the step of processing a header file of the library function to create an interface to the library function. The interface to the library function is created in the dynamic environment. The user can invoke the process by calling the function from the shared library, and the automated process takes the necessary steps to execute the function.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of accessing a library function in a shared library from a dynamic environment, comprising:

processing a header file of the library function to automatically specify parameter information for creating an interface to access the library function, the processing automatically ensuring inputs to the interface to the library function are selected data types based on the header file;

creating the interface to the library function in the shared library using the parameter information, the interface automatically converting a data type in an input to the interface to a selected data type for the library function; and

saving the interface to the library function in an executable form for subsequent use.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the header file further comprises automatically defining parameters for the interface to the library function based on the header file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein automatically defining parameters for the interface to the library function based on the header file further comprises creating at least one data structure having selected parameters for interfacing with the library function.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically ensuring inputs to the interface to the library function are selected data types based on the header file further comprises converting data types to the selected data types for the library function with the interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared library comprises one of a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file and a file with a shared object (.so) file extension.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the header file comprises a C header file.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a command to call the library function.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the library function using the interface from the shared library.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic environment comprises at least one of a text-based modeling application and a graphical-based modeling application.

10. A computer-implemented method of accessing a library function in a shared library from a dynamic environment, comprising:

loading the library function from the shared library;

processing a header file of the library function and extracting information for creating an interface to the library function, the processing automatically defining parameters for the interface to the library function based on the header file;

generating an interface to access the library function as a result of the processing, the interface automatically converting a data type in an input to the interface to a selected data type for the library function;

saving the interface to the library function in an executable form for subsequent use; and

executing the library function using the interface from the shared library.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein automatically defining parameters for the interface to the library function based on the header file further comprises the electronic device creating at least one data structure having selected parameters for interfacing with the library function.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein processing the header file further comprises automatically ensuring inputs to the library function are in the form of selected data types based on the header file.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein automatically ensuring inputs to the library function are in the form of a selected data type based on the header file further comprises the interface converting data types to the selected data types for the library function.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the shared library comprises one of a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file and a file with a shared object (.so) file extension.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the header file comprises a C header file.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the dynamic environment comprises at least one of a text-based modeling application and a graphical-based modeling application.

17. A computer-implemented system for calling a shared library from a dynamic environment, the system comprising:

a storage; and

a processor configured to;

execute an application providing a dynamic environment,

execute a shared library accessible by the dynamic environment,

execute an automated processing function for processing a header file of a library function in the shared library to automatically specify parameter information for creating an interface to the library function, the processing automatically ensuring inputs to the interface to the library function are selected data types based on the header file; and

save the interface to the library function in an executable form for subsequent use.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the shared library comprises one of a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file and a file with a shared object (.so) file extension.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the header file comprises a C header file.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising the interface to the library function being saved in the shared library of the dynamic environment in an executable form.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the dynamic environment comprises at least one of a text-based modeling application and a graphical-based modeling application.

22. A medium for use in a modeling and execution environment on an electronic device, the medium holding instructions executable using the electronic device for performing a computer-implemented method of accessing a library function in a shared library from a dynamic environment, the method comprising:

processing a header file of the library function to automatically specify parameter information for creating an interface to the library function, the processing automatically ensuring inputs to the interface to the library function are selected data types based on the header file;

creating the interface to access the library function in the shared library using the parameter information, the interface automatically converting a data type in an input to the interface to a selected data type for the library function; and

saving the interface to the library function in an executable form for subsequent use.

23. The medium of claim 22, wherein processing the header file further comprises automatically defining parameters for the interface to the library function based on the header file.

24. The medium of claim 23, wherein automatically defining parameters for the interface to the library function based on the header file further comprises creating at least one data structure having selected parameters for interfacing with the library function.

25. The medium of claim 22, wherein automatically ensuring inputs to the interface to the library function are in the form of selected data types based on the header file further comprises the interface converting data types to the selected data types for the library function.

26. The medium of claim 22, wherein the shared library comprises one of a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file and a file with a shared object (.so) file extension.

27. The medium of claim 22, wherein the header file comprises a C header file.

28. The medium of claim 22, wherein the dynamic environment comprises at least one of a text-based modeling application and a graphical-based modeling application.