Methods and apparatus for distributing software applications

• US 8,176,481 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2005
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kasahara, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Alrobaye, Idriss N
• Application Number:
  US11/231,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20060075397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,422 Days
• Field of Search: 712/200
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5044 considering hardware capabilities

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for enabling execution of software programs permit: obtaining identification information that is indicative of a version of a software program; determining whether processing capabilities of a processor on which the software program is to be executed are incompatible with proper execution of the version of the software program; and at least partially modifying the version of the software program to obtain a more suitable version of the software program that will execute properly on the processor.

Claims

1. A method of enabling execution of a software program, said method comprising:

obtaining particular identification information that is indicative of a given version of the software program, the given version of the software program being formed of a first plurality of modules so that each one of the first plurality of modules is also associated with the particular identification information, each one of the first plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module;

obtaining a particular processing identifier that is indicative of the processing capabilities of at least one processor on which the software program is to be executed, the processing capabilities of the at least one processor being compatible with a second plurality of modules so that each one of the second plurality of modules is also associated with the particular processing identifier, each one of the second plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module;

determining, using the particular identification information and the particular processing identifier, whether the processing capabilities of the at least one processor are incompatible with the processing capabilities needed for proper execution of the given version of the software program; and

in response to determining that the processing capabilities of the at least one processor are incompatible with proper execution of the given version of the software program, partially modifying the given version of the software program by replacing some of the modules of the first plurality of modules associated with the particular identification information with some of the modules of the second plurality of modules associated with the particular processing identifier to obtain a more suitable version of the software program, including;

providing a three-dimensional table having (i) a plurality of identification information arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a first axis of the table, the plurality of identification information being indicative of a corresponding plurality of software program versions each of which is formed of a corresponding portion of a plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding identification information, (ii) a plurality of processing identifiers individually arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a second axis of the table, the plurality of processing identifiers being indicative a corresponding plurality of processing capabilities each of which is compatible with a corresponding portion of the plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding processing identifier, (iii) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of identification information being arranged along one or more positions on a third axis of the table starting from the position on the first axis that corresponds to the respective software version, and (iv) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of processing capabilities being arranged along one or more positions on the third axis of the table starting from the position on the second axis that corresponds to the respective processing capabilities, wherein a location on the table having a coordinate along the second axis corresponding to a respective processing identifier and having a coordinate along the third axis corresponding to a particular module indicates whether that module is compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by that processing identifier;

accessing the table, using the particular identification information indicative of the particular version of the software program and the particular processing identifier, to locate a further version of the software program having modules wherein the processing capabilities needed for their proper execution are compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by the processing identifier; and

using at least one of the modules of the further version of the software program to partially modify the version of the software program and obtain the more suitable version of the software program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing capabilities of the at least one processor are incompatible with proper execution of the given version of the software program when at least one of the following processing conditions is incompatible with that needed for proper execution of the given version of the software program:

a clock frequency, a memory map, a bus utilization, a bus bandwidth, a cache size, a cache organization, an instruction latency, an instruction throughput, a memory latency, a memory throughput, an endian, and an instruction type.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular identification information is a part of the software program, and said obtaining step includes obtaining the particular identification information from the software program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining step includes obtaining the particular identification information from a storage medium, and the storage medium is at least one of an optical disc medium, a magnetic medium, and an electronic medium.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining step includes determining whether the at least one processor is capable of using processing resources from one or more external processors in executing the software program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying step includes partially overwriting the given version of the software program in the storage medium.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the table is at least one of stored locally in a common location with said at least one processor, stored in a remotely located administrative entity, or stored in a further location for access by the remotely located administrative entity.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

establishing a link between the at least one processor and the administrative entity using a communications channel; and

transmitting the particular identification information and the particular processing identifier from the at least one processor to the administrative entity over the communications channel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the administrative entity accesses the table using the particular identification information and the particular processing identifier to obtain the at least one associated module.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving the at least one associated module at the at least one processor over the communications channel from the administrative entity; and

using the at least one associated module to modify the given version of the software program to obtain the more suitable version of the software program.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving an encrypted decryption key over the communication channel from the administrative entity in response to the particular identification information;

decrypting the encrypted decryption key; and

decrypting the at least one associated module using the decryption key.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving registration data over the communications channel from the administrative entity in response to the particular identification information;

transmitting the registration data over the communications channel to a distributor;

receiving an encrypted decryption key and an encrypted virtual ID at the processing apparatus over the network from the distributor in response to the registration data;

decrypting the encrypted decryption key using the virtual ID; and

decrypting the at least one associated module, using the decryption key.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a non-activated decryption key from an administrator;

transmitting an activation request to the administrative entity over the communications channel;

receiving activation grant information from the administrative entity over the communications channel in response to the activation request;

converting the non-activated decryption key into an activated decryption key in response to the activation grant information; and

decrypting the at least one associated module, using the activated decryption keys.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the software program includes a game program.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular identification information indicates a user right to execute the software program on any one of plurality of processing devices.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining the given version of the software program using the particular identification information prior to said step of partially modifying the given version of the software program.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the given version of the software program is at least one of stored locally in a common location with said at least one processor, stored in a remotely located administrative entity, or stored in a further location for access by the remotely located administrative entity.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

establishing a link between the at least one processor and the administrative entity using a communications channel;

transmitting the particular identification information from the at least one processor to the administrative entity over the communications channel, the administrative entity using the particular identification information to obtain the given version of the software program; and

receiving the given version of the software program at the at least one processor over the communications channel from the administrative entity.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

establishing a link between a further device and the administrative entity using a communications channel;

transmitting the particular identification information from further device to the administrative entity over the communications channel, the administrative entity using the particular identification information to obtain the given version of the software program; and

receiving the given version of the software program at the at least one processor over the communications channel from the administrative entity.

20. A processing arrangement, comprising:

at least one hardware processor operable to perform processing tasks and to;

(i) obtain particular identification information that is indicative of a given version of a software program, the given version of the software program being formed of a first plurality of modules so that each one of the first plurality of modules is also associated with the particular identification information, each one of the first plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module, (ii) obtain a particular processing identifier that is indicative of the processing capabilities of the at least one processor, the processing capabilities of the at least one processor being compatible with a second plurality of modules so that each one of the second plurality of modules is also associated with the particular processing identifier, each one of the second plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module, (iii) determine, using the particular identification information and the particular processing identifier, whether the processing capabilities of the processor are incompatible with the processing capabilities needed for proper execution of the given version of the software program, and (iv) in response to determining that the processing capabilities of the at least one processor are incompatible with proper execution of the given version of the software program, partially modify the given version of the software program by replacing some of the modules associated with the particular identification information with some of the modules associated with the particular processing identifier to obtain a more suitable version of the software program, including;

providing a three-dimensional table having (i) a plurality of identification information arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a first axis of the table, the plurality of identification information being indicative of a corresponding plurality of software program versions each of which is formed of a corresponding portion of a plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding identification information, (ii) a plurality of processing identifiers individually arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a second axis of the table, the plurality of processing identifiers being indicative a corresponding plurality of processing capabilities each of which is compatible with a corresponding portion of the plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding processing identifier, (iii) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of identification information being arranged along one or more positions on a third axis of the table starting from the position on the first axis that corresponds to the respective software version, and (iv) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of processing capabilities being arranged along one or more positions on the third axis of the table starting from the position on the second axis that corresponds to the respective processing capabilities, wherein a location on the table having a coordinate along the second axis corresponding to a respective processing identifier and having a coordinate along the third axis corresponding to a particular module indicates whether that module is compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by that processing identifier;

accessing the table, using the particular identification information indicative of the particular version of the software program and the particular processing identifier, to locate a further version of the software program having modules wherein the processing capabilities needed for their proper execution are compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by the processing identifier; and

using at least one of the modules of the further version of the software program to partially modify the version of the software program and obtain the more suitable version of the software program.

21. A system, comprising:

a plurality of sub-processing units each operable to perform processing tasks;

a main processing unit operable to perform at least some management processing tasks over the sub-processing units; and

a data bus operatively coupling the main processing unit and the sub-processing units;

wherein one or more units of the main processing unit or the plurality of sub-processing units is operable to;

(i) obtain particular identification information that is indicative of a given version of a software program, the given version of the software program being formed of a first plurality of modules so that each one of the first plurality of modules is also associated with the particular identification information, each one of the first plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module, (ii) obtain a particular processing identifier that is indicative of the processing capabilities of the at least one processor, the processing capabilities of the at least one processor being compatible with a second plurality of modules so that each one of the second plurality of modules is also associated with the particular processing identifier, each one of the second plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module, (iii) determine, using the particular identification information and the particular processing identifier, whether the processing capabilities of the processor are incompatible with the processing capabilities needed for proper execution of the given version of the software program, and (iv) in response to determining that the processing capabilities of the at least one processor are incompatible with proper execution of the given version of the software program, partially modify the given version of the software program by replacing some of the modules associated with the particular identification information with some of the modules associated with the particular processing identifier to obtain a more suitable version of the software program, including;

providing a three-dimensional table having (i) a plurality of identification information arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a first axis of the table, the plurality of identification information being indicative of a corresponding plurality of software program versions each of which is formed of a corresponding portion of a plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding identification information, (ii) a plurality of processing identifiers individually arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a second axis of the table, the plurality of processing identifiers being indicative a corresponding plurality of processing capabilities each of which is compatible with a corresponding portion of the plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding processing identifier, (iii) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of identification information being arranged along one or more positions on a third axis of the table starting from the position on the first axis that corresponds to the respective software version, and (iv) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of processing capabilities being arranged along one or more positions on the third axis of the table starting from the position on the second axis that corresponds to the respective processing capabilities, wherein a location on the table having a coordinate along the second axis corresponding to a respective processing identifier and having a coordinate along the third axis corresponding to a particular module indicates whether that module is compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by that processing identifier;

accessing the table, using the particular identification information indicative of the particular version of the software program and the particular processing identifier, to locate a further version of the software program having modules wherein the processing capabilities needed for their proper execution are compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by the processing identifier; and

using at least one of the modules of the further version of the software program to partially modify the version of the software program and obtain the more suitable version of the software program.

22. A system, comprising:

a plurality of devices each including;

a plurality of sub-processing units each operable to perform processing tasks,

a main processing unit operable to perform at least some management processing tasks over the sub-processing units, and

a data bus operatively coupling the main processing unit and the sub-processing units;

wherein one or more units of the main processing unit and the plurality of sub-processing units of at least one of the plurality of processing devices is operable to;

(i) obtain particular identification information that is indicative of a given version of a software program, the given version of the software program being formed of a first plurality of modules so that each one of the first plurality of modules is also associated with the particular identification information, each one of the first plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module, (ii) obtain a particular processing identifier that is indicative of the processing capabilities of the at least one processor, the processing capabilities of the at least one processor being compatible with a second plurality of modules so that each one of the second plurality of modules is also associated with the particular processing identifier, each one of the second plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module, (iii) determine, using the particular identification information and the particular processing identifier, whether the processing capabilities of the processor are incompatible with the processing capabilities needed for proper execution of the given version of the software program, and (iv) in response to determining that the processing capabilities of the one or more units are incompatible with proper execution therein of the given version of the software program, partially modify the given version of the software program by replacing some of the modules associated with the particular identification information with some of the modules associated with the particular processing identifier to obtain a more suitable version of the software program, including;

providing a three-dimensional table having (i) a plurality of identification information arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a first axis of the table, the plurality of identification information being indicative of a corresponding plurality of software program versions each of which is formed of a corresponding portion of a plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding identification information, (ii) a plurality of processing identifiers individually arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a second axis of the table, the plurality of processing identifiers being indicative a corresponding plurality of processing capabilities each of which is compatible with a corresponding portion of the plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding processing identifier, (iii) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of identification information being arranged along one or more positions on a third axis of the table starting from the position on the first axis that corresponds to the respective software version, and (iv) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of processing capabilities being arranged along one or more positions on the third axis of the table starting from the position on the second axis that corresponds to the respective processing capabilities, wherein a location on the table having a coordinate along the second axis corresponding to a respective processing identifier and having a coordinate along the third axis corresponding to a particular module indicates whether that module is compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by that processing identifier;

accessing the table, using the particular identification information indicative of the particular version of the software program and the particular processing identifier, to locate a further version of the software program having modules wherein the processing capabilities needed for their proper execution are compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by the processing identifier; and

using at least one of the modules of the further version of the software program to partially modify the version of the software program and obtain the more suitable version of the software program.

23. A system, comprising:

a plurality of processing devices each including;

a plurality of sub-processing units each operable to perform processing tasks,

a main processing unit operable to perform at least some management processing tasks over the sub-processing units, and

a data bus operatively coupling the main processing unit and the sub-processing units;

a remotely located administrative entity; and

a communications channel operable to provide a communication link between each of the plurality of processing devices and the administrative entity;

one or more units of the main processing unit and the sub-processing units of at least one of the plurality of processing devices being further operable to;

(i) obtain particular identification information that is indicative of a given version of a software program, the given version of the software program being formed of a first plurality of modules so that each one of the first plurality of modules is also associated with the particular identification information, each one of the first plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module, (ii) obtain a particular processing identifier that is indicative of the processing capabilities of the at least one processor, the processing capabilities of the at least one processor being compatible with a second plurality of modules so that each one of the second plurality of modules is also associated with the particular processing identifier, each one of the second plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module, (iii) determine, using the particular identification information and the particular processing identifier, whether the processing capabilities of the processor are incompatible with the processing capabilities needed for proper execution of the given version of the software program, and (iv) in response to determining that the processing capabilities of the one or more units are incompatible with proper execution therein of the given version of the software program, transmit the particular identification information and the at least one processing identifier associated with that processing device to the administrative entity over the communications channel;

the administrative entity being operable to;

(i) use the particular identification information and the at least one processing identifier to obtain at least some of the modules associated with the particular processing identifier that may be used to replace some of the modules associated with the particular identification information thereby partially modify the given version of the software program, and (ii) transmit the at least one module to the one or more units;

the one or more units being further operable to partially modify the given version of the software program to obtain a more suitable version of the software program that will execute properly, including;

providing a three-dimensional table having (i) a plurality of identification information arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a first axis of the table, the plurality of identification information being indicative of a corresponding plurality of software program versions each of which is formed of a corresponding portion of a plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding identification information, (ii) a plurality of processing identifiers individually arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a second axis of the table, the plurality of processing identifiers being indicative a corresponding plurality of processing capabilities each of which is compatible with a corresponding portion of the plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding processing identifier, (iii) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of identification information being arranged along one or more positions on a third axis of the table starting from the position on the first axis that corresponds to the respective software version, and (iv) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of processing capabilities being arranged along one or more positions on the third axis of the table starting from the position on the second axis that corresponds to the respective processing capabilities, wherein a location on the table having a coordinate along the second axis corresponding to a respective processing identifier and having a coordinate along the third axis corresponding to a particular module indicates whether that module is compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by that processing identifier;

accessing the table, using the particular identification information indicative of the particular version of the software program and the particular processing identifier, to locate a further version of the software program having modules wherein the processing capabilities needed for their proper execution are compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by the processing identifier; and

using at least one of the modules of the further version of the software program to partially modify the version of the software program and obtain the more suitable version of the software program.

24. An apparatus for enabling execution of a software program, said apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining particular identification information that is indicative of a given version of the software program, the given version of the software program being formed of a first plurality of modules so that each one of the first plurality of modules is also associated with the particular identification information, each one of the first plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module;

means for obtaining a particular processing identifier that is indicative of the processing capabilities of at least one processor on which the software program is to be executed, the processing capabilities of the at least one processor being compatible with a second plurality of modules so that each one of the second plurality of modules is also associated with the particular processing identifier, each one of the second plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data modul;

means for determining, using the particular identification information and the particular processing identifier, whether the processing capabilities of the at least one processor are incompatible with the processing capabilities needed for proper execution of the given version of the software program; and

means for, in response to determining that the processing capabilities of the at least one processor are incompatible with proper execution of the given version of the software program, partially modifying the version of the software program by replacing some of the modules associated with the particular identification information with some of the modules associated with the particular processing identifier to obtain a more suitable version of the software program that will execute properly on the at least one processor, including;

providing a three-dimensional table having (i) a plurality of identification information arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a first axis of the table, the plurality of identification information being indicative of a corresponding plurality of software program versions each of which is formed of a corresponding portion of a plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding identification information, (ii) a plurality of processing identifiers individually arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a second axis of the table, the plurality of processing identifiers being indicative a corresponding plurality of processing capabilities each of which is compatible with a corresponding portion of the plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding processing identifier, (iii) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of identification information being arranged along one or more positions on a third axis of the table starting from the position on the first axis that corresponds to the respective software version, and (iv) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of processing capabilities being arranged along one or more positions on the third axis of the table starting from the position on the second axis that corresponds to the respective processing capabilities, wherein a location on the table having a coordinate along the second axis corresponding to a respective processing identifier and having a coordinate along the third axis corresponding to a particular module indicates whether that module is compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by that processing identifier;

accessing the table, using the particular identification information indicative of the particular version of the software program and the particular processing identifier, to locate a further version of the software program having modules wherein the processing capabilities needed for their proper execution are compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by the processing identifier; and

using at least one of the modules of the further version of the software program to partially modify the version of the software program and obtain the more suitable version of the software program.

25. A non-transitory recording medium recorded with a first software program for performing a method of enabling execution of a second software program, said method comprising:

obtaining particular identification information that is indicative of a given version of the software program, the given version of the software program being formed of a first plurality of modules so that each one of the first plurality of modules is also associated with the particular identification information, each one of the first plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module;

obtaining a particular processing identifier that is indicative of the processing capabilities of at least one processor on which the software program is to be executed, the processing capabilities of the at least one processor being compatible with a second plurality of modules so that each one of the second plurality of modules is also associated with the particular processing identifier, each one of the second plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module;

determining, using the particular identification information and the particular processing identifier, whether the processing capabilities of the at least one processor are incompatible with the processing capabilities needed for proper execution of the given version of the second software program; and

in response to determining that the processing capabilities of the at least one processor are incompatible with its proper execution of the version of the second software program, partially modifying the version of the second software program by replacing some of the modules associated with the particular identification information with some of the modules associated with the particular processing identifier to obtain a more suitable version of the second software program that will execute properly on the at least one processor, including;

providing a three-dimensional table having (i) a plurality of identification information arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a first axis of the table, the plurality of identification information being indicative of a corresponding plurality of software program versions each of which is formed of a corresponding portion of a plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding identification information, (ii) a plurality of processing identifiers individually arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a second axis of the table, the plurality of processing identifiers being indicative a corresponding plurality of processing capabilities each of which is compatible with a corresponding portion of the plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding processing identifier, (iii) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of identification information being arranged along one or more positions on a third axis of the table starting from the position on the first axis that corresponds to the respective software version, and (iv) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of processing capabilities being arranged along one or more positions on the third axis of the table starting from the position on the second axis that corresponds to the respective processing capabilities, wherein a location on the table having a coordinate along the second axis corresponding to a respective processing identifier and having a coordinate along the third axis corresponding to a particular module indicates whether that module is compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by that processing identifier;

accessing the table, using the particular identification information indicative of the particular version of the software program and the particular processing identifier, to locate a further version of the software program having modules wherein the processing capabilities needed for their proper execution are incompatible with the processing capabilities needed for proper execution of the given version of the software program; and

in response to determining that the processing capabilities of the at least one processor are incompatible with proper execution of the given version of the software program, partially modifying the given version of the software program by replacing some of the modules associated with the particular identification information with some of the modules associated with the particular processing identifier to obtain a more suitable version of the software program that will execute properly on the at least one processor, and

storing the more suitable version of the software program on the recording medium, including;

providing a three-dimensional table having (i) a plurality of identification information arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a first axis of the table, the plurality of identification information being indicative of a corresponding plurality of software program versions each of which is formed of a corresponding portion of a plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated with the corresponding identification information, (ii) a plurality of processing identifiers individually arranged along a corresponding plurality of positions on a second axis of the table, the plurality of processing identifiers being indicative a corresponding plurality of processing capabilities each of which is compatible with a corresponding portion of the plurality of available modules, the corresponding portion being also associated compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by the processing identifier; and

using at least one of the modules of the further version of the software program to partially modify the version of the software program and obtain the more suitable version of the software program.

26. A non-transitory recording medium recorded with a software program modified by a method of enabling execution of the software program, said method comprising:

providing a given version of a software program;

obtaining particular identification information that is indicative of a given version of the software program, the given version of the software program being formed of a first plurality of modules so that each one of the first plurality of modules is also associated with the particular identification information, each one of the first plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module;

obtaining a particular processing identifier that is indicative of the processing capabilities of at least one processor on which the software program is to be executed, the processing capabilities of the at least one processor being compatible with a second plurality of modules so that each one of the second plurality of modules is also associated with the particular processing identifier, each one of the second plurality of modules being either (a) a software module, (b) a data module, or (c) a software and data module;

determining, using the particular identification information and the particular processing identifier, whether the processing capabilities of the at least one processor are with the corresponding processing identifier, (iii) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of identification information being arranged along one or more positions on a third axis of the table starting from the position on the first axis that corresponds to the respective software version, and (iv) the portion of the plurality of modules that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of processing capabilities being arranged along one or more positions on the third axis of the table starting from the position on the second axis that corresponds to the respective processing capabilities, wherein a location on the table having a coordinate along the second axis corresponding to a respective processing identifier and having a coordinate along the third axis corresponding to a particular module indicates whether that module is compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by that processing identifier;

accessing the table, using the particular identification information indicative of the particular version of the software program and the particular processing identifier, to locate a further version of the software program having modules wherein the processing capabilities needed for their proper execution are compatible with the processing capabilities indicated by the processing identifier; and

using at least one of the modules of the further version of the software program to partially modify the version of the software program and obtain the more suitable version of the software program.