Method and device for creating and using pre-internalized program files

• US 7,080,373 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: North Star Innovations Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Plaxton, Iris M., Rauch, Samuel J., Osman, John H., Bjorksten, Andrew A., Bennett, Jason M.
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Meng-Al T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US09/800,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20020129078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: 718/1, 718100-108, 711/6, 711/203, 345/568
• US Class Current: 718/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44557 Code layout in executable memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45504 Abstract machines for programme code execution, e.g. Java virtual machine [JVM], interpreters, emulators

Abstract

A device (45) receives new program files (46) and uses pre-internalized images to avoid having to internalize a program file every time that program execution occurs. In one embodiment, a software Virtual Machine (50) in the device functions to implement the pre-internalization. Once the program files are pre-internalized to create images that are stored in a permanent memory (56) of the device, the images may subsequently be executed without having to perform a pre-internalization operation. Additionally, use of dynamic memory (52) is reduced in connection with subsequent program execution and execution time of new program files is reduced.

Claims

1. A process for operating a virtual machine having a normal mode of operation and a pre-internalization mode of operation, comprising:

selecting a program file from a set of available program files to identify a selected program file;

determining whether a reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file has been created, wherein the reusable pre-internalized image is capable of being executed without any further internalization of the selected program file prior to execution by any subsequent invocation of the virtual machine;

if a reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file has not been created, selectively operating the virtual machine in the pre-internalization mode, comprising;

creating the reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file; and

storing the reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file into a permanent memory, thereby avoiding subsequent internalization of the selected program file for all subsequent program executions;

and wherein the virtual machine executes within a first device and the process further comprises;

if the reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file is available within the first device, executing the reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file without internalizing the reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file prior to execution, and if the reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file is available within a second device, separate from the first device, entering the pre-internalization mode, copying the reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file from the second device to the first device, and updating memory addresses within the reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising:

if a reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file has not been created, selectively operating the virtual machine in the pre-internalization mode is performed in response to a user request.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein if the reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file has not been created, automatically operating the virtual machine in the pre-internalization mode.

4. The process of claim 1 further comprising:

executing the virtual machine within a first device; and

if the reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file is available within the first device, selectively entering the pre-internalization mode and removing the reusable pre-internalized image of the selected program file.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein selectively entering the pre-internalization mode is performed in response to a user request.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the first device is a portable device.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the portable device is selected from a group comprising a telephone, pager, internet appliance, personal digital assistant (PDA), camcorder, portable television, and camera.

8. A device capable of executing a virtual machine having a pre-internalization mode of operation, comprising:

a processor for executing instructions;

a permanent memory coupled to the processor for providing instructions and data to the processor, the permanent memory comprising the virtual machine, the virtual machine comprising;

a first set of one or more instructions, the first set of one or more instructions when executed determining whether a pre-internalized image of a selected program file has been created, wherein the pre-internalized image of the selected program file is capable of being executed without any further internalization of the selected program file prior to execution by any subsequent invocation of the virtual machine;

a second set of one or more instructions, the second set of one or more instructions when executed by the processor operating the virtual machine in the pre-internalization mode, wherein the second set of one or more instructions is executed if the pre-internalized image of the selected program file has not been created;

a third set of one or more instructions, the third set of one or more instructions when executed by the processor creating the pre-internalized image of the selected program file, wherein the third set of one or more instructions corresponds to the pre-internalization mode of operation; and

a fourth set of one or more instructions, the fourth set of one or more instructions when executed by the processor storing the pre-internalized image of the selected program file into the permanent memory, wherein the fourth set of one or more instructions correspond to the pre-internalization mode of operation.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the virtual machine further comprises:

a fifth set of one or more instructions, the fifth set of one or more instructions when executed by the processor processing a user request, wherein in response to the user request, the virtual machine operates in pre-internalization mode.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the virtual machine further comprises:

a fifth set of one or more instructions, the fifth set of one or more instructions when executed by the processor transferring the pre-internalized image of the selected program file from a second permanent memory; and

a sixth set of one or more instructions, the sixth set of one or more instructions when executed by the processor updating memory addresses within the pre-internalized image of the selected program file, wherein execution of the fifth set of one or more instructions and the sixth set of one or more instructions corresponds to the pre-internalization mode of operation.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising:

a sixth set of one or more instructions, the sixth set of one or more instructions when executed by the processor updating memory addresses within the pre-internalized image of the selected program file, wherein execution of the fifth set of one or more instructions and the sixth set of one or more instructions corresponds to the pre-internalization mode of operation.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the virtual machine further comprises:

a fifth set of one or more instructions, the fifth set of one or more instructions when executed by the processor removing the pre-internalized image of the selected program file from the permanent memory.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the virtual machine further comprises:

a sixth set of one or more instructions, the sixth set of one or more instructions when executed by the processor processing a user request, wherein removing the pre-internalized image of the selected program file from the permanent memory is performed in response to the user request.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is a portable device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the portable device is selected from a group comprising a telephone, pager, internet appliance, personal digital assistant (PDA), camcorder, portable television, and camera.