Patent ID: 6684394
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of preparing an executable program from a plurality of object code modules, each module containing sets of section data and relocation instructions containing operations for combining section data, wherein the relocation instructions have an instruction format (.relo) including a classification field (r class) holding a relocation class indicator (RT_BIT) and a set of relocation fields holding relocation data, said instruction format being common to first and second classes of relocations, the meaning of said relocation data depending on the class indicator and whereby the relocation fields in the second class of relocation include a type field (reltype) denoting the type of relocation instruction and at least one sub-type field (s1,s2) for holding a value the meaning of which depends on the contents of the type field, the method comprising:reading the section data and relocation instructions; determining from the relocation class indicator the class of relocation instruction; and executing relocation operations on the section data based on said relocation data depending on the class of relocation instruction indicated by the relocation class indicator.