Patent ID: 6637023
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a computing system having an operating system, a random access memory and a read-only memory, a method for dynamically updating a software application at run-time that is stored in and executed from the read-only memory, utilizing one or more libraries stored in the random access memory at the time the software application is to be executed, and without having to replace the entire software application stored in the read-only memory, the method comprising:at run-time, when the software application is to be executed, identifying, by the operating system, all libraries that are required for execution of the software application; upon identifying all libraries required for execution, determining, by the operating system, that a new version of one or more of the required libraries has been installed on the computing system; before executing the software application and upon determining that the new version of the one or more required libraries has been installed onto the computing system, copying from the read-only memory into the random access memory only portions of the software application that references the one or more required libraries for which the new version has been installed; before executing the software application, modifying the copied portions of the software application, such that all references of the copied portions will to the new version of the one or more required libraries; and after modifying the copied portion of the software application, executing only the copied portions of the software application from the random access memory, and executing the uncopied portions of the software application from the random access memory.