Patent ID: 6212632
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In an embedded computer system including a processor coupled to a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, a method for efficiently managing the contents of the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory to reduce the amount of non-volatile memory required, the volatile and non-volatile memories for containing computer readable software which when executed by the computer system cause the computer system to implement the method, the method comprising the steps of:a) executing boot code at power-up of the embedded computer system, the boot code stored in the non-volatile memory;b) instantiating a function pointer table in the volatile memory, wherein the function pointer table includes a plurality of entries for a corresponding plurality of instantiated functions, wherein at least one entry is for operating system code stored in the non-volatile memory;c) decompressing a high-use function stored in the non-volatile memory;d) instantiating the high-use function in the volatile memory;e) updating the function pointer table using a patch manager to incorporate an entry for the high-use function;f) executing the operating system code from the non-volatile memory; andg) executing the high-use function from the volatile memory, thereby reducing an amount of non-volatile memory required by the embedded computer system while maintaining operating speed of the embedded computer system.