METHOD AND COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR INCREASING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF A COMPUTER PROGRAM

Abstract: In a method for increasing the functionality of a computer program, use is made of a computer system comprising a user/terminal (1) which via driver modules (2-3) is connectible to a computer program (5). When the user/terminal requests execution of the computer program, the user/terminal is connected initially to a wrapper program (6) via an additional driver module (4). After data exchange between the wrapper program and the user/terminal, the computer program is started from the wrapper program. Finally, the wrapper program is disconnected, and the computer program is connected to the user/terminal.

Description: METHOD AND COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR INCREASING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF A COMPUTER PROGRAM The present invention relates to a method for in- creasing the functionality of a computer program, and a computer system for carrying out this method. The invention relates more specifically to a method for increasing the functionality of a computer program which in a computer system is requested to be executed by a user via a driver, the user being connected to a wrapper program via the driver when the user requests execution of the computer program, for data exhange between the user and the wrapper program. The invention is specifically directed to computer systems using a UNIX-type operative system. In such a system, the drivers are divided into different levels or modularised. An example of increased functionality is improved security in respect of unauthorised utilisation of the computer system. According to the invention, an increased functionali¬ ty is achieved by the method being characterised by the steps of effecting a supplementary driver, starting the computer program by means of the wrapper program via the supplementary driver, partially executing the computer program by means of the wrapper program on the basis at least partly of data supplied to the wrapper program during the data exchange with the user, and subsequently initiating disconnection of the wrapper program from and connection of the user to the computer program, by means of the wrapper program via the supplementary driver. A computer system for carrying out this method com¬ prises a user, a computer program and driver modules via which the user is connectible to the computer program, and is characterised in that an additional driver module is arranged adjacent the computer program, that a wrapper program is arranged to be connected, by means of the addi- tional driver module, to the user when the user requests execution of the computer program, and that the additional driver module is adapted to connect, after connection of the wrapper program and data exchange with the user, the computer program to the wrapper program for start and par¬ tial execution of the computer program, and subsequently to disconnect the wrapper program and to connect the user to the computer program. Thus, the computer program is started and executed to a desired step from the wrapper program on the basis at least partly of data supplied to the wrapper program from the user. The supplementing of the driver which the additional driver module constitutes preferably comprises a switching function in the driver part adjacent the computer program and the wrapper program. This switching function implies that the computer program, during start and execution thereof up to the desired step, is connected to the wrap¬ per program only, which then emulates the user. The disconnection of the wrapper program is suitably carried out by the supplementing driver, requested from the wrapper program, and the connection of the computer program to the user is then effected with such a delay as to avoid any loss of data. The invention has been developed on the basis of a computer system operating with the operative system UNIX, and the invention is especially applicable to such a system. For example, the wrapper program and the computer program may be log-on programs, and the wrapper program may have extended security functions in relation to the computer program. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a part which is included in a computer system having the operative system SVR4 UNIX, and which is of immediate interest to the invention. Figs 2a-c illu- strate the mode of operation of the subsystem in three steps. The subsystem of a computer system, as shown in Fig. 1, comprises on the user level a terminal 1 or the like, on the driver level a plurality of driver modules 2, 3 and 4, and on the operative system and program level an original program 5 and a wrapper program 6. Except for the driver module 4 and the wrapper program 6, this is a con¬ ventional UNIX environment in the operative system SVR4. The mode of operation of the computer system in Fig. 1 is illustrated in Figs 2a-c. When a user directly or indirectly requests, via the terminal 1, execution of the original program 5, the driver module 4 which constitutes a switching module con- trolled by an input-output control function (IOCTL) will, as shown in Fig. 2a, connect the terminal to the wrapper program 6, which implements an increased functionality, e.g. extended security functions in respect of access to the computer system in relation to the security functions which are to be found in the original program 5. During data exchange with the user/terminal 1, the wrapper program 6 now performs the particular increased functions, and when these have been performed in a satis¬ factory manner, the wrapper program 6 requests the switch- ing module 4 to connect the wrapper program 6 to the ori¬ ginal program 5, as illustrated in Fig. 2b. Subsequently, the wrapper program 6 emulates the user/terminal 1 and accomplishes start of the original program 5. The wrapper program 6 continues the execution of the original program 5 to a predetermined step thereof, for example while uti¬ lising data which the wrapper program 6 has initially received from the user/terminal 1. When the wrapper program 6 has reached the desired step in the original program 5, it should transfer the execution of the original program 5. This takes place by the wrapper program 6 requesting the switching module 4 to establish a signal path between the original program 5 and the user/terminal 1, as illustrated in Fig. 2c. It is essential that no data are lost in the switching, which can be achieved by delaying the switching sufficiently to make it possible for the original program 5 to safely receive the last message from the wrapper program 6, but not longer than to allow the next message from the origi¬ nal program 5 to the user to be connected to the terminal 1. The wrapper program 6 can now remove the driver module 4 and then terminate itself. The execution of the original program now continues as if the driver module 4 and the wrapper program 6 did not exist. When the execution of the original program 5 is com¬ pleted, the return to the starting position takes place, as illustrated in Fig. 2a. It will be appreciated that the present invention makes it possible to achieve a modification of the beha¬ viour of the original program, i.e. an increased func¬ tionality, by means of the switching module 4 and the wrapper program 6, without access to the source code of the original program 5, which is of essential importance. Of course, the invention also results in a consider¬ able simplification in case the original program 5 is changed. It may be necessary to change the wrapper pro¬ gram 6, but these changes do not necessarily affect the user/terminal 1. The invention thus permits data exchange between two non-related processes via normal file descrip¬ tors which suitably are common to the original program 5 and the wrapper program 6. The increased functionality resulting from the inven- tion is highly valuable for example in case the original program 5 and the wrapper program 6 are log-on programs, since the wrapper program 6 may then introduce essentially extended security functions, without the security func¬ tions included in the original program 5 having to be affected or changed. For example, after the data exchange with the wrapper program, the user cannot affect the par- tial execution of the computer program, which is carried out by the wrapper program. The embodiment described above may be modified with¬ in the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method for increasing the functionality of a computer program which in a a computer system is reqest- ed to be executed by a user via a driver, the user being connected to a wrapper program via the driver, when the user requests execution of the computer program, for data exchange between the user and the wrapper program, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by the steps of effecting a supplementary driver, starting the computer program by means of the wrapper program via the supplementary driver, partially executing the computer program by means of the wrapper program on the basis at least partly of data supplied to the wrapper program during the data exchange with the user, and subsequently initiating, by means of the wrapper pro¬ gram via the supplementary driver, disconnection of the wrapper program from and connection of the user to the computer program. 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i s e d in that the computer program, during start and partial execution thereof, is connected to the wrapper program only. 3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d in that the driver, as a supplement, is supplied with a switching function in its part adjacent the computer program and the wrapper program. 4. Method as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the disconnection of the wrapper program is carried out by the supplementing driver, requested from the wrapper program, and that the connection of the computer program to the user is then effected with such a delay as to avoid any loss of data. 5. Computer system comprising a user (1), a computer program (5) and driver modules (2-3) via which the user is connectible to the computer system, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i s e d in that an additional driver module (4) is arranged adjacent the computer program (5), that a wrapper program (6) is arranged to be connect¬ ed, by means of the additional driver module, to the user (1), when the user requests execution of the computer pro- gram, and that the additional driver module is adapted to con¬ nect, after connection of the wrapper program and data exchange with the user, the computer program to the wrap¬ per program for start and partial execution of the com- puter program, and subsequently to disconnect the wrapper program and to connect the user to the computer program. 6. Computer system as claimed in claim 5, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that it is a UNIX-based system. . 7. Computer system as claimed in claim 5 or 6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the wrapper program (6) and the computer program (5) are log-on programs, and that the wrapper program has extended security functions in relation to the computer program. 8. Computer system as claimed in any one of claims 5-7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the wrapper pro¬ gram (6) and the computer program (5) have the same file descriptors.

Inventors: ALFREDSSON CHRISTER, ALFREDSSON, CHRISTER
Applicants: ICL SYSTEMS AB
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G06F9
IPC codes: G06F9