Patent Abstract:
A device driver to download code segments to a processor is provided. The device driver includes a code file including a plurality of code segments having corresponding segment code addresses. A jump table maps each of the segment code addresses to segment identifiers that correspond to the code segment. A loader, in response to a segment request including a segment label, queries the jump table for a segment code address corresponding to the segment identifier. The loader sends a code segment corresponding to the segment label to the processor.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to device drivers for computer systems, and more particularly to device drivers for downloading operating code to a processor.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Computer systems typically include one or more device drivers to allow the operating system of the host system to support certain hardware devices such as a modem, network interface card, printer, and many others. The hardware device may include a processor and local memory to implement the device functions. The device driver may include code that communicates directly to the hardware device and its local memory, to control the operation of the hardware device processor. To reduce the cost of the hardware device, the amount of local memory in a device is typically minimized. However, the amount of local memory generally cannot be reduced to less than what is required for storing the downloaded instructions from the device driver. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the quantity of downloaded instructions that are stored in the local memory of a hardware device.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0003]    [0003]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a driver coupled to a DSP.  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 2 is a diagram of a jump table.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a device driver download to a processor. 
     
    
       [0006]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 shows a device driver  10  for downloading multi-segment code to a digital signal processor (DSP)  12  upon request. The DSP  12  includes a limited amount of local memory  13  in which downloaded code segments may be stored. The device driver  10  includes a code file  14  that is loaded into host memory. The code file  14  contains firmware code  16  for controlling the DSP  12 . The firmware code  16  includes separate code segments  22  with corresponding segment code addresses  24  that may be used to locate the code segments  22  in memory. Each of the code segments  22  may include one or more instruction codes for controlling the operation of the DSP  12  during different operating modes. For example, when the DSP  12  is switched from a sensing mode of operation to an outputting mode, a code segment  22  that includes the operating instructions for the outputting mode may be requested by the DSP  12  from the driver  10 . By switching in code segments only when needed, the DSP  12  minimizes the quantity of local memory  13  that is required, thereby reducing the cost of the interface assembly.  
         [0008]    The code file  14  may also include a description  18  of the firmware code  16  as well as build information  20 . The code description  18  is in human readable format to enhance understanding of the operation of the firmware code  16 . The build information  20  is also human readable to improve maintenance and upgradability of the code file  14 .  
         [0009]    A jump table  26  maps segment labels to the address locations of the code segments  22  through a mechanism such as an array of memory pointers. The segment labels may be any combination of characters such as a numeric or alpha-numeric. Each segment label identifies an absolute address corresponding to a code segment  22 . By mapping segment labels to the absolute address of the code segments  22 , the DSP  12  can request a code segment  22  without knowledge of the absolute address at which the code segment  22  is located. The address location of a code segment  22  may be described by the starting address of the code segment  22 , the ending address of the code segment  22  in combination with the segment size, and all other means of identifying the absolute address of the code segment  22 .  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 shows the formation of the jump table  26 . Initially, the jump table  26   a  is created with segment labels  28  that are mapped to the relative addresses  30  of the code segments  22 . Each of the code segment relative addresses  30  describes the location of a code segment  22  in relation to the other code segments  22 . When the absolute addresses  32  of the code segments  22  are determined, the relative addresses  30  may be fixed-up to reflect the absolute addresses  32  for the code segments  22 . The absolute addresses  32  may be determined once a location in memory has been allocated for the code file  14 , or after the code file  14  is loaded into memory by using a conversion factor. For example, if the code file  14  is sequentially loaded into memory, the address offset of the code file  14  in memory may be used as the conversion factor for fixing-up the relative addresses. The offset may be used as a constant by which each of the relative addresses  30  is incremented so that the jump table  26   b  includes the absolute addresses  32  of the code segments  22 . By overwriting the relative addresses  30  with the absolute addresses  32 , the computation speed of the driver  10  is increased and the amount of memory used is reduced. Instead of overwriting the relative addresses  30 , the offset may be stored and then used in combination with the relative addresses  30  to compute the absolute addresses  32  when a code segment  22  is downloaded. Also, the relative addresses  30  may be retained in addition to the absolute addresses  32 .  
         [0011]    A loader  34  loads the code file  14  and jump table  26  into memory. The loader  34  may also receive and respond to download requests from the DSP  12  for code segments  22 . The download requests identify the requested code segment  22  by a corresponding segment label  28 . In response, the loader  34  locates the requested code segment  22 , and then sends the code segment  22  to the DSP  12 .  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 shows a process for downloading a code segment  22  to the DSP  12 . Beginning at state  40 , the driver  10  is loaded into the memory of a host computer system. A form of bootstrapping operation may be used to load the device driver  10  into memory. First, the loader  34  is loaded into memory. Then, the loader  34  loads the code file  14  and jump table  26  into the host memory. The loader  34  also supports dynamic download of a revised code file  14 . For example, if the code file  14  and jump table  26  have been previously loaded into host memory, the loader  34  may load a revised code file  14  and jump table  26  into host memory so that a dynamic download to the DSP  12  may be performed without resetting the host computer. Continuing on to state  42 , the loader  34  determines the memory location of the loaded code file  14 . At state  44 , the conversion factor is determined for generating absolute addresses  32  corresponding to the relative addresses  30  in the jump table  26 . The conversion factor is used to fix-up the relative addresses  30  in the jump table  26  so that absolute address references  32  are created.  
         [0013]    Continuing on to states  46  to  50 , a dynamic download operating phase of the driver  10  is shown. Once the driver  10  is loaded into the host system memory (not shown), the driver is ready to download code segments  22  to the DSP  12 . At state  46 , a download request from the DSP  12  is received. The download request identifies a requested code segment  22  by a corresponding segment label  28 . Continuing on to state  48 , the jump table  26   b  is queried to determine the segment code address  32  of the identified code segment  22 . At state  50 , the code segment  22  is then downloaded from the referenced location in the host memory to the DSP  12 .  
         [0014]    A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6