Patent ID: 8522249

Claim:
A method managing memory usage by services on a device comprised of an embedded processor and a memory for storing program files and data to be executed and read by the processor, the method comprising: storing in the memory a manifest specifying a plurality of services available to users of the device, the manifest storing information identifying for each of the plurality of the services at least one application file for executing the service on the embedded processor; the information in the manifest further identifying for each of the plurality of service a class to which it is assigned and information for determining a maximum number of services for each class permitted to be loaded into the memory at a single time; upon receiving a request to load a service on the embedded device, determining using the information stored in the manifest, which of the plurality of classes the requested service belongs to and whether a maximum number of services for the class are loaded in the memory; and prior to loading into memory the application for the requested service, unloading from the memory an application for a previously loaded service in the class to which the requested service belongs in response to determining using the information stored in the manifest that the maximum number of services for the class are loaded in the memory.