Method and apparatus for patching

A method for patching an application running on a computer system having a processor, comprising:

• in response to that there is a need to patch a first content mapped to a currently running process, and the first content has been loaded in a first physical memory space of a memory, obtaining, by the processor, a second physical memory space different from the first physical memory space;
• obtaining, by the processor, a client memory page from virtual memory pages allocated to the currently running process;
• mapping, by the processor, the client memory page to the second physical memory space;
• patching, by the processor, the first content with a patch to produce a new content;
• loading, by the processor, the new content into the second physical memory space different from the physical memory space;
• distinguishing, by the processor, between the new content and the first content by modifying a mapping between a plurality of content and a plurality of processes, wherein:
• the mapping indicates the first content is mapped to the currently running process;
• the mapping indicates the first content mapped to a new process that has yet to start;
• the modifying comprises remapping the new process to the new content such that the first content is no longer mapped to the new process;
• and
• the first content remains mapped to the currently running process;
• running, by the processor, the new process using the new content loaded at the second physical memory space instead of the first content loaded at the first physical memory space;
• and
• sending, by the processor, the second physical memory space to a patch agency of another process to notify the patch agency that the new content, which is the patched first content, is loaded in the second physical memory space.