Java application manager for embedded device

An application manager which manages one or more applications in an embedded device, said embedded device comprising an application cache for storing class objects, an interface for communicating with a remote client, and a hardware independent processor which processes code written in a hardware independent language, said hardware independent processor installed and running on said embedded device and capable of downloading and executing code written in said hardware independent language on said embedded device, said application manager comprising:

• a class object list having one or more class object entries each of which identifies a class object currently loaded in said embedded device;
• an instance list having one or more instance entries each of which identifies an instance of a corresponding one of said class objects currently loaded in said embedded device;
• a class loader method which loads an application class received from said client via said interface, creates a new class object for said application class, stores said new class object in said application cache, adds a class object entry to said class object list identifying said new class object as being loaded in said application cache, instantiates one or more instances of said new class object, and adds an instance entry to said instance list identifying each of said instantiated one or more instances of said new class object.