US 6,637,023 B1Granted

Method and system for updating read-only software modules

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorMichael Ginsberg

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Abstract

A method and system are described for updating software modules bundled in a read-only device of a computer. According to the invention, when a software module is to be executed from the read-only device, the operating system identifies any other software modules stored within the read-only device on which the application depends. After identifying all of the dependencies, the operating determines whether a newer version of any of the identified software modules has been installed on the computer. The operating system copies into a read/write device a portion of the software module that references the old software modules. After copying the portion, the operating system modifies all references to point to the new versions of the software module. The invention allows software modules to be primarily executed from the read-only device with only a small updated portion being executed from a read/write device.

Claims19

Dependent claims

In a computing system having an operating system, a random access memory and a read-only memory, a method for dynamically updating a software application at run-time that is stored in and executed from the read-only memory, utilizing one or more libraries stored in the random access memory at the time the software application is to be executed, and without having to replace the entire software application stored in the read-only memory, the method comprising:

at run-time, when the software application is to be executed, identifying, by the operating system, all libraries that are required for execution of the software application;
upon identifying all libraries required for execution, determining, by the operating system, that a new version of one or more of the required libraries has been installed on the computing system;
before executing the software application and upon determining that the new version of the one or more required libraries has been installed onto the computing system, copying from the read-only memory into the random access memory only portions of the software application that references the one or more required libraries for which the new version has been installed;
before executing the software application, modifying the copied portions of the software application, such that all references of the copied portions will to the new version of the one or more required libraries;
and
after modifying the copied portion of the software application, executing only the copied portions of the software application from the random access memory, and executing the uncopied portions of the software application from the random access memory.

3 more elements

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to cause a computing system having an operating system, a random access memory and a read-only memory on which a software application and one more libraries are stored, to perform a method for dynamically updating the software application at run-time, utilizing one or more libraries stored in the random access memory at the time the software application is to be executed, and without having to replace the entire software application stored in the read-only memory, the method comprising:

at run-time, when the software application is to be executed, identifying, by the operating system, all libraries required for execution of the software application;
upon identifying all libraries required for execution, determining, by the operating system, that a new version of one or more libraries has been installed onto the computing system;
before executing the software application and upon determining that the new version of the particular library has been installed, copying from the read-only memory into the random access memory only portions of the software application that references the one or more required libraries for which the new version has been installed;
before executing the software application, modifying the copied portions of the software application, such that all references of the copied portions will point to each corresponding new version of the one or more required libraries;
and
after modifying the copied portions of the software application, executing only the copied portions of the software application from the random access memory, and executing the uncopied portions of the software application from the read-only memory.

3 more elements

A computing system comprising:

a read-only memory on which a software application and libraries are stored;
a random access memory;
and
an operating system that is capable of:
at run-time, when the software application is to be executed, identifying all of the libraries required for execution of the software application;
upon identifying all of the required libraries and before executing the software application, determining that a new version of one or more of the required libraries has been installed onto the computing system;
before executing the software application and upon determining that the new version of one or more of the required libraries has installed, copying from the read-only memory into the random access memory only those portions of the software application that references the one or more required libraries for which the new version has been installed;
before executing the software application, modifying the copied portions of the software application, such that all references of the copied portions will point to each corresponding new version of the one or more required libraries;
and
after modifying the copied portion of the software application, executing only the copied portions of the software application from the random access memory, and executing the uncopied portions of the software application from the read-only memory.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.