Techniques for permitting access across a context barrier on a small footprint device using an entry point object

A method of operating a small footprint device that includes a processing machine, wherein program modules are executed on the processing machine, the method comprising:

• separating contexts, on said small footprint device, using a context barrier, said context barrier configured for controlling execution of at least one instruction of one of zero or more sets of instructions comprised by a program module based at least in part on whether said at least one instruction is executed for an object instance associated with a first one of said separate contexts and whether said at least one instruction is requesting access to an instance of an object definition associated with a second one of said separate contexts, wherein said separate contexts and said context barrier are included in a runtime environment on said small footprint device and further wherein said runtime environment includes an operating system where said separate contexts and said context barrier are removed from and over said operating system,
• said separating further comprising:
• preventing said access if said access is unauthorized;
• and
• enabling said access if said access is authorized;
• executing groups of one or more program modules in separate contexts, said one or more program modules comprising zero or more sets of executable instructions and zero or more sets of data definitions, said zero or more sets of executable instructions and said zero or more data definitions grouped as object definitions, each context comprising a protected object instance space such that at least one of said object definitions is instantiated in association with a particular context;
• and
• permitting direct access to information from one program module, in one of said separate contexts, by another program module, in another of said separate contexts, across said context barrier using an entry point object wherein said entry point object is in said runtime environment and is removed from and over said operating system.

A method of permitting access to information on a small footprint device from a first program module to a second program module separated by a context barrier, said small footprint device comprising:

• at least one processing element, on the small footprint device, configured to execute groups of one or more program modules in separate contexts, said one or more program modules comprising zero or more sets of executable instructions and zero or more sets of data definitions, said zero or more sets of executable instructions and said zero or more data definitions grouped as object definitions, each context comprising a protected object instance space such that at least one of said object definitions is instantiated in association with a particular context wherein said separate contexts are included in a runtime environment on the small footprint device and further wherein said runtime environment includes an operating system where said separate contexts are removed from and over said operating system;
• a memory, on said small footprint device, comprising instances of objects;
• and
• a context barrier, in said runtime environment and removed from and over said operating system, for separating and isolating said contexts, said context barrier configured for controlling execution of at least one instruction of one of said zero or more sets of instructions comprised by a program module based at least in part on whether said at least one instruction is executed for an object instance associated with a first one of said separate contexts and whether said at least one instruction is requesting access to an instance of an object definition associated with a second one of said separate contexts, said context barrier further configured to prevent said access if said access is unauthorized and enable said access if said access is authorized, the method comprising:
• creating an entry point object, in said runtime environment and removed from and over said operating system, which may be accessed by at least two program modules;
• and
• using said entry point object to permit direct access to information from one program module of said at least two program modules, in one of said separate contexts, by an other program module of said at least two program modules, in another of said separate contexts, across said context barrier.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a memory storage medium;
• and
• a computer controlling element comprising instructions for implementing a context barrier on a small footprint device and for bypassing said context barrier using an entry point object to permit direct access to information from one program module, in one context, by another program module, in a different separate context, wherein said context barrier and said entry point object are included in a runtime environment on the small footprint device and further wherein said runtime environment includes an operating system where said context barrier and said entry point are removed from and over said operating system, said small footprint device comprising:
• at least one processing element, on said small footprint device, configured to execute groups of one or more program modules in separate contexts, said one or more program modules comprising zero or more sets of executable instructions and zero or more sets of data definitions, said zero or more sets of executable instructions and said zero or more data definitions grouped as object definitions, each context comprising a protected object instance space such that at least one of said object definitions is instantiated in association with a particular context where said separate contexts are included in said runtime environment and are removed from and over said operating system;
• a memory, on the small footprint device, comprising instances of objects;
• and
• a context barrier for separating and isolating said contexts, said context barrier configured for controlling execution of at least one instruction of one of said zero or more sets of instructions comprised by a program module based at least in part on whether said at least one instruction is executed for an object instance associated with a first one of said separate contexts and whether said at least one instruction is requesting access to an instance of an object definition associated with a second one of said separate contexts, said context barrier further configured to prevent said access if said access is unauthorized and enable said access if said access is authorized.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a memory storage medium;
• and
• a computer controlling element comprising instructions for separating a plurality of programs on a small footprint device by running them in respective contexts and for permitting one program to access information from another program by bypassing a context barrier using an entry point object to permit direct access to information from one program, in one context, by another program in a different separate context, wherein said context barrier and said entry point object are included in a runtime environment on the small footprint device and further wherein said runtime environment includes an operating system where said context barrier and said entry point are removed from and over said operating system, said small footprint device comprising:
• at least one processing element, on said small footprint device, configured to execute groups of one or more program modules in separate contexts, said one or more program modules comprising zero or more sets of executable instructions and zero or more sets of data definitions, said zero or more sets of executable instructions and said zero or more data definitions grouped as object definitions, each context comprising a protected object instance space such that at least one of said object definitions is instantiated in association with a particular context where said separate contexts are included in said runtime environment and are removed from and over said operating system;
• a memory, on the small footprint device, comprising instances of objects;
• and
• a context barrier for separating and isolating said contexts, said context barrier configured for controlling execution of at least one instruction of one of said zero or more sets of instructions comprised by a program module based at least in part on whether said at least one instruction is executed for an object instance associated with a first one of said separate contexts and whether said at least one instruction is requesting access to an instance of an object definition associated with a second one of said separate contexts, said context barrier further configured to prevent said access if said access is unauthorized and enable said access if said access is authorized.

A method of transmitting code over a network, comprising transmitting a block of code from a server, said block of code comprising instructions for implementing an entry point object for bypassing a context barrier on a small footprint device over a communications link, wherein said context barrier and said entry point object are included in a runtime environment and further wherein said runtime environment includes an operating system where said context barrier and said entry point are removed from and over said operating system and further wherein said entry point object permits direct access to information from one program module, in one context, by another program module in another different context, said small footprint device comprising:

• at least one processing element, on the small footprint device, configured to execute groups of one or more program modules in separate contexts, said one or more program modules comprising zero or more sets of executable instructions and zero or more sets of data definitions, said zero or more sets of executable instructions and said zero or more data definitions grouped as object definitions, each context comprising a protected object instance space such that at least one of said object definitions is instantiated in association with a particular context where said separate contexts are included in said runtime environment, on the small footprint device, and are removed from and over said operating system;
• a memory, on the small footprint device, comprising instances of objects;
• and
• a context barrier for separating and isolating said contexts, said context barrier configured for controlling execution of at least one instruction of one of said zero or more sets of instructions comprised by a program module based at least in part on whether said at least one instruction is executed for an object instance associated with a first one of said separate contexts and whether said at least one instruction is requesting access to an instance of an object definition associated with a second one of said separate contexts, said context barrier further configured to prevent said access if said access is unauthorized and enable said access if said access is authorized.