Methods and apparatus for dynamic linking program overlay
AssigneeSony Computer Entertainment Inc.
InventorMasakazu Suzuoki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus provide for loading at least one software program module from a storage medium into a local memory of a processor for execution, the storage medium containing a main module and a plurality of sub-modules of the software program; and updating an address table, copies of the address table being located in at least one of the storage medium and the local memory, and the address table having at least one entry for each of the modules, each entry including at least one of: (i) a destination address representing an address within the local memory of a processor at which the corresponding module is disposed, and (ii) a source address representing an address within the storage medium at which the corresponding module originates.
Claims27
A method, comprising:
- loading at least one software program module from a storage medium into a local memory of a processor, the storage medium containing a main module and a plurality of sub-modules of the software program;
- updating an address table, copies of the address table being located in at least one of the storage medium and the local memory, and the address table having at least one entry for each of the modules, each entry including at least one of:
- (i) a destination address representing an address within the local memory of a processor at which the corresponding module is disposed, and (ii) a source address representing an address within the storage medium at which the corresponding module originates, wherein the destination address of the address table is updated to represent an address within the local memory to which the corresponding module is copied;
- calling a second software program module from a first software program module, at least the first software program module being within the local memory of the processor;
- and
- calling by value the second software program module within a local memory of a further processor from the first software program module, wherein the local memory of the further processor includes an address table having at least one entry for each of the modules, each entry including at least one of:
- (i) a destination address representing an address within the corresponding local memory at which the corresponding module is disposed, and (ii) a source address representing an address within the storage medium at which the corresponding module originates.
An apparatus, comprising:
- at least one processor capable of operative communication with a main memory;
- and
- a local memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operable to:
- load at least one software program module from the main memory into the local memory, the main memory containing a main module and a plurality of sub-modules of the software program;
- and
- update an address table, copies of the address table being located in at least one of the main memory and the local memory, and the address table having at least one entry for each of the modules, each entry including at least one of:
- (i) a destination address representing an address within the local memory of a processor at which the corresponding module is disposed, and (ii) a source address representing an address within the storage medium at which the corresponding module originates,
- wherein:
- the at least one module is a main module stored in a local memory of a first processor, which is operable to:
- (i) execute the main module to cause a sub-module to be loaded from the main memory into a local memory of a second processor;
- and (ii) update the address table in each of the local memories by changing the destination address of the sub-module to represent an address within the local memory of the second processor at which the sub-module is disposed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.