Minimizing switchover time in a hot swappable program memory

摘要

A method for hot swapping program code includes defining a predetermined range of new code from which to execute; identifying from the new code one or more system components which require a reinitialization or reset; reinitializing or resetting the one or more system components; and executing the new code.

主权项

1. A method for hot swapping program code in a microcontroller comprising a central processing core comprising a stack and a heap, a program memory comprising a first and second region, a volatile data memory, a plurality of peripheral devices wherein each peripheral device is individually resettable, the method comprising:
executing a current program from the first region of the program memory; defining a predetermined range of new code in the second region of the program memory from which to execute; wherein the second region comprises information or instructions whether the stack pointer needs to be set up, whether the heap needs to be set up, whether parts of the volatile data memory need to be initialized, and which peripheral device from the plurality of peripheral devices requires a reinitialization or reset; wherein a switch-over to the new code performs the steps of:
if required setting up the stack pointer and heap,if required reinitializing said parts of the volatile data memory; andreinitializing or resetting one or more peripheral device of the plurality of peripheral device;and executing the new code.