EXECUTING APPLICATIONS IN PLACE FROM MEMORY

摘要

New utility and runtime functions are provided to a conventional operating system that supports virtual memory and multitasking. The new linker (78) is used to partially resolve unresolved references of a conventional "RAM based" application (62), such that in conjunction with the new runtime functions, the partially resolved application can be executed in place from a "write once/seldom" storage medium. The new installer (80) is used to install the partially resolved application onto a "write seldom" storage medium. The new memory management function (82) reserves a predetermined portion of the operating system's memory management data structure for "mapping" the physical address span(s) of an installed application into a logical address space, enabling the "mapped" application to be executed in place. The new loader (84) is used to pseudo-load and execute an XIP application. The new task management function (86) allows multitasking of XIP applications (64) and non-XIP applications (62) by the operating system (68).