EP0336552A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Identifying program units in an operating environment in a computer
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1989-02-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-02-27
Abstract
Abstract In a computer operating system environment, program units are identified. Applications execute multiple loadable program units. The operating system permits the applications to externally reference to segments not included in the application's executable code through dynamic linking. These external references are application program interface calls to special program dynamic link libraries, DLLs, which contain run-time API function code. External references of subsequent applications referencing the same function are resolved to the same selector and offset. Only one copy of application program interface code is thereby required for a plurality of applications. Each DLL has a dynamic link identifier function, DLIF, as an entry point within the DLL. The DLIF allows programs to be written calling routines which provide selectors for each DLL in the respective program. A program provides display of all DLLs by name with respective selectors. Another program takes a selector reported to the system kernel upon abnormal application termination and returns the DLL identification including the number of the selector within the DLL. An application program interface to the system kernel thereby identifies code selectors for a given DLL file or, alternatively, identifies a DLL file given a code selector.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Randall Horn
- 👤 Cheng-Fong Shih
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:09
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D62/00; H10D62/80; H10D62/85; H10D62/852; G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/445; G06F9/44521
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of operating a computer, within an operating environment wherein an application executes as multiple loadable program units, for identifying one of said program units, comprising the steps of: generating at least one dynamic link library; generating a plurality of code selectors; generating a first code module in said at least one of said dynamic link libraries related to said plurality of code selectors; deriving a first function corresponding to said dynamic link libraries and said plurality of code selectors; and generating an indication corresponding to said first function.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of operating a computer, within an operating environment wherein an application executes as multiple loadable program units, for identifying one of said program units, comprising the steps of: generating at least one dynamic link library; generating a plurality of code selectors; generating a first code module in said at least one of said dynamic link libraries related to said plurality of code selectors; deriving a first function corresponding to said dynamic link libraries and said plurality of code selectors; and generating an indication corresponding to said first function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: preselecting said dynamic link library; wherein said first function relates one of said code selectors to a given said preselected one of said dynamic links.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising the step of: preselecting one of said code selectors; wherein said first function further relates one of said dynamic link libraries to a given said preselected one of said code selectors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 2 or claim 3 further comprising the steps of: detecting a first of said code selectors of one of said dynamic link libraries; and detecting the number of said code selectors in said one of said dynamic link libraries.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said step of detecting said first code selector further comprises the steps of: deriving a second function; and generating a first pointer to said second function; wherein said detecting said first of said code selectors is in response to said first pointer to said second function.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein said second function is in said first code module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of: generating a third function for determining a last of said code selectors corresponding to said preselected one of said dynamic link libraries; and calling said third function to determine said last of said code selectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said third function is an assembler language function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said step of detecting the number of said code selectors in said one of said dynamic link libraries comprises functionally comparing said detected first of said code selectors and said last of said code selectors determined from said assembler language third function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 9 further including the step of generating a second pointer for returning said first selector and said detected number of code selectors to a caller of said first function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein said pointer is comprised of a selector portion functionally related to said first code selector of said dynamic link library, and an offset portion functionally related to said detected number of code selectors in said dynamic link library.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said selector portion comprises said first code selector of said dynamic link library, and said offset portion comprises said detected number of code selectors in said dynamic link library.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said first function returning said second pointer is a dynamic link identifier function (DLIF).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein said code selectors are identified by said DLIF.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 14 further including generating a linking process function for ordering said code selectors of said DLIF and said assembly language third function.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein said linking process function comprises the steps of: defining a link list for said dynamic link library; defining a first module including said DLIF function; associating said module with a first location in said link list; defining a link for said dynamic link library; defining a plurality of libraries included in said link; and introducing a second module including said assembly language third function into one of said libraries.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer system including an operating system wherein an application executes as multiple loadable program units, means for identifying one of said program units comprising means for generating at least one dynamic link library, means for generating a plurality of code selectors, means for generating a first code module in said at least one of said dynamic link libraries related to said plurality of code selectors, means for deriving a first function corresponding to said dynamic link libraries and said plurality of code selectors, and means for generating an indication corresponding to said first function.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer system including an operating system wherein an application executes as multiple loadable program units, means for identifying one of said program units comprising means for generating at least one dynamic link library, means for generating a plurality of code selectors, means for generating a first code module in said at least one of said dynamic link libraries related to said plurality of code selectors, means for deriving a first function corresponding to said dynamic link libraries and said plurality of code selectors, and means for generating an indication corresponding to said first function.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 16 further comprising means for preselecting one of said dynamic link libraries, and wherein said first function relates one of said code selectors to a given said preselected one of said dynamic links.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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