EP0738966A2
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EP
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Customizing application software in software controlled machines
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-04-18
Abstract
Abstract A method of customizing application software in an inserting system (10) includes the steps of providing a system baseline program (50) for operating the inserting system (10) in a standard baseline mode, and providing a dynamic link library (DLL) (52) including a table of features to be included in the inserting system and an application routine corresponding to each of the features. A call table (51) in the system baseline program is linked with an address for each feature corresponding to the location of the application program for the feature. The DLL (52) is customized based on information received from the baseline program. Each of the features is called when indicated in the system baseline program (50) and information is provided to each DLL application program corresponding to the feature. The information is modified to make the system baseline program (50) execute a different set of logic corresponding to the customization of the machine. A sub-dynamic link library (sub-DLL) (60) may be provided for further customization. The sub-DLL (60) includes a table (64) of sub-features to be included in the inserting system (10) and an application sub-routine corresponding to each of the sub-features. The sub-DLL is similarly integrated with the DLL and called by the DLL routines.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr. Edward P. Daniels
- 👤 Clare E. Woodman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/70; G06F8/71
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of customizing application software in a software controlled machine, comprising the steps of: loading into a control processor (36) of the machine (10) a baseline program (50) for operating the machine in a standard baseline mode, the baseline program including function calls to a pointer table at predetermined locations in the baseline program; loading into the control processor (36) of the machine (10) a dynamic link library (DLL) (52) containing at least one routine for customizing the machine in a predetermined manner, the DLL (52) including a pointer table (52) of addresses, each address corresponding to one of the routines (56); linking dynamically the DLL (52) to the baseline program (50) at startup of the machine, whereby the pointer table (52) is copied into the baseline program (50); and running the baseline program (50).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the pointer table contains a null address when a routine is not available for calling by the baseline program (50).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, including the further step of customizing the DLL (52) before the step of running the baseline program (50).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, including the further step of calling by the baseline program (50) of a routine in the DLL (52) based on the address of the pointer table (52) copied into the baseline program (50).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 4, including the further steps of the baseline program sending information to the DLL routine when calling the DLL routine, and the DLL routine performing according to the information received.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 5, including the further step of converting the information to a format for use by an off-line computer.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
90 words
A method according to any preceding claim, including the further steps of: providing a sub-dynamic link library (sub-DLL) (60) containing at least one sub-routine (64) for further customizing the machine in a predetermined manner, the sub-DLL including a sub-DLL pointer table (62) of addresses, each address corresponding to one of the sub-routines; loading the sub-DLL (60) into the control processor (36) of the machine (10); and linking dynamically the sub-DLL (60) to the DLL (52) at startup of the machine whereby the sub-DLL pointer table is copied into the DLL.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of customizing application software in an inserting system, comprising the steps of: providing a system baseline program (50) for operating the inserting system (10) in a standard baseline mode; providing a dynamic link library (DLL) (52) including a table of features to be included in the inserting system (10) and an application routine corresponding to each of the features; integrating into a call table in the system baseline program an address for each feature corresponding to the location of the application program for the feature; customizing the DLL (52) based on information received from the baseline program; calling each of the features when indicated in the system baseline program (50); providing information to each DLL application program corresponding to the feature; modifying the information to make the system baseline program execute a different set of logic corresponding to the customization of the machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
A method according to claim 8 including the further steps of: providing a sub-dynamic link library (sub-DLL) (60) including a table of sub-features to be included in the inserting system (10) and an application subroutine (64) corresponding to each of the sub-features; integrating into a sub-DLL call table (62) in the DLL an address for each subfeature corresponding to the location of the DLL routine for the sub-feature; customizing the sub-DLL based on information received from the DLL; calling each of the sub-features when indicated in the DLL; providing information to each sub-DLL sub-routine corresponding to the sub-feature; modifying the information to make the DLL execute a different set of logic corresponding to the customization of the inserting system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of customizing application software in a software control machine, comprising:- loading into a control processor (36) of the machine (10) a baseline program (50) for operating the machine in a standard baseline mode; loading into the control processor (36) a dynamic link library (DLL) (52) containing at least one routine for customizing the machine in a predetermined manner; and linking dynamically the DLL (52) to the baseline program (50) so as to incorporate said at least one routine into the baseline program (50).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
A software controlled machine comprising a control processor (36) for controlling the machine, a baseline program (50) loaded into the processor (36) for operating the machine in a standard baseline mode, and a dynamic link library (DLL) (52) also loaded into the processor (36) and containing at least one routine for customizing the machine in a predetermined manner, the DLL (52) being arranged to be linked dynamically to the baseline program (50) so as to incorporate said at least one routine into the baseline program (50).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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