Executable file system for an embedded computer
View Patent ↗Binary files in an executable file system can be directly executed by the central processing unit at the location in which the binary files are stored. A pre-runtime tool can traverse a replica directory hierarchy in a host/loading computer to fill an internal data structure which can be used to generate a binary file that can be loaded directly into the embedded computer. The central processing unit (CPU) and its components such as the address bus, data bus, and program counter, can directly interact with unit of storage interface mechanisms, such as read/write means, identifying location means, and concatenation means. In some embodiments, the page size in the memory management unit (MMU) of the CPU is set to the same size as the unit of storage.
1. A computer system embedded in a machine for control of an aspect of the operation of the machine, the computer comprising:
a central processing unit;
a non-volatile executable memory for the central processing unit; and
an executable file system stored in the executable memory space and comprising:
a plurality of software components permanently stored in the executable memory, wherein each software component in said plurality of software components is a binary file directly executable by the processing unit from its permanently stored location without code interpretation or translation, wherein said binary file is generated by a host/loading computer using a pre-runtime tool; and
an additional software component addressable by the central processing unit and containing data comprising a starting address in the executable memory for each of the plurality of software components and instructions to the central processing unit for executing each of the plurality of software components beginning at the associated stored address in the executable memory.
2. The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising a unit of storage and wherein said executable file system includes a unit of storage interface.
3. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein said central processing unit controls said unit of storage interface.
4. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein said central processing unit directly controls said unit of storage interface.
5. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein said unit of storage interface is a read/write means.
6. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein said unit of storage interface is an identifying location means.
7. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein said unit of storage interface is a concatenation means.
8. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein said unit of storage interface includes a read/write means, an identifying location means, and a concatenation means.
9. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein said central processing unit includes a page size set to said unit of storage.
10. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein said central processing unit includes an address bus;
wherein said file system includes a concatenation means; and
wherein a concatenation of said unit of storage is consistent with said address bus.
11. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein said unit of storage does not contain a file system link to any other units of storage in said embedded computer.
12. The system computer of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of binary files comprises microprocessor specific instructions and data adapted for direct copying into the instruction and other operating registers of the microprocessor, as appropriate for their execution.