EMBEDDED SYSTEM PROVIDING BOOTLOADER SELECTED EXECUTION OF MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MODULAR PROGRAMS

摘要

A target system includes an embedded processing unit, a selection interface, and a memory wherein a plurality of user defined modular programs, a plurality of predefined modular programs, and a bootloader reside. Based upon a set of selection signal values received or generated by way of the selection interface, the bootloader determines the starting address of a user defined modular program, a predefined modular program, or an in-application programming (IAP) program instruction set, and transfers target system execution to the identified starting address to selectively initiate the execution of a user defined modular program, a predefined modular program, or an IAP program instruction set. The memory can store a configuration table defining associations between sets of selection signal values and memory addresses at which user defined modular programs, predefined modular programs, and IAP program instruction sets begin. The target system can be programmed by way of a separate programming device.