Method to change an object code version of a first program stored in the computer of an appliance into an object code version of a second program which was derived by at least one change to the first program

摘要

Each time a source version of a program is converted into an associated object code version, a compiler program divides the source version into segments and a linker program stores segment information items in a buffer file. The linker program reads the segment information items of the first program during the conversion of the second program and compares them with the segment information items of the second program. The content of each segment which, at the most, requires the same amount of storage space in the second program as in the first program, is stored under an identical address in each case in both object code versions. The content of each segment which needs a greater amount of storage space in the object code version of the second program than in the first program is stored in a free storage area, releasing the previously occupied storage area in favour of other segments. A comparator/generator program compares all bytes of the two object code versions with one another and generates a differences program which now only contains the bytes which are different for the two object code versions, and the associated addresses, and which is subsequently forwarded to the device (1 to 5) which is connected to a central processing unit (6) via a transmission network (7). IMAGE