Method and apparatus for software technology injection for operating systems which assign separate process address spaces
US6611878B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/546
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Method and apparatus for seamlessly integrating new or modified user interface features or modified functionality, to an existing target application program (100) in the context of an operating system (102) which assigns a separate process address space for each application program then operating. The disclosed invention does not require re-compiling the existing application program's source code. Rather, a novel approach is provided which allows a technology injection system (TIS) (106) to inject itself directly between a computer operating system (102) and the target program (100) so as to intercept and act upon messages and commands to the target program (100). In this way, the TIS (106) can modify any inputs and outputs of the target program (100). By performing special processing of those messages to the target application program (100) which determine the appearance of the target application user interface or which concern modified functionality, the TIS (106) can provide the new functionality to the target application program (100) and alter the appearance of its user interface. Interception of messages between the operating system (102) and the TIS (106) is achieved by util…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.