Memory management in embedded systems with dynamic object instantiation

Abstract

A system and method is provided for enabling the reuse of algorithms in multiple application frameworks with no alterations required of the algorithm once it is developed. An inverted memory allocation mechanism enables various algorithm modules to be integrated into a single application without modifying the source code of the algorithm modules. A plurality of algorithm modules is combined with a framework to form the software program. Each of the plurality of algorithm modules has a memory interface which responds to a memory allocation inquiry with memory usage requirements of an instance of the algorithm module. The software program is then loaded on a hardware platform and executed. During execution, the framework sends a query to the memory interface of each of the plurality of algorithm modules to request memory usage requirements for each instance of each of the plurality of algorithm modules. A response is then sent from the memory interface of each algorithm module identifying memory usage requirements for each instance of the algorithm module. The framework then allocates a portion of memory to each algorithm module to instantiate each instance in accordance with the memory usage requirement identified by the memory interface of each algorithm module. Thus, each instance of the plurality of algorithm modules is instantiated and allocated memory dynamically.