Memory management in embedded system with design time 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. During a design phase of an application, a set of algorithm modules is linked with a calling program to form an initial software program. Each of the set 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 calling program sends a query to the memory interface of each algorithm module to request memory usage requirements for each instance of the algorithm module. 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 calling program 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 at design time of an application. The set of algorithm module instantiations is then combined with the framework to form a final software program.