Abstract: A method of loading an object-oriented computer program comprises translating the program into compiled code and holding that code, ready for execution, in an execution environment which does not necessarily also hold the original program code. In a preferred embodiment, the original class file is discarded from memory prior to execution of the program. The invention is particularly applicable to wireless communications networks consisting of a plurality of client devices, such as mobile phones, each of which typically has only a small amount of memory available. Using the present invention, the original class file is discarded after compilation, and does not need to be retained in the client device memories.

Abstract: A method of loading an object-oriented computer program comprises translating the program into compiled code and holding that code, ready for execution, in an execution environment which does not necessarily also hold the original program code. In a preferred embodiment, the original class file is discarded from memory prior to execution of the program. The invention is particularly applicable to wireless communications networks consisting of a plurality of client devices, such as mobile phones, each of which typically has only a small amount of memory available. Using the present invention, the original class file is discarded after compilation, and does not need to be retained in the client device memories.

Abstract: A method of loading an object-oriented computer program comprises translating the program into compiled code and holding that code, ready for execution, in an execution environment which does not necessarily also hold the original program code. In a preferred embodiment, the original class file is discarded from memory prior to execution of the program. The invention is particularly applicable to wireless communications networks consisting of a plurality of client devices, such as mobile phones, each of which typically has only a small amount of memory available. Using the present invention, the original class file is discarded after compilation, and does not need to be retained in the client device memories.

Abstract: A method of translating object-oriented computer programs into native code includes a two-step translation process, first by a jcode translator (212) into a machine-independent virtual processor code (213), and then by a native translator (214) into native code (230). In a heterogeneous multiprocessor environment, the machine-independent part of the translation can be carried out at the central server, with machine-independent virtual processor code being distributed as required to the individual clients. Each client then needs to carry just a small processor-dependent native translator (214) with which it completes the conversion into native code. The invention finds particular application in embedded systems, and particularly in heterogeneous-processor systems such as mobile phone networks.