1. A method for applying patches to code residing on a Read Only Memory (ROM) device, said code having a plurality of functions, each of said plurality of functions having a plurality of routines, wherein each routine is accessed through a vector table entry in a Random Access Memory (RAM) device, said code corresponding to one of a plurality of ROM release levels, said method comprising the steps of: a) generating a plurality of patch resources, said plurality of patch resources including a patch resource for each of said plurality of ROM release levels, each of said patch resources having a plurality of patch resource entries, each of said patch resource entries including a new routine; b) identifying the ROM release level for said ROM device to be patched; c) retrieving from said plurality of patch resources a selected patch resource, said selected patch resource corresponding to said identified ROM release level; for each patch resource entry in said selected patch resource d) if said new routine is a routine for replacing an existing routine of said plurality of routines, then d1) identifying an existing vector table entry in said RAM device, said existing vector table entry being the vector table entry for said existing routine, and d2) updating said existing vector table entry to cause said existing vector table entry to refer to said new routine; e) if said new routine is a routine for adding functionality to an existing function of said plurality of functions, then e1) identifying an existing vector table in said RAM device, said existing vector table being a vector table corresponding to said existing function, and e2) adding a new vector table entry to said existing vector table, wherein said new vector table entry includes a reference to said new routine; and f) if said new routine is a routine for adding a new function to supplement said plurality of functions, then f2) creating a new vector table in said RAM device, said new vector table including a reference to said new routine.