This patent description was copied from http://www.delphion.com/ , on 28 December 2002

Title : US6490670: Method and apparatus for efficiently allocating objects in object oriented systems

Country : US United States of America
Inventor : Collins, Michael Thomas ; Austin, TX
Peterson, James Lyle ; Austin, TX
Gu, Weiming ; Austin, TX
View Images 13 pages
Assignee : International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY
other patents from INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION (approx. 35,828)
Published / Filed : Dec. 3, 2002 / April 24, 1998
Application Number : US1998000065407

IPC Code : G06F 12/00;

U.S. Class : 711/173 ; 709/104 ;
Field of Search : 711/170,100,171,172,173 709/104

Priority Number :
April 24, 1998   US1998000065407

Abstract : A method and apparatus for managing memory allocation. Each memory block category contains memory blocks. A request, including an object size, is received to allocate memory to an object. An available memory block is allocated to the object if the memory block category for size corresponding to the object size of the object contains an available memory block. An available memory block from a memory block category having a memory block size larger than the object size is located if an available memory block is absent in the memory block category for sizes corresponding to the object size. The located available memory block is partitioned into memory blocks, having a size corresponding to the object size. A partitioned memory block from the partitioned memory blocks is allocated to the object.
Attorney, Agent or Firm : Yee, Duke W. ; LaBaw, Jeffrey S. ;
Primary / Assistant Examiners : Courtenay, III, St. John ; Nguyen, Van H.
First Claim : Show all 23 claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method in a data processing system for managing the allocation of memory in an object oriented system executing on the data processing system, wherein a plurality of memory block categories is present in which each memory block category within the plurality of memory block categories contains memory blocks having a fixed memory block size, the method comprising:

  • receiving a request to allocate memory to an object, wherein the request includes an object size;
  • determining whether a memory block category, having an object size corresponding to the object size of the requested object, contains an available memory block;
  • allocating the available memory block to the object in response to a determination that the memory block category associated with a size corresponding to the object size of the object contains an available memory block;
  • locating an available memory block from a memory block category associated with a memory block size larger than the object size in response to a determination that an available memory block is absent in the memory block category associated with a size corresponding to the object size;
  • partitioning the available memory block, located by the locating step, into a number of partitioned memory blocks, each partitioned memory block within the number of partitioned memory blocks having a size corresponding to the requested object size; and
  • allocating a partitioned memory block from the number of partitioned memory blocks to the object.
         
U.S. References :   |  No patents reference this one | Backward references (14)   |  

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