Patent ID: 7512745
Filing Date: 2009-03-31
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method, in a multiprocessor data processing system, for performing a garbage collection operation on a shared memory, comprising: loading, in a processor of the multiprocessor data processing system, a portion of a global mark queue corresponding to a portion of the shared memory, wherein loading the portion of the global mark queue corresponding to the portion of the shared memory comprises: performing a marking operation on the portion of the shared memory based on references to memory objects in the portion of the global mark queue assigned to the processor, to thereby identify reachable memory objects whose associated memory cannot be reclaimed as part of the garbage collection operation; and identifying, during the marking operation, references to memory objects that are not in the portion of the shared memory assigned to the processor, for further processing as part of the garbage collection operation, wherein performing the marking operation on the portion of the shared memory based on references to memory objects comprises: