Patent ID: 6550058
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of producing computer executable code for automatically clearing a computer program stack in computer memory, said program stack having a pointer which identifies a memory address value for a top of the stack, and said program stack being operable for storing and passing of data between calling and called processes and subroutines, said method comprising the steps of:providing a computer program source code compiler having a user control to enable and disable automatic generation of executable code to clear computer stack memory; receiving at least one computer program source code module and an associated user compiler control; performing analysis on said computer program source code to find and identify instances of process and subroutine call and return operations; and inserting stack clearing computer program code into said computer program source code prior to return operations and following call operations such that when the modified computer program code is compiled and executed, stack memory utilized by called processes and subroutines will be cleared to prevent usage of residual data in the stack by other processes or subroutines, said insertion of stack clearing computer program code being inserted only if said user control indicates enablement of insertion of the code.