Patent ID: 6052699
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for managing a memory of a computer system, the memory storing a plurality of objects, the method comprising the steps of:executing a mutator process for accessing and using particular ones of a plurality of free objects in the memory of the computer system to form a plurality of allocated objects, each object of the plurality of allocated objects carrying a first designation associated with the mutator process;concurrently with the step of executing the mutator process, executing a marker process for examining the plurality of allocated objects and, for each allocated object of the plurality of allocated objects which is still in use by the mutator process, changing the first designation carried by the allocated object to a second designation, the second designation associated with marker process and being determined as a function of the first designation;concurrently with the steps of executing the mutator process and executing the marker process, executing a sweeper process for examining the plurality of objects to identify a plurality of unused objects from the plurality of objects, each of the plurality of unused objects carrying a third designation recognizable only by the sweeper process;collecting the plurality of unused objects and returning them to the plurality of free objects; andexchanging, the first designation with the third designation, the second designation with the first designation, and the third designation with the second designation.