Patent ID: 6178471
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for transferring data in a streaming environment while minimizing performance and resource penalities associated with copying of the data, wherein the streaming environment is defined by a plurality of modules coupled with a corresponding plurality of data buffers for containing data objects in the course of transferring the data, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:transferring the data from upstream data buffers to downstream data buffers, wherein the transferring of the data from the upstream data buffers to the downstream data buffers includes transfers of the data from a first data buffer to a downstream module and transfers of the data from the downstream module to a second data buffer downstream from the first data buffer;slaving a downstream data object with an upstream data object by invoking a write remaining method for at least one of the modules, wherein the invoking of the write remaining method includes the step of pointing to the data to reference a single copy of the data stored as an upstream data object; andreturning control to the module following the invoking of the write remaining method.