Patent ID: 7475197
Filing Date: 2009-01-06
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for managing memory used by a plurality of processes, comprising: making a decision whether any of said plurality of processes can reduce memory usage, wherein said decision is made by comparing a memory requirement of each process with an actual memory usage of each process; communicating directly between said plurality of processes to trigger a reduction of memory usage by each processes that can reduce memory usage; running a first thread in a first process of said plurality of processes that waits to receive a request to reduce its memory usage, said request sent directly from a second process of said plurality of processes that requires additional memory; determining if said first process can continue to operate with less memory; reducing memory usage of said first process if a determination is made that said first process can continue to operate with less memory; and wherein the memory usage of said first process is minimized such that said first process only uses enough memory to operate without terminating, if said request from said second process indicates that said second process will terminate if said second process does not have access to additional memory.