Patent ID: 6263414
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a Distributed Shared Memory (DSM) system that provides a single address space shared by a number of processes, a method for accomplishing lowered granularity of distributed shared memory, comprising the steps of:(a) providing said address space as a virtual address space that includes virtual pages;(b) mapping at least two virtual pages in said virtual address space to the same memory object that includes at least one page, said page includes at least two minipages;(c) assigning independently, through said virtual pages, access permission to minipages that reside in the same page; and(d) processing independently in different processes minipages that reside in the same page, including:(i) providing at least one privileged virtual page associated with a respective page of said memory object;(ii) in the case that there is an up-to-date local copy of said minipage for said given process, altering the permission access to said minipage independent from minipages that reside in the same page; or(iii) in the case that there is no up-to-date local copy for said given process, moving said minipage utilizing said privileged virtual page independent from minipages that reside in the same page.