Patent ID: 6499094
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A computer-implemented method for managing heap memory for an application program in a data processing system that supports a first addressing mode and a second addressing mode, wherein a program operating in the first addressing mode is limited to addressing using a first number of bits, a program operating in the second addressing mode is limited to addressing using a second number of bits, and the first number of bits is less than the second number of bits, comprising:establishing one or more heap banks, each with a quantity of memory space that is addressable by a program operating in the first addressing mode; managing the one or more heap banks with a system program operating in the second addressing mode; responsive to each request from the application program that requires a quantity of memory space: allocating memory space to the application program in a selected one of the heap banks that has a quantity of available memory space that satisfies the required quantity; and establishing an additional heap bank if none of the heap banks has a quantity of available memory space that satisfies the required quantity and allocating memory space to the application program in the additional heap bank.