Patent ID: 7565496
Filing Date: 2009-07-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, performed by a particular apparatus, for allocating memory for use in storing information in the particular apparatus, the method comprising: maintaining memory allocation information for each of a plurality of information channels, said memory allocation information including data to identify a number of memory segments allocated for storing information for each of the plurality of information channels; maintaining shared pool memory allocation information, said shared pool memory allocation information including data to identify a number of memory segments allocated for sharing among the plurality of information channels; maintaining expected available information for each of the plurality of information channels, said expected available information identifying a number of memory segments included in said memory segments allocated in the same information channel for which a first stage, but not yet a second stage, of processing using said memory segments has completed; receiving information of the plurality of information channels and storing said information based on said memory allocation information or said shared pool memory allocation information; in response to completing the first processing stage of an item of said information, said item stored in a particular number of a plurality of memory segments allocated to a particular one of the plurality of information channels: updating expected available information for the particular one of the plurality of information channels to reflect the particular number of memory segments still in use but will become available after a subsequent said second processing stage; and in response to completing the second processing stage of the item of information subsequent to said updating said expected available information: de-allocating the particular number of memory segments based on said expected available information of a plurality of the plurality of information channels and updating said expected available information based on said de-allocated particular number of memory segments, said de-allocating including decreasing the number of memory segments allocated for storing information by at least one for at least one of said information channels.