Patent ID: 6453404
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A memory allocation system for data caching comprising:a computer platform containing a computer software operating system capable of memory allocation; a memory associated with the computer platform to store data; and a cache controller associated with the memory to allocate memory portions independently of the operating system for storage of data, the cache controller receiving a first allocation request to allocate a first amount of memory to store a first data item and allocating one or more blocks of the memory, each having a predetermined block size, wherein the memory allocated in the one or more blocks of memory is approximately equal to the first amount of memory, the cache controller requesting a memory allocation from the operating system if the amount of memory allocated in the one or more blocks of memory is smaller than the first amount of memory, wherein the total memory allocated in the one or more blocks of memory and allocated by the operating system is sufficient to meet the first allocation request.