Patent ID: 7036120
Filing Date: 2006-04-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In a Java™ computing environment, a method of identifying active Java™ objects and active Java™ classes by a virtual machine at runtime during garbage collection, said method comprising: generating and loading in the virtual machine prior to execution time a cluster of Java™ object representations which are sequentially represented inside the virtual machine, wherein each of said Java™ object representations in said cluster consists of: sequentially reading by said virtual machine at runtime said cluster of Java™ object representations; determining by said virtual machine at runtime during garbage collection whether Java™ objects or Java™ classes are to be identified; using said second references of said cluster during garbage collection to mark memory addresses that correspond to Java™ objects when said determining determines that Java™ objects are to be identified, thereby allowing Java™ objects to be identified at runtime by a sequential read of said cluster; and using one or more of said first references of said cluster during garbage collection to mark memory addresses that correspond to Java™ classes when said determining determines that Java™ classes are to be identified, thereby allowing Java™ classes to be identified at runtime during garbage collection by a sequential read of said cluster, wherein said first reference is a direct reference to said internal class representation of said Java™ object.