Patent ID: 6574718
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a computing system implementing a virtual memory system having real memory storage frames for storing virtual pages of data and an auxiliary storage system comprising auxiliary storage slots for storing copies of corresponding virtual pages provided in real storage frames, wherein a page frame table queue comprising frames is traversed in Least Recently Used (LRU) order to determine real frame candidates for storage in said auxiliary storage system, a method for eliminating excessive spin conditions on systems implementing an LRU order queue traversal algorithm, said method comprising:a) establishing time limit representing an amount of time a LRU task is allowed to run in a queue traversal invocation, wherein processor spin locks are held for serialization purposes during said LRU task invocation; b) determining whether said time limit has been exceeded before said LRU task has completed its processing; and, if the time limit has been exceeded, c) terminating the LRU task and, re-scheduling the LRU task to run after a predetermined time interval, whereby during said time interval, opening up a window of enablement so other processes spinning for the serialization resources can run.