Patent ID: 7890711
Filing Date: 2011-02-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer controlled method for reclaiming memory referenced by a finalizable-object, said finalizable-object having been instantiated from a class definition incorporating at least one parent class and one or more class-extensions into a class hierarchy; the method comprising marking for retention a related memory reachable from a reference field of said finalizable-object, and adding said finalizable-object to a finalization set for subsequent invocation of a non-trivial finalize-method; wherein the improvement comprises: iterating from an ultimate class-extension of said finalizable-object toward a root class of said finalizable-object: in response to determining that said class-extension does not have a finalizer-free characteristic, marking said related memory for retention, wherein said related memory cannot be reclaimed until after the invocation of said non-trivial finalize-method.