Patent ID: 7421539

Claim:
A method for concurrent garbage collection and mutator execution in a computer system, comprising: examining a first cache line for a set non-local bit or mark bit; setting a done bit corresponding to the first cache line having a set non-local bit or mark bit, the first cache line being associated with a first object; scanning the first cache line for a reference to a second object; locating a second cache line containing a second object that is referenced by the first object: setting a mark bit corresponding to the second cache line; setting a done bit corresponding to the second cache line; scanning the previously examined first and second cache lines with set non-local bit or mark bit to identify cache lines with any unset done bits; re-setting the done bit of the identified cache lines; and rescanning the identified cache lines within a same garbage collection cycle upon re-setting the done bit to verify references, prior to reclaiming allocated memory.