Patent ID: 7694103

Claim:
A method of using memory, comprising: obtaining, at a memory sub-allocator, a block of memory from a memory allocator; using the memory sub-allocator to sub-allocate a first location in the block of memory to a first block based backup and/or restoration related task, wherein sub-allocation is performed by a processor associated with the memory sub-allocator; after sub-allocating the first location to first block based backup and/or restoration related task, using the memory sub-allocator to record that the first location is being used to store information associated with the first block based backup and/or restoration related task; receiving, at the memory sub-allocator, an indication that the first location is available to be sub-allocated to a subsequent block based backup and/or restoration related task, if any; after receiving the indication, using the memory sub-allocator to record that the first location is available to be sub-allocated; receiving, at the memory sub-allocator after receipt of the indication that the first location is available to be sub-allocated to the subsequent block based backup and/or restoration related task, an indication that a second block based backup and/or restoration related task requires memory; using the memory sub-allocator to sub-allocate the first location to the second block based backup and/or restoration related task; and after sub-allocating the first location to second block based backup and/or restoration related task, using the memory sub-allocator to record that the first location is being used to store information associated with the second block based backup and/or restoration related task.