Patent ID: 7246142

Claim:
A method for scanning a discontiguous object, comprising: initializing a cursor into a data structure having a plurality of entries, wherein the data structure is separate from the discontiguous object, and wherein each entry of the plurality of entries corresponds to a slot in a plurality of slots of the discontiguous object and includes: a value that indicates whether the slot that corresponds to said each entry has a reference type, and an increment value that is used to access a successive slot of the plurality of slots that is successive to the slot that corresponds to said each entry; for each entry of the plurality of entries: determining whether said each entry of the data structure specifies whether a first slot of the plurality of slots of the discontiguous object has a reference type, wherein the first slot corresponds to said each entry; if the first slot of the discontiguous object corresponding to said each entry has a reference type, then performing an operation on an object referenced by the first slot; accessing a second slot of the plurality of slots of the discontiguous object by using an increment value indicated by said each entry; and incrementing the cursor to a successive entry, in the data structure, that is successive to said each entry and that corresponds to the second slot.