Patent ID: 7139894

Claim:
A method of managing a memory of a computer to share configuration information with a plurality of processes, the method comprising: (a) allocating a region of a memory of a computer for storing configuration information usable by at least one process of a plurality of processes, the region of memory being shareable with the plurality of processes; (b) receiving initial configuration information; (c) storing the initial configuration information in the region of memory; (d) receiving subsequent configuration information; (e) storing the subsequent configuration information without disturbing or impeding access by the plurality of processes to the initial configuration information already stored in the region of memory, wherein storing the subsequent configuration information further comprises determining whether the subsequent configuration information comprises information constituting a revision of at least one portion of the initial configuration information and if so, copying at least one portion of the initial configuration information that is not revised by the subsequent configuration information to a previously unused portion of the region of memory appropriate for the type of value of the at least one portion of the initial configuration information and inserting the subsequent configuration information at an appropriate memory location relative to the copied portions of the initial configuration information; and (f) after storing the subsequent configuration information, making the subsequent configuration information accessible to the at least one process of the plurality of processes.