System and method for reducing memory fragmentation by assigning remainders to share memory blocks on a best fit basis
US5761536A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 21, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 2, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/401
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for storing variable length objects such that memory fragmentation is reduced, while avoiding the need for memory reorganization. A remainder of a variable length object may be assigned to share a fixed-size block of storage with a remainder from another variable length object (two such remainders which share a block are referred to as roommates) on a best fit or first fit basis. One remainder is stored at one end of the block, while the other remainder is stored at the other end of the block. The variable length objects which are to share a block of storage are selected from the same cohort. Thus, there is some association between the objects. This association may be that the objects are from the same page or are in some linear order spanning multiple pages, as examples. Information regarding the variable length objects of a cohort, such as whether an object has a roommate, is stored in memory.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.