Thread synchronization in a garbage-collected system using execution barriers
US5842016A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99957
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention synchronizes threads in a garbage-collected system. In accordance with the invention, each thread may enable or disable garbage collection. A synchronization facility receives a request to initiate garbage collection. In response to the request, the facility identifies threads that have enabled garbage collection more recently than they have disabled garbage collection. Then, until all of the threads are identified or suspended, the facility identifies threads that enable garbage collection and suspends threads that disable garbage collection. When all threads are identified or suspended, the facility performs garbage collection. The facility also suspends any identified threads that attempt to disable garbage collection during the performance of garbage collection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.