Bounded-pause time garbage collection system and method including write barrier associated with a source instance of a partially relocated object
US5873105A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 16, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99957
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A write barrier to stores into a partially relocated large or popular memory object facilitates bounded pause time implementations of relocating garbage collectors, including e.g., copying collectors, generational collectors, and collectors providing compaction. Such a write barrier allows a garbage collector implementation to interrupt relocation of large or popular memory objects so as to meet bounded pause time guarantees. A partially relocated object identifier store including "copy from" identifier storage accessible to write barrier logic allows the write barrier logic to maintain consistency between FromSpace and ToSpace instances of a partially relocated memory object. "Copy from" identifier storage allows the write barrier logic, or a trap handler responsive thereto, to broadcast a store-oriented memory access targeting the FromSpace instance to both FromSpace and ToSpace instances. Optional "How far" indication storage facilitates differentiation by the write barrier logic between a copied portion and an uncopied portion of the partially relocated memory object.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.