Memory management system and method for allocating and reusing memory
US6701420B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99956
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A memory management system and method that quickly allocates and reuses memory for storage of data, such as display lists in a graphics system. The memory manager allocates memory without information regarding the amount of memory that is to be required while minimizing system-level memory allocation calls and maximizing the contiguity of the allocated memory which is used. The memory manager acquires from system memory a memory block that is of a predetermined size that is significantly larger than the anticipated memory size required to store a display list. The memory manager allocates to the display list that portion of the acquired memory block necessary for storing the display list, maintaining control over the unused portion of the acquired memory in a memory pool of available memory for future allocation to another display list without performing subsequent system-level calls.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.