Method and apparatus for maintaining an object-based write barrier to facilitate garbage-collection operations
US7483930B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 29, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jan 27, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/0253
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates identifying roots for a garbage-collection operation in a computer system that supports an object-addressed memory hierarchy. In order to identify roots, the system first looks up an object table entry that corresponds to an object in an object cache, wherein the object table entry contains an evicted bit, which is set when any part of the modified object is evicted from the object cache, and a corresponding physical address for the object in main memory. Next, the system determines if the evicted bit is set in the object table entry, and if so, examines the object corresponding to the object table entry to determine if the object contains references to the target area in the object heap that is being garbage collected. If so, the system uses the references as roots for a subsequent garbage-collection operation of the target area.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.