Patent · US Active

Garbage collection for shared data entities

US7788300B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by

12References

15Claims

0Family size

Assignee

SAP AG · DE

Inventors

Norbert Kuck · Karlsruhe, DE
Oliver Schmidt · Wörth am Rhein, DE
Arno Hilgenberg · Mannheim, DE
Ralf Schmelter · Wiesloch, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 15, 2004
Grant date	Aug 31, 2010
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 23, 2026

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG06F12/0253
WIPO fieldComputer technology
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer systems and program products, for garbage collection of shared data entities. A computer program identifies a set of virtual machines (VMs), each operable to generate references to shared entities stored in shared memory. Each shared entity can include references to one or more of the other shared entities. The program waits for the VMs to independently identify the shared entities that they reference directly, and then initiates a shared garbage collection procedure to identify the shared entities that are not directly or indirectly referenced by any of the VMs and to reclaim the shared memory being used to store those shared entities. The VMs are prevented from generating new references to the shared entities solely during a portion of the shared garbage collection procedure. By minimizing the time during which access to the shared entities is restricted, performance and scalability can be increased.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.