METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MEMORY ALLOCATION FOR OBJECT INSTANCES IN AN OBJECT-ORIENTED SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENT

• US 20010056522A1
• Filed: 06/29/1998
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle Corporation
• Inventors: SATYANARAYANA, RAJU
• Granted Patent: US 6,510,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/023 Free address space management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4493 Object persistence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99956 File allocation

Abstract

An object instance memory allocation module allocates blocks of memory in an object oriented software system. An object instance pool is generated for each object class configured as a reusable class. The object instance pool contains a plurality of entries, and each entry is associated with an object instance memory block configured to store an object instance for the object class. When an object instance is instantiated from an object class, the object instance memory allocation technique allocates, from an entry of the object instance pool, a memory block if one of the memory blocks are available. When an object instance is released (i.e., deleted), the object instance memory allocation technique re-assigns memory blocks for the object class into an entry of the object instance pool. An object oriented software environment that implements the object instance memory allocation techniques is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for allocating blocks of memory in an object oriented software system, said method comprising the steps of:

generating an object instance pool for an object class, wherein said object instance pool comprises a plurality of entries such that each entry is associated with a memory block configured to store an object instance for said object class;

allocating, from an entry of said object instance pool, a memory block when an object instance is instantiated from said object class if one of said memory blocks are available for allocation from an entry of said object instance pool; and

re-assigning memory blocks from object instances of said object class into an entry of said object instance pool when said object instances are no longer required in said object oriented software system.

2. The method as set forth in

claim 1

, further comprising the step of re-initializing an object instance prior to re-assigning a memory block for an object instance into an entry of said object instance pool.

3. The method as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein the step of reassigning memory blocks of object instances when said object instances are no longer required comprises the step of re-assigning memory blocks from object instances when said object instances are garbage collected by said object oriented software system.

4. The method as set forth in

claim 3

, wherein the step of reassigning memory blocks of object instances in an entry of said object instance pool when said object instances are garbage collected comprises the step of reassigning memory blocks of object instances when a release( ) method is called, so that said re-assignment of memory blocks of object instances is compatible with services utilizing a Common Object Model (COM).

5. The method as set forth in

claim 1

, further comprising the step of providing a means to permit a user to designate an object class as a reusable object class, wherein said reusable object class permits reuse of memory blocks allocated to object instances through said object instance pool.

6. The method as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein providing a means to permit a user to designate an object class as a reusable object class comprises the step of providing a means to permit a user to designate the number of memory blocks associated with said object instance pool.

7. A method for allocating blocks of memory in an object oriented software system, said method comprising the steps of:

generating an object factory class, for an object class, to instantiate instances of objects from said object class;

receiving a request to generate an instance of said object class at said object factory;

generating, from said object factory class, an object instance pool for an object class, wherein said object instance pool comprises a plurality of entries such that each entry is associated with a memory block configured to store an object instance for said object class;

allocating, from an entry of said object instance pool, a memory block to instantiate said object instance if one of said memory blocks are available for allocation from an entry of said object instance pool; and

re-assigning memory blocks from object instances of said object class into an entry of said object instance pool when said object instances are no longer required in said object oriented software system.

8. The method as set forth in

claim 7

, further comprising the step of re-initializing an object instance prior to re-assigning a memory block for an object instance into an entry of said object instance pool.

9. The method as set forth in

claim 7

, further comprising the step of providing a means to permit a user to designate an object class as a reusable object class, wherein said reusable object class permits reuse of memory blocks allocated to object instances through said object instance pool.

10. The method as set forth in

claim 9

, wherein providing a means to permit a user to designate an object class as a reusable object class comprises the step of providing a means to permit a user to designate the number of memory blocks associated with said object instance pool.

11. A computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

;

generating an object instance pool for an object class, wherein said object instance pool comprises a plurality of entries such that each entry is associated with a memory block configured to store an object instance for said object class;

allocating, from an entry of said object instance pool, a memory block when an object instance is instantiated from said object class if one of said memory blocks are available for allocation from an entry of said object instance pool; and

re-assigning memory blocks from object instances of said object class into an entry of said object instance pool when said object instances are no longer required in said object oriented software system.

12. The computer readable medium as set forth in

claim 11

, further comprising the step of re-initializing an object instance prior to re-assigning a memory block for an object instance into an entry of said object instance pool.

13. The computer readable medium as set forth in

claim 11

, wherein the step of re-assigning memory blocks of object instances when said object instances are no longer required comprises the step of re-assigning memory blocks from object instances when said object instances are garbage collected by said object oriented software system.

14. The computer readable medium as set forth in

claim 13

, wherein the step of re-assigning memory blocks of object instances in an entry of said object instance pool when said object instances are garbage collected comprises the step of re-assigning memory blocks of object instances when a release( ) method is called, so that said reassignment of memory blocks of object instances is compatible with services utilizing a Common Object Model (COM).

15. The computer readable medium as set forth in

claim 11

, further comprising the step of providing a means to permit a user to designate an object class as a reusable object class, wherein said reusable object class permits reuse of memory blocks allocated to object instances through said object instance pool.

16. The computer readable medium as set forth in

claim 15

, wherein providing a means to permit a user to designate an object class as a reusable object class comprises the step of providing a means to permit a user to designate the number of memory blocks associated with said object instance pool.

17. A computer system for executing object-oriented software comprising:

memory for storing an object instance pool for an object class, wherein said object instance pool comprises a plurality of entries such that each entry is associated with a memory block configured to store an object instance for said object class; and

processor unit coupled to said memory for allocating, from an entry of said object instance pool, a memory block when an object instance is instantiated from said object class if one of said memory blocks are available for allocation from an entry of said object instance pool, and for re-assigning memory blocks from object instances of said object class into an entry of said object instance pool when said object instances are no longer required in said object oriented software system.