Method for optimization of memory usage for a computer program

• US 20030182597A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Oʼ Konski, Timothy C., Coha, Joseph A., Karkare, Ashish
• Granted Patent: US 6,804,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3457 Performance evaluation by simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99957 Garbage collection

Abstract

A method for optimization of memory usage for a computer program. Memory usage data is received wherein the memory usage data comprises timing information. A graphical representation of the memory usage data is generated. At least one heap parameter is received. A memory usage simulation is performed based on the memory usage data and the heap parameter.

Claims

1. A method for optimization of memory usage for a computer program, said method comprising:

a) receiving application memory usage data, said application memory usage data comprising timing information;

b) generating a graphical representation of said application memory usage data;

c) receiving at least one heap parameter; and

d) performing a memory usage simulation based on said memory usage data and said heap parameter.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer program is Java-based.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising inserting said heap parameter into a programming language interpreter.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said programming language interpreter is a Java Virtual Machine.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said heap parameter is received in response to a user input.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising repeating said c) and said d) to optimize said garbage collection.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a graphical representation of said garbage collection simulation.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said memory usage data is received from a memory allocation behavior trace.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said memory allocation behavior trace is recorded as -Xverbosegc data.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said d) comprises:

receiving said memory usage data;

determining a simulation model based on said memory usage data;

determining heap configuration and heap policies based on said memory usage data;

receiving at least one said heap parameter;

determining simulation characteristics for at least one measurement interval of said memory usage data; and

simulating an application run based on said simulation characteristics.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method for simulating collection of unreferenced objects, said method comprising:

a) accessing unreferenced object collection data comprising timing data;

b) illustrating a viewable depiction of said unreferenced object collection data;

c) accessing at least one memory criterion;

d) executing an unreferenced object collection simulation based on said unreferenced object collection data and said memory criterion; and

e) illustrating a viewable depiction of said garbage collection simulation.

12. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11 further comprising inserting said memory criterion into a programming language interpreter.

13. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12 wherein said programming language interpreter is a Java Virtual Machine.

14. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11 wherein said memory criterion is user-defined.

15. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11 further comprising repeating said c) through said e) to optimize said collection of unreferenced objects.

16. A computer system comprising:

a bus;

a computer-readable memory coupled to said bus; and

a processor coupled to said bus, said processor for performing a method of garbage collection simulation, said method comprising;

a) receiving garbage collection data comprising timing data;

b) rendering a visual portrayal of said garbage collection data;

c) receiving at least one heap input;

d) executing a garbage collection simulation based on said garbage collection data and said heap input; and

e) rendering a visual portrayal of said garbage collection simulation.

17. A computer system as recited in claim 16 further comprising inputting said heap input into a programming language interpreter.

18. A computer system as recited in claim 17 wherein said programming language interpreter is a Java Virtual Machine.

19. A computer system as recited in claim 16 wherein said heap input is user-defined.

20. A computer system as recited in claim 16 further comprising repeating said c) through said e) to optimize said garbage collection.

21. A method of simulating memory usage comprising:

a) receiving memory usage data;

b) determining a simulation model based on said memory usage data;

c) determining heap configuration and heap policies based on said memory usage data;

d) receiving at least one heap parameter;

e) determining simulation characteristics for at least one measurement interval of said memory usage data; and

f) simulating an application run based on said simulation characteristics.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein said e) comprises:

determining total memory allocated;

determining total memory collected;

estimating memory allocation rate; and

estimating rate at which memory becomes unreferenced.

23. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein said f) comprises generating memory usage simulation data comprising:

intervals between adjacent garbage collections;

duration of at least one said garbage collections;

cause for at least one said garbage collection;

total memory allocated between adjacent said garbage collections;

total memory collected between adjacent said garbage collections; and

estimation of distribution of memory usage by age.