Processing system and method of memory allocation

Abstract

Disclosed is a memory system 305 and method of allocating memory for a data processing system 300. The memory system has a garbage collection module 325 and memory allocator 310. The processor 350 coupled to the memory system has a snapshot unit 355 to provide a snapshot of the processor to the garbage collection module. The method starts with the processor issuing a memory allocation request 315 to the memory allocator. The processor then receiving a snapshot request 330 by the garbage collection module, the request trigged by the allocator. The processor detecting a stall condition of the instruction pipeline, the stall condition is trigged by the insertion of the snapshot instruction into the pipeline before the memory allocation has been committed. The snapshot unit providing a snapshot 335 to the garbage collection module, the module then performing a garbage collection cycle to identify memory for allocation, using the snapshot to identifies root objects for use in a marking process. The memory allocator then allocating the requested memory space. Fig 3.