Dynamic Free-List Thresholds for Memory Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory management systems face inefficiencies in dynamic memory allocation and deallocation, particularly in systems with limited memory, where fragmentation and high memory usage lead to increased processing time and potential memory leaks, and integrating applications across different platforms is challenging due to varying memory allocation methods.
Innovation Solution
The method involves dynamically adjusting the thresholds of free-lists based on current memory usage and the frequency of memory region allocation, allowing for flexible management of free-lists to optimize memory allocation and deallocation, and incorporating a monitoring process to adjust thresholds and free memory allocation accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dynamic memory allocation is performed using traditional free-list methods, then memory can be allocated and deallocated, but processing time increases and fragmentation occurs in systems with limited memory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores optimal free-list thresholds in a threshold table before memory allocation operations begin. This preliminary action allows the memory management unit to quickly retrieve appropriate thresholds during allocation without performing complex calculations in real-time, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining effective memory management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of free-list thresholds based on current memory usage patterns and allocation frequency. The memory management unit monitors memory state and adapts threshold values dynamically, allowing the system to optimize allocation speed for different workload conditions while preventing fragmentation in limited memory environments
2Stability of the object's composition
If memory thresholds are kept low to reduce fragmentation, then fragmentation is minimized, but memory usage efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts free-list thresholds based on real-time memory allocation patterns and usage frequency. When allocation patterns indicate high fragmentation risk, thresholds are lowered to maintain stability. When memory usage efficiency is compromised, thresholds are raised to improve utilization. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize both fragmentation and efficiency based on current conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The memory management unit continuously monitors memory allocation patterns, fragmentation levels, and threshold effectiveness. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust thresholds optimally - lowering them when fragmentation increases and raising them when memory usage efficiency deteriorates - thereby resolving the contradiction between fragmentation control and efficient memory utilization
3Device complexity
If fixed memory allocation methods are used, then memory management is simple, but adaptability to different platforms and applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a memory management system that dynamically adapts to different platforms and applications by adjusting free-list thresholds based on observed allocation patterns. While the underlying data structure remains simple and fixed, the threshold values are dynamically tuned to match platform-specific memory characteristics and application requirements, achieving adaptability without increasing fundamental system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the threshold parameters of free-lists based on platform-specific characteristics and application behavior patterns. By adjusting these parameters dynamically while maintaining the same basic memory management structure, the system achieves versatility across different platforms without complicating the core memory management mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing a memory of an apparatus includes maintaining a plurality of lists of identifiers that each has an associated size value, wherein each identifier identifies a corresponding region of the memory that had been allocated for a process but that is currently not required by any of the one or more processes. When a process requests allocation of a region of the memory: one of the lists is identified that has an associated size value suitable for the allocation request; and if that list is not empty, a region of the memory is identified to the process by one of the identifiers that identifier is removed from that list, and, otherwise, a region of the memory is allocated with a size of the identified associated size value and the allocated region of the memory is identified the process.