Hardware Memory Manager Accelerator for Reducing Fragmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory management systems in electronic devices face inefficiencies in memory allocation, reclamation, and compaction, leading to fragmentation, increased reclamation time, and decreased execution speed due to fixed page sizes and ineffective page continuity checks.
Innovation Solution
A hardware memory manager accelerator that separates memory allocation, reclamation, and compaction functions from software management, using zone and page information to efficiently allocate memory, select consecutive pages for reclamation, and compact memory, thereby reducing fragmentation and improving allocation rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If software-based memory management is used, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but execution speed decreases and memory allocation efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hardware memory manager accelerator as an intermediary component between the OS and physical memory. This accelerator includes dedicated hardware modules for memory allocation, reclamation, and compiction that operate in parallel with the software memory manager, thereby improving execution speed and allocation efficiency without sacrificing the flexibility of software-based management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely software-based memory management operations with hardware-accelerated operations. Specifically, the hardware memory manager accelerator uses dedicated circuitry to perform memory allocation, reclamation, and compiction functions that were previously handled entirely by software, thereby significantly improving execution speed.
2Productivity
If fixed page sizes are used for memory management, then simplicity is maintained, but memory fragmentation increases and allocation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic page sizing capability in the hardware memory manager accelerator. The accelerator can adaptively adjust page sizes based on allocation requests and memory conditions, moving from fixed to variable page sizes. This dynamic approach improves memory allocation efficiency and reduces fragmentation while maintaining manageable complexity through hardware automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables changeable page size parameters in the memory management system. The hardware memory manager accelerator can modify page size parameters dynamically based on workload requirements, allowing the system to optimize between small and large pages as needed, thereby improving allocation efficiency without permanent complexity increases.
3Stability of the object's composition
If frequent reclamation and compaction operations are performed, then memory fragmentation is reduced, but execution speed decreases and system performance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or trigger-based reclamation and compaction operations in the hardware memory manager accelerator instead of continuous operations. The accelerator monitors memory conditions and performs reclamation/compaction only when thresholds are met or at scheduled intervals, thereby maintaining memory continuity while minimizing performance degradation from frequent operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hardware memory manager accelerator autonomously performs reclamation and compaction operations without requiring frequent software intervention. The accelerator self-manages memory fragmentation by continuously monitoring and automatically executing compaction when needed, reducing the overall frequency of disruptive operations while maintaining memory stability.
4Productivity
If hardware-based memory management accelerator is introduced, then memory allocation efficiency and execution speed are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware memory manager accelerator is designed as a universal component that handles multiple memory management functions (allocation, reclamation, compiction) within a single integrated hardware unit. This multi-functionality approach improves allocation efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity, as one hardware module performs what would otherwise require multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the memory allocation, reclamation, and compiction functions into a single integrated hardware memory manager accelerator. By combining these previously separate operations into one unified hardware component, the system achieves improved allocation efficiency while controlling overall complexity through integration rather than proliferation of separate modules.
Data Source
AI summary
A hardware-based memory management apparatus and method is provided. The apparatus includes a memory allocation module, a memory reclamation module, and a memory compaction module, based on hardware to accelerate a memory manger of an operating system. The method manages memory using the memory allocation module, memory reclamation module, and memory compaction module.