Memory Access Processing With Subpage Allocation to Reduce Fragmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lightweight operating systems lack memory protections, leading to system hangs due to page faults, and existing memory management techniques suffer from inefficiencies like external and internal fragmentation, which impair memory usage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method for memory access request processing that includes determining the validity of virtual memory addresses, allocating target virtual memory or physical memory spaces from a free memory pool, and managing memory using subpages and subframes to reduce fragmentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a lightweight operating system is used to reduce OS noise and ensure stable latency, then productivity and stability are improved, but memory protection capabilities deteriorate leading to system hangs due to page faults
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a memory management unit (MMU) as an intermediary component between the lightweight operating system and the hardware memory system. The MMU provides virtual memory management and page fault handling capabilities that the lightweight OS lacks, thereby enhancing memory protection without requiring a full-featured operating system. This mediator enables the lightweight OS to maintain its simplicity while gaining robust memory management functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional memory management techniques are used, then ease of implementation is improved, but memory usage efficiency deteriorates due to external and internal fragmentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a segmented memory management approach where memory is divided into pages and frames, with additional segmentation at the sub-page level. This multi-level segmentation allows for more granular control over memory allocation, reducing both external fragmentation (by allowing non-contiguous allocation) and internal fragmentation (by enabling partial page usage). The segmentation principle transforms the rigid traditional memory management into a flexible system that optimizes memory utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of memory allocation from fixed-size blocks to variable-size pages and sub-pages. By introducing configurable page sizes and sub-page granularities, the system can adapt memory allocation parameters to match actual workload requirements. This parameter change enables dynamic adjustment of memory management characteristics to balance between allocation efficiency and fragmentation reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments may relate to processing an access request to a memory. The access request to the memory may be based on a first virtual memory address. If a first physical memory address corresponding to the first virtual memory address is determined to be not acquired (e.g., based on a page table), it may be determined whether the first virtual memory address is a valid address. If the first virtual memory address is a valid address, a target virtual memory space or a target physical memory space for the access request may be allocated based on a free memory pool for the target kernel. The free memory pool may include currently allocated virtual and/or physical memory. The access request may be processed based on the allocated target virtual memory space or target physical memory space.