Memory Allocation Visualization Using Space-Filling Curve Tiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory profiling tools face challenges in efficiently processing large numbers of memory allocation events, particularly in memory-intensive applications like video games, due to the inefficiencies of conventional database searching techniques for memory allocation information.
Innovation Solution
The use of a space-filling curve to map time and memory address information to one-dimensional keys, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval of memory allocation data using tile information, which is indexed and queried using search trees, enabling rapid generation of visualizations at interactive frame rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional database searching techniques are used to process memory allocation information, then the system can handle memory profiling data, but the processing efficiency deteriorates when dealing with large numbers of allocation events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the two-dimensional space of (time, memory address) into a one-dimensional space using a space-filling curve (such as Hilbert or Morton curve). This dimensionality change allows efficient indexing and querying of memory allocation events by mapping multidimensional data points to a single continuous dimension, thereby improving processing efficiency when dealing with large numbers of allocation events.
2Measurement precision
If memory allocation information is captured for detailed analysis, then debugging and optimization insights are improved, but the time required to process and visualize the data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-processes memory allocation information by organizing it into a spatial index structure based on space-filling curves before visualization is requested. This preliminary organization of data into efficiently queryable structures allows rapid retrieval and processing when visualization is needed, reducing the time loss between data capture and analysis while maintaining detailed measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus comprises input circuitry to receive memory allocation information for a plurality of memory allocations comprising time information and memory address information for a respective memory allocation, mapping circuitry to map the time information and the memory address information for the respective memory allocation to a one-dimensional key of a space-filling curve, storage circuitry to store tile information comprising a plurality of tiles, a respective tile corresponding to a portion of the two-dimensional space and comprising entries associated with keys corresponding to that portion of the two-dimensional space, selection circuitry to select at least some of the tile information in dependence on a user input, and image processing circuitry to generate one or more images for display in dependence on the at least some of the tile information.