Memory management techniques for on-line replaceable software

Patent 6199203 Issued on March 6, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date:

July 21, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Saboff, Michael L.

Application

No. 120261 filed on 07/21/1998

US Classes:

717/168, SOFTWARE UPGRADING OR UPDATING711/100, STORAGE ACCESSING AND CONTROL717/170Plural version management

Examiners

Primary: Chaki, Kakali

International Class

G06F 009/445

Abstract

A system for managing the memory of a software component, such as a software library, such that the state of the software component is preserved after an update to the software component. There are two special types of memory allocated within the software component: transient memory and enduring memory. Memory needed to be preserved between two calls of the library is allocated as enduring memory. Transient memory persists until it is freed or when the software component is deleted, whichever comes first. Upon updating to a new version of a software component, the transient memory is released, while the enduring memory is preserved for use by the new version.