Method and apparatus for dynamically deoptimizing compiled activations

Patent 6240547 Issued on May 29, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date:

June 18, 2019. 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

Patent References

Transforming and manipulating program object code
Patent #: 6021272
Issued on: 02/01/2000
Inventor: Cahill, et al.

Java development environment using optimizing ahead-of-time compiler Patent #: 6110226
Issued on: 08/29/2000
Inventor: Bothner

Inventors

Application

No. 336123 filed on 06/18/1999

US Classes:

717/141, Analysis of code form717/118Bytecode (e.g., Java)

Examiners

Primary: Chaki, Kakali
Assistant: Chaudhuridas, Chameli

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Beyer Weaver & Thomas, LLP

International Class

G06F 009/45

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for dynamically deoptimizing a frame in a control stack during the execution of a computer program are disclosed. The described methods are particularly suitable for use in computer systems that are arranged to execute both interpreted and compiled byte codes. According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for deoptimizing a compiled method includes creating a data structure. The data structure, which is separate from the control stack, is arranged to store information relating to the compiled method. A reference indicator, such as a pointer, is created to associate the data structure with the frame. The method, which is compiled to a first state of optimization, is then deoptimized to a second state of optimization, and the method in the first state of optimization may be discarded, thereby deoptimizing the frame. When control returns to the deoptimized frame, a migration routine creates at least one new stack frame, and execution may continue using the method in the second state of optimization.

Other References

Title: Debugging optimized code with dynamic deoptimization, AU Hoelzle et al, ACM, 1992.
Title: A Third Generation SELF Implementation: Reconciling Responsiveness with Performance, AU Hoelzle, Urs, David Ungar, 1994, ACM.
Title: Optimizing Dynamically-Dispatched Call with Run-Time Type Feedback by Holzle et al in ACM, 1994.
Title: Reconciling Responsiveness with Performance in Pure Object-Oriented Languages by Holzle et al in ACM, 1996.
Holzle et al., "Debugging Optimized Code with Dynamic Deoptimization", Jun. 1992, ACM SIGPLAN '92 Conference on Programming Language Design and Implementation, San Francisco
A Third-Generation SELF Implementation: Reconciling Responsiveness with Performance by Holzle et al in ACM 0-89791-688-3/94/0010, Oct. 1994
Optimizing Dynamically-Dispatched Call with Run-Time Type Feedback by Holzle et al in ACM, 1994
Reconciling Responsivenes with Performance in Pure Object-Oriented Languages by Holzle et al in ACM, 199