Method and apparatus for dynamically deoptimizing compiled activations

Patent 6601235 Issued on July 29, 2003. Estimated Expiration Date:

April 27, 2021. 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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Inventors

Application

No. 844545 filed on 04/27/2001

US Classes:

717/151, Optimization707/103R, Object-oriented database structure717/140, Compiling code717/141, Analysis of code form717/145, Including recompilation717/153Dynamic (i.e., machine or object level)

Examiners

Primary: Morse, Gregory
Assistant: Das, Chameli C.

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.

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