Patents by Inventor Derek R. White

Derek R. White has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7882505
    Abstract: In a multi-processor multi-threaded computer system, resources are dynamically assigned during program operation to either threads or processors in such a manner that resource usage is maximized. In one embodiment, the choice of whether to assign resources to threads or processors is dependent on the number of threads versus the number of processors. In another embodiment, when the system is operating in one assignment mode, the amount of wasted resources is measured and when this measured amount exceeds a predetermined threshold based on the maximum resources that could be wasted were the system operating in the other assignment mode, the assignment is switched to the other assignment mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Garthwaite, David Dice, Derek R. White
  • Patent number: 6253215
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide a program component including a set of instructions native to the system, include in the set of native instructions an instruction to maintain information on use of a particular object, and permit reuse of memory resources corresponding to the particular object based on an indication from a source that the particular object is no longer being used, the source being different from any source used to provide information on use of objects associated with non-native instructions of the program component. Additionally, garbage collection is not permitted during native code operations to read or write data in object fields because during such operations an indication exists that such collection may be inaccurate and could possibly reclaim or relocate objects referenced by native code though not specified as such in the native code stack and global variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems
    Inventors: Ole Agesen, David L. Detlefs, Derek R. White
  • Patent number: 6005566
    Abstract: A graphical user interface comprises aspect and style elements for controlling the type of information associated with objects displayed on a display screen of a computer system when browsing through the objects. The aspect element controls the particular type of information displayed for an object on a portion of a window, called a pane, while the style element controls the types of information displayed for all objects within that pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Jones, Neil L. Mayle, Paige K. Parsons, Andrew L. M. Shalit, William W. St. Clair, Jr., Oliver W. Steele, Steven H. Strassmann, Derek R. White
  • Patent number: 5873104
    Abstract: A partially relocated object identifier store including "copy from" identifier and "copy to" identifier storage accessible to write barrier logic allows the write barrier logic to maintain consistency between FromSpace and ToSpace instances of a partially relocated memory object without software trap handler overhead. Optional "How far" indication storage facilitates differentiation by the write barrier logic between a copied portion and an uncopied portion of the partially relocated memory object. An optional "mode" indication facilitates differentiation by the write barrier logic between a copy phase and a pointer update phase of relocation by the garbage collector implementation. In some embodiments, pointer update and copying phases may overlap. "Copy to" identifier storage facilitates broadcast of a store-oriented memory access to the FromSpace instance to both FromSpace and ToSpace instances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Tremblay, James Michael O'Connor, Guy L. Steele, Jr., Sanjay Vishin, Ole Agesen, Steven Heller, Derek R. White
  • Patent number: 5873105
    Abstract: A write barrier to stores into a partially relocated large or popular memory object facilitates bounded pause time implementations of relocating garbage collectors, including e.g., copying collectors, generational collectors, and collectors providing compaction. Such a write barrier allows a garbage collector implementation to interrupt relocation of large or popular memory objects so as to meet bounded pause time guarantees. A partially relocated object identifier store including "copy from" identifier storage accessible to write barrier logic allows the write barrier logic to maintain consistency between FromSpace and ToSpace instances of a partially relocated memory object. "Copy from" identifier storage allows the write barrier logic, or a trap handler responsive thereto, to broadcast a store-oriented memory access targeting the FromSpace instance to both FromSpace and ToSpace instances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Tremblay, James Michael O'Connor, Guy L. Steele, Jr., Sanjay Vishin, Ole Agesen, Steven Heller, Derek R. White
  • Patent number: 5857210
    Abstract: A partially relocated object identifier store including "copy from" and "copy to" identifier storage accessible to write and read barrier logic allows the write and read barrier logic to selectively direct store- and load-oriented accesses to an appropriate FromSpace or ToSpace instance of a partially relocated memory object, in accordance with the memory object's partial relocation state. In some embodiments, the barriers trap to a partially relocated object trap handler. In other embodiments, the write barrier itself directs accesses without software trap handler overheads. Optional "how far" indication storage facilitates differentiation by the barrier logic, or by the partially relocated object trap handler, between a copied portion and an uncopied portion of the partially relocated memory object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Tremblay, James Michael O'Connor, Guy L. Steele, Jr., Sanjay Vishin, Ole Agesen, Steven Heller, Derek R. White