Patents by Inventor Michael Swafford

Michael Swafford 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).

  • Overwrite detection diagnostic for memory heap
    Patent number: 7434020
    Abstract: A data structure within a block of allocable memory of a memory structure such as a heap is used to store an overwrite detection pattern. When memory is passed back to the operation system for any reason (typically freeing the memory, reallocating a larger/smaller buffer, or querying the size of the allocation), the overwrite detection pattern is usually checked. If the overwrite pattern has been modified, an access violation can be forced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Swafford, Kevin Charles Chase
  • Dynamic memory heap tagging
    Patent number: 7350045
    Abstract: A data structure within a block of allocable memory of a memory structure such as a heap is used to identify the function that is responsible for causing memory problems such as random overwrites, buffer overruns, double or multiple “frees,” and the like. The data structure can use the return address of the function that allocates or frees the allocable memory block to identify the caller. An identifier for the function is generated and stored in the allocable memory block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Swafford, Kevin Charles Chase
  • Runtime detection for invalid use of zero-length memory allocations
    Publication number: 20070136547
    Abstract: Methods for handling zero-length allocations are disclosed. An example of such a method may include returning a self-describing/diagnosing dynamic address that has all the properties required for a secure implementation. Another example may include returning a series of different addresses (instead of a single address per process) to improve supportability. Yet another example may include maintaining diagnostic information about the original allocation for ease of problem resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Swafford
  • Overwrite detection diagnostic for memory heap
    Publication number: 20050144412
    Abstract: A data structure within a block of allocable memory of a memory structure such as a heap is used to store an overwrite detection pattern. When memory is passed back to the operation system for any reason (typically freeing the memory, reallocating a larger/smaller buffer, or querying the size of the allocation), the overwrite detection pattern is usually checked. If the overwrite pattern has been modified, an access violation can be forced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Swafford, Kevin Chase
  • Dynamic memory heap tagging
    Publication number: 20050144410
    Abstract: A data structure within a block of allocable memory of a memory structure such as a heap is used to identify the function that is responsible for causing memory problems such as random overwrites, buffer overruns, double or multiple “frees,” and the like. The data structure can use the return address of the function that allocates or frees the allocable memory block to identify the caller. An identifier for the function is generated and stored in the allocable memory block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Swafford, Kevin Chase