Abstract: There is provided a memory protection system comprising: address storage means storing the start and end addresses of each of a plurality of memory segments; control data storage means storing control data indicative of a type of permitted access to each of the plurality of memory segments; comparison means for comparing said start and end addresses with addresses of a selected memory portion to which a processor seeks access; and combination means for logically combining access data indicative of the type of access sought by the processor to the selected memory portion with said control data; wherein the comparison and combination results are indicative of whether or not the access to the selected memory portion sought by the processor is allowable. The present invention provides for the access protection of memory segments of any required size, both large and small.

Abstract: There is provided a method of managing a data memory in order to improve the processing of memory allocation requests. Memory segments are associated with different levels according to their size. A different granule size to the power of two is defined for each level. The granule size defines the range of segment sizes associated with each level. A multiple-stage bitmap is provided which indicates which of the levels contains free segments and the size of free segments. The bitmap is updated each time a memory segment is freed or allocated. Thereby, a deterministic “Best Fit” approach is provided which permits the allocation and release of memory segments at both task and interrupt level and which reduces memory fragmentation.

Abstract: Methods and systems of testing an operating system are described. The operating system is invoked to create a process, the process having a first thread. A test function is repetitively executed in a first thread of the process. These steps are repeated to create processes and to execute the test function in parallel and repetitively in the first thread of the created processes until a given condition is satisfied. For example, the given condition can be a condition in which the operating system resources are exhausted.

Abstract: A method and system for managing data of a debug operation. A debugging system comprises a reserved memory comprising a plurality of portions of reserved memory, a mass memory, and a log management component for recording received data of a debug operation in at least one portion of the plurality of portions of the reserved memory. The log management component may also be configured for copying the data from at least a partially filled portion of the plurality of portions of the reserved memory to the mass memory in response to a drain condition, such that the data is copied to the mass memory in a non-intrusive manner.

Abstract: Methods and systems of testing an operating system are described. The operating system is invoked to create a process, the process having a first thread. A test function is repetitively executed in a first thread of the process. These steps are repeated to create processes and to execute the test function in parallel and repetitively in the first thread of the created processes until a given condition is satisfied. For example, the given condition can be a condition in which the operating system resources are exhausted.

Abstract: An interrupt mechanism for an operating system is portable to different data processing hardware. The interrupt mechanism includes a software interrupt management component which manages at least one software interrupt process and buffers system parameters in an interrupt stack during the software interrupt processing. The management component is configured to be hardware independent. A hardware dependent component is operable to select the interrupt stack and then to call the management component for managing software interrupt processing. The hardware dependent interface also deselects the interrupt stack on completion of software interrupt processing. It is thus possible to provide generic management process for software interrupts with a minimum of "glue" code.