Expanded memory space in environments including virtual machines

1. A method of accessing data, comprising:

executing a set of computer instructions in a first environment, wherein the first environment includes a shell virtual machine that has limited addressing capability to address memory up to a size limit and execute computer instructions that are capable of directly addressing memory up to the size limit;

specifying a set of data in a memory space of a second environment, wherein the memory space has a size that exceeds the size limit, the second environment is an environment separate from the first environment, wherein the second environment includes a core virtual machine that has greater addressing capability than the shell virtual machine included in the first environment; and

accessing from the first environment the set of data in the memory space of the second environment, the access includes using the limited addressing capability.

2. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first environment is a 32-bit environment and the second environment is a 64-bit environment.

3. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first environment and the second environment operate on the same device.

4. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first environment and the second environment operate on separate devices.

5. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , further comprising specifying a handle to the set of data.

6. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein accessing the set of data from the first environment includes specifying a handle for the set of data in the first environment.

7. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , further comprising specifying a handle to the set of data and storing the handle in the first environment.

8. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein accessing the set of data from the first environment includes performing a native interface call in the first environment.

9. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , further comprising specifying a handle to the set of data and storing the handle in the first environment, and wherein accessing the set of data from the first environment comprises translating the handle

10. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein accessing the set of data from the first environment includes cooperating with a core virtual machine operating in the second environment.

11. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein specifying the set of data is performed in a virtual machine.

12. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein specifying the set of data is performed in a segmented virtual machine.

13. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein the set of computer instructions include instructions native to the first environment.

14. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein the set of computer instructions target a virtual machine.

15. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein the set of data includes a Java object.

16. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein the set of data is specified by a program in the second environment, wherein the program is able to execute in the first environment without recompiling.

17. A method of accessing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein the set of data is specified by a program in the second environment, wherein the program is able to execute in the first environment without substantial modification to the program.

18. A computer program product for accessing data, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

executing a set of computer instructions in a first environment, wherein the first environment includes a shell virtual machine that has limited addressing capability to address memory up to a size limit and execute computer instructions that are capable of directly addressing memory up to the size limit; specifying a set of data in a memory space of a second environment, wherein the memory space has a size that exceeds the size limit, the second environment is an environment separate from the first environment, wherein the second environment includes a core virtual machine that has greater addressing capability than the shell virtual machine included in the first environment; and

accessing from the first environment the set of data in the memory space of the second environment, the access includes using the limited addressing capability.

19. A system for accessing data, comprising:

a shell virtual machine operating in a first environment comprising a first processor, wherein the shell virtual machine has limited addressing capability to address memory up to a size limit and execute computer instructions that are capable of directly addressing memory up to the size limit; and

a core virtual machine operating in a second environment comprising a second processor, wherein:

the core virtual machine is configured to specify a set of data in a memory space of a second environment and to allow access of the set of data from the first environment, wherein the memory space has a size that exceeds the size limit, the second environment is an environment separate from the first environment, and the core virtual machine has greater addressing capability than the shell virtual machine included in the first environment.