Method for managing virtual memory
Disclosed is a method for managing, in a computer system including a peripheral device and its driver, a virtual memory of a using application of the peripheral device which can access the virtual memory of the using application, the management method including: the creation, in the virtual memory of the using application, of a virtual memory pool which is accessible to the peripheral device but inaccessible to the using application; and the creation of a management application that is separate from the using application and is dedicated to the allocation of at least this virtual memory pool and to the releasing of at least this virtual memory pool.
1. Method for managing, in a computer system including a peripheral device ( 3 ) and a driver ( 4 ) for the peripheral device, a virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of a using application ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ) which can access the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), wherein the management method comprises:
creating, in the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), a virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) which is accessible to the peripheral device ( 3 ) and inaccessible to the using application ( 6 , 7 ),
creating a management application ( 5 ) that is separate from the using application ( 6 , 7 ) and is dedicated to the allocation of at least this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and to the releasing of at least this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), wherein the management application ( 5 ) is created by the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).
2. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the management application ( 5 ) is registered in the peripheral device ( 3 ) when it is created by the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).
3. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 2 , wherein the allocation of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) are done dynamically at the request of the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).
4. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 2 , wherein the allocation of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), in the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), for one or more using applications ( 6 , 7 ), are the only functions of the management application ( 5 ).
5. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the allocation of this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) are done dynamically at the request of the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).
6. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the allocation of this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), in the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), for one or more using applications ( 6 , 7 ), are the only functions of the management application ( 5 ).
7. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the using application ( 6 , 7 ) has been previously and specifically configured to allow the peripheral device ( 3 ) to access the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of this using application ( 6 , 7 ).
8. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device ( 3 ) uses the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) exclusively for the purposes of the corresponding using application ( 6 , 7 ).
9. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the management application ( 5 ) manages virtual memory pools ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) of a plurality of using applications ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).
10. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) occupies less than 1% of the memory space of the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) in which the virtual memory pool is stored.
11. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ) stores information, in the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), which is specific to the using application ( 6 , 7 ) and which can enable access to other using applications ( 6 , 7 ) if the information is modified.
12. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 11 , wherein the information is commands and/or table entries.
13. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device ( 3 ) is a network peripheral device enabling data exchanges between using applications ( 6 , 7 ).
14. Computer system comprising computer members interconnected so as to be able to carry out the method for managing virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of a using application ( 6 , 7 ) of a peripheral device ( 3 ) according to claim 1 .
15. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the allocation of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) are done dynamically at the request of the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).
16. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the allocation of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), in the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), for one or more using applications ( 6 , 7 ), are the only functions of the management application ( 5 ).
17. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the management application ( 5 ) manages virtual memory pools ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) of a plurality of using applications ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ), all using applications ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).
18. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the management application ( 5 ) manages the virtual memory pools ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) of a plurality of using applications ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ), all using applications ( 6 , 7 ) of some or all peripheral devices ( 3 ) of the computer system.
19. Computer system comprising:
a peripheral device ( 3 ),
a driver ( 4 ) for the peripheral device ( 3 ),
a using application ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ),
a virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ),
the using application ( 6 , 7 ) being associated with the peripheral device ( 3 ) such that the peripheral device ( 3 ) can access the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), wherein the computer system further comprises:
a management application ( 5 ), separate from the using application ( 6 , 7 ), dedicated to the allocation of at least one virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and to the release of at least the at least one virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), wherein the management application ( 5 ) is created by the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ),
the at least one virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) is located in the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ) while being accessible to the peripheral device ( 3 ) and inaccessible to the using application ( 6 , 7 ).