Computer system and method for constant pool operations
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorRichard Kenneth McGuire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer system has one or more program classes loaded in it. Each class includes a constant pool which is used for storing data items related to the program class. At least some of these data items need to undergo a resolution before they can be used, which transforms them from their initially loaded value into a usable value. In accordance with the invention, the system maintains both the unresolved value and the resolved value in the constant pool entry for a resolved data item. This allows the resolution process to be performed without using locks, thereby avoiding potential system delays due to contention for locks.
Claims24
A method of operating a computer system having one or more program classes loaded therein, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a constant pool for storing data items related to a program class;
- performing a resolution on at least some of the data items in the constant pool, said resolution transforming a data item from an unresolved value as loaded to a resolved value such that the data item can be utilised by a program;
- and
- maintaining both the unresolved value and the resolved value in the constant pool entry for a resolved data item.
A computer system having one or more program classes loaded therein, and further comprising:
- a constant pool for storing data items related to a program class;
- means for performing a resolution on at least some of the data items in the constant pool, said resolution transforming a data item from an unresolved value as loaded to a resolved value such that the data item can be utilised by a program;
- wherein said constant pool includes fields for maintaining both the unresolved value and the resolved value in the constant pool entry for a resolved data item.
A computer program product comprising program instructions on a medium which when loaded into a computer system having one or more program classes loaded therein will cause the computer to perform a method comprising the steps of:
- providing a constant pool for storing data items related to a program class;
- performing a resolution on at least some of the data items in the constant pool, said resolution transforming a data item from an unresolved value as loaded to a resolved value such that the data item can be utilised by a program;
- and
- maintaining both the unresolved value and the resolved value in the constant pool entry for a resolved data item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.