Method and system for providing improved memory management in a portable computing device (pcd)

A memory management method for a portable computing device, comprising:

• providing a processor and an operating system;
• coupling the operating system and the processor to a hardware allocator;
• with the processor, executing an application program;
• generating one or more memory requests with at least one of the processor, the application program, and the operating system;
• receiving the one or more memory requests with the hardware allocator;
• the hardware allocator allocating memory in a first virtual memory and in a second virtual memory based on the one or more memory requests;
• and
• the hardware allocator allocating physical memory in a main memory device based on the memory requests.

A memory management system for a portable computing device, comprising:

• a plurality of processors;
• each processor executing an application program;
• an operating system for supporting functions of the processors and the application programs;
• and
• a hardware allocator coupled to the operating system and the processor;
• the hardware allocator further comprises a plurality of local allocators, each local allocator being assigned to a single, different processor;
• the hardware allocator receiving one or more memory requests from at least one of the operating system, an application program, and the processors;
• the hardware allocator allocating memory in a first virtual memory and in a second virtual memory based on the memory requests;
• the hardware allocator allocating physical memory in a main memory device based on the memory requests.