Apparatus and method for efficient sharing of virtual memory translations

A computer that shares virtual memory translations, said computer comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• an operating system executing in conjunction with said central processing unit, said operating system being programmed to include
• an address identification routine to identify a plurality of distinct virtual memory translation entries, associated with a plurality of distinct processes running on said computer, that map to one or more common physical memory page addresses, said address identification routine defining said plurality of distinct virtual memory translation entries as an equivalency class,
• a mask assignment routine to assign a first mask value to said plurality of distinct virtual memory translation entries, and
• a write routine to write said plurality of distinct virtual memory translation entries as a single address associated with said first mask value;
• and
• a comparison mechanism, operating in conjunction with said central processing unit and said operating system, to compare a second mask value of a translation-request virtual memory translation value to said first mask value to determine whether said second mask value corresponds to said first mask value and thereby determine whether said translation-request virtual memory translation value corresponds to said common physical memory page address.