Dynamic memory allocation in a computer using a bit map index

A method for allocating memory in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

• assigning portions of memory of equal size into one of a plurality of slots such that each slot includes zero or more memory blocks of equal size;
• generating a plurality of free lists, one for each slot, such that each free list identifies memory blocks, corresponding to a slot size, not currently in use;
• receiving a request, including a size, for a memory block;
• rounding up said size of said memory block requested to a nearest slot;
• searching one or more of said free lists to identify an available memory block to accommodate said memory block requested;
• and
• assigning a memory block not in use to accommodate said memory block requested.

A computer readable medium having a set of instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

• assigning portions of memory of equal size into one of a plurality of slots such that each slot includes zero or more memory blocks of equal size;
• generating a bit map index comprising a plurality of bit flags, wherein each bit flag corresponds to one of said slots and indicates availability of at least one memory block for a corresponding slot;
• receiving a request, including a size, for a memory block;
• searching for available memory in response to said request by examining one or more of said bit flags in said bit map index to identify an available memory block to accommodate said memory block requested;
• and
• assigning a memory block not in use to accommodate said memory block requested.

A computer system comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• system memory;
• a software program resident in said memory and executed by said central processing unit, for a request, including a size, for a memory block;
• and
• a dynamic memory allocator for assigning portions of memory of equal size into one of a plurality of slots such that each slot includes zero or more memory blocks of equal size, said dynamic memory allocator for generating a bit map index comprising a plurality of bit flags, wherein each bit flag corresponds to one of said slots and indicates availability of at least one memory block for a corresponding slot, for searching for available memory in response to said request by examining one or more of said bit flags in said bit map index to identify an available memory block to accommodate said memory block request, and for assigning a memory block not in use to accommodate said memory block requested.