Method and apparatus for dynamically controlling address space allocation

An apparatus for managing a memory address space in a memory system, said memory system having a plurality of block address translation entries, each entry defining a portion of the memory address space, comprising:

• a) means for determining that a received virtual address references a portion of the memory address space not defined by any of the block address translation entries;
• b) means for reallocating at least one of said block address translation entries to define a part of the memory address space that includes the portion of the memory space referenced by said received virtual address;
• and
• c) means for providing a physical address matching the virtual address by using the reallocated block address translation entries.

A computer system comprising:

• a) a microprocessor for processing data;
• and
• b) memory for storing data to be processed by said microprocessor;
• and
• c) a memory system for managing a memory address space, said memory system having a plurality of block address translation entries, each entry defining a portion of the memory address space, said memory system including:
• i) means for determining that a received virtual address references a portion of the memory address space not defined by any of the block address translation entries;
• ii) means for reallocating at least one of said block address translation entries to define a part of the memory address space that includes the portion of the memory space referenced by said received virtual address;
• and
• iii) means for providing a physical address matching the virtual address by using the reallocated block address translation entries.