GPU assisted garbage collection

A method for garbage collection, the method comprising:

• sending a garbage collection request to free space in a memory and a first log from a general purpose central processing unit (CPU) to a special processing unit (SPU), in response to determining a garbage collection initiate condition is satisfied;
• creating a representation of the memory in a local memory within the SPU;
• performing by the SPU a first set of operations corresponding to a garbage collection algorithm on data objects within the local memory representing data objects identified by the first log;
• recording a second set of operations in a second log, wherein the second set reorganizes the data objects in the local memory to free space within the local memory;
• wherein in response to receiving the second log from the SPU, the method further comprises the CPU performing operations identified by the second log to free space in the memory.

A computing system comprising:

• a first processing node comprising a general purpose central processing unit (CPU);
• a memory coupled to the first processing node;
• and
• a second processing node comprising a special processing unit (SPU);
• wherein the CPU is configured to send a garbage collection request to free space in the memory and a first log to the SPU, in response to determining a garbage collection initiate condition is satisfied;
• and
• wherein in response to receiving the garbage collection request, the SPU is configured to:
• create a representation of the memory in a local memory within the SPU;
• perform a first set of operations corresponding to a garbage collection algorithm on data objects within the local memory representing data objects identified by the first log;
• and
• record a second set of operations in a second log, wherein the second set reorganizes the data objects in the local memory to free space within the local memory;
• wherein in response to receiving the second log from the SPU, the CPU is configured to perform operations identified by the second log to free space in the memory.