OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING MEMORY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK AND METHOD
An object-oriented memory management framework (10) and method therefor provide for a foreign pointer class (14, 400) and a foreign object class (12) each having a plurality of encapsulated methods and variables for memory management. The foreign pointer class (14) provides one or more instances of active, passive, and restrictive foreign pointers (274, 284, 292). The framework (10) further includes a foreign object class (12) for providing one or more instances of foreign objects (16), where each foreign object (16) encapsulated an active list variable (32), a passive list variable (36), and a restrictive list variable (34) for recording therein any foreign pointer pointing thereto.