Patent · US Expired

Providing external interrupt serialization compatibility in a multiprocessing environment for software written to run in a uniprocessor environment

US5560018A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
19References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 16, 1994
Grant dateSep 24, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 16, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F13/24
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus provide external interrupt serialization compatibility for a multiprocessing environment so that software written to run in a uniprocessor environment can run without degradation caused by inadequate or improper handling. When a processor receives an external interrupt, the interrupt manager will acquire an external interrupt spinlock. Once acquired, the interrupt manager will transfer control to the external interrupt service routine and upon return from that routine, the interrupt manager will release the external interrupt spinlock. Also, protection of processor execution state in a multiprocessor environment is provided using the same spinlock.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.