Data processing unit with hardware assisted context switching capability
US6128641A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/462
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of context switching from a first task to a second task in a data processing unit having a register file with a plurality of general purpose registers and a context switch register, a memory comprising a previous context save area and an unused context save area. The memory is coupled with the register file and an instruction control unit with a program counter register and a program status word register coupled with the memory and the register file. The method comprises the steps of acquiring a new save area from said unused save area, storing the context of the first task in said new area, linking the new area with said previous context save area.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.