Method apparatus for implementing multiple return sites
US6553426B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4486
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for efficiently enabling an alternate return address associated with a function call to essentially be stored such that the alternate return address may be readily accessed are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for enabling a return address associated with a function called by a routine to be efficiently stored includes calling the function from within the routine while the routine is executing. In general, the function is external to the routine. The function, once called, begins executing. Eventually, the function returns to the routine. Specifically, the function returns to a location in the routine that is identified by an expected return point, or normal return address. The instruction in the routine that corresponds to the expected return point is a dummy instruction that executes with a low computational overhead but does not affect program execution. When the called function is to return to an alternate return point, it obtains the address by reading data embedded in the dummy instruction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.