Monitor entry and exit for a speculative thread during space and time dimensional execution
US6684398B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 16, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jan 27, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 3, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3842
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates entering and exiting a critical section of code for a speculative thread. The system supports a head thread that executes program instructions, and the speculative thread that speculatively executes program instructions in advance of the head thread. During an entry into the critical section by the speculative thread, the system increments a variable containing a number of virtual locks held by the speculative thread. Note that a virtual lock held by the speculative thread is associated with the critical section and is used to keep track of the fact that the speculative thread has entered the critical section. Also note that this virtual lock does not prevent the speculative thread or other threads from entering the critical section. During an exit from the critical section by the speculative thread, the system decrements the variable containing the number of virtual locks held by the speculative thread. The speculative eventually receives a request to perform a join operation with the head thread to merge state associated with the speculative thread into state associated with the head thread. Upon receiving…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.