Method and apparatus for token triggered multithreading
US6842848B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 11, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3851
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques for token triggered multithreading in a multithreaded processor are disclosed. An instruction issuance sequence for a plurality of threads of the multithreaded processor is controlled by associating with each of the threads at least one register which stores a value identifying a next thread to be permitted to issue one or more instructions, and utilizing the stored value to control the instruction issuance sequence. For example, each of a plurality of hardware thread units of the multithreaded processor may include a corresponding local register updatable by that hardware thread unit, with the local register for a given one of the hardware thread units storing a value identifying the next thread to be permitted to issue one or more instructions after the given hardware thread unit has issued one or more instructions. A global register arrangement may also or alternatively be used. The processor may be configured so as to permit the instruction issuance sequence to correspond to an arbitrary alternating even-odd sequence of threads, without introducing blocking conditions leading to thread stalls.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.