Method and apparatus for atomically changing selected bits within a register
US6907484B2 · kind B2 · utility
1Cited by
5References
24Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/30018
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates atomically updating selected bits within a register in a computing system. During operation, the system receives a command to update selected bits within the register. This command includes a data word and a control bit pattern. Next, the system examines the control bit pattern to determine an operation to be performed on the register. The system then performs the operation, which involves using the dataword to modify a content of the register atomically, without blocking subsequent commands to update the register.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.