Data-processing circuit and method for switching between application programs without an operating system
US7137121B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4843
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data-processing circuit includes first and second cooperating processors where one of the processors context switches between applications without running an operating system. In one implementation, the first processor operates under the control of an operating system to switch back and forth between executing a first application or portion thereof and executing a second application or portion thereof. And the second processor operates in a stand-alone mode to switch back and forth between the first application or a portion thereof and the second application or a portion thereof. In another implementation, the first processor runs a single application or portion thereof but no operating system, and the second processor operates in a stand-alone mode to switch back and forth between different applications or different portions of the same or different applications. Such a data-processing circuit allows multiple processors to run multiple applications and/or portions thereof “simultaneously” while at least one of the processors is operating in a stand-alone mode to reduce or eliminate operating-system overhead.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.