Mechanism to save and restore cache and translation trace for fast context switch
US7634642B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 6, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 4, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/461
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for efficient context switching are provided. An execution entity that is to be context switched out is allowed to continue executing for a predetermined period of time before being context switched out. During the predetermined period of time in which the execution entity continues to execute, the hardware or an operating system tracks and records its footprint such as the addresses and page and segment table entries and the like accessed by the continued execution. When the execution entity is being context switched back in, its page and segment table and cache states are reloaded for use in its immediate execution.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.