Forward progress mechanism for a multithreaded processor
US8117618B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 12, 2007 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4881
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A processing device includes a storage component configured to store instructions associated with a corresponding thread of a plurality of threads, and an execution unit configured to fetch and execute instructions. The processing device further includes a period timer comprising an output to provide an indicator in response to a count value of the period timer reaching a predetermined value based on a clock signal. The processing device additionally includes a plurality of thread forward-progress counter components, each configured to adjust a corresponding execution counter value based on an occurrence of a forward-progress indicator while instructions of a corresponding thread are being executed. The processing device further includes a thread select module configured to select threads of the plurality of threads for execution by the execution unit based a state of the period timer and a state of each of the plurality of thread forward-progress counter components.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.