Switching between multiple software entities using different operating modes of a processor
US8266628B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/45554
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The computer program includes a virtualization software that is executable on the new processor in the legacy mode. The new processor includes a legacy instruction set for a legacy operating mode and a new instruction set for a new operation mode. The switching includes switching from the new instruction set to the legacy instruction set and switching paging tables. Each of the new operating mode and the legacy operating mode has separate paging tables. The switch routine is incorporated in a switch page that is locked in physical memory. The switch page has a first section to store a part of switching instructions conforming to the new instruction set and a second section to store another part of the switching instructions conforming to the legacy instruction set.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.