Code execution utilizing single or multiple threads
US8612978B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 10, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 17, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 23, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/485
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A program is executed utilizing a main hardware thread. During execution, an instruction specifies to execute a portion utilizing a worker hardware thread. If a processor state indicator is set to multi-threaded, the specified portion is executed utilizing the worker hardware thread. However, if the processor state indicator is set to single-threaded, the specified portion is executed utilizing the main hardware thread as a subroutine. The main hardware thread may pass parameter data to the worker hardware thread by copying the parameter data register or memory location for the main hardware thread to an equivalent parameter data register or memory location for the worker hardware thread. Similarly, the worker hardware thread may pass return values to the main hardware thread by copying a return value register or memory location for the worker hardware thread to an equivalent return value register or memory location for the main hardware thread.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.