Loop control flow diversion
US8887142B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 2010 |
| Grant date | Nov 11, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F8/452
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Loop control flow diversion supports thread synchronization, garbage collection, and other situations involving suspension of long-running loops. Divertible loops have a loop body, a loop top, an indirection cell containing a loop top address, and a loop jump instruction sequence which references the indirection cell. In normal execution, control flows through the indirection cell to the loop top. After the indirection cell is altered, however, execution flow is diverted to a point away from the loop top. Operations such as garbage collection are performed while the loop (and hence the thread(s) using the loop) is thus diverted. The kernel or another thread then restores the loop top address into the indirection cell, and execution flow again continues through the restored indirection cell to the loop top.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.