Microcontroller for memory management unit
US9792220B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 27, 2013 |
| Grant date | Oct 17, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 21, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/684
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention includes a microcontroller coupled to a memory management unit (MMU). The MMU is coupled to a page table included in a physical memory, and the microcontroller is configured to perform one or more virtual memory operations associated with the physical memory and the page table. In operation, the microcontroller receives a page fault generated by the MMU in response to an invalid memory access via a virtual memory address. To remedy such a page fault, the microcontroller performs actions to map the virtual memory address to an appropriate location in the physical memory. By contrast, in prior-art systems, a fault handler would typically remedy the page fault. Advantageously, because the microcontroller executes these tasks locally with respect to the MMU and the physical memory, latency associated with remedying page faults may be decreased. Consequently, overall system performance may be increased.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.