EP0138352A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of operating a data processing system via depictor-linked microcode and logic circuitry
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1984-08-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-08-31
Abstract
Abstract © A method of operating a data processing system includes the steps of: executing one high level language software program until an instruction is encountered which calls and activity; sensing whether said encountered instruction is linked to the activity which it calls by a first type or a second type depictor; executing another high level language software program for performing the called activity if the sensing step detects the first type depictor; and activating a low level language microcode program or hardware logic circuit for performing the called activity if the sensing step detects the second type depictor.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard Hunt Green
- 👤 Christopher Jerome Tomlinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/448; G06F9/4482; G06F9/4484; G06F9/4486
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of operating a data processing system including the steps of: storing, in a memory means, one software program that contains first and second instructions which respectively call first and second activities; linking said first instruction via one type of depictor to another software program that performs said first activity, and linking said second instruction via a different type of depictor to a non-software means that performs said second activity; executing said one software program until either said first or second instruction is encountered; sensing whether said encountered instruction is linked to its activity by said one type or said different type depictor; and executing said another software program if said sensing step detects said one type depictor; and activating said non-software means if said sensing step detects said different type depictor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of operating a data processing system including the steps of: storing, in a memory means, one software program that contains first and second instructions which respectively call first and second activities; linking said first instruction via one type of depictor to another software program that performs said first activity, and linking said second instruction via a different type of depictor to a non-software means that performs said second activity; executing said one software program until either said first or second instruction is encountered; sensing whether said encountered instruction is linked to its activity by said one type or said different type depictor; and executing said another software program if said sensing step detects said one type depictor; and activating said non-software means if said sensing step detects said different type depictor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein said activating step includes the substep of executing a microcode program in response to the sensing of said different type depictor to perform the activity called by said encountered instruction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein said activating step includes the substep of sending parameters to a hardware logic means in response to the sensing of said different type depictor to perform the activity called by said encountered instruction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein said linking step includes the substep of writing an address of said another software program into said one type depictor and writing an address of a microcode program into said different type depictor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein said linking step includes the substep of writing an address of said another software program into said one type depictor and writing an address of a hardware logic means into said different type depictor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of operating a data processing system including the steps of: executing one software program until an instruction is encountered which calls an activity; sensing whether said encountered instruction is linked to the activity which it calls by a first type or a second type depictor; executing another software program for performing the called activity if said sensing step detects said first type depictor; and activating a non-software means for performing said called activity if said sensing step detects said second type depictor.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of operating a data processing system including the steps of: executing one software program until an instruction is encountered which calls an activity; sensing whether said encountered instruction is linked to the activity which it calls by a first type or a second type depictor; executing another software program for performing the called activity if said sensing step detects said first type depictor; and activating a non-software means for performing said called activity if said sensing step detects said second type depictor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to Claim 6 wherein said activating step includes the substep of executing a microcode program in response to the sensing of said second type depictor to perform the activity called by said encountered instruction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to Claim 6 wherein said activating step includes the substep of sending parameters to a hardware logic means in response to the sensing of said second type depictor to perform the activity called by said encountered instruction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to Claim 6 wherein said sensing step is performed by executing a set of microcode commands.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to Claim 6 and further including the step of repeating all of the steps of Claim 6 until the execution of said one software program is complete.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
A data processing system comprising: a memory means containing a software program for a computer means to execute; said program including first and second instructions which respectively call first and second activities to perform predetermined tasks; first and second depictor means which respectively correspond to said first and second activities; said first depictor means including a first code and a pointer to another software program for performing said first activity; and said second depictor means including a second code and a pointer to a non-software means for performing said second activity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A data processing system comprising: a memory means containing a software program for a computer means to execute; said program including first and second instructions which respectively call first and second activities to perform predetermined tasks; first and second depictor means which respectively correspond to said first and second activities; said first depictor means including a first code and a pointer to another software program for performing said first activity; and said second depictor means including a second code and a pointer to a non-software means for performing said second activity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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