Virtual execution of programs on a multiprocessor system

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said allocating step comprises the steps of: communicating a first packet from said initiating one of said processors to said file one of said processors to request that said first auxiliary process read a portion of said object code file; reading said portion of said object code file by said first auxiliary process; and communicating a second packet containing the read portion from said file one of said processors to said initiating one of said processors.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein one of said processors is designated a host processor for executing a function for managing processor assignment and said allocating step is further CHARACTERIZED BY communicating a third packet to said host one of processors to request assignment of one of said processors executing said new program; assigning one of said processors for executing said new program by the managing function; and communicating the assignment via a fourth packet to said initiating one of processors from said host one of said processors.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said portion of said object code file contains a first set of processor assignment parameters and said initiating processor has a second set of processor assignment parameters stored in a subset of said first primary process's process information and said third packet contains said first and second sets of processor assignment parameters and said assigning step comprises the steps of reading said sets of processor assignment parameters from said third packet; and designating said executing one of said processor for the processor assignment in response to said sets of processor assignment parameters.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said process information transforms said first primary process to function as a primary process and said transferring step comprises the steps of reading said process information by said initiating one of said processors; forming said process information into a fifth packet by said initiating one of said processors; and transmitting said fifth packet from said initiating one of said processors to said executing one of said processors.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said transforming step comprises steps of reading said process information from said fifth packet; storing said process information in said second auxiliary process; and converting said second auxiliary process into a second primary process.

Claim 8

Apparatus in a multiprocessor system for initiating the execution of a new program represented in a object code file and said multiprocessor system having a plurality of processors, CHARACTERIZED BY means for determining a file one of said processors associated with said object code file of said new program by a first primary process being executed by an initiating one of said processors; means for creating a first auxiliary process on said file one of said processors upon said file one of said processors having been determined to be different from said initiating one of said processors; means for allocating an exeucting one of said processors to execute said object code file of said new program; means for creating a second auxiliary process on said executing one of said processors upon said executing one of said processors being different from said initiating one of said processors; means for transferring process information from said first primary process to said second auxiliary process; means for transforming said second auxiliary process into a second primary process; and means for executing said object code file by said second primary process in conjunction with said first auxiliary process.

Claim 9

Apparatus in a multiprocessor system for initiating the execution of a new program represented in a object code file and said multiprocessor system having a plurality of processors, CHARACTERIZED BY means for determining a file one of said processors associated with said object code file of said new program by a first primary process being executed by an initiating one of said processors; means for creating a first auxiliary process on said file one of said processors upon said file one of said processors having been determined to be different from said initiating one of said processors; means for allocating an exeucting one of said processors to execute said object code file of said new program; means for creating a second auxiliary process on said executing one of said processors upon said executing one of said processors being different from said initiating one of said processors; means for transferring process information from said first primary process to said second auxiliary process; means for transforming said second auxiliary process into a second primary process; and means for executing said object code file by said second primary process in conjunction with said first auxiliary process.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said allocating means comprises: means for communicating a first packet from said initiating one of said processors to said file one of said processors to request that said first auxiliary process read a portion of said object code file; means for reading said portion of said object code file by said first auxiliary process; and means for communicating a second packet containing the read portion from said file one of said processors to said initiating one of said processors.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said apparatus has designated a host one of said processors and said host one of said processors executing a function for managing processor assignment and said allocating means further CHARACTERIZED BY means for communicating a third packet to said host one of said processors to request processor assignment for said new program; means for assigning one of said processors for executing said new program by the managing function; and means for communicating the assignment via a fourth packet to said initiating one of said processors from said host one of said processors.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said portion of said object code file contains a first set of processor assignment parameters and said initiating processor has a second set of processor assignment parameters stored in a subset of said first primary process's process information and said third packet contains said first and second sets of processor assignment parameters and said assigning means comprises means for reading said sets of processor assignment parameters from said third packet; and means for designating said executing one of said processor for the processor assignment in response to said sets of processor assignment parameters.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said process information transforms said first primary process to function as a primary process and said transferring means comprises means for reading said process information by said initiating one of said processors; means for forming said process information into a fifth packet by said initiating one of said processors; and means for transmitting said fifth packet from said initiating one of said processors to said executing one of said processors.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said transforming means comprises means for reading said process information from said fifth packet; means for storing said process information in said second auxiliary process; and means for converting said second auxiliary process into a second primary process.