US3909794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of storing control data upon the interruption of a program in a processing system
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1973-03-15
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A method is described for storing the contents of control registers when it is necessary to interrupt a program being processed in order to process a higher priority program. A usage register is provided for the general purpose registers in a program control unit, each general purpose register being assigned a stage of the usage register. The state of each stage of the usage register indicates whether the corresponding general purpose register is occupied with processing a program. When the latter program is interrupted, the contents of the usage register, the basic registers and the general purpose registers being used for processing the interrupted program are written into storage. Thus, only the contents of the previously employed general purpose registers need be read out of storage after the higher priority program is completed.
Inventors
- 👤 Kay Soltsien
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/461
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
In a data processing system having processing units, storage means and program control means, said program control means comprising basic registers and general-purpose registers, a method for retaining the contents of the program control registers when a program being processed is interrupted by a higher priority program, comprising the steps of: indicating whether each of said general-purpose registers is being utilized for the program being processed by the state of a corresponding stage in a usage register means, said usage register means comprising a plurality of binary stages with each said stage being assigned to a given one of said generalpurpose registers, transferring, upon interruption of the program being processed, the contents of said usage register means, said basic registers and those of said general-purpose registers indicated as being utilized by said usage register means to said storage means and reading from said storage means, upon resuming the program being processed, prior to interruption with respect to said general-purpose registers, only the contents of those of said general-purpose registers previously utilized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a data processing system having processing units, storage means and program control means, said program control means comprising basic registers and general-purpose registers, a method for retaining the contents of the program control registers when a program being processed is interrupted by a higher priority program, comprising the steps of: indicating whether each of said general-purpose registers is being utilized for the program being processed by the state of a corresponding stage in a usage register means, said usage register means comprising a plurality of binary stages with each said stage being assigned to a given one of said generalpurpose registers, transferring, upon interruption of the program being processed, the contents of said usage register means, said basic registers and those of said general-purpose registers indicated as being utilized by said usage register means to said storage means and reading from said storage means, upon resuming the program being processed, prior to interruption with respect to said general-purpose registers, only the contents of those of said general-purpose registers previously utilized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 1 comprising the further step of: setting, by means of an instruction, a bit in said usage register means for causing the corresponding one of said general-purpose register means to operate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method defined in claim 1 comprising the further step of: upon the transfer of the contents of a given general-purpose register to said storage means, erasing the bit in said usage register means corresponding to said given general-purpose register.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein said erasing step is prevented by supplying a stop condition in the instruction causing said given general-purpose register to execute said transfer step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the seizing or releasing of a said general-purpose register means and thereby the setting or erasing of the corresponding bit in said usage register means occurs directly through a separate instruction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |