US4554626A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital data processing system
Assignee: EMC Corp
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Filing: 1984-08-20
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Granted: 1985-11-19
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Expires: 2004-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A digital data processing system using process synchronization techniques which comprise processing await logic for suspending the execution of a program controlled by a process, virtual processor await logic for performing an await operation at the virtual processor level and for temporarily inhibiting the loading of state items for the execution of the program, virtual processor advance logic for performing an advance operation at the virtual processor level to cease the inhibition of the loading of such state items, and process advance logic for causing the processor of the system to resume execution of the suspended program which is under control of the process.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence H. Katz
- 👤 Douglas M. Wells
- 👤 Richard G. Bratt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 03:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/48; G06F9/4806; G06F9/4843; G06F9/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system which includes processing means for executing programs in response to processes which control the execution of said programs and virtual processor means temporarily bound to a process and containing state items for permitting said processing means to execute a program under control of said process, said system including process synchronization means comprising processing await means for performing a process level await operation to suspend the execution of a program which is controlled by a process; virtual processor await means responsive to said process level await operation for performing a virtual processor level await operation and for temporarily inhibiting the loading of state items required for the execution of said program into said processing means; virtual processor advance means responsive to the occurrence of an event for performing a virtual processor level advance operation to cease the temporary inhibition of the loading of the state items of said process into said processing means; and process advance means responsive to said virtual processor level advance operation for causing said processing means to resume the execution of the suspended program which is under the control of said process.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system which includes processing means for executing programs in response to processes which control the execution of said programs and virtual processor means temporarily bound to a process and containing state items for permitting said processing means to execute a program under control of said process, said system including process synchronization means comprising processing await means for performing a process level await operation to suspend the execution of a program which is controlled by a process; virtual processor await means responsive to said process level await operation for performing a virtual processor level await operation and for temporarily inhibiting the loading of state items required for the execution of said program into said processing means; virtual processor advance means responsive to the occurrence of an event for performing a virtual processor level advance operation to cease the temporary inhibition of the loading of the state items of said process into said processing means; and process advance means responsive to said virtual processor level advance operation for causing said processing means to resume the execution of the suspended program which is under the control of said process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system according to claim 1 wherein said processing means can be used to execute programs controlled by a plurality of processes and said system includes a plurality of virtual processor means, the number of said plurality of virtual processor means being less than the number of said plurality of processes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system according to claim 1 wherein said process synchronization means includes a plurality of event counters; and said virtual processor advance means responds to the operation of an event counter which signifies the occurrence of said event to cease the inhibition of the loading of said state items; and said process advance means responds to another event counter which signifies the operation of said virtual processor advance means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system according to claim 3 wherein said plurality of event counters includes private event counters and the event counter to which said virtual processor advance means responds is a private event counter and said another event counter to which said process advance means responds is an event counter other than a private event counter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system according to claim 4 wherein said virtual processor await means receives a value associated with said private event counter and said virtual processor advance means increments the value of said private event counter and, if said private event counter value is not less than the values specified by said received values, said virtual processor advance means performs said virtual processor level advance operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system according to claim 5 wherein said process advance means causes said processing means to increment said another event counter and, if the value of said another event counter is not less than a specified value associated with said another event counter, said process advance means performs said process level advance operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system according to claim 1 and further wherein said process synchronization means includes process manager process means responsive to an interrupt signal received by said processing means for identifying the source of said interrupt signal and for identifying the operating process with which said source is associated for the execution of a program under control of said operating process; the process advance means of said operating process responding to said process manager process means for permitting said operating process to control the execution of a program for handling the interrupt operation required by said interrupt signal in synchronization with the execution by said processing means of other programs under control of other operating processes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system according to claim 7 wherein said interrupt signal is received by said processing means from an input/output device at an input/output channel in communication with said processing means, said process manager process means identifying said input/output device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system according to claim 7 wherein said interrupt signal is received in response to a clock related event at which a program under control of a specified process is to be executed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system according to claim 9 wherein said process manager process means identifies the specified process which is to control the execution of the program to be executed at said clock related event.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system having processing means for executing programs in response to processes which control the execution of said programs and means for synchronizing the execution of programs under control of a plurality of processes, said system including means in said processing means for responding to an interrupt signal received from a source external to said data processing system, said synchronizing means including means responsive to said received interrupt signal for identifying the event which is associated with the external source producing said received interrupt signal, and means for permitting the interrupt program operation required by said interrupt signal to be executed by said processing means only under control of the process authorized to respond to said event in synchronization with the execution of programs under control of other processes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system having processing means for executing programs in response to processes which control the execution of said programs and means for synchronizing the execution of programs under control of a plurality of processes, said system including means in said processing means for responding to an interrupt signal received from a source external to said data processing system, said synchronizing means including means responsive to said received interrupt signal for identifying the event which is associated with the external source producing said received interrupt signal, and means for permitting the interrupt program operation required by said interrupt signal to be executed by said processing means only under control of the process authorized to respond to said event in synchronization with the execution of programs under control of other processes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a multiprogramming data processing system according to claim 11 wherein said external source is an input/output device communicating with said processing means via an input/output channel.
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) | 1988-11-18 | 1989-05-20 | 1989-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-18 | 1993-05-20 | 1993-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-18 | 1997-05-20 | 1997-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |