System and method for synchronizing processors in a parallel processing environment

Claim 1

A method for allowing a host processor to control the use of a shared resource when a slave peripheral processor executes an operation in a client process requiring the use of said shared resource, comprising the steps of: (a) assigning a signal location in system memory for storing a value indicative of the availability of said shared resource; (b) setting an initial value at said signal location indicating that the slave peripheral processor requires the use of the shared resource to perform said operation; (c) instructing the slave peripheral processor to perform said operation in said client process requiring use of the shared resource; (d) determining whether the host processor has another use for the shared resource other than said operation performed by the slave peripheral processor; (e) determining whether the client process needs the shared resource for a further operation; (f) updating the value at said signal location to a specified value when the slave peripheral processor no longer requires use of said shared resource in said operation; and (g) checking whether said specified value is in said corresponding signal location to determine if said slave peripheral processor no longer requires said shared resource, wherein said checking step is performed when the host processor is determined in said determining step (d) to have another use for the shared resource and the client process is determined in said determining step (e) to no longer need the shared resource.

Claim 2

A method for allowing a host processor to control the use of a shared resource when a slave peripheral processor executes an operation in a client process requiring the use of said shared resource, comprising the steps of: (a) assigning a signal location in system memory for storing a value indicative of the availability of said shared resource; (b) setting an initial value at said signal location indicating that the slave peripheral processor requires the use of the shared resource to perform said operation; (c) instructing the slave peripheral processor to perform said operation in said client process requiring use of the shared resource; (d) determining whether the host processor has another use for the shared resource other than said operation performed by the slave peripheral processor; (e) determining whether the client process needs the shared resource for a further operation; (f) updating the value at said signal location to a specified value when the slave peripheral processor no longer requires use of said shared resource in said operation; and (g) checking whether said specified value is in said corresponding signal location to determine if said slave peripheral processor no longer requires said shared resource, wherein said checking step is performed when the host processor is determined in said determining step (d) to have another use for the shared resource and the client process is determined in said determining step (e) to no longer need the shared resource.

Claim 7

A system for synchronizing use of a shared resource a host processor and by a slave peripheral processor when said slave peripheral processor uses said shared resource to perform an operation in a client process, comprising: a system memory having a memory location for storing a value indicating the availability of said shared resource; first means, coupled to said host processor, for determining whether said host processor requires said shared resource for another purpose other than said operation in said client process; and second means, coupled to said host processor, for determining whether the client process needs the shared resource for a further operation; wherein said host and slave peripheral processors are each coupled to said memory location, said host processor stores an initial value at said memory location indicating that the slave peripheral processor requires use of said shared resource to perform said operation in said client process; said slave peripheral processor stores a specified value at said memory location when said slave peripheral processor has finished using said shared resource in said operation in said client process; and said host processor polls said memory location when said first means determines that said host processor requires said shared resource for another purpose other than said operation in said client process and when said second means determines that said client process does not need the shared resource for a further operation.

Claim 8

A system for synchronizing use of a shared resource a host processor and by a slave peripheral processor when said slave peripheral processor uses said shared resource to perform an operation in a client process, comprising: a system memory having a memory location for storing a value indicating the availability of said shared resource; first means, coupled to said host processor, for determining whether said host processor requires said shared resource for another purpose other than said operation in said client process; and second means, coupled to said host processor, for determining whether the client process needs the shared resource for a further operation; wherein said host and slave peripheral processors are each coupled to said memory location, said host processor stores an initial value at said memory location indicating that the slave peripheral processor requires use of said shared resource to perform said operation in said client process; said slave peripheral processor stores a specified value at said memory location when said slave peripheral processor has finished using said shared resource in said operation in said client process; and said host processor polls said memory location when said first means determines that said host processor requires said shared resource for another purpose other than said operation in said client process and when said second means determines that said client process does not need the shared resource for a further operation.

Claim 16

A system for synchronizing use of a shared resource by a host processor and by a slave peripheral processor when said slave peripheral processor uses said shared resource to perform an operation in a client process, comprising: a system memory having a memory location for storing a value indicating the availability of said shared resource; a graphics server, coupled to said host processor, configured to manage multiple client processes and to provide instructions to said host processor regarding each of said multiple client processes; first means, coupled to said host processor, for determining whether said host processor requires said shared resource for another purpose other than said operation in said client process performed by said slave peripheral processor; and second means, coupled to said host processor, for determining when said client process no longer needs said shared resource for a further operation; and a bus for communicating instructions from said host processor to said slave peripheral processor; wherein: said host and slave peripheral processors are each coupled to said memory location; said host processor stores an initial value at said memory location indicating that the slave peripheral processor requires use of said shared resource to perform said operation in said client process and said slave peripheral processor stores a specified value at said memory location when said slave peripheral processor has finished using said shared resource in said operation in said client process; and said host processor polls said memory location when said first means determines that said host processor requires said shared resource for another purpose other than said operation in said client process and when said second means determines that said client process does not need the shared resource for a further operation; whereby, said host processor can receive an interrupt after storing said initial value and does not have to continuously poll said memory location.

Claim 17

A system for synchronizing use of a shared resource by a host processor and by a slave peripheral processor when said slave peripheral processor uses said shared resource to perform an operation in a client process, comprising: a system memory having a memory location for storing a value indicating the availability of said shared resource; a graphics server, coupled to said host processor, configured to manage multiple client processes and to provide instructions to said host processor regarding each of said multiple client processes; first means, coupled to said host processor, for determining whether said host processor requires said shared resource for another purpose other than said operation in said client process performed by said slave peripheral processor; and second means, coupled to said host processor, for determining when said client process no longer needs said shared resource for a further operation; and a bus for communicating instructions from said host processor to said slave peripheral processor; wherein: said host and slave peripheral processors are each coupled to said memory location; said host processor stores an initial value at said memory location indicating that the slave peripheral processor requires use of said shared resource to perform said operation in said client process and said slave peripheral processor stores a specified value at said memory location when said slave peripheral processor has finished using said shared resource in said operation in said client process; and said host processor polls said memory location when said first means determines that said host processor requires said shared resource for another purpose other than said operation in said client process and when said second means determines that said client process does not need the shared resource for a further operation; whereby, said host processor can receive an interrupt after storing said initial value and does not have to continuously poll said memory location.