US5764962A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Emulation of asynchronous signals using a branch mechanism
Assignee: INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF EMERGING ARCHITECTUTRES LLC
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Filing: 1996-07-31
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Granted: 1998-06-09
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Expires: 2016-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A method facilitates transfer of control from normal emulation in an emulation system to an asynchronous signal handler in the emulation system. A branch-target register is globally allocated with an address used to transfer control to the asynchronous signal handler. A predicate register is globally allocated to serve as a Boolean flag. Within each of a plurality of blocks of code within the emulation system there is placed a transfer of control operation. The transfer of control operation uses as a predicate the globally allocated predicate register. The transfer of control operation branches to an address stored in the globally allocated branch-target register. Where allowed in the architecture, a prefetch hint for the transfer of control operation can indicate the control operation is not to be prefetched. The control operation is placed in the block of code a point at which state may be recovered, generally at the end of the block of code.
Inventors
- 👤 William B. Buzbee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/455; G06F9/45504
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for handling an asynchronous signal in an emulation system, comprising the following steps: (a) upon arrival of the asynchronous signal, performing the following substeps: (a.1) interrupting the emulation system, (a.2) recording information about the asynchronous signal, (a.3) setting a Boolean flag in a globally allocated predicate register to indicate the asynchronous signal has arrived, and (a.4) resuming emulation at a point in which the emulation system was interrupted; and, (b) when emulation reaches a point at which state may be recovered, performing the following substeps: (b.1) stopping normal emulation, and (b.2) transferring control to an asynchronous signal handling routine, including using a transfer of control operation, the transfer of control operation using as a predicate the globally allocated predicate register and the transfer of control operation branching to an address stored in a globally allocated branch-target register.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for handling an asynchronous signal in an emulation system, comprising the following steps: (a) upon arrival of the asynchronous signal, performing the following substeps: (a.1) interrupting the emulation system, (a.2) recording information about the asynchronous signal, (a.3) setting a Boolean flag in a globally allocated predicate register to indicate the asynchronous signal has arrived, and (a.4) resuming emulation at a point in which the emulation system was interrupted; and, (b) when emulation reaches a point at which state may be recovered, performing the following substeps: (b.1) stopping normal emulation, and (b.2) transferring control to an asynchronous signal handling routine, including using a transfer of control operation, the transfer of control operation using as a predicate the globally allocated predicate register and the transfer of control operation branching to an address stored in a globally allocated branch-target register.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1 additionally including the following step: (c) simulating arrival of the asynchronous signal using the information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein in step (b), the point at which state may be recovered is at the end of a block of code.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein in substep (b.2) a prefetch hint for the transfer of control operation indicates the control operation is not to be prefetched.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
152 words
Storage media which includes software which when run on a computing system performs a method for handling an asynchronous signal in an emulation system, comprising the following steps: (a) upon arrival of the asynchronous signal, performing the following substeps: (a.1) interrupting the emulation system, (a.2) recording information about the asynchronous signal, (a.3) setting a Boolean flag in a globally allocated predicate register to indicate the asynchronous signal has arrived, and (a.4) resuming emulation at a point in which the emulation system was interrupted; and, (b) when emulation reaches a point at which state may be recovered, performing the following substeps: (b.1) stopping normal emulation, and (b.2) transferring control to an asynchronous signal handling routine, including using a transfer of control operation, the transfer of control operation using as a predicate the globally allocated predicate register and the transfer of control operation branching to an address stored in a globally allocated branch-target register.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
152 words
Storage media which includes software which when run on a computing system performs a method for handling an asynchronous signal in an emulation system, comprising the following steps: (a) upon arrival of the asynchronous signal, performing the following substeps: (a.1) interrupting the emulation system, (a.2) recording information about the asynchronous signal, (a.3) setting a Boolean flag in a globally allocated predicate register to indicate the asynchronous signal has arrived, and (a.4) resuming emulation at a point in which the emulation system was interrupted; and, (b) when emulation reaches a point at which state may be recovered, performing the following substeps: (b.1) stopping normal emulation, and (b.2) transferring control to an asynchronous signal handling routine, including using a transfer of control operation, the transfer of control operation using as a predicate the globally allocated predicate register and the transfer of control operation branching to an address stored in a globally allocated branch-target register.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Storage media as in claim 5 wherein the method additionally includes the following step: (c) simulating arrival of the asynchronous signal using the information recorded in substep (a.2).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
Storage media as in claim 5 wherein in step (b), the point at which state may be recovered is at the end of a block of code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
Storage media as in claim 5 wherein in substep (b.2) a prefetch hint for the transfer of control operation indicates the control operation is not to be prefetched.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for facilitating transfer of control from normal emulation in an emulation system to an asynchronous signal handler in the emulation system, the method comprising the following steps: (a) globally allocating a branch-target register with an address used for transfer of control to the asynchronous signal handler; (b) globally allocating a predicate register to serve as a Boolean flag; and, (c) placing within each of a plurality of blocks of code within the emulation system a transfer of control operation, the transfer of control operation using as a predicate the globally allocated predicate register and the transfer of control operation branching to an address stored in the globally allocated branch-target register.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for facilitating transfer of control from normal emulation in an emulation system to an asynchronous signal handler in the emulation system, the method comprising the following steps: (a) globally allocating a branch-target register with an address used for transfer of control to the asynchronous signal handler; (b) globally allocating a predicate register to serve as a Boolean flag; and, (c) placing within each of a plurality of blocks of code within the emulation system a transfer of control operation, the transfer of control operation using as a predicate the globally allocated predicate register and the transfer of control operation branching to an address stored in the globally allocated branch-target register.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein in step (c) a prefetch hint for the transfer of control operation indicates the control operation is not to be prefetched.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein in step (c) the transfer of control operation is placed at an end of each block of code.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
Storage media which includes software which when run on a computing system performs a method for facilitating transfer of control from normal emulation in an emulation system to an asynchronous signal handler in the emulation system, the method comprising the following steps: (a) globally allocating a branch-target register with an address used for transfer of control to the asynchronous signal handler; (b) globally allocating a predicate register to serve as a Boolean flag; and, (c) placing within each of a plurality of blocks of code within the emulation system a transfer of control operation, the transfer of control operation using as a predicate the globally allocated predicate register and the transfer of control operation branching to the address stored in the globally allocated branch-target register.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
125 words
Storage media which includes software which when run on a computing system performs a method for facilitating transfer of control from normal emulation in an emulation system to an asynchronous signal handler in the emulation system, the method comprising the following steps: (a) globally allocating a branch-target register with an address used for transfer of control to the asynchronous signal handler; (b) globally allocating a predicate register to serve as a Boolean flag; and, (c) placing within each of a plurality of blocks of code within the emulation system a transfer of control operation, the transfer of control operation using as a predicate the globally allocated predicate register and the transfer of control operation branching to the address stored in the globally allocated branch-target register.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
Storage media as in claim 12 wherein in step (c) a prefetch hint for the transfer of control operation indicates the control operation is not to be prefetched.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
Storage media as in claim 12 wherein in step (c) the transfer of control operation is placed at an end of each block of code.
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) | 2001-06-08 | 2001-12-08 | 2002-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-08 | 2005-12-08 | 2006-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-08 | 2009-12-08 | 2010-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |