Virtual machine emulation in the memory space of a programmable processor
First Claim
1. In a device comprising a programmable processor with an associated physical memory space which stores native functions in a format determined by a hardware architecture of the processor, the improvement comprising a virtual machine concurrently emulated by the processor which executes virtual functions in a standardized format determined irrespective of the hardware architecture of the processor, wherein the execution of a selected virtual function by the virtual machine causes the processor to execute a corresponding native function, and wherein the corresponding native function is executed to evaluate concurrent execution of at least one other native function.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for emulating a virtual machine within the physical memory space of a programmable processor using virtual functions having a format independent of the hardware architecture of the processor. The virtual functions are executed using an execution engine emulated in the processor. A symbol table maps the virtual functions to native functions in the memory space, and a gate call interface block accesses the symbol table and initiates execution of the corresponding native function in response to each executed virtual function. Execution of the corresponding native function operates to evaluate the concurrent execution of at least one other native function. In this way for example, standardized platform virtual code can be generated for a number of different types of processors and used to evaluate the native operational routines of each processor.
-
Citations
16 Claims
- 1. In a device comprising a programmable processor with an associated physical memory space which stores native functions in a format determined by a hardware architecture of the processor, the improvement comprising a virtual machine concurrently emulated by the processor which executes virtual functions in a standardized format determined irrespective of the hardware architecture of the processor, wherein the execution of a selected virtual function by the virtual machine causes the processor to execute a corresponding native function, and wherein the corresponding native function is executed to evaluate concurrent execution of at least one other native function.
-
10. A method for concurrently emulating a virtual machine in a physical memory space of a programmable processor, the memory space storing native functions in a format determined by a hardware architecture of the processor, the method comprising:
-
providing a set of virtual functions each in a standardized format determined irrespective of the hardware architecture of the processor; and
using the virtual machine to execute a selected virtual function which causes the processor to execute a corresponding native function, wherein the corresponding native function evaluates concurrent execution of at least one other native function. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification