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OPERATING SYSTEM AWARE HARDWARE MUTEX

  • US 20080005740A1
  • Filed: 06/28/2006
  • Published: 01/03/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for sharing a hardware resource in a computer system able to run at least one software task, comprising:

  • a mutex controller associated with the hardware resource;

    a lock indicator and an unlock indicator that are set able by the software task and read able by said mutex controller;

    a locked flag and a waiters flag that are set able and read able by said mutex controller; and

    said mutex controller further able to;

    monitor whether said lock indicator has been set and then to determine whether said locked flag is set and, if not, to set said locked flag and, if so, to set said waiters flag and to assert a first mutex interrupt signaling the computer system to divert the software task to run a lock request service routine;

    monitor whether said unlock indicator has been set and then determine whether said waiters flag is set and, if not, to clear said locked flag and, if so, to assert a second mutex interrupt signaling the computer system to divert the software task to run an unlock request service routine.

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