Master And Subordinate Operating System Kernels For Heterogeneous Multiprocessor Systems

• US 20080244599A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hunt, Galen C., Gunawi, Haryadi, Hodson, Orion
• Granted Patent: US 8,789,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/509 Offload
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5044 considering hardware capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/545 where tasks reside in different layers, e.g. user- and kernel-space

Abstract

Systems and methods establish communication and control between various heterogeneous processors in a computing system so that an operating system can run an application across multiple heterogeneous processors. With a single set of development tools, software developers can create applications that will flexibly run on one CPU or on combinations of central, auxiliary, and peripheral processors. In a computing system, application-only processors can be assigned a lean subordinate kernel to manage local resources. An application binary interface (ABI) shim is loaded with application binary images to direct kernel ABI calls to a local subordinate kernel or to the main OS kernel depending on which kernel manifestation is controlling requested resources.

Claims

1. A computer-executable method for a computing system that includes an operating system and multiple heterogeneous processors, comprising:

establishing communication between the processors for managing resources associated with each processor;

receiving a software application; and

allocating different processes of the software application among the resources of the processors.

2. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 1, wherein the software application comprises a program selected from a broad class of programs that includes generic software programs, commercial software programs, custom software programs, retail software programs, and off-the-shelf software programs.

3. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 1, wherein the heterogeneous processors include a main processor and one or more auxiliary processors;

and

wherein the operating system runs on a first subset of the processors that includes the main processor, and the software application runs on a second subset of the processors.

4. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 3, wherein the first and second subsets overlap when some of the processors run both operating system processes and software application processes.

5. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 3, wherein the second subset of processors runs the software application processes under the management of the operating system.

6. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 3, wherein the auxiliary processors include programmable GPUs, network controllers, general purpose CPUs, micro controllers, disk controllers, RAID controllers, sound processors, and numerical co-processors.

7. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 3, further comprising formulating the software application according to a programming model that enables the software application to run on the main processor, on one or more of the auxiliary processors, or on a combination of the main processor and one or more of the auxiliary processors.

8. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 3, further comprising converting the software application into instructions compatible with both the main processor and with the one or more auxiliary processors when the main processor and at least some of the auxiliary processors run different instruction set architectures.

9. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 3, wherein the first subset of processors running the operating system manages corresponding local resources associated with the first subset of processors;

and

wherein the second subset of processors running the processes of the software application either manages corresponding local resources associated with the second subset of processors or defers the management of at least some of the corresponding local resources associated with the second subset of processors to the operating system.

10. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 3, further comprising running a subordinate kernel agent on the second subset of processors as a software agent of the operating system that is running on the first subset of processors, wherein the subordinate kernel agent is capable of managing computing resources and/or a memory associated with the second subset of processors and is capable of thread scheduling on behalf of the second subset of processors.

11. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 10, wherein the subordinate kernel agent either:

elects to manage some of the local resources of the second subset of processors and allows the operating system to manage remaining local resources;

or

communicates an inventory of the local resources of the second subset of processors to the operating system to enable the operating system to execute a management decision.

12. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 10, wherein the operating system uses the subordinate kernel agent to perform an operating system service on the second subset of processors.

13. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 1, wherein the processors communicate with each other via regions of a memory of the computing system accessible to both a sending processor and a receiving processor, wherein inter-processor interrupts signal a corresponding remote method invocation.

14. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 1, wherein the processors communicate with each other via a message transport.

15. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 10, wherein the operating system launches each process of the software application on a processor selected by the operating system based on characteristics of the application, a system configuration state, and/or a system resource utilization.

16. The computer-executable method as recited in claim 15, wherein the operating system sends a message to the subordinate kernel agent indicating where to locate a process image and associated local resources;

and

wherein the subordinate kernel agent initiates the process and notifies the operating system of an outcome of initiating the process.

17. A computing system, comprising:

multiple heterogeneous processors;

an operating system;

a multiple processor manager to establish communication between the processors for managing computing resources among the processors; and

wherein the operating system allocates processes of a software application among different processors.

18. The computing system as recited in claim 17, further comprising a subordinate kernel agent of the operating system to initiate a process of the software application on one of the processors when signaled by the operating system.

19. The computing system as recited in claim 18, wherein the subordinate kernel agent manages computing resources associated with one or more auxiliary processors in the computing system;

and

wherein the one or more auxiliary processors perform a subset of operating system services on behalf of the operating system.

20. A system, comprising:

means for enabling communication between an operating system of a computing device and multiple processors of the computing device, such that the multiple processors perform operating system services for processes of a software application; and

means for assigning processes of the software application among the multiple processors.