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Reconfigurable dual processor system

  • US 4,823,256 A
  • Filed: 06/22/1984
  • Issued: 04/18/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A processing system comprising:

  • a first and a second processor;

    a first main memory included in the first processor and a second main memory included in the second processor, the first and second main memories having the same contents;

    means interconnecting the first and the second memories, when active for automatically updating each main memory with content changes being made in the other main memory to cause the first and second main memories to continue having the same contents; and

    means for automatically changing system operation from a first to a second mode of operation transparently to execution of application tasks in response to certain conditions, wherein in the first mode both processors are active and each is executing substantially independently of the other tasks selected from a different one of a first and a second group of tasks, and wherein in the second mode of operation a selected either one of the processors is inactive and the other of the processors is active and executing tasks selected from both the first and second groups of tasks, the operation-changing means including means for fully occupying processor state of the one processor with at least one task that need not be continued on the other processor, at time of inactivation of the one processor, to ensure that any processor state existent in the one processor during the first mode of operation prior to the inactivation and relating to an application task not completed by the one processor is stored by the one processor in the one processor'"'"'s main memory and by operation of the memory updating means is copied form the one processor'"'"'s main memory to the other processor'"'"'s main memory to be available to the other processor for execution of the related application task during the second mode of operation without recalculation by the other processor of the processor of the processor state relating to the application task.

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