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Efficient context saving and restoring in a multi-tasking computing system environment

  • US 6,061,711 A
  • Filed: 08/19/1996
  • Issued: 05/09/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A process comprising:

  • executing a first program on a first processor;

    receiving a context switch request from a second processor;

    responding to the context switch request at an appropriate point in the first program, the appropriate point being one of a plurality of predetermined points indicated by a plurality of markers in the first program, the plurality of predetermined points including selected predetermined points located at a proximate point in the first program that is predetermined to be a point in which the first processor requires a minimal amount of processor state information storage for successful restoration of the first program;

    continuing to execute the first program after receiving the context switch request;

    wherein the responding comprises;

    encountering the marker in the first program at the appropriate point;

    interrupting the first processor;

    reading the context switch request with the first processor in response to encountering the marker in the first program;

    storing a return address of the first program;

    storing the minimal amount of processor state information required for successful restoration of the first program; and

    notifying the second processor of the availability of the first processor to execute a second program.

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