Context-corrupting context switching
First Claim
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1. A method of switching context on a processor, the method comprising:
- saving the context under software control using an inconsequential register;
preventing the processor from changing the context while the context is being saved; and
thereafter restoring the context using an inconsequential register.
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Abstract
A virtual machine application interrupts execution of a host OS under software control at a predetermined interruption point, instead of interrupting the execution at an arbitrary instruction. The context of the host OS is saved by using an inconsequential register as temporary storage. Context of the host OS is restored by using an inconsequential register as temporary storage.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of switching context on a processor, the method comprising:
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saving the context under software control using an inconsequential register; preventing the processor from changing the context while the context is being saved; and thereafter restoring the context using an inconsequential register. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of switching context between a host OS and a virtual machine on a processor, the processor having privileged registers, the processor having access to other memory, the method comprising:
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giving the virtual machine access to the privileged registers; using at least one privileged register as temporary storage to save the context in the other memory at a predetermined interruption point; preventing the processor from changing the context while the context is being saved; and restoring the context using an inconsequential register; the virtual machine application controlling the context switch.
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15. Apparatus comprising:
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a processor including a plurality of registers; and a virtual machine application for commanding the processor to switch context by saving the context under software control using an inconsequential register of the processor as temporary storage; and
preventing the processor from changing the context while the context is being saved; and
to restore context by using the inconsequential register. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An article comprising computer memory encoded with instructions for commanding a processor to switch context by saving the context under software control using an inconsequential register of the processor as temporary storage;
- and preventing the processor from changing the context while the context is being saved;
the instructions further commanding the processor to restore context using the inconsequential register.
- and preventing the processor from changing the context while the context is being saved;
Specification