Multiple, cooperating operating systems (OS) platform system and method

• US 7,900,031 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Shamia, Doron, Gabor, Ron, Kullbak, Yoram, Raynor, Jimmy Scott, Thiyagarajah, Tiags, Campbell, Randolph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US12/200,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20090064178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 712/228, 711/154, 711/206, 709/230, 709/236
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4405 Initialisation of multiprocessor systems

Abstract

A multiple, cooperating operating systems (OS) platform system with multi processors. Multiple operating systems, each of which may be of a different type or nature, can run on different partitions of the multi-processor platform and yet coexist and cooperate. A real time operating system (RTOS) executing on a processor can communicate with another OS executing on another processor via a portion of memory accessible by the RTOS and the OS by perform read and write operations.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) and a second processor of a multi-processor platform;

a first operating system (OS) to execute on the CPU, wherein the second processor is isolated from the first OS;

a real time operating system (RTOS) to execute on the second processor; and

at least a portion of a memory coupled to the CPU and to the second processor, wherein the memory portion is accessible by the first OS and the RTOS to perform read and write operations, and wherein the first OS is to offload a task to the RTOS for execution.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the RTOS is further to:

be booted by the first OS; and

operate independently of the first OS, wherein code running on the CPU does not interfere with code running on the second processor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second processor is an embedded processor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory portion is accessible by the first OS and the RTOS to execute a message-passing operation between the first OS and the RTOS.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory portion is accessible by the first OS to write data that is to be operated upon by the RTOS and the memory portion is accessible by the RTOS to read the data.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory portion is accessible by the RTOS to write data that is to be operated upon by the first OS and the memory portion is accessible by the first OS to read the data.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first OS is to initiate boot of the RTOS via a directed inter-processor-interrupt (IPI) from the CPU to the second processor.

8. A multiple operating system method comprising:

executing a first operating system (OS) on a first processor of a multi-processor platform;

executing a real-time operating system (RTOS) on a second processor of the multi-processor platform, wherein the second processor is isolated from the first OS, and wherein the first OS is to offload a task to the RTOS for execution; and

performing read and write operations by the first OS and the RTOS on at least a portion of a memory coupled to the multi-processor platform.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprises:

booting the RTOS by the first OS; and

operating the RTOS independently of the first OS, wherein code running on the first OS does not interfere with code running on the RTOS.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprises executing a message-passing operation between the first OS and the RTOS.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprises:

writing data in the memory portion by the first OS that is to be operated upon by the RTOS; and

reading the data by the RTOS.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprises:

writing data in the memory portion by the RTOS that is to be operated upon by the first OS; and

reading the data by the first OS.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprises:

initiating boot of the RTOS via a directed inter-processor-interrupt (IPI) from the CPU to the second processor.

14. A computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed in a system, cause the performance of a multiple operating system method comprising:

executing a first operating system (OS) on a first processor of a multi-processor platform;

executing a real-time operating system (RTOS) on a second processor of the multi-processor platform, wherein the second processor is isolated from the first OS, and wherein the first OS is to offload a task to the RTOS for execution; and

performing read and write operations by the first OS and the RTOS on at least a portion of a memory coupled to the multi-processor platform.

15. The medium of claim 14, wherein the multiple operating system method further comprises:

booting the RTOS by the first OS; and

operating the RTOS independently of the first OS, wherein code running on the first OS does not interfere with code running on the RTOS.

16. The medium of claim 14, wherein the multiple operating system method further comprises executing a message-passing operation between the first OS and the RTOS.

17. The medium of claim 14, wherein the multiple operating system method further comprises:

writing data in the memory portion by the first OS that is to be operated upon by the RTOS; and

reading the data by the RTOS.

18. The medium of claim 14, wherein the multiple operating system method further comprises:

writing data in the memory portion by the RTOS that is to be operated upon by the first OS; and

reading the data by the first OS.

19. The medium of claim 14, wherein the multiple operating system method further comprises:

initiating boot of the RTOS via a directed inter-processor-interrupt (IPI) from the CPU to the second processor.