Apparatus and method for handling page protection faults in a computing system
First Claim
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1. A computing system, comprising:
- a translator unit arranged to convert a subject code into a target code, the subject code comprising a reference to at least one subject memory page having associated subject page access attributes;
a target processor unit arranged to execute the target code;
a target memory associated with the target processor unit and including a page descriptor store and plurality of memory locations related to the subject memory pages, wherein address bits defining addresses of the plurality of memory locations are selected based on information in the page descriptor store according to the subject page access attributes, values of the address bits indicating a page protection condition of a corresponding subject memory page; and
wherein the translator unit is arranged to allow an attempt to access a target memory location within the plurality of memory locations to proceed without an interruption in control flow, if the attempted access is within the scope of the subject page access attributes for the associated subject memory page, and wherein the translator unit is operable to detect a page protection fault based on an attempt to access a target memory location and determine a nature of the page protection fault by examining the address bits of the respective target memory location.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for handling page protection faults in combination particularly with the dynamic conversion of binary code executable by a one computing platform into binary code executed instead by another computing platform. In one exemplary aspect, a page protection fault handling unit is used to detect memory accesses, to check page protection information relevant to the detected access by examining the contents of a page descriptor store, and to selectively allow the access or pass on page protection fault information in accordance with the page protection information.
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7 Claims
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1. A computing system, comprising:
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a translator unit arranged to convert a subject code into a target code, the subject code comprising a reference to at least one subject memory page having associated subject page access attributes; a target processor unit arranged to execute the target code; a target memory associated with the target processor unit and including a page descriptor store and plurality of memory locations related to the subject memory pages, wherein address bits defining addresses of the plurality of memory locations are selected based on information in the page descriptor store according to the subject page access attributes, values of the address bits indicating a page protection condition of a corresponding subject memory page; and wherein the translator unit is arranged to allow an attempt to access a target memory location within the plurality of memory locations to proceed without an interruption in control flow, if the attempted access is within the scope of the subject page access attributes for the associated subject memory page, and wherein the translator unit is operable to detect a page protection fault based on an attempt to access a target memory location and determine a nature of the page protection fault by examining the address bits of the respective target memory location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification