Concurrent multitasking in a uniprocessor

Details Concurrent multitasking in a uniprocessor Concurrent multitasking in a uniprocessor

1996-03-21

1999-02-02

Donaghue, Larry D.

39580042, 395376, G06F 938

Patent

active

058677259

ABSTRACT:
A superscalar uniprocessor that performs concurrent multi-task processing is provided. The processor of the present invention maintains a complete set of program address, memory control and general data registers for each task executing concurrently within the microprocessor, allowing independent control of the program flows. Each set of registers are associated with only one task and are utilized by the memory control and execution units to execute the associated task. The processor includes an instruction fetcher and memory management unit that retrieves an instruction from memory for a given task, as directed by the task's address and control registers, and attaches a task tag to the retrieved instruction that identifies that task. The superscalar processor has a plurality of execution units that can execute a plurality of tasks simultaneously, and a dispatch unit that sends a retrieved instruction and its attached task tag to one of the plurality of execution units for execution. The instruction's task tag identifying the task is then associated with any result data that results from the execution of the instruction. The addition of task tag information in the program flow and in the register file provides for process utilization of execution resources simultaneously with, and substantially independently from other processes, thereby substantially enhancing concurrent multitasking in the superscalar uniprocessor.

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