Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Memory configuring
Patent
1997-02-10
1999-05-18
Swann, Tod R.
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Memory configuring
36580023, 365566, 365500, G06F12/00
Patent
active
059060026
ABSTRACT:
A method of saving the context of a plurality of registers in a computer processor, requires determining whether the processor registers have a first size or a second size, and saving the contents of the registers in a buffer using a first set of instructions if the processor registers have the first size (e.g., 64 bits), and using a second set of instructions if the processor registers have the second size (e.g., 32 bits). If the processor registers having the first size, the method may further include the steps of determining whether the processor is operating in a first mode (e.g., 64-bit mode) or a second mode (e.g., 32-bit mode), and then saving the contents of the registers in the buffer using the first set of instructions if the processor is operating in the first mode, but using the second set of instructions if the processor is operating in the second mode. The method can additionally determine whether the processor registers have a third size, and use a third set of instructions if the processor registers have the third size. Similarly, if the processor can operate in a third mode, then the contents of the registers may be saved using a third set of instructions if the processor is operating in the third mode. The context-saving code uses a portion of the registers for its processing, by initially saving a first portion of the registers in the buffer, and thereafter using the first portion of the registers to temporarily store the contents of other registers. The contents of the other registers are later restored from the first portion of the registers, and then saved in the buffer.
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Dillon Andrew J.
Emile Volel
International Business Machines - Corporation
Langjahr David
Musgrove Jack V.
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