System and method for light weight task switching when a shared memory condition is signaled

a task switching and shared memory technology, applied in the field of system and method for lightweight task switching when a, can solve the problems of system performance decline and task switching typically occurring at pre-set levels

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-02-22
GERHARDT DIANA R +1
View PDF4 Cites 16 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] A synergistic processing unit (SPU) invokes a first thread and, during execution, the first thread requests to update external data. The external data may be shared with other threads or processors in the system, which is protected by a mutex lock or other shared memory synchronization constructs. For example, the thread may request to update a linked data structure, which is protected by a mutex lock that prevents other threads or processors from traversing the linked data stru

Problems solved by technology

A challenge found with both mutex lock primitives and condition wait primitives is that system performance decreases when threads wait for d

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • System and method for light weight task switching when a shared memory condition is signaled
  • System and method for light weight task switching when a shared memory condition is signaled
  • System and method for light weight task switching when a shared memory condition is signaled

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0029] The following is intended to provide a detailed description of an example of the invention and should not be taken to be limiting of the invention itself. Rather, any number of variations may fall within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims following the description.

[0030]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a processor switching tasks based upon acquiring a mutex lock. Synergistic processing complex (SPC) 100 includes synergistic processing unit (SPU) 110, which processes thread A 120 (e.g., a first thread). SPU 110 is preferably a single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) processor, such as a digital signal processor, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or a combination of these cores. During execution, thread A 120 requests external data that is located in cache 150. For example, thread A 120 may wish to update a linked data structure that is located in cache 150. SPU 110 issues get lock line reservation 160 to L2 140 corresponding to thread A 120's request. Get l...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to view more

PUM

No PUM Login to view more

Abstract

A system and method for using a handler to detect asynchronous lock line reservation lost events, and switching tasks based upon whether a condition is true or a mutex lock is acquired is presented. A synergistic processing unit (SPU) invokes a first thread and, during execution, the first thread requests external data that is shared with other threads or processors in the system. This shared data may be protected with a mutex lock or other shared memory synchronization constructs. When requested data is not available, the SPU switches to a second thread and monitors lock line reservation lost events in order to check when the data is available. When the data is available, the SPU switches back to the first thread and processes the first thread's request.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Technical Field [0002] The present invention relates in general to a system and method for lightweight task switching when a shared memory condition is signaled. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for using a handler to detect asynchronous lock line reservation lost events, and switching tasks based upon whether a condition is true or whether a processor acquires a mutex lock. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Computer applications typically run multiple threads to perform different tasks that request access to shared data. Common approaches to accessing shared data are 1) using a mutual exclusion (mutex) lock primitive or 2) using a condition wait primitive. [0005] A mutex lock allows multiple threads to “take turns” sharing the same resource, such as accessing a file. Typically, when a program starts, the program creates a mutex object for a given resource by requesting the resource from the s...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to view more

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to view more
IPC IPC(8): G06F12/00
CPCG06F9/526G06F12/0842
Inventor AGUILAR, MAXIMINO JR.DAY, MICHAEL NORMANNUTTER, MARK RICHARD
Owner GERHARDT DIANA R
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Try Eureka
PatSnap group products