Context switching using halt sequencing protocol
A halt sequencing protocol permits a context switch to occur in a processing pipeline even before all units of the processing pipeline are idle. The context switch method based on the halt sequencing protocol includes th…
Original patent title: “Context switching using halt sequencing protocol”
What this patent covers
The actual claim
A halt sequencing protocol permits a context switch to occur in a processing pipeline even before all units of the processing pipeline are idle. The context switch method based on the halt sequencing protocol includes the steps of issuing a halt request signal to the units of a processing pipeline, monitoring the status of each of the units, and freezing the states of all of the units when they are either idle or halted. Then, the states of the units, which pertain to the thread that has been halted, are dumped into memory, and the units are restored with states corresponding to a different thread that is to be executed after the context switch.
What this patent does NOT cover
The boundaries
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Patent Abstract
Patent abstract
A halt sequencing protocol permits a context switch to occur in a processing pipeline even before all units of the processing pipeline are idle. The context switch method based on the halt sequencing protocol includes the steps of issuing a halt request signal to the units of a processing pipeline, monitoring the status of each of the units, and freezing the states of all of the units when they are either idle or halted. Then, the states of the units, which pertain to the thread that has been halted, are dumped into memory, and the units are restored with states corresponding to a different thread that is to be executed after the context switch.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
Patent Filed
2005
Patent Granted
2009 · 3yr after filing
Patent Expired
2025
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
17/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assignee
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
The original legal language
Original claims
14 claims as filed with the patent office.
Citations
Patent lineage
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