Coprocessor support in a computing device
AssigneeSymbian Software Limited
InventorDennis May
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Coprocessor support on a computing device is provided by means of external modules attaching themselves to the operating system (OS) kernel controlling the device at system boot time, with the modules registering themselves as valid coprocessor handlers. Threads initially execute with coprocessors disabled; the consequent exceptions caused by executing coprocessor instructions are then passed to the relevant registered handler. The technique can be used either to support installed coprocessors or to emulate absent coprocessors.
Claims11
A method of operating a computing device for supporting coprocessors present on the device, the method comprising causing the controlling software for the computing device to load one or more coprocessor support modules for supporting coprocessors at the point of startup of the computing device.
A method of emulating coprocessors on a computing device, the method comprising causing the controlling software for the computing device to load coprocessor support modules for this purpose at the point of startup of the computing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.