Method, apparatus, system creating, executing and terminating mini-threads
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorRuchira Sasanka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described herein are mechanisms for creating, executing, and terminating mini-threads. A processor executes instructions with a primary thread in a first execution mode, and to execute an instruction to create a secondary mini-thread that is associated with a first subset of registers and associates the primary thread with a second subset of the registers during a second execution mode. During the second execution mode, the primary thread operates as a primary mini-thread.
Claims30
A processor comprising:
- a register file comprising a plurality of registers;
- and
- a processing core, coupled to the register file, the processing core configured to:
- execute a first instruction from a primary thread that has read and write access to the plurality of registers during a first execution mode of the processor, and
- execute a second instruction that creates a secondary mini-thread associated with to a first subset of the plurality of registers and that associates the primary thread with a second subset of the plurality of registers, wherein the primary thread operates as a primary mini-thread during a second execution mode of the processor.
A method comprising:
- executing a first instruction from a primary thread that has read and write access to a plurality of registers of a register file during a first execution mode of the processor;
- executing a second instruction that creates a secondary mini-thread associated with a first subset of the plurality of registers and associates the primary thread with a second subset of the plurality of registers, wherein the primary thread operates as a primary mini-thread during a second execution mode of the processor;
- and
- executing subsequent instructions from the primary mini-thread and from the secondary mini-thread during the second execution mode.
A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- executing a first instruction from a primary thread that has read and write access to a plurality of registers of a register file during a first execution mode of the processor;
- executing a second instruction that creates a secondary mini-thread associated with a first subset of the plurality of registers and associates the primary thread to a second subset of the plurality of registers, wherein the primary thread operates as a primary mini-thread during a second execution mode of the processor;
- and
- executing subsequent instructions from the primary mini-thread and from the secondary mini-thread during the second execution mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.