Data processing systems
AssigneeArm Limited
InventorsMark Underwood, Hakan Lars-Goran Persson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data processing system in which a host processor prepares command streams for causing an accelerator of the data processing system to perform processing tasks for an application executing on the host processor, each command stream including a sequence of commands for implementation by the accelerator. When a request for processing includes protected content, the host processor includes within a command for a command stream, an indication that a subsequent sequence of one or more command(s) within that command stream associated with the protected content is to be implemented by the accelerator in a protected mode of operation. Then, when that command is executed, the accelerator initiates or requests a switch into the protected mode of operation.
Claims20
A data processing system, the data processing system comprising:
- a host processor that executes applications using an operating system;
- an accelerator operable to process data for applications executing on the host processor;
- and
- memory for storing data for use by the accelerator, the memory having both protected memory and non-protected memory;
- wherein the accelerator can be switched between a non-protected mode of operation for processing non-protected content and a protected mode of operation for processing protected content;
- wherein the host processor comprises command stream generating circuitry operable to prepare, in response to a request for processing to be performed by the accelerator from an application being executed on the host processor, one or more command stream(s) for causing the accelerator to perform processing tasks for the application, each command stream including a sequence of commands for implementation by the accelerator;
- and wherein the command stream generating circuitry is operable to include within a command for a command stream an indication that a subsequent sequence of one or more command(s) within that command stream is to be implemented by the accelerator in a protected mode of operation so that when that command is executed the accelerator is operable to initiate or request a switch into the protected mode of operation for processing the subsequent sequence of one or more command(s).
A method of processing data using a data processing system comprising:
- a host processor that executes applications using an operating system;
- an accelerator operable to process data for applications executing on the host processor;
- and
- memory for storing data for use by the accelerator, the memory having both protected memory and non-protected memory;
- wherein the accelerator can be switched between a non-protected mode of operation for processing non-protected content and a protected mode of operation for processing protected content;
- wherein the host processor comprises command stream generating circuitry operable to prepare, in response to a request for processing to be performed by the accelerator from an application being executed on the host processor, one or more command stream(s) for causing the accelerator to perform processing tasks for the application, each command stream including a sequence of commands for implementation by the accelerator;
- the method comprising:
- when a request for processing includes protected content, including within a command for a command stream an indication that a subsequent sequence of one or more command(s) within that command stream associated with the protected content is to be implemented by the accelerator in a protected mode of operation;
- and
- when that command is executed by the accelerator, initiating or requesting a switch into the protected mode of operation.
A computer readable storage medium storing software code that when executed on a data processor performs a method of processing data in a data processing system that comprises a host processor that executes applications using an operating system;
- an accelerator operable to process data for applications executing on the host processor;
- and memory for storing data for use by the accelerator, the memory having both protected memory and non-protected memory;
- wherein the accelerator can be switched between a non-protected mode of operation for processing non-protected content and a protected mode of operation for processing protected content;
- wherein the host processor comprises command stream generating circuitry operable to prepare, in response to a request for processing to be performed by the accelerator from an application being executed on the host processor, one or more command stream(s) for causing the accelerator to perform processing tasks for the application, each command stream including a sequence of commands for implementation by the accelerator;
- the method comprising:
- when a request for processing includes protected content, including within a command for a command stream an indication that a subsequent sequence of one or more command(s) within that command stream associated with the protected content is to be implemented by the accelerator in a protected mode of operation;
- and
- when that command is executed by the accelerator, initiating or requesting a switch into the protected mode of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.