Real time processor optimized for executing JAVA programs

A computer system comprising:

• (a) a compiler for compiling a high level source code to generate an intermediate code;
• and
• (b) a microprocessor system for executing said intermediate code, said microprocessor system comprising a microprocessor and an instruction set so that said microprocessor system capable of executing said intermediate code as the native code of the microprocessor without a software interpreter;
• wherein said intermediate code is characterized in that it does not require a direct knowledge of the microprocessor environment;
• and
• wherein said intermediate code retains at least some of the symbolic characteristics of its corresponding source code.

A computer system comprising:

• (a) a compiler for compiling a high level source code to generate an intermediate code;
• and
• (b) a microprocessor system for executing said intermediate code, said microprocessor system comprising a microprocessor and an instruction set so that said microprocessor system capable of executing said intermediate code as the native code of the microprocessor without a software interpreter;
• wherein said intermediate code is characterized in that it does not require a direct knowledge of the microprocessor environment;
• and
• wherein said intermediate code uses primarily symbolic references to stored information.

A computer system comprising

• (a) a first memory wherein intermediate level instructions are stored;
• (b) a second memory wherein native level instructions are stored;
• and
• (c) circuitry for selecting a set of native level instructions to execute in response to each intermediate level instruction without a software interpreter;
• and
• wherein the intermediate level instructions retain at least some of the symbolic characteristics of their source code.

A computer system comprising

• (a) a first memory wherein intermediate level instructions are stored;
• (b) a second memory wherein native level instructions are stored;
• and
• (c) circuitry for selecting a set of native level instructions to execute in response to each intermediate level instruction without a software interpreter;
• and
• wherein the intermediate level instructions primarily use symbolic references to stored information.

A computer system comprising:

• (a) a first memory wherein intermediate level instructions are stored:
• (b) a second memory wherein native level instructions are stored;
• and
• (c) circuitry for selecting a set of native level instructions to execute in response to each intermediate level instruction without a software interpreter;
• and
• wherein a Rockwell Advanced Achitecture Microprocessor with at least 16 bit addressing is used to execute the native level instructions.

A computer system comprising:

• (a) a first memory wherein intermediate level instructions are stored;
• (b) a second memory wherein native level instructions are stored;
• and
• (c) circuitry for selecting a set of native level instructions to execute in response to each intermediate level instruction without a software interpreter;
• and
• wherein a microprocessor is used to execute the microcoded native level instructions and wherein the native level instruction set may be changed without altering the fundamental architecture of the computer system.

A computer system comprising:

• (a) a first memory wherein intermediate level instructions are stored;
• (b) a second memory wherein native level instructions are stored;
• and
• (c) circuitry for selecting a set of native level instructions to execute in response to each intermediate level instruction without a software interpreter;
• and
• wherein memory resident objects are partitioned into garbage-collectible and non-garage collectible types;
• wherein the system determines which of the garbage-collectible types will be needed during the remainder of the program execution;
• and
• wherein the memory occupied by the unneeded garbage-collectible objects is deallocated.

A computer system comprising

• (a) a first memory wherein intermediate level instructions are stored;
• (b) a second memory wherein native level instructions are stored;
• and
• (c) circuitry for selecting a set of native level instructions to execute in response to each intermediate level instruction without a software interpreter;
• and
• whereinsymbolic references are resolved to logical references by a method comprising the steps of:
• (a) providing an index which links all symbolically referenced items of information to a corresponding logical memory address;
• (b) interpreting said intermediate level instructions;
• (c) upon a first encounter of any symbolic reference within said intermediate level instructions, resolving the symbolic reference to a logical reference by searching the index and retrieving location information;
• (d) storing the logical reference location information with the referenced object;
• whereby subsequent encounters of any previously resolved symbolic references may use previously retrieved location information stored with the object. memory for storing the intermediate code and a second memory for storing native level code, wherein the executing step includes selecting the native level code in response to the intermediate code.

A computer system comprising:

• (a) a compiler for compiling a high level source code to generate an intermediate code;
• and
• (b) a microprocessor system for executing said intermediate code, said microprocessor system comprising a microprocessor and an instruction set so that said microprocessor system capable of executing said intermediate code as the native code of the microprocessor without a software interpreter;
• wherein memory resident objects are partitioned into garbage-collectible and non-garbage collectible types;
• wherein the system determines which of the garbage-collectible types will be needed during the remainder of the program execution;
• and
• wherein the memory occupied by the unneeded garbage-collection objects is deallocated.

A computer system comprising:

• (a) a compiler for compiling a high level source code to generate an intermediate code;
• and
• (b) a microprocessor system for executing said intermediate code, said microprocessor system comprising a microprocessor and an instruction set so that said microprocessor system capable of executing said intermediate code as the native code of the microprocessor without a software interpreter;
• wherein said intermediate code is characterized in that it does not require a direct knowledge of the microprocessor environment;
• wherein symbolic references are resolved to logical references by a method comprising the steps of:
• (a) providing an index which links all symbolically referenced items of information to a corresponding logical memory address;
• (b) interpreting said intermediate level instructions;
• (c) upon a first encounter of any symbolic reference within said intermediate level instructions, resolving the symbolic reference to a logical reference by searching the index and retrieving location information;
• (d) storing the logical reference location information with the referenced object;
• whereby subsequent encounters of any previously resolved symbolic references may use previously retrieved location information stored with the object.

A method of executing a high level source code, comprising:

• compiling the high level source code to generate an intermediate code, the intermediate code does not require knowledge of a microprocessor environment;
• executing the intermediate code with a microprocessor system, the microprocessor system comprising an instruction set so that said microprocessor system capable of executing the intermediate code without a software interpreter;
• wherein the microprocessor system includes a first memory for storing the intermediate code and a second memory for storing native level code, wherein the executing step includes selecting the native level code in response to the intermediate code;
• wherein the executing step includes:
• (a) providing an index which links all symbolically referenced items of information to a corresponding logical memory address;
• (b) interpreting said intermediate level instructions;
• (c) upon a first encounter of any symbolic reference within said intermediate level instructions, resolving the symbolic reference to a logical reference by searching the index and retrieving location information;
• (d) storing the logical reference location information with the referenced object;
• whereby subsequent encounters of any previously resolved symbolic references may use previously retrieved location information stored with the object.

A computer system comprising:

• (a) a compiler means for compiling a high level source code to generate an intermediate code;
• and
• (b) a microprocessor system means for executing said intermediate code, said microprocessor system comprising a microprocessor and an instruction set so that said microprocessor system capable of executing said intermediate code as the native code of the microprocessor means without a software interpreter;
• wherein said intermediate code is characterized in that it does not require a direct knowledge of the microprocessor environment, wherein the intermediate code comprises a real time embedded program.