System and method for executing platform-independent code on a co-processor

A method using a computer for executing platform-independent code on a co-processor, the computer comprising a processor, a main memory, a programmable read only memory, and the co-processor, each interconnected with each other, the processor and the co-processor operating under control of an operating system, the method comprising the steps of:

• initializing a runtime environment comprising an address space in the main memory for the platform-independent code using a memory manager operatively coupled to the operating system;
• providing the initialized runtime environment to the co-processor through the operating system using a runtime shim operatively coupled to the operating system;
• and
• executing the platform-independent code on the co-processor responsive to the runtime shim with reference to the address space in the main memory;
• wherein the co-processor executes the core classes of the platform-independent code from the programmable read only memory.

An apparatus for efficiently executing platform-independent code in a computer system, the computer system including a processor and a main memory, each interconnected with each other, the apparatus comprising:

• interfacing logic interconnecting the apparatus with the processor and the main memory and comprising channels for exchanging control, data and address signals with the processor and the main memory;
• a co-processor executing the platform-independent code in coordination with but independently from the processor;
• a buffer interconnected with the co-processor and comprising a plurality of storage locations in which are staged segments of the platform-independent code prior to execution by the co-processor;
• a programmable read only memory for storing core classes of the platform-independent code;
• a direct memory access (DMA) controller interconnected with the buffer and interfacing directly to the main memory through the interfacing logic, the DMA controller staging the segments of the platform-independent code into the buffer from the main memory;
• and
• a bus internal to the apparatus interconnecting the interfacing logic, the co-processor, the direct memory access controller, and the programmable read only memory, the interfacing logic providing the control, data and address signals over the internal bus.

A method using a computer for facilitating execution of platform-independent program code on a co-processor, the computer including a processor, a main memory, a programmable read only memory, and the co-processor, each interconnected with each other, the method comprising the steps of:

• initializing a runtime environment comprising an address space in the main memory in which is stored the platform-independent program code;
• notifying the co-processor to begin execution of the platform-independent program code including providing the address space in the runtime environment to the co-processor;
• and
• coordinating execution of the platform-independent program code by the co-processor with independent execution of other program code by the processor and managing the main memory between the address space in the runtime environment and the main memory used by the processor;
• wherein the co-processor executes the core classes of the platform-independent code from the programmable read only memory.