Method for accelerating java virtual machine bytecode verification, just-in-time compilation and garbage collection by using a dedicated co-processor

A dedicated coprocessor that performs a portion of bytecode verification functions of class structures for a Java virtual machine executing in a host processor, the coprocessor comprising:

• class structure pointer receiving circuitry configured to receive from the main processor a pointer to a class structure in a memory unit shared between the host processor and the coprocessor;
• verifying circuitry configured to verify at least some of the portions of the pointed-to class structure that do not require reference to another class structure;
• and
• indication providing circuitry configured to provide to the host processor an indication of a result of the verification.

A dedicated coprocessor that performs a just-in-time (JIT) compilation for a method of a Java virtual machine executing in a host processor, to generate, from Java bytecodes of the method, native instructions of the host processor corresponding to the Java bytecodes, the coprocessor comprising:

• constants pool receiving circuitry configured to receive a pointer to a constants pool, of a class to which the method belongs, in a memory unit shared between the host processor and the coprocessor;
• bytecodes pointer receiving circuitry configured to receive a pointer to the bytecodes of the method in the memory unit;
• and
• instructions generating circuitry configured to generate the native instructions corresponding to the Java bytecodes and to store the native instructions into the memory unit.

A method of performing functions of a Java virtual machine in a computer system, the computer system including a host processor, a coprocessor, and a memory unit shared between the host processor and the coprocessor, the method comprising:

• performing first functions of the Java virtual machine utilizing the host processor;
• passing from the host processor to the coprocessor at least one pointer to data in the memory unit pertinent to an overhead function of the Java virtual machine;
• receiving the at least one pointer at the coprocessor and performing the overhead function by the coprocessor operating on the data in the memory unit pointed to by the at least one pointer;
• passing the result of the performance of the overhead function from the coprocessor to the main processor;
• and
• utilizing the main processor to continue to perform the first functions, using the result passed from the coprocessor.