System to coordinate switching between first and second processors and to coordinate cache coherency between first and second processors during switching
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsZhong-Ning George Cai, Tosaku Nakanishi
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Abstract
A computer system includes a first processor, a second processor, and interprocessor communication logic (ICL). The first processor operates at a higher frequency, includes a more advanced micro-architecture, and consumes more power than the second processor. When the computer system is plugged in, the first processor is selected as the primary system processor. When the computer system is powered by a battery, the second processor is selected as the primary system processor. The second processor and the ICL may be integrated together on the same semiconductor chip.
Claims27
A computer system comprising:
- a first processor;
- a second processor;
- and
- interprocessor communication logic (ICL) to coordinate switching between the first and second processors as a primary system processor of the computer system and to coordinate cache coherency between the first and second processors during switching.
A computer system comprising:
- a first processor to operate at a first frequency and having a first micro-architecture;
- a second processor to operate at a second frequency and having a second micro-architecture, the first frequency being greater than the second frequency, and the first micro-architecture being more advanced than the second micro-architecture;
- and
- an ICL, integrated on a single semiconductor chip with the second processor, the ICL to select the first processor as a primary system processor during a first period of time and to select the second processor as a primary system processor during a second period of time and to coordinate cache coherency between the first and second processors during switching.
A method of operating a computer system comprising:
- operating a first processor as a primary system processor of a computer system when the computer system is plugged in;
- operating a second processor as a primary system processor of the computer system when the computer system is powered by a battery;
- and
- coordinating cache coherency between the first and second processors during switching.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.