Patent ID: 7506132
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method in a superscalar processor for protecting content of a memory page, the method comprising: determining a start of a semi-synchronous memory copy operation associated with a memory, wherein the semi-synchronous memory copy operation is an operation that operates semi-synchronously with the superscalar processor to provide maximum processor utilization such that the superscalar processor is able to execute at least one additional instruction on the memory during the semi-synchronous memory copy operation on the memory, and wherein the semi-synchronous memory copy operation is an operation that preserves temporal persistence of validity by stalling at least one operation that conflicts with the semi-synchronous memory copy operation to be performed by the superscalar processor, wherein the operation to be stalled is associated with at least one of a source location and a target location being operated on during the semi-synchronous memory copy operation; determining a range of addresses where the semi-synchronous memory copy operation is being performed; detecting an issued instruction that removes a page table entry; determining that the issued instruction is destined to remove a page table entry associated with at least one address in the range of addresses; and in response to determining that the issued instruction is destined to remove the page table entry, stalling an execution of the issued instruction by the superscalar processor until the semi-synchronous memory copy operation is completed.