Patent ID: 7263604
Filing Date: 2007-08-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A heterogeneous parallel multithread processor with shared contexts, the processor comprising: (a) a plurality of parallel-connected standard processor root unit types, where each respective standard processor root unit type has at least one or more parallel-connected standard processor root units for instruction execution of program instructions from various threads, wherein each standard processor root unit has at least an instruction decoding/operand fetch unit and an instruction unit, wherein each standard processor root unit type has N local context memories which each buffer-store part of a current processor state for a thread, wherein the local context memories are connected only to the respective standard processor root unit type; (b) a plurality of global context memories which each buffer-store part of a current processor state for a thread, wherein the global context memories are connected to all standard processor root unit types, wherein each context memory includes at least one register; and (c) a thread control unit which generates multiplexer control signals for controlling multiplexers with which any standard processor root unit can be connected to any global context memory.