Patent ID: 7774561
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A system for memory protection based on data objects, comprising: an authority controller coupled to a processing unit for controlling access by said processing unit to a plurality of pages of memory, wherein each of a plurality of pages of memory is assigned a particular key number from among a plurality of key numbers distinguishable from a page number within a separate entry for each page within a page table of said memory, wherein each selection of pages of memory assigned a same key number from among said plurality key numbers are associated with a same region of said memory associated with a particular key number, wherein each of said plurality of key numbers is associated with at least one from among a plurality of data objects; said authority controller further comprising: and an authority register accessible to said authority controller, wherein a hardware protection key set currently loaded in said authority register specifies a particular selection of allowed key numbers from among said plurality of key numbers, wherein said authority controller only allows said processing unit access to those selections of pages assigned to one from among said selection of allowed key numbers.