Patent ID: 7882321
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method in a processor for protecting content of a memory page, the method comprising: determining a start of a semi-synchronous memory copy operation wherein the semi-synchronous memory copy operation operates semi-synchronously with the processor to provide maximum processor utilization such that the processor is able to execute at least one additional instruction during the semi-synchronous memory copy operation, and wherein the semi-synchronous memory copy operation preserves temporal persistence of validity by stalling at least one operation to be performed by the 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 whether 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 the issued instruction being destined to remove the page table entry, stalling an execution of the issued instruction by the processor until the semi-synchronous memory copy operation is completed.