Patent ID: 7143414
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In a multi-processor application system including one or more shared resources each controlled by a unique semaphore, a semaphore management subsystem comprising: a storage means having a plurality of registers each associated with a processor (thread) requesting a semaphore, said register including a first field for storing a unique Semaphore Value (Sem_Val) and a second field for indicating the locked status of the identified Sem_Val; a first logic circuit responsive to a semaphore lock request from a thread which includes at least one semaphore value (Sem_Val) and a corresponding semaphore number (Sem_Num) for examining the storage means associated with the thread to determine the status of the requested Sem_Num and providing a first output indicating a locked status or a second output indicating an unlocked status of the requested Sem_Num by the thread; a second logic circuit responsive to said first output from the first logic circuit for generating a Lock Same Sem_Num Error, and, a third logic circuit responsive to said second output from the first logic circuit for processing the requested Sem_Val.