Patent ID: 6141697
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a heterogeneous computer system having at least two CPUs and a common memory completely accessible by at least one each of said CPUs and disposed for storing at least two different operating systems that actively run simultaneously and concurrently control resources of said heterogeneous computer system, a method for performing function calls from a first program operating under control of a first of said operating systems, and running on a first of said CPUs, to a second program operating under control of a second one of said operating systems, and running on a second one of said at least two CPUs, said method comprising the steps of:a. said first program calling an initialization function and sending initialization signals to said second operating system via a CPU-to-CPU signal bus between said.sub.-- at least two CPUs to initiate said second program;b. after successfully initiating said second program, said first program making calls to said second program to perform a specific function via said CPU-to-CPU signal bus;c. said first program converting parameters from a format compatible with said first operating system to a format compatible with said second operating system;d. said first program storing parameters in a first program stack having a portion thereof stored in said common memory;e. said second program fetching said parameters directly from said first program stack;f. said second program processing said parameters according to said specific function;g. said second program converting results of the preceding step from a format compatible with said second operating system to a format compatible with said first operating system;h. said second program storing said results converted in the previous step in a second program stack having a portion thereof within said common memory;i. said second program reactivating said first program via said CPU-to-CPU signal bus; and,j. said first program fetching from said second program stack said results converted in step f hereof.