Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

System and method for synchronizing the operation of a plurality of processor devices wherein a host processor does not have to continuously poll a status register to determine the availability of a shared resource. The host processor instructs a slave peripheral processor to perform a task requiring the use of a shared resource having a corresponding signal location. The host processor further instructs the slave peripheral processor to update the corresponding signal location to a specified value when the shared resource is no longer required. The host processor also sets the corresponding signal location to an initial value indicating that the slave peripheral processor still requires the use of the shared resource. The host processor then begins polling the signal location to determine if the slave peripheral processor no longer requires the shared resource. This determination is based on the presence in the corresponding signal location of the specified value. When the host processor detects the specified value in the signal location, the host processor frees the shared resource for use by other tasks. The host processor only begins polling the signal location after the corresponding shared resource is designated for use by a slave peripheral processor and no longer needed by a client process and after the host processor has another use for the shared resource.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim