Importance

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Abstract

A system for custom context switching comprises a thread accounting unit, a switching routine registration unit, a thread scheduling unit, a custom context switching unit, and a default context switching unit. The thread accounting unit creates a thread object for each thread present in a multithreaded execution environment, where the thread object includes data fields for storing a unique thread ID, a reference to a custom context switching routine, and a switching parameter signal. The switching routine registration unit stores a reference to a custom context switching routine in a particular thread object. The thread scheduling unit determines when rescheduling operations for transferring execution from one thread to another are required, and directs rescheduling operations. During rescheduling operations, the custom context switching unit initiates the execution of a custom context switching routine associated with a thread being switched-out, after which the default context switching unit performs a default context switch, after which the custom context switching unit initiates the execution of a custom context switching routine associated with a thread being switched-in. A method for custom context switching comprises the steps of: executing a thread until rescheduling is required; determining whether the thread has an associated custom context switching routine; in the event that the thread has an associated custom context switching routine, initiating the execution of the custom context switching routine; and performing a context switch.

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