Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Mark Boys
  • Patent number: 6789100
    Abstract: A multi-streaming processor has a plurality of streams for streaming one or more instruction threads, a set of functional resources for processing instructions from streams; and interstream control mechanisms whereby any stream may effect the operation of any other stream. In various embodiments the interstream control mechanisms include mechanisms for accomplishing one or more of enabling or disabling another stream, putting another stream into a sleep mode or awakening another stream from a sleep mode, setting priorities for another stream relative to access to functional resources, and granting blocking access by another stream to functional resources. A Master Mode is taught, wherein one stream is granted master status, and thereby may exert any and all available control mechanisms relative to other streams without interference by any stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: MIPS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario D. Nemirovsky, Adolfo M. Nemirovsky, Narendra Sankar