Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Peter C Schnorr

Steven J Frank

Henry Burkhardt, Iii

Frederick D Weber

Linda Q Lee

David I Epstein

Brett D Byers

John A Roskosz

Digital multiprocessor methods and apparatus comprise a plurality of processors, including a first processor for normally processing an instruction stream including instructions from a first instruction source. At least one of the processors can transmit inserted-instructions to the first processor. Inserted-instructions are executed by the first processor in the same manner as, and without affecting the sequence of, instructions from the first instruction source. The first instruction source can be a memory element, including an instruction cache element for storing digital values representative of instructions and program steps, or an execution unit (CEU) which asserts signals to the instruction cache element to cause instructions to be transmitted to the CEU. The processors include input/output (I/O) processors having direct memory access (DMA) insert elements, which respond to a peripheral device to generate DMA inserted-instructions. These DMA inserted-instructions are executable by the first processing element in the same manner as, and without affecting processing sequence of, the instructions from the first instruction source.

System for inserting instructions into processor instruction stream in

Growing community of inventors

Sudbury, MA, United States of America

Peter C Schnorr