Method and apparatus for managing thread execution in a multithread application

Abstract

A method for managing the suspension and resumption of threads on an individual basis in an information handling system having an operating system (OS) kernel and a user process having multiple threads of execution. An originating thread issues a pthread_kill( ) service request to the OS kernel to send a specified signal (thread-stop or thread-continue) to a specified target thread within the same process to suspend or resume execution of the target thread. More particularly, in response to a request from a thread to suspend the execution of the target thread, the OS kernel sends a thread-stop signal (SIGTHSTOP) to the target thread, transferring control within the target thread from a normally executing program portion to a signal interrupt routine. Upon gaining control, the signal interrupt routine issues a service request to the kernel to stop the target thread. In response to a request from a thread to resume execution of the target thread, the OS kernel sends a thread-continue signal (SIGTHCONT) to the target thread to post the waiting target thread and return control to the signal interrupt routine. Upon regaining control, the signal interrupt routine returns control to the program at the point of interrupt.