Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce overhead associated with switching the context of an address space. SOLUTION: A processor includes: a control register which stores an address based on a page directory corresponding to the address space; a conversion look-aside buffer which includes an entry containing a field of an address space identifier; and an execution logic which executes an "MOV to control register" command in order to switch between the address spaces without flashing the conversion look-aside buffer. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus, method and system for installing a virtual event in a layered virtual architecture. SOLUTION: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes virtual machine entry logic, recognition logic, and evaluation logic. The virtual machine entry logic starts to transfer control of the apparatus from a host to a guest running on a virtual machine. The recognition logic recognizes a request from the host to install a virtual event into the virtual machine. The evaluation logic specifies an intervening monitor to handle the virtual event. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method for allowing execution of a system management mode (SMM) code during secure operations in a microprocessor system. SOLUTION: In one embodiment, a system management interruption (SMI) may be first directed to a handler in a secured virtual machine monitor (SVMM). The SMI may then be re-directed to an SMM code located in a virtual machine (VM) that is under the security control of the SVMM. This redirection can be accomplished by allowing reading from and writing to the system management (SM) base register in the processor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processor, a method, and a system for a virtual system. SOLUTION: In a remapping method for a guest physical memory via the virtualization of a host machine, respective virtual machines such as a virtual machine A 242 and a virtual machine B 257 individually give virtual processors 245 and 255 to guest software operated on the virtual machines. The respective machines give guest physical memories 240 and 250 serving as the abstraction of a physical memory to a guest operating system or the other guest software. When the guest software is operated on the virtual machines 242 and 257, operation is actually carried out by a host machine 267 on the host processor 265 using the host physical memory 260. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method for allowing a virtual machine monitor to assume control of a system when the current privilege level of guest software meets a privilege level exiting criteria. SOLUTION: A processor detects that the current privilege level meets the criteria and then transfers control from the guest software to the virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor may decline to assume control for certain privilege level changes or values. Transfer to the virtual machine monitor may occur before or after executing some instructions in VM. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of flushes of pipeline resources on context switches and effectively maintain the pipeline resources, in consideration that context switches in a VM or other environment needs flushes of TLBs and the pipeline resources, and overhead can adversely impact performance, especially in systems with many active contexts.SOLUTION: The method includes steps of: determining whether a predetermined command changes a selected value or not; performing operations with the processor resources if the selected value is not changed; and flushing all entries in all address spaces of the processor resources if the selected value has been changed.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide apparatuses, methods, and systems for achieving effective interrupt processing in a virtualization environment. SOLUTION: An apparatus is provided which includes an interface to receive an interrupt request while a guest is made to run on a virtual processor, delivery logic for determining, based on the attribute of the interrupt request, whether the interrupt request is to be delivered to the virtual processor, and an exit logic for transferring control to a host from the guest when the delivery logic determines that the interrupt request is not to be delivered to the virtual processor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a system to control the execution of a virtual machine (VM). SOLUTION: A VM monitor (VMM) indirectly accesses VM control structures (VMCS) through access instructions transferred to a processor. In one embodiment, the access instructions include VMCS component identifiers used by the processor to determine the appropriate storage component for the VMCS components. The processor identifies the appropriate storage location for the VMCS components within a processor storage mechanism or within a memory storage mechanism. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT