System for resolving pointers in a digital data processing system

• Main Authors: WELLS; DOUGLAS M, BRATT; RICHARD G, KATZ; LAWRENCE H
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.06.1984
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; PHYSICS

Systems and method for resolving unresolved pointers in digital computer systems. In unresolved pointers, addresses are represented by means of data items from which the addresses may be derived. The unresolved pointer is resolved when the represented address is derived from the data items. One such system includes the unresolved pointers and procedures for resolving the unresolved pointers in the digital computer system's memory and apparatus in the digital computer system's process which operates under control of pointer translation microcode to translate pointers into represented addreses and under control of call-return microcode for invoking procedures from microcode. The pointer translation microcode responds to an unresolved pointer by causing the call-return microcode to invoke the procedures for resolving the unresolved pointer. Using the data items in the unresolved pointer, the procedures derive the represented address and return it to the pointer translation microcode. Another such system includes an associated address table which associates an unresolved pointer with its represented address and associated pointer fault procedures. Here, the pointer translation microcode responds to the unresolved pointer by searching the table for an entry containing the unresolved pointer. If there is such an entry, the pointer translation microcode obtains the represented address from the table. If there is not, the pointer translation microcode causes the call-return microcode to invoke the associated pointer fault procedures, which resolve the unresolved pointer and place the represented address in the associated address table. A third such system combines the first two systems. Details of the systems and methods of resolving unresolved pointers are also disclosed.