What is claimed is:
1. A method of operating a digital system having a processor and associated translation lookaside buffer (TLB), comprising the steps of:
executing a plurality of program tasks within the processor;
initiating a plurality of memory access requests in response to the plurality of program tasks;
caching a plurality of translated memory addresses in the TLB responsive to the plurality of memory access requests;
incorporating a task identification value with each translated memory address to identify which of the plurality of program tasks requested the respective translated memory address;
incorporating a shared indicator with each translated memory address to indicate when a translated memory address is shared by more than one of the plurality of program tasks; and
invalidating a portion of the plurality of translated memory address in the TLB in a manner that is qualified by the shared indicator.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of invalidating comprises invalidating a translated memory address only if it is shared.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of invalidating comprises invalidating a translated memory address only if it is not shared.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the TLB has several levels, and wherein the step of invalidating encompasses all of the several levels of the TLB.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of invalidating is qualified by both the shared indicator and the task identification value.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of incorporating a second qualifier value with each translated memory address; and
wherein the step of invalidating is qualified by both the shared indicator and the second qualifier value.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the digital system has a plurality of processors and wherein the second qualifier value identifies which of the plurality of processor requested the respective translated memory address.
8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of invalidating comprises invalidating all shared entry locations of the plurality of translated memory address in the TLB in response to a single command issued from the processor.
9. The method according claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
maintaining a set of page translation tables for providing each translated memory address; and
including within the set of page translation tables the shared indicator for each translated memory address.
10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of maintaining a set of page translation tables for providing each translated memory address, wherein the shared indicator for each translated memory address is not included within the set of page translation tables.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a shared translated memory address is replicated in the TLB for each program task that requests it.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of program tasks exist in a same address space, and wherein the step of caching comprises caching in the TLB only a single copy of a shared translated memory address.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the task identification value of a shared translated memory address is ignored.
14. A digital system having a translation lookaside buffer (TLB), the TLB comprising:
storage circuitry with a plurality of entry locations for holding translated values, wherein each of the plurality of entry locations includes a first field for a translated value and a second field for an associated shared indicator;
a set of inputs for receiving a translation request;
a set of outputs for providing a translated value selected from the plurality of entry locations; and
control circuitry connected to the storage circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to an operation command to invalidate selected ones of the plurality of entry locations according to the shared indicator.
15. The digital system of claim 14, wherein the digital system further comprises a second level TLB connected to the TLB, the second level TLB comprising:
second level storage circuitry with a plurality of entry locations for holding translated values, wherein each of the plurality of entry locations includes a first field for a translated value and a second field for an associated shared indicator; and
wherein the control circuitry is connected to the second level storage circuitry, the control circuitry being responsive to an operation command to invalidate selected ones of the plurality of entry locations in the second storage circuitry according to the shared indicator, such that qualified entry locations in the TLB and in the second level TLB are invalidated in response to a single operation command.
16. The digital system according to any of claim 14 being a personal digital assistant, further comprising:
a processor (CPU) connected to the TLB and thereby connected to access a memory circuit;
a display, connected to the CPU via a display adapter;
radio frequency (RF) circuitry connected to the CPU; and
an aerial connected to the RF circuitry.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A strut holding assembly for use in combination with a plurality of flexible elongated struts that are engaged to a flexible wall and that each have a bent, tensioned position for holding the flexible wall in a use position when a free inner end of each strut is immobilized, the assembly comprising:
a hub;
a plurality of holding arms pivotally connected at spaced locations to the hub, between storage positions adjacent the hub and extended positions extending outwardly of the hub, each holding arm being adapted to immobilize a free inner end of one strut;
at least one of the holding arms comprising:
a seat adapted for receiving and immobilizing the free inner end of a strut in at least one direction; and
a hook spaced from the seat by a fulcrum distance, the hook being adapted for engaging the strut at a distance from the free inner end of the strut equal to the fulcrum distance, for immobilizing the strut in its bent, tensioned position in at least three directions and being free to move in a remaining direction.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seat and hook are fixed with respect to each other, the at least one holding arm including a passage between the seat and the hook for allowing passage of the strut as it is bent into its tensioned position with the free inner end of the strut immobilized in the seat.
3. The assembly according to claim 1, including a light fixture connected to the hub for carrying a light source for shining light to be modified by a flexible wall engaged to a strut in its tensioned position.
4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the fulcrum distance (X) and a vertical distance (Z) between a center of the seat and a point of contact of the strut against the hook is selected to set a degree of tensioning of the strut in its tensioned position.
5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the strut is immobilized in at least one direction corresponding to a radially inward direction of the hub.
6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the strut is immobilized in its tensioned position in at least three directions corresponding to a forward axial direction of the hub, and clock-wise and counter-clock-wise circumferential directions of the hub, and the strut being free to move in a remaining direction corresponding to a rearward axial direction of the hub.
7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the strut is immobilized in at least one direction corresponding to a radially inward direction of the hub, and wherein the strut is immobilized in its tensioned position in at least three directions corresponding to a forward axial direction of the hub, and clock-wise and counter-clock-wise circumferential directions of the hub, and the strut being free to move in a remain direction corresponding to a rearward axial direction of the hub.
8. The assembly according to claim 1, including a strut engaged with the at least one holding arm and a selected flexible wall engaged to the strut, the fulcrum distance (X) changing for changing a bending of the strut in its tensioned position.
9. The assembly according to claim 1, including a strut engaged with the at least one holding arm and a selected flexible wall engaged to the strut, the vertical distance (Z) changing for changing a bending of the strut in its tensioned position.
10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the hook is connected to the at least one holding arm by a bridge at one side of the hook, and the hook includes an axial projection at its opposite side.
11. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the hook is pivotally connected to the at least one holding arm at one side of the hook.
12. A strut holding device for use in combination with a plurality of flexible elongated struts that are engaged to a flexible wall and that each have a bent, tensioned position for holding the flexible wall in a use position when a free inner end of each strut is immobilized, the device comprising:
a seat adapted for receiving and immobilize the free inner end of a strut in at least one direction; and
a hook spaced from the seat by a fulcrum distance (X), the hook being adapted for engaging the strut at a distance from the free inner end of the strut equal to the fulcrum distance, for immobilizing the strut in its bent, tensioned position in at least three directions and being free to move in a remaining direction.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the seat and hook are fixed with respect to each other, the device including a passage between the seat and the hook for allowing passage of the strut as it is bent into its tensioned position with the free inner end of the strut immobilized in the seat.
14. The device according to claim 12, including a hub connected to the device and a light fixture connected to the hub for carrying a light source for shining light to be modified by a flexible wall engaged to a strut in its tensioned position.
15. The device according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the fulcrum distance (X) and a vertical distance (Z) between a center of the seat and a point of contact of the strut against the hook is selected to set a degree of tensioning of the strut in its tensioned position.
16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the free end of the strut is immobilized in at least one direction corresponding to a radial inward direction of the hub.
17. The device according to claim 12, wherein the strut is immobilized in its tensioned position in at least three directions corresponding to a forward axial direction of the hub, and clock-wise and counter-clock-wise circumferential directions of the hub, and the strut being free to move in a remain direction corresponding to a rearward axial direction of the hub.
18. The device according to claim 12, wherein the free end of the strut is immobilized in at least one direction corresponding to a radial inward direction of the hub, and wherein the strut is immobilized in its tensioned position in at least three directions corresponding to a forward axial direction of the hub, and clock-wise and counter-clock-wise circumferential directions of the hub, and the strut being free to move in a remain direction corresponding to a rearward axial direction of the hub.
19. The device according to claim 12, including a strut engaged with the device and a selected flexible wall engaged to the strut, the fulcrum distance (X) changes for changing a bending of the strut in its tensioned position.
20. The device according to claim 12, including a strut engaged with the device and a selected flexible wall engaged to the strut, the vertical distance (Z) changes for changing a bending of the strut in its tensioned position.
21. The device according to claim 12, wherein the hook is connected to the device by a bridge at one side of the hook, and the hook includes an axial projection at its opposite side.
22. The device according to claim 12, wherein the hook is pivotally connected to the device at one side of the hook.
23. A strut holding device comprising:
a seat adapted for receiving and immobilize the free inner end of a strut in at least one direction; and
a hook spaced from the seat by a fulcrum distance (X), the hook being adapted for engaging the strut at a distance from the free inner end of the strut equal to the fulcrum distance, for immobilizing the strut in its bent, tensioned position in a least three directions and being free to move in a remaining direction.
24. The device according to claim 23, including a strut engaged with the device and a selected flexible wall engaged to the strut, the fulcrum distance (X) changes for changing a bending of the strut in its tensioned position.
25. The device according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the fulcrum distance (X) and a vertical distance (Z) between a center of the seat and a point of contact of the strut against the hook is selected to set a degree of tensioning of the strut in its tensioned position.
26. The device according to claim 23, wherein the hook is connected to the device by a bridge at one side of the hook, and the hook includes an axial projection at its opposite side.
27. The device according to claim 23, wherein the hook is pivotally connected to the device at one side of the hook.