Virtual memory, processes, and sharing in MULTICS
Communications of the ACM
Process exchange on the PR1ME family of computers
ACM SIGARCH Computer Architecture News
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The procedure call and argument transfer mechanism on the Model P400 and the 50 Series of PRIME machines is described. First, PRIME V-mode addressing is examined. Next, data structures interpreted by hardware and relevant to procedure call are explained. Finally, the process of procedure call, argument transfer, and return are described.The mechanism is evaluated on the basis of our experience. This mechanism has facilitated inter-language communications and has permitted the development of a shared operating system that is embedded within the user's address space. Its high speed has permitted a system environment consisting of many procedures. It has several novel features not available in other machines.Some extensions to the mechanism are suggested. These extensions would simplify the use of procedure call in languages which use call by value. They would facilitate procedure call in a general register environment.