Systems and methods for semaphore-based protection of shared system resources

摘要

An electronic system (100) includes multiple data access components (102, 103, 104) (DACs), a semaphores module (108), and a memory protection unit (110) (MPU). Any of the DACs may issue an access request, which requests access to a shared system resource. A region descriptor associated with the shared system resource specifies default access permissions for the DACs. The semaphores module (108) implements a semaphore for the shared system resource, and produces semaphore signals indicating which one, if any, of the DACs has locked the semaphore for the shared system resource. More particularly, an access evaluation circuit (610, 612) of the MPU receives the default access permissions and the semaphore signals. When the semaphore is properly enabled, as indicated in the region descriptor, the access evaluation circuit (610, 612) produces effective access permissions for the DACs by potentially altering the default access permissions based on the semaphore signals. The MPU grants or denies the access request based on the effective access permissions.