Timestamp systems, methods and computer program products for data processing system

摘要

Timestamp updating systems, methods and computer program products for data processing systems provide a timestamp register that stores a current value of a timestamp and a time thread that repeatedly generates a current value of a timestamp and stores the current value of a timestamp so generated in the timestamp register. When the timestamp is being stored in the register, applications are locked from accessing the register. At other times, however, the applications may obtain the timestamp from the timestamp register, rather than accessing the system clock and formatting a timestamp each time a timestamp is required. A semaphore may be used to lock and unlock the timestamp register. Alternatively, a buffer is provided including a plurality of registers, each of which stores a timestamp therein. A time thread repeatedly generates a current value of a timestamp from the system clock and stores the current value of a timestamp so generated in a selected one of the registers. Applications can concurrently obtain a current value of a timestamp from the remaining ones of the registers.