Data processing system for utilizing a memory-mapped coprocessor within a limited address space

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A data processing system is disclosed which permits the use of a memory mapped floating point coprocessor or other such peripheral, by a process which is unable to address the peripheral's resident memory location but which is able to address a specified location. Memory mapping means intercept attempted accesses by the process to the specified location and diverts the process's access instruction to cause it to access the corresponding mapped address instead. An illustrative implementation is also described, namely the use of a *Weitek 1167 memory-mapped floating point coprocessor by processes running in the "virtual mode" of an Intel 80386 CPU. *Trade-mark