Highlights
Introduction
This chapter introduces the ARMv7 architecture, the architecture profiles it defines, and the ARMv7-M profile defined by this manual. It contains the following sections:
• About the ARMv7 architecture, and architecture profiles
• The ARMv7-M architecture profile
• Architecture extensions
About the application level programmers’ model
This chapter contains the programmers’ model information required for application development.
The information in this chapter is distinct from the system information required to service and support application execution under an operating system. That information is given in Chapter B1 System Level Programmers’ Model.
System level support requires access to all features and facilities of the architecture, a level of access generally referred to as privileged operation. System code determines whether an application runs in a privileged or unprivileged manner. An operating system supports both privileged and unprivileged operation, but an application
usually runs unprivileged.
An application running unprivileged:
• Means the operating system can allocate system resources to the application, as either private or shared resources.
• Provides a degree of protection from other processes and tasks, and so helps protect the operating system from malfunctioning applications.
Running unprivileged means the processor is in Thread mode, see Interaction with the system level architecture.
Interaction with the system level architecture
Thread mode is the fundamental mode for application execution in ARMv7-M and is selected on reset. Thread mode execution can be unprivileged or privileged. Thread mode can raise a supervisor call using the SVC instruction, generating a Supervisor Call (SVCall) exception that the processor takes in Handler mode. Alternatively, Thread mode can handle system access and control directly.
All exceptions execute in Handler mode. SVCall handlers manage resources, such as interaction with peripherals, memory allocation and management of software stacks, on behalf of the application.
This chapter only provides system level information that is needed to understand operation at application level.
Where appropriate it:
• Gives an overview of the system level information.
• Gives references to the system level descriptions in Chapter B1 System Level Programmers’ Model and elsewhere.
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