Abstract: A microprocessor implements an instruction tracing mechanism that saves the state of the microprocessor without special hardware. Prior to the execution of a traced instruction, a trace microcode routine is implemented that saves the state of the microprocessor to external memory. The state information saved by the trace microcode routine varies depending upon the amount of data needed by the end user. After the state of the processor has been saved, the trace instruction is executed. State information that changed during the execution of the trace instruction is saved to memory prior to a subsequent instruction. The trace instruction mechanism advantageously requires minimal special hardware and expedites the saving of the processor state information.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which the download program is designed to execute either from a command line in a main menu or from a diagnostics or service menu 201 as a service aid. The drive program 203 loads an executable file 205 which first reads from a drive specific data ("DSDATA") file 207. This allows the executable file 205 to configure itself to correctly perform micro-code download on a specific and designated drive device. The executable file program then proceeds to download the data contained in the drive binary firmware file 208 to a designated drive write buffer 209. The program then prompts the operator for final confirmation that the drive should be updated. Once the operator confirms the download, the executable file program issues the command to load the firmware into the drive.

Abstract: A computer software tool used for automatically identifying code portions and data portions of a binary executable software program in which the code portions include machine instructions that are of arbitrary length. Software products are typically distributed as binary, executable files, which comprise a string of binary values. In general, an executable file has no structure or meaning, except as determined by its behavior when dynamically executed, one instruction at a time, by a digital computer. The software tool determines a set of addresses for any known code and data portions. The tool is then used to disassemble machine instructions, beginning at a starting address for each known code portion, to identify the target addresses of other code portions and other data portions. Other sections of the binary executable software program that could be either code or data are then analyzed to identify additionAL code and data portions.

Abstract: A compiling processing apparatus which compiles a program operating in a computer having a cache memory. This apparatus collects memory access data for the cache memory, analyzes confliction relationships between them, determines whether or not an instruction for confliction memory access data relocates, relocates the instruction if relocation is possible, and reduces the number of cache miss. Further, this apparatus recognizes memory access data in a continuous area, audits recognized memory access data alignment, generates an instruction of pair-load/pair-store, and reduces the number of memory accesses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the automatic generation of interface specifications includes a communications network for enabling users of the apparatus to inter-communicate and to write files to pending, reference and interface data bases. The files written to the data bases are formatted and automatically received to reduce errors in the specification data in the files. A document generator responsive to commands accesses document template files in a document template data base to prepare defined documentation reflecting the external interface specification from the files in the data bases.