Abstract: A data processing system and method of operation thereof detect when a situation occurs in which a window displayed on a display device should be brought to a user's attention. That window is then surfaced at the top of a window system z-order of the data processing system without modifying a current activation state of the window. Thus, while the window is guaranteed to be visible or unobscured by any other windows, the current activation state is not changed and any user input is still in control of the user.

Abstract: An improved topology for multi-port memory cell layouts in which two or more bitline pairs are required for data transfers is provided. Bitlines are displaced vertically, rather than horizontally. Such vertical spacing provides improved silicon density while reducing bitline capacitance of a memory cell. Additionally, the use of vertically separated bitline pairs allows traditional transitional phase relationships between multi-port operations in multi-port memory implementations. To nullify any sensitivity to an overlapping restore operation, this improved topology includes cross-coupled ports.

Abstract: During operation of a pipelined data processing system, an interruptible instruction table is used to store target identifiers associated with instructions which may result in speculative execution. During operation of the interruptible instruction table, a pointer, referred to as a completing instruction buffer entry pointer, points to a bottom of the interruptible instruction table if that table includes any instruction. An entry at the bottom of the interruptible instruction table is a next instruction to complete. This entry includes a target identifier, referred to as a non-speculative-non-interruptible TID, may be used to release resources held for all prior executed instructions. The data processing system determines the value of the non-speculative-non-interruptible TID to ensure that order determination is preserved and provides a true speculative execution point.