Abstract: An Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) key generation assist instruction is provided. The AES key generation assist instruction assists in generating round keys used to perform AES encryption and decryption operations. The AES key generation instruction operates independent of the size of the cipher key and performs key generation operations in parallel on four 32-bit words thereby increasing the speed at which the round keys are generated. This instruction is easy to use in software. Hardware implementation of this instruction removes potential threats of software (cache access based) side channel attacks on this part of the AES algorithm.

Abstract: An Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) key generation assist instruction is provided. The AES key generation assist instruction assists in generating round keys used to perform AES encryption and decryption operations. The AES key generation instruction operates independent of the size of the cipher key and performs key generation operations in parallel on four 32-bit words thereby increasing the speed at which the round keys are generated. This instruction is easy to use in software. Hardware implementation of this instruction removes potential threats of software (cache access based) side channel attacks on this part of the AES algorithm.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having logic to perform a round of a cryptographic algorithm responsive to first and second round micro-operations to perform the round on first and second pairs of columns, where the logic includes dual datapaths that are half the width of the cryptographic algorithm width (or smaller). Additional logic may be used to combine the results of the first and second round micro-operations to obtain a round result. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having logic to perform a round of a cryptographic algorithm responsive to first and second round micro-operations to perform the round on first and second pairs of columns, where the logic includes dual datapaths that are half the width of the cryptographic algorithm width (or smaller). Additional logic may be used to combine the results of the first and second round micro-operations to obtain a round result. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) key generation assist instruction is provided. The AES key generation assist instruction assists in generating round keys used to perform AES encryption and decryption operations. The AES key generation instruction operates independent of the size of the cipher key and performs key generation operations in parallel on four 32-bit words thereby increasing the speed at which the round keys are generated. This instruction is easy to use in software. Hardware implementation of this instruction removes potential threats of software (cache access based) side channel attacks on this part of the AES algorithm.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for assigning a first identifier to a first instruction that is to write control information into a configuration register, assigning the first identifier to a second instruction that is to read the control information written by the first instruction, and storing the second instruction in a first structure of a processor with the first identifier. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for staggering execution of an instruction. According to one embodiment of the invention, a single macro instruction is received wherein the single macro instruction specifies at least two logical registers and wherein the two logical registers respectively store a first and second packed data operands having corresponding data elements. An operation specified by the single macro instruction is then performed independently on a first and second plurality of the corresponding data elements from said first and second packed data operands at different times using the same circuit to independently generate a first and second plurality of resulting data elements. The first and second plurality of resulting data elements are stored in a single logical register as a third packed data operand.

Abstract: An interface circuit performs a last step of an arithmetic operation and a round operation in parallel. The interface circuit includes a first adder circuit that receives as an input a true result of an arithmetic operation in an intermediate format. The first adder circuit outputs both the true result in a final format and a first representable number approximating the true result. A second adder circuit is connected in parallel to the first adder circuit. The second adder circuit receives the true result in the intermediate format and a 1 as inputs. The second adder circuit outputs a second representable number approximating the true result. The interface circuit also includes a selection circuit connected to the outputs of the first and second adder circuits. The selection circuit outputs either the first or second representable numbers as a rounded result of the arithmetic operation.