Abstract: A processor comprising fetch logic adapted to fetch instructions from memory and decode logic coupled to the fetch logic and adapted to decode the fetched instructions. If a bit in the decode logic is in a first state, a particular fetched instruction is skipped and a group of one or more instructions is executed in lieu of the particular fetched instruction. If the bit is in a second state, both the group and the particular fetched instruction are executed.

Abstract: A method and related system to disable the “WIDE” prefix. At least some of the illustrative embodiments may be a method comprising disabling an ability of an opcode to act as a prefix for other opcodes.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising a first processor adapted to process software instructions from a memory, and a second processor coupled to the first processor. The second processor is adapted to interrupt the first processor and to use the first processor as a direct memory access (DMA) controller. The second processor uses the first processor as a DMA controller by sending to the first processor a plurality of addresses, wherein the first processor uses a first address of the plurality of addresses to retrieve a group of instructions which, when executed, causes the first processor to load a datum directly from a memory location and to transfer the datum to a different memory location.

Abstract: A digital system and method of operation is provided in which several processing resources (340) and processors (350) are connected to a shared translation lookaside buffer (TLB) (300, 310(n)) of a memory management unit (MMU) and thereby access memory and devices. These resources can be instruction processors, coprocessors, DMA devices, etc. Each entry location in the TLB is filled during the normal course of action by a set of translated address entries (308, 309) along with qualifier fields (301, 302, 303) that are incorporated with each entry. Operations can be performed on the TLB that are qualified by the various qualifier fields. A command (360) is sent by an MMU manager to the control circuitry of the TLB (320) during the course of operation. Commands are sent as needed to flush (invalidate), lock or unlock selected entries within the TLB. Each entry in the TLB is accessed (362, 368) and the qualifier field specified by the operation command is evaluated (364).

Abstract: A memory traffic access controller (18) responsive to a plurality of requests to access a memory. The controller includes circuitry (18d) for associating, for each of the plurality of requests, an initial priority value corresponding to the request. The controller further includes circuitry (18b, 18d, 18e, 18f) for changing the initial priority value for selected ones of the plurality of requests to a different priority value. Lastly, the controller includes circuitry for outputting (18d) a signal to cause access of the memory in response to a request in the plurality of requests having a highest priority value.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system (10) includes a plurality of processing modules, such as MPUs (12), DSPs (14), and coprocessors/DMA channels (16). Power management software (38) in conjunction with profiles (36) for the various processing modules and the tasks to executed are used to build scenarios which meet predetermined power objectives, such as providing maximum operation within package thermal constraints or using minimum energy. Actual activities associated with the tasks are monitored during operation to ensure compatibility with the objectives. The allocation of tasks may be changed dynamically to accommodate changes in environmental conditions and changes in the task list. As each task in a scenario is executed, a control word associated with the task can be used to enable/disable circuitry, or to set circuits to an optimum configuration.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system (10) includes a plurality of processing modules, such as MPUs (12), DSPs (14), and coprocessors/DMA channels (16). Power management software (38) in conjunction with profiles (36) for the various processing modules and the tasks to executed are used to build scenarios which meet predetermined power objectives, such as providing maximum operation within package thermal constraints or using minimum energy. Actual activities associated with the tasks are monitored during operation to ensure compatibility with the objectives. The allocation of tasks may be changed dynamically to accommodate changes in environmental conditions and changes in the task list. As each task in a scenario is executed, a control word associated with the task can be used to enable/disable circuitry, or to set circuits to an optimum configuration.

Abstract: A technique comprises receiving an instruction and dynamically changing the instruction's semantic based on programmable information that is separate from the instruction. The change in semantic may comprise the inclusion of monitoring code that determines a performance characteristic associated with the instruction or a change in the instruction's operation (e.g., the inclusion of read or write barrier operations to support a garbage collector).

Abstract: In some embodiments a system comprises an overflow control bit, a programmable saturation control bit, a processing unit, and a saturation unit coupled to the processing unit. A selection unit may select the output of the processing unit or the output of the saturation unit based on the state of the saturation control bit. Further, the saturation control unit may output a saturated or unsaturated value based on the overflow control bit.

Abstract: In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of operating a digital system that has a processor and a memory. A plurality of program tasks is executed on the processor (800). The processor requests access to memory in response to executing the tasks (802). Some of these access requests are not directly or not straightforwardly linked with the current program counter (PC); for example, a write transaction going through a write buffer (808). An access error resulting form this type of transaction error is referred to as an imprecise abort. A task-id value is supplied along with the address during a deferred memory access and corresponds to the task-id of the task that initiated the memory access (802). If an error condition that prevents normal completion of the memory transaction is detected (806), then a recovery routine uses the task-id value provided with the memory transaction request to identify which program task requested the transaction (810, 812).

Abstract: A digital system and method of operation is provided in which several processing resources (340) and processors (350) are connected to a shared translation lookaside buffer (TLB) (300, 310(n)) of a memory management unit (MMU) and thereby access memory and devices. These resources can be instruction processors, coprocessors, DMA devices, etc. Each entry location in the TLB is filled a during the normal course of action by a set of translated address entries (308, 309) along with qualifier fields (301, 302, 303) that are incorporated with each entry. Operations can be performed on the TLB that are qualified by the various qualifier fields. A command (360) is sent by an MMU manager to the control circuitry of the TLB (320) during the course of operation. Commands are sent as needed to flush (invalidate), lock or unlock selected entries within the TLB. Each entry in the TLB is accessed (362, 368) and the qualifier field specified by the operation command is evaluated (364).

Abstract: A process and associated system comprise pre-allocating a portion of memory in a first processor based upon a control input and determining in a second processor if the portion of the pre-allocated memory can satisfy a memory allocation request. Further, if a portion of pre-allocated memory can satisfy a memory allocation request, the technique includes assigning the pre-allocated portion of memory to the allocation request. However, if a portion of pre-allocated memory cannot satisfy a memory allocation request, the technique includes allocating a portion of memory in the first processor to the allocation request.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that comprises determining whether a data subsystem is to operate as cache memory or as scratchpad memory in which line fetches from external memory are suppressed and programming a control bit to cause the data subsystem to be operated as either a cache or scratchpad memory depending on the determination. Other embodiments are disclosed herein as well.

Abstract: A preparation method comprises determining whether an instruction contains an unresolved reference and replacing an unresolved instruction with a predetermined instruction containing an operand associated with reference resolution code. A resolution execution method comprises receiving a plurality of instructions, at least one instruction of which comprises a replacement instruction that replaced a previous instruction, determining whether any of the received instructions comprise the replacement instruction, and executing resolution code to resolve a reference upon determining that a received instruction comprises the replacement instruction. The replacement instruction includes an operand that identifies the resolution code. A processor associated with these methods is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cache architecture (16) for use in a processing device includes a RAM set cache for caching a contiguous block of main memory (20). The RAM set cache can be used in conjunction with other cache types, such as a set associative cache or a direct mapped cache. A register (32) defines a starting address for the contiguous block of main memory (20). The data array (38) associated with the RAM set may be filled on a line-by-line basis, as lines are requested by the processing core, or on a set-fill basis which fills the data array (38) when the starting address is loaded into the register (32). As addresses are received from the processing core, hit/miss logic (46) the starting address register (32), a global valid bit (34), line valid bits (37) and control bits (24, 26) are used to determine whether the data is present in the RAM set or whether the data must be loaded from main memory (20).

Abstract: In some embodiments, a storage medium comprises application software that performs one or more operations and that directly manages a device. The application software comprises instructions that initialize an application data structure (e.g., an object or array) usable by the application software to manage the device and also comprises instructions that map the application data structure to a memory associated with the device without the use of a device driver. In other embodiments, a method comprises initializing an application data structure to manage a hardware device and mapping the application data structure to a memory associated with the hardware device without the use of a device driver. The application data structure may store a single dimensional data structure or a multi-dimensional data structure. In some embodiments, the device being managed by the application software may comprise a display and the application software may comprise Java code.

Abstract: An electronic system comprises a processor, memory coupled to the processor, and an application programming interface that causes an embedded garbage collection object to be active. The memory stores one or more objects that selectively have references from root objects. The embedded garbage collection object preferably uses control data to cause objects to be removed from said memory, the removed objects comprise those objects that were created while an embedded garbage collection object was active and that do not have references from root objects.

Abstract: A cache architecture (16) for use in a processing includes a RAM set cache for caching a contiguous block of main memory (20). The RAM set cache can be used in conjunction with other cache types, such as a set associative cache or a direct mapped cache. A register (32) defines a starting address for the contiguous block of main memory (20). The data array (38) associated with the RAM set may be filled on a line-by-line basis, as lines are requested by the processing core, or on a set-fill basis which fills the data array (38) when the starting address is loaded into the register (32). As addresses are received from the processing core, hit/miss logic (46) the starting address register (32), a global valid bit (34), line valid bits (37) and control bits (24, 26) are used to determine whether the data is present in the RAM set or whether the data must be loaded from main memory (20).

Abstract: A cache architecture (16) for use in a processing device includes a RAM set cache for caching a contiguous block of main memory (20). The RAM set cache can be used in conjunction with other cache types, such as a set associative cache or a direct mapped cache. A register (32) define a starting address for the contiguous block of main memory (20). The data array (38) associated with the RAM set may be filled on a line by line basis, as lines are requested by the processing core, or on a set-fill basis which fills the data array (38) when the starting address is loaded into the register (32). As addresses are received from the processing core hit miss logic (46) the starting address register (32), a global valid bit (34), line valid bits (37) and control bits (24, 26) are used to determine whether the data is present in the RAM set or whether the data must be loaded from main memory (20).

Abstract: A digital system has at least one processor, with an associated multi-segment cache memory circuit. A single global validity circuit (VIG) is connected to the memory circuit and is operable to indicate if any segment of the multiple segments holds valid data. Block circuitry is operable to transfer data from a pre-selected region of the secondary memory to a particular segment of the plurality of segments and to assert the global valid bit at the completion of a block transfer. Direct memory access (DMA) circuitry is connected to the memory cache for transferring data between the memory cache and a selectable region of a secondary memory and is also operable to assert the global valid bit at the completion of a DMA block transfer.