Patents by Inventor John K. P. O'Brien

John K. P. O'Brien has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8667260
    Abstract: Mechanisms for building approximate data dependences using a moving look-back window are provided. The mechanisms track dependence information for memory accesses over iterations of execution of a portion of code. The mechanisms receive a memory access of an iteration of the portion of code, the memory access having an address for access the memory and an access type indicating at least one of a read or a write access type. An entry in a moving look-back window data structure is generated corresponding to a memory location accessed by the memory access. The entry comprises at least an identification of the address, the access type, and an iteration number corresponding to the iteration of the memory access. The moving look-back window data structure is utilized to determine dependence information for memory accesses over a plurality of iterations of the portion of code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandre E. Eichenberger, John K. P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Kai-Ting A. Wang, Xiaotong Zhuang
  • Patent number: 8631225
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for dynamically rewriting branch instructions in a portion of code. The mechanisms execute a branch instruction in the portion of code. The mechanisms determine if a target instruction of the branch instruction, to which the branch instruction branches, is present in an instruction cache associated with the processor. Moreover, the mechanisms directly branch execution of the portion of code to the target instruction in the instruction cache, without intervention from an instruction cache runtime system, in response to a determination that the target instruction is present in the instruction cache. In addition, the mechanisms redirect execution of the portion of code to the instruction cache runtime system in response to a determination that the target instruction cannot be determined to be present in the instruction cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Brian Flachs, Brad W. Michael, Mark R. Nutter, John K. P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Tao Zhang
  • Patent number: 8627051
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for dynamically rewriting branch instructions in a portion of code. The mechanisms execute a branch instruction in the portion of code. The mechanisms determine if a target instruction of the branch instruction, to which the branch instruction branches, is present in an instruction cache associated with the processor. Moreover, the mechanisms directly branch execution of the portion of code to the target instruction in the instruction cache, without intervention from an instruction cache runtime system, in response to a determination that the target instruction is present in the instruction cache. In addition, the mechanisms redirect execution of the portion of code to the instruction cache runtime system in response to a determination that the target instruction cannot be determined to be present in the instruction cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Brian Flachs, Brad W. Michael, Mark R. Nutter, John K. P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Tao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130283250
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for generating a customized runtime library for source code. Source code is analyzed to identify a region of code implementing an application programming interface or programming standard of interest. An invocation tree data structure is generated based on results of analysis of functions of the application programming interface or programming standard of interest that the region of code invokes. A custom runtime library is generated based on the invocation tree data structure. The custom runtime library comprises only a subset of runtime library functions, less than a total number of runtime library functions for the application programming interface or programming standard of interest, actually invoked by the region of code and does not include all runtime library functions in the total number of runtime library functions for the application programming interface or programming standard of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandre E. Eichenberger, John K.P. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8522225
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for rewriting branch instructions in a portion of code. The mechanisms receive a portion of source code having an original branch instruction. The mechanisms generate a branch stub for the original branch instruction. The branch stub stores information about the original branch instruction including an original target address of the original branch instruction. Moreover, the mechanisms rewrite the original branch instruction so that a target of the rewritten branch instruction references the branch stub. In addition, the mechanisms output compiled code including the rewritten branch instruction and the branch stub for execution by a computing device. The branch stub is utilized by the computing device at runtime to determine if execution of the rewritten branch instruction can be redirected directly to a target instruction corresponding to the original target address in an instruction cache of the computing device without intervention by an instruction cache runtime system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Brian Flachs, Brad W. Michael, Mark R. Nutter, John K. P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Tao Zhang
  • Patent number: 8468539
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for tracking dependencies of threads in a multi-threaded computer program execution. The mechanisms detect a dependency of a first thread's execution on results of a second thread's execution in an execution flow of the multi-threaded computer program. The mechanisms further store, in a hardware thread dependency vector storage associated with the first thread's execution, an identifier of the dependency by setting at least one bit in the hardware thread dependency vector storage corresponding to the second thread. Moreover, the mechanisms schedule tasks performed by the multi-threaded computer program based on the hardware thread dependency vector storage to minimize squashing of threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandre E. Eichenberger, John K. P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Lakshminarayanan Renganarayana, Xiaotong Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20130151822
    Abstract: Mechanisms, in a data processing system having a processor, for generating enqueued data for performing computations of a conditional branch of code are provided. Mask generation logic of the processor operates to generate a mask representing a subset of iterations of a loop of the code that results in a condition of the conditional branch being satisfied. The mask is used to select data elements from an input data element vector register corresponding to the subset of iterations of the loop of the code that result in the condition of the conditional branch being satisfied. Furthermore, the selected data elements are used to perform computations of the conditional branch of code. Iterations of the loop of the code that do not result in the condition of the conditional branch being satisfied are not used as a basis for performing computations of the conditional branch of code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandre E. Eichenberger, John K.P. O'Brien, Yuan Zhao
  • Publication number: 20120246654
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for allocating threads for execution of a parallel region of code. A request for allocation of worker threads to execute the parallel region of code is received from a master thread. Cached thread allocation information identifying prior thread allocations that have been performed for the master thread are accessed. Worker threads are allocated to the master thread based on the cached thread allocation information. The parallel region of code is executed using the allocated worker threads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandre E. Eichenberger, John K.P. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20120204016
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for rewriting branch instructions in a portion of code. The mechanisms receive a portion of source code having an original branch instruction. The mechanisms generate a branch stub for the original branch instruction. The branch stub stores information about the original branch instruction including an original target address of the original branch instruction. Moreover, the mechanisms rewrite the original branch instruction so that a target of the rewritten branch instruction references the branch stub. In addition, the mechanisms output compiled code including the rewritten branch instruction and the branch stub for execution by a computing device. The branch stub is utilized by the computing device at runtime to determine if execution of the rewritten branch instruction can be redirected directly to a target instruction corresponding to the original target address in an instruction cache of the computing device without intervention by an instruction cache runtime system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Brian Flachs, Brad W. Michael, Mark R. Nutter, John K.P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Tao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120198170
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for evicting cache lines from an instruction cache of the data processing system. The mechanisms store, for a portion of code in a current cache line, a linked list of call sites that directly or indirectly target the portion of code in the current cache line. A determination is made as to whether the current cache line is to be evicted from the instruction cache. The linked list of call sites is processed to identify one or more rewritten branch instructions having associated branch stubs, that either directly or indirectly target the portion of code in the current cache line. In addition, the one or more rewritten branch instructions are rewritten to restore the one or more rewritten branch instructions to an original state based on information in the associated branch stubs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Brian Flachs, Brad W. Michael, Mark R. Nutter, John K.P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Tao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120198169
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for dynamically rewriting branch instructions in a portion of code. The mechanisms execute a branch instruction in the portion of code. The mechanisms determine if a target instruction of the branch instruction, to which the branch instruction branches, is present in an instruction cache associated with the processor. Moreover, the mechanisms directly branch execution of the portion of code to the target instruction in the instruction cache, without intervention from an instruction cache runtime system, in response to a determination that the target instruction is present in the instruction cache. In addition, the mechanisms redirect execution of the portion of code to the instruction cache runtime system in response to a determination that the target instruction cannot be determined to be present in the instruction cache.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Brian Flachs, Brad W. Michael, Mark R. Nutter, John K.P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Tao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120198429
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for arranging binary code to reduce instruction cache conflict misses. These mechanisms generate a call graph of a portion of code. Nodes and edges in the call graph are weighted to generate a weighted call graph. The weighted call graph is then partitioned according to the weights, affinities between nodes of the call graph, and the size of cache lines in an instruction cache of the data processing system, so that binary code associated with one or more subsets of nodes in the call graph are combined into individual cache lines based on the partitioning. The binary code corresponding to the partitioned call graph is then output for execution in a computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Brian Flachs, Brad W. Michael, Mark R. Nutter, John K.P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Tao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120017203
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for path-sensitive analysis for reducing rollback overheads. The mechanism receives, in a compiler, program code to be compiled to form compiled code. The mechanism divides the code into basic blocks. The mechanism then determines a restore register set for each of the one or more basic blocks to form one or more restore register sets. The mechanism then stores the one or more register sets such that responsive to a rollback during execution of the compiled code. A rollback routine identifies a restore register set from the one or more restore register sets and restores registers identified in the identified restore register set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John K. P. O'Brien, Kai-Ting Amy Wang, Mark Yamashita, Xiaotong Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20110320786
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for evicting cache lines from an instruction cache of the data processing system. The mechanisms store, for a portion of code in a current cache line, a linked list of call sites that directly or indirectly target the portion of code in the current cache line. A determination is made as to whether the current cache line is to be evicted from the instruction cache. The linked list of call sites is processed to identify one or more rewritten branch instructions having associated branch stubs, that either directly or indirectly target the portion of code in the current cache line. In addition, the one or more rewritten branch instructions are rewritten to restore the one or more rewritten branch instructions to an original state based on information in the associated branch stubs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Brian Flachs, Brad W. Michael, Mark R. Nutter, John K.P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Tao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20110320785
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for dynamically rewriting branch instructions in a portion of code. The mechanisms execute a branch instruction in the portion of code. The mechanisms determine if a target instruction of the branch instruction, to which the branch instruction branches, is present in an instruction cache associated with the processor. Moreover, the mechanisms directly branch execution of the portion of code to the target instruction in the instruction cache, without intervention from an instruction cache runtime system, in response to a determination that the target instruction is present in the instruction cache. In addition, the mechanisms redirect execution of the portion of code to the instruction cache runtime system in response to a determination that the target instruction cannot be determined to be present in the instruction cache.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Brian Flachs, Brad W. Michael, Mark R. Nutter, John K.P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Tao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20110321021
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for arranging binary code to reduce instruction cache conflict misses. These mechanisms generate a call graph of a portion of code. Nodes and edges in the call graph are weighted to generate a weighted call graph. The weighted call graph is then partitioned according to the weights, affinities between nodes of the call graph, and the size of cache lines in an instruction cache of the data processing system, so that binary code associated with one or more subsets of nodes in the call graph are combined into individual cache lines based on the partitioning. The binary code corresponding to the partitioned call graph is then output for execution in a computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Brian Flachs, Brad W. Michael, Mark R. Nutter, John K.P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Tao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20110321002
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for rewriting branch instructions in a portion of code. The mechanisms receive a portion of source code having an original branch instruction. The mechanisms generate a branch stub for the original branch instruction. The branch stub stores information about the original branch instruction including an original target address of the original branch instruction. Moreover, the mechanisms rewrite the original branch instruction so that a target of the rewritten branch instruction references the branch stub. In addition, the mechanisms output compiled code including the rewritten branch instruction and the branch stub for execution by a computing device. The branch stub is utilized by the computing device at runtime to determine if execution of the rewritten branch instruction can be redirected directly to a target instruction corresponding to the original target address in an instruction cache of the computing device without intervention by an instruction cache runtime system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Brian Flachs, Brad W. Michael, Mark R. Nutter, John K.P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Tao Zhang
  • Patent number: 8087010
    Abstract: Mechanisms for selective code generation optimization for an advanced dual-representation polyhedral loop transformation framework are provided. The mechanisms of the illustrative embodiments address the weaknesses of the known polyhedral loop transformation based approaches by providing mechanisms for performing code generation transformations on individual statement instances in an intermediate representation generated by the polyhedral loop transformation optimization of the source code. These code generation transformations have the important property that they do not change program order of the statements in the intermediate representation. This property allows the result of the code generation transformations to be provided back to the polyhedral loop transformation mechanisms in a program statement view, via a new re-entrance path of the illustrative embodiments, for additional optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandre E. Eichenberger, John K. P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Nicolas T. Vasilache
  • Patent number: 8087011
    Abstract: Mechanisms for domain stretching for an advanced dual-representation polyhedral loop transformation framework are provided. The mechanisms of the illustrative embodiments address the weaknesses of the known polyhedral loop transformation based approaches by providing mechanisms for performing code generation transformations on individual statement instances in an intermediate representation generated by the polyhedral loop transformation optimization of the source code. These code generation transformations have the important property that they do not change program order of the statements in the intermediate representation. This property allows the result of the code generation transformations to be provided back to the polyhedral loop transformation mechanisms in a program statement view, via a new re-entrance path of the illustrative embodiments, for additional optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandre E. Eichenberger, John K. P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Nicolas T. Vasilache
  • Patent number: 8060870
    Abstract: A system and method for advanced polyhedral loop transformations of source code in a compiler are provided. The mechanisms of the illustrative embodiments address the weaknesses of the known polyhedral loop transformation based approaches by providing mechanisms for performing code generation transformations on individual statement instances in an intermediate representation generated by the polyhedral loop transformation optimization of the source code. These code generation transformations have the important property that they do not change program order of the statements in the intermediate representation. This property allows the result of the code generation transformations to be provided back to the polyhedral loop transformation mechanisms in a program statement view, via a new re-entrance path of the illustrative embodiments, for additional optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandre E. Eichenberger, John K. P. O'Brien, Kathryn M. O'Brien, Nicolas T. Vasilache