Abstract: A system and method for Inter-Thread Communication using software interrupts in a multithread processor are disclosed. Bits in a shared control register and/or a private control register can enable an Inter-Thread Communication path. When the interrupt is triggered, one thread processor raises an interrupt in another thread processor.

Abstract: One or more methods and systems of improving performance and reducing the size of a translation lookaside buffer are presented. In one embodiment, the method comprises using a bit obtained from a virtual page number to store even and odd page frame numbers into a single page frame number field of a miniature translation lookaside buffer (mini-TLB). In one embodiment, even and odd page frame number fields are consolidated into a single page frame number field. In one embodiment, the mini-TLB facilitates the use of a buffer or memory of reduced size. Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, aspects of the invention may be found in a system and method that easily incorporates and adapts the use of existing control processor instruction sets or commands of a typical translation lookaside buffer.

Abstract: Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a shared cache may be configured to determine whether a word requested by one of the L1 caches is currently stored in the L2 shared cache, read the requested word from the main memory based on determining that the requested word is not currently stored in the L2 shared cache, determine whether at least one line in a way reserved for the requesting L1 cache is unused, store the requested word in the at least one line based on determining that the at least one line in the reserved way is unused, and store the requested word in a line of the L2 shared cache outside the reserved way based on determining that the at least one line in the reserved way is not unused.

Abstract: Systems and methods that cache are provided. In one example, a system may include a spatial cache system coupled to a processing unit and to a memory. The spatial cache system may be adapted to reduce the memory latency of the processing unit. The spatial cache system may be adapted to store prefetched blocks, each stored prefetched block including a plurality of cache lines. If a cache line requested by the processing unit resides in one of the stored prefetched blocks and does not reside in the processing unit, then the spatial cache system may be adapted to provide the processing unit with the requested cache line.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide directional prefetching are provided. In one embodiment, a method may include one or more of the following: storing a first block and a second block in a prefetch buffer; associating a first block access with a backward prefetch scheme; associating a second block access with a forward prefetch scheme; and, if the first block is accessed before the second block, then performing a backward prefetch with respect to the first block.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing translation lookaside buffer (TLB) access in a multithread processor is disclosed. When a first exception is found while searching the TLB, the exception is handled. While the exception is handled, thread processors are restricted from requesting the handling of any other exception.

Abstract: A system and method for interrupt distribution in a multithread processor are disclosed. A connection between an interrupt and a set of thread processors can be programmed. When the interrupt is executed, the set of thread processors are affected. While executing the thread processor tasks, the connection may be reprogrammed to interrupt another set of thread processors.

Abstract: A first thread processor of a multi-thread processor system is operable to execute a first process, and a second thread processor of the multi-thread processor system is operable to execute a second process. A control register is operable to store priority information that is individually associated with at least one of the first thread processor and the second thread processor. The priority information identifies a prioritization of the first thread processor and/or a restriction on the second thread processor in a use of a shared hardware resource during execution of at least one of the first process and the second process.

Abstract: A system and method for Inter-Thread Communication using software interrupts in a multithread processor are disclosed. Bits in a shared control register and/or a private control register can enable an Inter-Thread Communication path. When the interrupt is triggered, one thread processor raises an interrupt in another thread processor.

Abstract: A system and method for interrupt distribution in a multithread processor are disclosed. A connection between an interrupt and a set of thread processors can be programmed. When the interrupt is executed, the set of thread processors are affected. While executing the thread processor tasks, the connection may be reprogrammed to interrupt another set of thread processors.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing translation lookaside buffer (TLB) access in a multithread processor is disclosed. When a first exception is found while searching the TLB, the exception is handled. While the exception is handled, thread processors are restricted from requesting the handling of any other exception.

Abstract: Systems and methods that cache are provided. In one example, a system may include a spatial cache system coupled to a processing unit and to a memory. The spatial cache system may be adapted to reduce the memory latency of the processing unit. The spatial cache system may be adapted to store prefetched blocks, each stored prefetched block including a plurality of cache lines. If a cache line requested by the processing unit resides in one of the stored prefetched blocks and does not reside in the processing unit, then the spatial cache system may be adapted to provide the processing unit with the requested cache line.

Abstract: A method and system for performing digital signal processing operations in a computer system are disclosed. In addition to the ability to perform DSP operation on a new hardware platform, this method and system allow the dynamic and global control of saturation and left shifting prior to accumulation.

Abstract: A method and system for performing digital signal processing operations in a computer system are disclosed. Digital Signal Processing operations such as multiply and add (MADD) or multiply and subtract (MSUB) can be performed by general-purpose microprocessors. The DSP operations are directed to n-bit operands that are in m-bit registers. The register size (m) may be a multiple of the operand size (n). For example, the DSP operations may utilize 32-bit registers with 16-bit or 8-bit operands, or the DSP operations may utilize 64-bit registers with 32-bit, 16-bit, or 8-bit operands.

Abstract: A system and method to support programmable prefetching of one or more lines of instructions or data into cache storage of a computer system is disclosed. A secondary cache is used to avoid the transfer of a line that is currently being used by the processor. Sequential prefetching is made possible by presetting control registers.

Abstract: One or more methods and systems of improving the performance of consecutive data stores into a cache memory are presented. In one embodiment, the method comprises writing data into a data array associated with at least a first store instruction while accessing a tag in a tag array associated with at least a second store instruction. In one embodiment, the method of processing consecutive data stores into a cache memory comprises updating a first data in a cache memory while concurrently looking up or identifying a second data in the cache memory. In one embodiment, a system for improving the execution of data store instructions of a CPU comprises a pipelined buffer using a minimal number of data entries, a data array used for updating data associated with a first store instruction, and a tag array used for looking up data associated with a second store instruction.

Abstract: Means of communicating between modules in a decoding system. A variable-length decoding accelerator communicates with a core decoder processor via a co-processor interface. In one embodiment, other decoding accelerators, in addition to the variable-length decoder, are adapted to provide status data indicative of their status to a co-processor status register. In another embodiment, a decoding accelerator is controlled by providing commands to the accelerator via posted write operations and polling the accelerator to determine whether the command has been performed. In still another embodiment, a first hardware accelerator communicates with a core decoder processor via a co-processor interface and other decoding accelerators, in addition to the first hardware accelerator, are adapted to provide status data indicative of their status to a co-processor status register.

Abstract: Means of communicating between modules in a decoding system. A variable-length decoding accelerator communicates with a core decoder processor via a co-processor interface. In one embodiment, other decoding accelerators, in addition to the variable-length decoder, are adapted to provide status data indicative of their status to a co-processor status register. In another embodiment, a decoding accelerator is controlled by providing commands to the accelerator via posted write operations and polling the accelerator to determine whether the command has been performed. In still another embodiment, a first hardware accelerator communicates with a core decoder processor via a co-processor interface and other decoding accelerators, in addition to the first hardware accelerator, are adapted to provide status data indicative of their status to a co-processor status register.

Abstract: Systems and methods that control prefetching are provided. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a prefetch buffer system coupled to a processing unit and to a memory. The prefetch buffer system may include, for example, a prefetch controller that is adapted to be programmable such that prefetch control features can be selected.

Abstract: Systems and methods that control prefetching are provided. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a prefetch buffer system coupled to a processing unit and to a memory. The prefetch buffer system may include, for example, a prefetch controller that is adapted to be programmable such that prefetch control features can be selected.