Abstract: Performing parallel comparisons of variables to determine program code execution flow or to compare multiple variables is disclosed. Memory locations are packed with multiple sub-variables for comparison to sub-variables generated, for example, at runtime. Each binary sub-variable includes a “carryout” bit used to determine whether a comparison of one sub-variable with another sub-variable results in a “true” or a “false.” A modified version of twos complement arithmetic is performed on a set of sub-variables. The modified version involves inverting each bit of the sub-variables, performing a masking operation to change the carryout bits to 0, adding a binary 1 to each sub-variable, and performing the masking operation a second time to change the carryout bits to 0. The result of the modified twos complement arithmetic is added to a variable, and the carryout bit of each sub-variable of the resulting variable is evaluated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method of measuring performance data utilizing state transitions within a computer system. A number of system states are defined, and the transitions from one state to another are tracked. At each state transition, performance properties related to the computer system may be checked or calculated, and performance data added to a table or tables. The present invention allows performance data to be measured in a way that is highly precise and has minimal effects on the system performance being measured. The act of measuring performance data utilizing state transitions does not create a misleading measure of performance nor does it adversely impact system performance. Furthermore, the present invention requires minimal changes to the operating system and no changes to application code.