Abstract: A system for communication using a register management array circuit is disclosed, including a processor, including a processing core, the processing core including a local core register, a register management array circuit coupled to the local core register, and a remote circuit coupled to the register management array circuit, the remote circuit including a remote register. The register management array circuit includes circuitry to cause the data in the local core register to match the data in the remote register. Methods and circuits are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a processor includes a scan system controller to control test operations on the processor in response to test commands from an external test entity, and at least one core to execute instructions. The processor may further include a field scan controller to control a field test mode of the processor to perform a self-test of the at least one core during field operation, where the field scan controller is to obtain a test pattern from an external memory and cause the scan system controller to test circuitry of the first subsystem using the test pattern. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for detecting and correcting data fetch errors within a processor core. For example, one embodiment of an instruction processing apparatus for detecting and recovering from data fetch errors comprises: at least one processor core having a plurality of instruction processing stages including a data fetch stage and a retirement stage; and error processing logic in communication with the processing stages to perform the operations of: detecting an error associated with data in response to a data fetch operation performed by the data fetch stage; and responsively performing one or more operations to ensure that the error does not corrupt an architectural state of the processor core within the retirement stage.

Abstract: A system for communication using a register management array circuit is disclosed, including a processor, including a processing core, the processing core including a local core register, a register management array circuit coupled to the local core register, and a remote circuit coupled to the register management array circuit, the remote circuit including a remote register. The register management array circuit includes circuitry to cause the data in the local core register to match the data in the remote register. Methods and circuits are also disclosed.

Abstract: A heterogeneous processor architecture and a method of booting a heterogeneous processor is described. A processor according to one embodiment comprises: a set of large physical processor cores; a set of small physical processor cores having relatively lower performance processing capabilities and relatively lower power usage relative to the large physical processor cores; and a package unit, to enable a bootstrap processor. The bootstrap processor initializes the homogeneous physical processor cores, while the heterogeneous processor presents the appearance of a homogeneous processor to a system firmware interface.

Abstract: A processor of an aspect includes a decode unit to decode a thread pause instruction from a first thread. A back-end portion of the processor is coupled with the decode unit. The back-end portion of the processor, in response to the thread pause instruction, is to pause processing of subsequent instructions of the first thread for execution. The subsequent instructions occur after the thread pause instruction in program order. The back-end portion, in response to the thread pause instruction, is also to keep at least a majority of the back-end portion of the processor, empty of instructions of the first thread, except for the thread pause instruction, for a predetermined period of time. The majority may include a plurality of execution units and an instruction queue unit.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes multiple cores and a power controller. The power controller may include a hardware duty cycle (HDC) logic to cause at least one logical processor of one of the cores to enter into a forced idle state even though the logical processor has a workload to execute. In addition, the HDC logic may cause the logical processor to exit the forced idle state prior to an end of an idle period if at least one other logical processor is prevented from entry into the forced idle state. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A processor includes a decode unit to decode a memory copy instruction that indicates a start of a source memory operand, a start of a destination memory operand, and an initial amount of data to be copied from the source memory operand to the destination memory operand. An execution unit, in response to the memory copy instruction, is to copy a first portion of data from the source memory operand to the destination memory operand before an interruption. A descending copy direction is to be used when the source and destination memory operands overlap. In response to the interruption, when the descending copy direction is used, the execution unit is to store a remaining amount of data to be copied, but is not to indicate a different start of the source memory operand, and is not to indicate a different start of the destination memory operand.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for detecting and correcting data fetch errors within a processor core. For example, one embodiment of an instruction processing apparatus for detecting and recovering from data fetch errors comprises: at least one processor core having a plurality of instruction processing stages including a data fetch stage and a retirement stage; and error processing logic in communication with the processing stages to perform the operations of: detecting an error associated with data in response to a data fetch operation performed by the data fetch stage; and responsively performing one or more operations to ensure that the error does not corrupt an architectural state of the processor core within the retirement stage.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for remote action handling are describe. In an embodiment, a hardware apparatus comprises: a first register to store a memory address of a payload corresponding to an action to be performed associated with a remote action request (RAR) interrupt, a second register to store a memory address of an action list accessible by a plurality of processors, and a remote action handler circuit to identify a received RAR interrupt, perform an action of the received RAR interrupt, and signal acknowledgment to an initiating processor upon completion of the action.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for error handling are described herein. A system for error reporting and handling includes a common error handler that handles errors for a plurality of hardware devices, where the common error handler is operable with other parallel error reporting and handling mechanisms. The common error handler may be used to receive an error message from a hardware device, the error message related to an error; identify a source of the error message; identify a class of the error; identify an error definition of the error; determine whether the error requires a diagnostics operation as part of the error handling; initiate the diagnostics operation when the error requires the diagnostics operation; and clear the error at the hardware device.

Abstract: A processor includes a trace unit to monitor activity by the processor and generate trace packets indicative of the activity by the processor. The trace packets may include four additional packets for processor event tracing including: a dormant state request packet, a code execution stop packet, a dormant state entry packet, and a dormant state exit packet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a multicore processor having first and second cores to independently execute instructions, the first core visible to an operating system (OS) and the second core transparent to the OS and heterogeneous from the first core. A task controller, which may be included in or coupled to the multicore processor, can cause dynamic migration of a first process scheduled by the OS to the first core to the second core transparently to the OS. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Technologies for local power gate (LPG) interfaces for power-aware operations are described. A system on chip (SoC) includes a first functional unit, a second functional unit, and local power gate (LPG) hardware coupled to the first functional unit and the second functional unit. The LPG hardware is to power gate the first functional unit according to local power states of the LPG hardware. The second functional unit decodes a first instruction to perform a first power-aware operation of a specified length, including computing an execution code path for execution. The second functional unit monitors a current local power state of the LPG hardware, selects a code path based on the current local power state, the specified length, and a specified threshold, and issues a hint to the LPG hardware to power up the first functional unit and continues execution of the first power-aware operation without waiting for the first functional unit to be powered up.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a processor includes a core and a power controller coupled to the core that in turn includes a self-test control circuit. The self-test circuit is adapted to: isolate the core during field operation; cause the core to execute at least one diagnostic test at a first operating voltage to identify a guard band voltage for the core; and cause the core to enter into a low power state after the execution of the at least one diagnostic test. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A processor saves micro-architectural contexts to increase the efficiency of code execution and power management. A save instruction is executed to store a micro-architectural state and an architectural state of a processor in a common buffer of a memory upon a context switch that suspends the execution of a process. The micro-architectural state contains performance data resulting from the execution of the process. A restore instruction is executed to retrieve the micro-architectural state and the architectural state from the common buffer upon a resumed execution of the process. Power management hardware then uses the micro-architectural state as an intermediate starting point for the resumed execution.

Abstract: Embodiments of an invention related to compacted context state management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes instruction hardware and state management logic. The instruction hardware is to receive a first save instruction and a second save instruction. The state management logic is to, in response to the first save instruction, save context state in an un-compacted format in a first save area. The state management logic is also to, in response to the second save instruction, save a compaction mask and context state in a compacted format in a second save area and set a compacted-save indicator in the second save area. The state management logic is also to, in response to a single restore instruction, determine, based on the compacted-save indicator, whether to restore context from the un-compacted format in the first save area or from the compacted format in the second save area.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes multiple cores and a power controller. The power controller may include a hardware duty cycle (HDC) logic to cause at least one logical processor of one of the cores to enter into a forced idle state even though the logical processor has a workload to execute. In addition, the HDC logic may cause the logical processor to exit the forced idle state prior to an end of an idle period if at least one other logical processor is prevented from entry into the forced idle state. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system for communication using a register management array circuit is disclosed, including a processor, including a processing core, the processing core including a local core register, a register management array circuit coupled to the local core register, and a remote circuit coupled to the register management array circuit, the remote circuit including a remote register. The register management array circuit includes circuitry to cause the data in the local core register to match the data in the remote register. Methods and circuits are also disclosed.

Abstract: A processor includes a trace unit to monitor activity by the processor and generate trace packets indicative of the activity by the processor. The trace packets may include four additional packets for processor event tracing including: a dormant state request packet, a code execution stop packet, a dormant state entry packet, and a dormant state exit packet.