Abstract: Instructions asserted in the instruction pipeline (3) of the microprocessor are accompanied by control information, comprising a group of bits, asserted within a control information pipeline (15) of the processor. The control information pipeline is synchronized to the instruction pipeline so that the control information for an instruction progresses in synchronism with the instruction. The control information may identify, directly or indirectly, the type of operation called for by the instruction and, if the operation is to be performed in parts, indicate the part to be performed. Means are included in the processor, such as a number of functional execution units (7), to interpret that control information and take appropriate action.

Abstract: Instructions asserted in a microprocessors instruction pipeline (3) are accompanied by control information, comprising a group of bits, asserted within a control information pipeline (5) that is synchronized to the instruction pipeline. At the execution stage, the control information is interpreted and appropriate action taken. The control information may indicate that the instruction has been reasserted (asserted again following an initial assertion) and may also indicate the number of times that the instruction has been consecutively asserted in the instruction pipeline. Applied to unaligned memory operations, in which a memory atom is asserted twice, the control information indicates which part of the unaligned data is to be fetched each time the atom is executed.

Abstract: Method and system for supporting speculative modification in a data cache are provided and described. A data cache comprises a plurality of cache lines. Each cache line includes a state indicator for indicating anyone of a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states includes a speculative state to enable keeping track of speculative modification to data in the respective cache line. The speculative state enables a speculative modification to the data in the respective cache line to be made permanent in response to a first operation performed upon reaching a particular instruction boundary during speculative execution of instructions. Further, the speculative state enables the speculative modification to the data in the respective cache line to be undone in response to a second operation performed upon failing to reach the particular instruction boundary during speculative execution of instructions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data in an N-way set associative cache with N data array banks is disclosed. On a cache fill corresponding to a particular way, a portion of each cache line (called a chunk) is placed in each data array bank. On a processor load seeking a requested chunk, a candidate chunk is retrieved from each data array bank and the requested chunk is selected from among the candidates.

Abstract: Instructions asserted in the instruction pipeline (3) of the microprocessor are accompanied by control information, comprising a group of bits, asserted within a control information pipeline (15) of the processor. The control information pipeline is synchronized to the instruction pipeline so that the control information for an instruction progresses in synchronism with the instruction. The control information may identify, directly or indirectly, the type of operation called for by the instruction and, if the operation is to be performed in parts, indicate the part to be performed. Means are included in to the processor, such as a number of functional execution units (7), to interpret that control information and take appropriate action.

Abstract: Method and system for conservatively managing store capacity available to a processor issuing stores are provided and described. In particular, a counter mechanism is utilized, whereas the counter mechanism is incremented or decremented based on the occurrence of particular events.

Abstract: Method and system for supporting speculative modification in a data cache are provided and described. A data cache comprises a plurality of cache lines. Each cache line includes a state indicator for indicating anyone of a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states includes a speculative state to enable keeping track of speculative modification to data in the respective cache line. The speculative state enables a speculative modification to the data in the respective cache line to be made permanent in response to a first operation performed upon reaching a particular instruction boundary during speculative execution of instructions. Further, the speculative state enables the speculative modification to the data in the respective cache line to be undone in response to a second operation performed upon failing to reach the particular instruction boundary during speculative execution of instructions.

Abstract: Method and system for conservatively managing store capacity available to a processor issuing stores are provided and described. In particular, a counter mechanism is utilized, whereas the counter mechanism is incremented or decremented based on the occurrence of particular events.

Abstract: Instructions asserted in a microprocessors instruction pipeline (3) are accompanied by control information, comprising a group of bits, asserted within a control information pipeline (5) that is synchronized to the instruction pipeline. At the execution stage, the control information is interpreted and appropriate action taken. The control information may indicate that the instruction has been reasserted (asserted again following an initial assertion) and may also indicate the number of times that the instruction has been consecutively asserted in the instruction pipeline. Applied to unaligned memory operations, in which a memory atom is asserted twice, the control information indicates which part of the unaligned data is to be fetched each time the atom is executed.

Abstract: Instructions asserted in a microprocessors instruction pipeline (3) are accompanied by control information, comprising a group of bits, asserted within a control information pipeline (5) that is synchronized to the instruction pipeline. At the execution stage, the control information is interpreted and appropriate action taken. The control information may indicate that the instruction has been reasserted (asserted again following an initial assertion) and may also indicate the number of times that the instruction has been consecutively asserted in the instruction pipeline. Applied to unaligned memory operations, in which a memory atom is asserted twice, the control information indicates which part of the unaligned data is to be fetched each time the atom is executed.

Abstract: Instructions asserted in the instruction pipeline (3) of the microprocessor are accompanied by control information, comprising a group of bits, asserted within a control information pipeline (15) of the processor. The control information pipeline is synchronized to the instruction pipeline so that the control information for an instruction progresses in synchronism with the instruction. The control information may identify, directly or indirectly, the type of operation called for by the instruction and, if the operation is to be performed in parts, indicate the part to be performed. Means are included in the processor, such as a number of functional execution units (7), to interpret that control information and take appropriate action.

Abstract: A method for determining if writes to a memory page are directed to target instructions which have been translated to host instructions in a computer which translates instructions from a target instruction set to a host instruction set, including the steps of detecting a write to a memory page storing target instructions which have been translated to host instructions, detecting whether a sub-area of the memory page to which the write is addressed stores target instructions which have been translated, and invalidating host instructions translated from addressed target instructions.