Emptying packed data state during execution of packed data instructions
US5940859A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 1995 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/30134
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method in a computer system which includes receiving a first instruction which indicates indicates termination of execution of instructions which operate upon packed data stored in a first storage area. The first storage area is used for modifying data responsive to execution of floating point instructions. A plurality of tags is associated with the first storage area indicating that locations in the first storage area are either empty or non-empty responsive to the execution of the floating point instructions which modify data contained in the first storage area. Responsive to the receiving of the first instruction which indicates termination of execution of instructions which operate upon the packed data stored in the first storage area, the method sets only the plurality of tags to an empty state. In different embodiments, setting of the plurality of tags to a non-empty state occurs responsive to receiving a second instruction. The second instruction (or instructions) specifies an operation upon packed data stored in the first storage area. The setting of the plurality of tags indicates execution of instructions which operate upon the packed data. This method advantageously pr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.