Method and apparatus for processing a load-lock instruction using a relaxed lock protocol
US7080209B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 24, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 14, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/52
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A processing core using a lock scoreboard mechanism is provided. The lock scoreboard is adapted to manage a load-lock instruction. The load-lock scoreboard includes a plurality of scoreboard entries representing different conditions that must be met before the load-lock instruction can be retired. During execution of the load-lock instruction retirement conditions are speculatively performed, and the scoreboard is updated and checked accordingly. If the scoreboard indicates that one or more retirement conditions are not met, the load-lock instruction is replayed. Otherwise, the load-lock instruction is permitted to retire. Scoreboard management functions routinely update scoreboard contents as retirement conditions are cleared. This enables rapid retirement of load-lock operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.