Patent · US Expired

Method for optimizing loop control of microcoded instructions

US7366885B1 · kind B1 · utility

22Cited by
8References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 2, 2004
Grant dateApr 29, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 28, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F9/381
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for optimizing loop control of microcoded instructions includes identifying an instruction as a repetitive microcode instruction such as a move string instruction, for example, having a repeat prefix. The repetitive microcode instruction may include a loop of microcode instructions forming a microcode sequence. The microcode sequence is stored within a storage of a microcode unit. The method also includes storing a loop count value associated with the repetitive microcode instruction to a sequence control unit of the microcode unit. The method further includes determining a number of iterations to issue the microcode sequence for execution by an instruction pipeline based upon the loop count value. In response to receiving the repetitive microcode instruction, the method includes continuously issuing the microcode sequence for the number of iterations.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.