Multiple-core processor with hierarchical microcode store
US7743232B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 18, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jun 22, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 22, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/223
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A multiple-core processor having a hierarchical microcode store. A processor may include multiple processor cores, each configured to independently execute instructions defined according to a programmer-visible instruction set architecture (ISA). Each core may include a respective local microcode unit configured to store microcode entries. The processor may also include a remote microcode unit accessible by each of the processor cores. Any given one of the processor cores may be configured to generate a given microcode entrypoint corresponding to a particular microcode entry including one or more operations to be executed by the given processor core, and to determine whether the particular microcode entry is stored within the respective local microcode unit of the given core. In response to determining that the particular microcode entry is not stored within the respective local microcode unit, the given core may convey a request for the particular microcode entry to the remote microcode unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.