Data processing apparatus and method for pre-decoding instructions
US7917735B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 2008 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3853
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data processing apparatus and method are provided for pre-decoding instructions. The data processing apparatus has pre-decoding circuitry for receiving instructions fetched from memory and for performing a pre-decoding operation to generate corresponding pre-decoded instructions, which are then stored in a cache for access by processing circuitry. For a first set of instructions, each instruction comprises a plurality of instruction portions, and the pre-decoding circuitry generates a corresponding pre-decoded instruction comprising a plurality of pre-decoded instruction portions. If when applying the pre-decoding operation to an instruction in the first set, the pre-decoding circuitry does not have access to all of the plurality of instruction portions of that instruction, the pre-decoding circuitry is arranged to provide in association with at least one pre-decoded instruction portion that it does generate, an indication that the pre-decoded instruction portion relates to an incomplete pre-decoding operation. This provides a simple and effective mechanism for detecting situations where a pre-decoded instruction as later read from the cache may have become corrupted by the pre-d…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.