Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing – Processing control – Context preserving (e.g. – context swapping – checkpointing,...
Patent
1997-10-27
2000-01-11
An, Meng-Ai T.
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing
Processing control
Context preserving (e.g., context swapping, checkpointing,...
712229, G06F 930
Patent
active
060147393
ABSTRACT:
A microprocessor in which a register file of the microprocessor includes a standard register set and an extension register set. The extension register set is available on an instruction-by-instruction basis based on the contents of an extension register key field of the microprocessor instruction. In one embodiment, the instruction set is compliant with an X86 type instruction set in all cases when the extension register key field is not equal to an extension register key value. A microprocessor comprises a register file and an instruction decode circuit. The register file includes a standard register set comprising a plurality of standard registers and an extension register set comprising a plurality of extension registers. The instruction decode circuit is adapted to receive a microprocessor instruction that includes an extension register key field. If the contents of the extension register key field is equal to an extension register key value, then the instruction decode circuit is configured to access the contents of a selected extension register of the extension register set in response to receiving the microprocessor instruction. If, on the other hand, the contents of the extension register key field equal a value other than the extension register key value, then the instruction decode circuit is configured to access the contents of a selected standard register of the standard register set in response to receiving the microprocessor instruction.
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Intel, "Intel 486DX Microprocessor Data Book", pp. 148, and 165-169, Jun. 1991.
Advanced Micro Devices , Inc.
An Meng-Ai T.
Merkel Lawrence J.
Whitmore Stacy
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