Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing – Dynamic instruction dependency checking – monitoring or... – Reducing an impact of a stall or pipeline bubble
Reexamination Certificate
2006-04-14
2008-10-14
Ellis, Richard (Department: 2183)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing
Dynamic instruction dependency checking, monitoring or...
Reducing an impact of a stall or pipeline bubble
Reexamination Certificate
active
07437539
ABSTRACT:
An issue unit for placing a processor into a gradual slow down mode of operation is provided. The gradual slow down mode of operation comprises a plurality of stages of slow down operation of an issue unit in a processor in which the issuance of instructions is slowed in accordance with a staging scheme. The gradual slow down of the processor allows the processor to break out of livelock conditions. Moreover, since the slow down is gradual, the processor may flexibly avoid various degrees of livelock conditions. The mechanisms of the illustrative embodiments impact the overall processor performance based on the severity of the livelock condition by taking a small performance impact on less severe livelock conditions and only increasing the processor performance impact when the livelock condition is more severe.
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Abernathy Christopher M.
Feiste Kurt A.
Hall Ronald P.
Van Norstrand, Jr. Albert J.
Ellis Richard
International Business Machines - Corporation
Rifal D'Ann N.
Walder, Jr. Stephen J.
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