公开(公告)号：US20190303265A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-03

申请号：US16063802

申请日：2015-12-22

Applicant: ARM LIMITED

Inventor： Damien Robin MARTIN ,  Clément Marc DEMONGEOT ,  Michael John WILLIAMS

IPC: G06F11/36 ,  G06F9/38 ,  G06F9/30 ,  G06F9/52

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided for diagnosing a processor executing a stream of instructions by causing the processor to execute the stream of instructions in a sequence of stages with a diagnostic exception being taken between each stage. The method involves controlling the processor in a current stage, when a point is reached where the diagnostic exception is to be taken, to store in a storage location type indicator information comprising a type indicator for a current instruction in the stream and a type indicator for a next instruction in the stream. The diagnostic exception is then taken, causing a diagnostic operation to be performed which includes accessing the type indicator information from the storage location and, dependent on the type indicator for the current instruction and the type indicator for the next instruction, determining control information to identify at least one trigger condition for a next diagnostic exception. Thereafter, return from the diagnostic exception causes the processor to operate in a next stage in accordance with the determined control information. By capturing information not only about the current instruction being processed at the point that the diagnostic exception is to be taken, but also information about the next instruction, this can provide a significant improvement in the efficiency of the handling of the diagnostic process.

公开(公告)号：US20140317390A1

公开(公告)日：2014-10-23

申请号：US13865371

申请日：2013-04-18

Applicant: ARM Limited

Inventor： Clément Marc DEMONGEOT ,  Louis-Marie Vincent MOUTON ,  Frédéric Claude Marie PIRY ,  Jocelyn Francois Orion JAUBERT ,  Albin Pierick TONNERRE

IPC: G06F9/38

CPC classification number: G06F9/3844 ,  G06F9/3806

Abstract: A data processing apparatus executes call instructions, and after a sequence of instructions executed in response to a call instruction a return instruction causes the program flow to return to a point in the program sequence associated with that call instruction. The data processing apparatus is configured to speculatively execute instructions in dependence on a predicted outcome of earlier instructions and a return address prediction unit is configured to store return addresses associated with unresolved call instructions. The return address prediction unit comprises: a stack portion onto which return addresses associated with unresolved call instructions are pushed, and from which a return address is popped when a return instruction is speculatively executed; and a buffer portion which stores an entry for each unresolved call instruction executed and for each return instruction which is speculatively executed.

Abstract translation: 数据处理装置执行呼叫指令，并且在响应于呼叫指令执行的指令序列之后，返回指令使程序流程返回到与该呼叫指令相关联的程序序列中的一个点。 数据处理装置被配置为根据早期指令的预测结果推测执行指令，并且返回地址预测单元被配置为存储与未解决的呼叫指令相关联的返回地址。 返回地址预测单元包括：堆栈部分，在其上推送与未解决的呼叫指令相关联的返回地址，并且当推测性地执行返回指令时从该地址弹出返回地址; 以及缓冲部分，其存储针对执行的每个未解决的调用指令的条目和针对被推测执行的每个返回指令。