Method and apparatus for determining the criticality of a micro-operation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for whacking a μOP based upon the criticality of that μOP. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method for determining the criticality of a μOP.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A method comprising: 
 accessing a next-in-line μOP of an input stream;    applying a metric to the next-in-line μOP; and    if the next-in-line μOP satisfies the metric, identifying the next-in-line μOP as critical.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising identifying the next-in-line μOP as not critical if the next-in-line μOP does not satisfy the metric.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the metric comprises comparing an age of the next-in-line μOP with a predefined threshold age.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the metric comprises determining whether a thread associated with the next-in-line μOP has been given priority.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising issuing a select signal, wherein the select signal indicates: 
 if the next-in-line μOP is critical, that the next-in-line μOP is selected for output; and    if the next-in-line μOP is not critical, that a next-in-line μOP of another input stream is selected for output.    
   
   
       18 . A method comprising: 
 accessing a next-in-line μOP of a front-door stream;    comparing an age of the next-in-line front-door μOP with a predefined threshold age; and    if the age of the next-in-line front-door μOP exceeds the threshold age, identifying the next-in-line front-door μOP as critical.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising identifying the next-in-line front-door μOP as not critical if the age of the next-in-line front-door μOP is less than the threshold age.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the threshold age corresponds to an oldest μOP.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the next-in-line front-door μOP is associated with a thread, the method further comprising: 
 determining whether the thread has been given priority; and    if the thread does not have priority, identifying the next-in-line front-door μOP as not critical.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising issuing a select signal, wherein the select signal indicates: 
 if the next-in-line front-door μOP is critical, that the next-in-line front-door μOP is selected for output; and    if the next-in-line front-door μOP is not critical, that a next-in-line μOP of a side-door stream is selected for output.    
   
   
       23 . A method comprising: 
 accessing a next-in-line μOP of a front-door stream, the next-in-line front-door μOP associated with a thread;    determining whether the thread has been given priority; and    if the thread has priority, identifying the next-in-line front-door μOP as critical.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising identifying the next-in-line front-door μOP as not critical if the thread does not have priority.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 comparing an age of the next-in-line front-door μOP with a predefined threshold age; and    if the age of the next-in-line front-door μOP is less than the threshold age, identifying the next-in-line front-door μOP as not critical.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising issuing a select signal, wherein the select signal indicates: 
 if the next-in-line front-door μOP is critical, that the next-in-line front-door μOP is selected for output; and    if the next-in-line front-door μOP is not critical, that a next-in-line μOP of a side-door stream is selected for output.    
   
   
       27 - 36 . (canceled)  
   
   
       37 . A device comprising: 
 a selector to receive an input stream; and    a whacking element coupled with the selector, the whacking element to 
 access a next-in-line μOP of the input stream,  
 apply a metric to the next-in-line μOP, and  
 if the next-in-line μOP satisfies the metric, identify the next-in-line μOP as critical.  
   
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 37 , the whacking element to identify the next-in-line μOP as not critical if the next-in-line μOP does not satisfy the metric.  
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 37 , the whacking element, when applying the metric, to compare an age of the next-in-line μOP with a predefined threshold age.  
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 37 , the whacking element, when applying the metric, to determine whether a thread associated with the next-in-line μOP has been given priority.  
   
   
       41 . The device of  claim 38 , the whacking element to provide a select signal to the selector, wherein the select signal indicates: 
 if the next-in-line μOP is critical, that the next-in-line μOP is selected for output; and    if the next-in-line μOP is not critical, that a next-in-line μOP of another input stream is selected for output.    
   
   
       42 . A device comprising: 
 a multiplexer having a first input, a second input, and an output, the multiplexer to receive a front-door stream at the first input;    a page miss handler coupled with the second input of the multiplexer, the page miss handler to provide a side-door stream to the multiplexer; and    a whacking element coupled with the page miss handler, the whacking unit to 
 access a next-in-line μOP of the front-door stream,  
 compare an age of the next-in-line front-door μOP with a predefined threshold age, and  
 if the age of the next-in-line front-door μOP exceeds a threshold age, identify the next-in-line front-door μOP as critical.  
   
   
   
       43 . The device of  claim 42 , the whacking element to identify the next-in-line front-door μOP as not critical if the age of the next-in-line front-door μOP is less than the threshold age.  
   
   
       44 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein the threshold age corresponds to an oldest μOP.  
   
   
       45 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein the next-in-line front-door μOP is associated with a thread, the whacking element to: 
 determine whether the thread has been given priority; and    if the thread does not have priority, identifying the next-in-line front-door μOP as not critical.    
   
   
       46 . The device of  claim 43 , the whacking element to provide a select signal to the multiplexer, wherein the select signal indicates: 
 if the next-in-line front-door μOP is critical, that the next-in-line front-door μOP is selected for output; and    if the next-in-line front-door μOP is not critical, that a next-in-line μOP of a side-door stream is selected for output.    
   
   
       47 . A device comprising: 
 a multiplexer having a first input, a second input, and an output, the multiplexer to receive a front-door stream at the first input;    a page miss handler coupled with the second input of the multiplexer, the page miss handler to provide a side-door stream to the multiplexer; and    a whacking element coupled with the page miss handler, the whacking element to 
 access a next-in-line μOP of the front-door stream, the next-in-line front-door μOP associated with a thread,  
 determine whether the thread has been given priority, and  
 if the thread has priority, identify the next-in-line front-door μOP as critical.  
   
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 47 , the whacking element to identify the next-in-line front-door μOP as not critical if the thread does not have priority.  
   
   
       49 . The device of  claim 47 , the whacking element to: 
 compare an age of the next-in-line front-door μOP with a predefined threshold age; and    if the age of the next-in-line front-door μOP is less than the threshold age, identify the next-in-line front-door μOP as not critical.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , the whacking element to provide a select signal to the multiplexer, wherein the select signal indicates: 
 if the next-in-line front-door μOP is critical, that the next-in-line front-door μOP is selected for output; and    if the next-in-line front-door μOP is not critical, that a next-in-line μOP of a side-door stream is selected for output.    
   
   
       51 - 54 . (canceled)  
   
   
       55 . An article of manufacture comprising: 
 a machine accessible medium providing content that, when accessed by a machine, causes the machine to 
 access a next-in-line μOP of an input stream;  
 apply a metric to the next-in-line μOP; and  
 if the next-in-line μOP satisfies the metric, identify the next-in-line μOP as critical.  
   
   
   
       56 . The article of manufacture of  claim 55 , wherein the content, when accessed, further causes the machine to identify the next-in-line μOP as not critical if the next-in-line μOP does not satisfy the metric.  
   
   
       57 . The article of manufacture of  claim 55 , wherein the content, when accessed, further causes the machine, when applying the metric, to compare an age of the next-in-line μOP with a predefined threshold age.  
   
   
       58 . The article of manufacture of  claim 55 , wherein the content, when accessed, further causes the machine, when applying the metric, to determine whether a thread associated with the next-in-line μOP has been given priority.  
   
   
       59 . The article of manufacture of  claim 56 , wherein the content, when accessed, further causes the machine to issue a select signal, the select signal to indicate: 
 if the next-in-line μOP is critical, that the next-in-line μOP is selected for output; and    if the next-in-line μOP is not critical, that a next-in-line μOP of another input stream is selected for output.