Method for emulating a guest centralized flag architecture by using a native distributed flag architecture

Abstract

A method for emulating a guest centralized flag architecture by using a native distributed flag architecture. The method includes receiving an incoming instruction sequence using a global front end; grouping the instructions to form instruction blocks, wherein each of the instruction blocks comprise two half blocks; scheduling the instructions of the instruction block to execute in accordance with a scheduler; and using a distributed flag architecture to emulate a centralized flag architecture for the emulation of guest instruction execution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for emulating a guest centralized flag architecture by using a native distributed flag architecture, comprising:
 grouping an incoming instruction sequence to form instruction blocks, wherein each of the instruction blocks comprise two half blocks;   scheduling the instructions of the instruction block to execute in accordance with a scheduler; and   using a distributed flag architecture to emulate a centralized guest flag architecture for the emulation of guest instruction execution.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incoming instruction sequence is received using a global front end and wherein each half block is operable to be dispatched independently. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a distributed flag architecture is configured to be implemented using multiple independent flag registers. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, guest instructions are categorized into 4 native instruction types. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein guest instructions are categorized into 4 native instruction types and guest instruction types update different guest instruction flags, based on their type. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a front end dynamic converter categorizes incoming instructions based on the manner in which they update guest instruction flags. 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer readable media having computer readable code which when executed by a computer system causes the computer system to perform a method for emulating a guest centralized flag architecture by using a native distributed flag architecture, comprising:
 grouping an incoming instruction sequence to form instruction blocks, wherein each of the instruction blocks comprise two half blocks;   scheduling the instructions of the instruction block to execute in accordance with a scheduler; and   using a distributed flag architecture to emulate a centralized guest flag architecture for the emulation of guest instruction execution.   
     
     
         8 . The computer readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the incoming instruction sequence is received using a global front end and wherein each half block is operable to be dispatched independently. 
     
     
         9 . The computer readable media of  claim 7 , wherein a distributed flag architecture is configured to be implemented by using multiple independent flag registers. 
     
     
         10 . The computer readable media of  claim 7 , wherein, guest instructions are categorized into 4 native instruction types. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable media of  claim 7 , wherein guest instructions are categorized into 4 native instruction types and guest instruction types update different guest instruction flags, based on their type. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable media of  claim 7 , wherein a front end/dynamic converter categorizes incoming instructions based on the manner in which they update guest instruction flags. 
     
     
         13 . A computer system having a processor coupled to a memory, the memory having computer readable code which when executed by the computer system causes the computer system to implement a method for emulating a guest centralized flag architecture by using a native distributed flag architecture, comprising:
 grouping an incoming instruction sequence to form instruction blocks, wherein each of the instruction blocks comprise two half blocks;   scheduling the instructions of the instruction block to execute in accordance with a scheduler; and   using a distributed flag architecture to emulate a centralized guest flag architecture for the emulation of guest instruction execution.   
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the incoming instruction sequence is received using a global front end and wherein each half block is operable to be dispatched independently. 
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein a distributed flag architecture is configured to be implemented by using multiple independent flag registers. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein, guest instructions are categorized into 4 native instruction types. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein guest instructions are categorized into 4 native instruction types and guest instruction types update different guest instruction flags, based on their type. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein a front end/dynamic converter categorizes incoming instructions based on the manner in which they update guest instruction flags.