US 2004/0003377 A1 · Converting byte code instructions to a new instruction set

Abstract

Byte code instructions encoding a computer method typically make use of a stack frame having an (implicit) stack pointer which points to locations on the stack frame for obtaining or storing data. Thus, the instructions typically do not contain an explicit encoding of locations on the stack frame for obtaining or storing data. The stack pointer typically adjusts itself automatically as data are moved on and off the stack frame during execution or simulation of a method. In an improved methodology, before execution (JIT compilation or interpretation), various locations on the stack frame indicated by the stack pointer are converted into explicit location data on the stack frame, thereby obviating the need for the stack pointer. The byte code instructions are converted to new instructions using said explicit locations, and which are substantially uniform in size to improve efficiency of execution.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A process for converting byte code instructions to a new instruction set that is more efficiently compiled, comprising:

(a) obtaining an existing series of instructions for a computer method;
(i) said instructions not being all of the same width;
(ii) each said instruction including an opcode and an operand;
(iii) at least some of said instructions accessing a memory space for said computer method in the form of a stack frame;
(b) converting said existing instructions to a new set of instructions;
(i) said new instructions being of substantially uniform width;
(ii) each said new instruction including (A) an opcode field, (B) an operand field, (C) a source field, and (D) a destination field;
(iii) for each existing instruction and its corresponding new instruction:
(A) copying said existing opcode to a new opcode;
(B) translating said existing operand to said new operand;
(C) if said existing instruction references said stack frame for source or destination data, writing a corresponding field in said new instruction with an explicit location on said stack frame for such data;
and
(c) writing said new instructions to a computer-readable medium.

10 more elements

A computer readable medium for converting byte code instructions to a new instruction set that is more efficiently compiled, comprising logic instructions that, if executed:

(a) obtain an existing series of instructions for a computer method;
(i) said instructions not being all of the same width;
(ii) each said instruction including an opcode and an operand;
(iii) at least some of said instructions accessing a memory space for said computer method in the form of a stack frame;
(b) convert said existing instructions to a new set of instructions;
(i) said new instructions being of substantially uniform width;
(ii) each said new instruction including (A) an opcode field, (B) an operand field, (C) a source field, and (D) a destination field;
(iii) for each existing instruction and its corresponding new instruction:
(A) copy said existing opcode to a new opcode;
(B) translate said existing operand to said new operand;
(C) if said existing instruction references said stack frame for source or destination data, write a corresponding field in said new instruction with an explicit location on said stack frame for such data;
and
(c) write said new instructions to a computer-readable medium.

10 more elements

An apparatus for converting byte code instructions to a new instruction set that is more efficiently compiled, comprising:

(a) means for obtaining an existing series of instructions for a computer method;
(i) said instructions not being all of the same width;
(ii) each said instruction including an opcode and an operand;
(iii) at least some of said instructions accessing a memory space for said computer method in the form of a stack frame;
and
(b) means for converting said existing instructions to a new set of instructions;
(i) said new instructions being of substantially uniform width;
(ii) each said new instruction including (A) an opcode field, (B) an operand field, (C) a source field, and (D) a destination field;
(iii) for each existing instruction and its corresponding new instruction, means for:
(A) copying said existing opcode to a new opcode;
(B) translating said existing operand to said new operand;
(C) if said existing instruction references said stack frame for source or destination data, writing a corresponding field in said new instruction with an explicit location on said stack frame for such data;
and
(c) means for writing said new instructions to a computer-readable medium.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Converting byte code instructions to a new instruction set

Life of this patent

Converting byte code instructions to a new instruction set

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30