Dynamically reconfigurable microprocessor
AssigneeVIA Technologies, Inc.
InventorsG. Glenn Henry, Rodney E. Hooker, Colin Eddy, Terry Parks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microprocessor includes a plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units, a fingerprint, and a fingerprint unit. As the plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units execute instructions according to a first configuration setting, the fingerprint unit accumulates information about the instructions according to a mathematical operation to generate a result. The microprocessor also includes a reconfiguration unit that reconfigures the plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units to execute instructions according to a second configuration setting in response to an indication that the result matches the fingerprint.
Claims27
A microprocessor, comprising:
- a plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units;
- a fingerprint;
- a fingerprint unit, wherein as the plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units execute instructions according to a first configuration setting, the fingerprint unit accumulates information about the instructions according to a mathematical operation to generate a result;
- and
- a reconfiguration unit that reconfigures the plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units to execute instructions according to a second configuration setting in response to an indication that the result matches the fingerprint.
A method performed by a microprocessor having a fingerprint and a plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units, the method comprising:
- as the plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units execute instructions according to a first configuration setting, accumulating information about the instructions according to a mathematical operation to generate a result;
- and
- reconfiguring the plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units to execute instructions according to a second configuration setting in response to an indication that the result matches a fingerprint.
A microprocessor, comprising:
- a plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units;
- a static count;
- an instruction counter, wherein as the plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units execute instructions according to a first configuration setting, the instruction counter counts the instructions according to a criteria to generate a dynamic count;
- and
- a reconfiguration unit that reconfigures the plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units to execute instructions according to a second configuration setting in response to an indication that the dynamic count matches the static count.
A method performed by a microprocessor having a static count and a plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units, the method comprising:
- as the plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units execute instructions according to a first configuration setting, counting the instructions according to a criteria to generate a dynamic count;
- and
- reconfiguring the plurality of dynamically reconfigurable functional units to execute instructions according to a second configuration setting in response to an indication that the dynamic count matches the static count.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.