Microprogramming apparatus and method
AssigneeCompagnie Honeywell Bull
InventorGinette Laure Dalmasso
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure describes improved techniques for using a general or parametered microinstruction for more than one application. A read/write store provides at a first address a storage location for the parametered microinstruction. The parametered microinstruction is calculated according to data values stored in a table in order to accommodate the various applications. In one embodiment, an arithmetic and logic unit combines first and second values from the table in order to form or calculate a microinstruction having first and second parameters. The calculated microinstruction then is stored in the read/write store at the first address. This techniques enables the calculated microinstruction to be carried out in the same manner as non-parametered microinstructions.
Claims12
A method of recording and carrying out microprograms in a processor associated with a data processing system in which a microprogram recorded in a read/write store belonging to the processor contains microinstructions which are to be carried out sequentially with the aid of a data table store, comprising the steps of:
- providing a storage location for a parametered microinstruction containing a first parameter and a second parameter at a predetermined address in the read/write store;
- storing in the data table store a first value corresponding to the first parameter and a second value corresponding to the second parameter;
- combining the first and second values extracted from the data table store to form a calculated microinstruction;
- storing the calculated microinstruction in the read/write store at the predetermined address;
- and
- executing the calculated microinstruction.
Apparatus for recording and carrying out microprograms in a processor associated with a data processing system, said apparatus comprising:
- read/write store means for providing at a first predetermined address a storage location for at least one parametered microinstruction containing a first parameter and a second parameter, for storing at a second predetermined address a first value corresponding to the first parameter, and for storing at a third address a second value corresponding to the second parameter;
- microinstruction address register means including outputs connected to the store means for storing the first, second and third predetermined addresses:
- calculating means for combining the first and second values to form a calculated microinstruction capable of being executed;
- and
- control means for reading the first and second values into the calculating means in response to the presence of the second and third predetermined addresses in the address register means so that the calculated microinstruction is formed, and for writing the calculated microinstruction into the store means at the first predetermined address, whereby the calculated microinstruction can be executed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.