Method and system for providing temporal threshold support during performance monitoring of a pipelined processor

A data processing system comprising a pipelined processor, wherein the pipelined processor comprises a plurality of instruction pipeline units and a performance monitor, the data processing system further comprising:

• specifying means for specifying an event to be monitored by the performance monitor, wherein the specified event is completion of processing of an instruction by an instruction pipeline unit in an amount of time that exceeds a specified threshold value;
• fetching means for fetching an instruction;
• and
• monitoring means for monitoring for the specified event during the execution of the fetched instruction by the pipelined processor.

A method of monitoring the execution of an instruction within a pipelined processor, wherein the pipelined processor comprises a plurality of instruction pipeline units, the method comprising:

• fetching an instruction;
• tagging the instruction;
• receiving a first stage-completion signal in response to a first instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of the tagged instruction and a second stage-completion signal in response to a second instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of the tagged instruction;
• determining whether a temporal interval between the receipt of the first stage-completion signal and the receipt of the second stage-completion signal is less than a temporal threshold value;
• and
• generating a threshold event if the temporal interval is not less than the temporal threshold value.

A data processing system comprising a pipelined processor, wherein the pipelined processor comprises a plurality of instruction pipeline units, the data processing system further comprising:

• fetching means for fetching an instruction;
• tagging means for tagging the instruction;
• receiving means for receiving a first stage-completion signal in response to a first instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of the tagged instruction and a second stage-completion signal in response to a second instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of the tagged instruction;
• determining means for determining whether a temporal interval between the receipt of the first stage-completion signal and the receipt of the second stage-completion signal is less than a temporal threshold value;
• and
• generating means for generating a threshold event if the temporal interval is not less than the temporal threshold value.

A method of monitoring the execution of an instruction within a pipelined processor, wherein the pipelined processor comprises a plurality of instruction pipeline units, the method comprising:

• fetching an instruction;
• receiving a first stage-completion signal in response to a first instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of the instruction and a second stage-completion signal in response to a second instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of the instruction;
• determining whether a temporal interval between the receipt of the first stage-completion signal and the receipt of the second stage-completion signal is less than a temporal threshold value;
• and
• generating a threshold event if the temporal interval is not less than the temporal threshold value.

A data processing system comprising a pipelined processor, wherein the pipelined processor comprises a plurality of instruction pipeline units, the data processing system further comprising:

• fetching means for fetching an instruction;
• receiving means for receiving a first stage-completion signal in response to a first instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of the instruction and a second stage-completion signal in response to a second instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of the instruction;
• determining means for determining whether a temporal interval between the receipt of the first stage-completion signal and the-receipt of the second stage-completion signal is less than a temporal threshold value;
• and
• generating means for generating a threshold event if the temporal interval is not less than the temporal threshold value.

A computer program product on a computer-readable medium for use in a data processing system comprising a pipelined processor, wherein the pipelined processor comprises a plurality of instruction pipeline units, the computer program product further comprising:

• first instructions for receiving a first stage-completion signal in response to a first instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of a fetched instruction and a second stage-completion signal in response to a second instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of the fetched instruction;
• second instructions for determining whether a temporal interval between the receipt of the first stage-completion signal and the receipt of the second stage-completion signal is less than a temporal threshold value;
• and
• third instructions for generating a threshold event if the temporal interval is not less than the temporal threshold value.

A computer program product on a computer-readable medium for use in a data processing system comprising a pipelined processor, wherein the pipelined processor comprises a plurality of instruction pipeline units, the computer program product further comprising:

• first instructions for tagging a fetched instruction;
• second instructions for receiving a first stage-completion signal in response to a first instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of the tagged instruction and a second stage-completion signal in response to a second instruction pipeline unit completing its processing of the tagged instruction;
• third instructions for determining whether a temporal interval between the receipt of the first stage-completion signal and the receipt of the second stage-completion signal is less than a temporal threshold value;
• and
• fourth instructions for generating a threshold event if the temporal interval is not less than the temporal threshold value.