Counting speculative and non-speculative events

A method for counting events during the execution of one or more instructions in a computer system, wherein the computer system contains an event counter for each event to be simultaneously counted for each of the instructions, the method including:

• executing one of the instructions;
• incrementing an amount in the event counter corresponding to said one of the instructions each time an event corresponding to said event counter occurs during execution of said one of the instructions;
• incrementing an amount in a speculative counter by said amount in said event counter;
• determining if any of the instructions are retirable instructions;
• decrementing said amount in said speculative counter and incrementing an amount in a non-speculative counter by said amount in any of said event counters corresponding to retirable instructions;
• and
• retiring any retirable instructions.

A method for counting events during the execution of one or more blocks in a computer system, wherein the computer system contains an event counter for each event to be counted in each of the blocks, the method including:

• executing one of the blocks;
• incrementing an amount in the event counter corresponding to said one of the blocks each time an event corresponding to said event counter occurs during execution of said one of the blocks;
• incrementing an amount in a speculative counter by said amount in said event counter when said execution of said one of the blocks is completed;
• determining if any of the blocks are retirable instructions;
• decrementing said amount in said speculative counter and incrementing an amount in a non-speculative counter by said amount in any of said event counters corresponding to retirable blocks;
• and
• retiring any retirable blocks.

A method for counting events during the execution of one or more blocks in a computer system, wherein the computer system contains an event counter for each event to be simultaneously counted in each of the blocks, the method including:

• executing one of the blocks;
• incrementing an amount in the event counter corresponding to said one of the blocks each time an event corresponding to said event counter occurs during execution of said one of the blocks;
• incrementing an amount in a speculative counter by said amount in said event counter when said execution of said one of the blocks is completed;
• determining if any of the blocks are retirable instructions;
• decrementing said amount in said speculative counter and incrementing an amount in a non-speculative counter by said amount in any of said event counters corresponding to retirable blocks;
• and
• retiring any retirable blocks.

An apparatus for counting events during the execution of one or more instructions in a computer system including:

• an event counter corresponding to each event to be counted for each of the instructions;
• a speculative counter;
• a non-speculative counter;
• an instruction executer;
• an event counter amount incrementer coupled to said instruction executor and each of said event counters;
• a speculative counter incrementer coupled to each of said event counters, to said instruction executor, and to said speculative counter;
• a retiring instruction determiner coupled to each of said event counters;
• a speculative counter decrementer coupled to said retiring instruction determiner, to each of said event counters, and to said speculative counter;
• a non-speculative counter incrementer coupled to said retiring instruction determiner, to each of said event counters, and to said non-speculative counter;
• and
• an instruction retirer coupled to said retiring instruction determiner.

An apparatus for counting events during the execution of one or more instructions in a computer system including:

• an event counter corresponding to each event to be simultaneously counted for each of the instructions;
• a speculative counter;
• a non-speculative counter;
• an instruction executer;
• an event counter amount incrementer coupled to said instruction executor and each of said event counters;
• a speculative counter incrementer coupled to each of said event counters, to said instruction executor, and to said speculative counter;
• a retiring instruction determiner coupled to each of said event counters;
• a speculative counter decrementer coupled to said retiring instruction determiner, to each of said event counters, and to said speculative counter;
• a non-speculative counter incrementer coupled to said retiring instruction determiner, to each of said event counters, and to said non-speculative counter;
• and
• an instruction retirer coupled to said retiring instruction determiner.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for counting events during the execution of one or more instructions in a computer system, wherein the computer system contains an event counter for each event to be counted for each of the instructions, the method including:

• executing one of the instructions;
• incrementing an amount in the event counter corresponding to said one of the instructions each time an event corresponding to said event counter occurs during execution of said one of the instructions;
• incrementing an amount in a speculative counter by said amount in said event counter;
• determining if any of the instructions are retirable instructions;
• decrementing said amount in said speculative counter and incrementing an amount in a non-speculative counter by said amount in any of said event counters corresponding to retirable instructions;
• and
• retiring any retirable instructions.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for counting events during the execution of one or more instructions in a computer system, wherein the computer system contains an event counter for each event to be counted for each of the instructions, the method including:

• executing one of the instructions;
• incrementing an amount in the event counter corresponding to said one of the instructions each time an event corresponding to said event counter occurs during execution of said one of the instructions;
• incrementing an amount in a speculative counter by said amount in said event counter;
• determining if any of the instructions are retirable instructions;
• decrementing said amount in said speculative counter and incrementing an amount in a non-speculative counter by said amount in any of said event counters corresponding to retirable instructions;
• and
• retiring any retirable instructions.