Method for filtering instructions to get more precise event counts
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorPeter Damron
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention provides for filtering instructions to obtain more precise event counts with a plurality of instructions having a counter enable bit, executing the instructions thereby causing a plurality of events, filtering the instructions, activating the counter enable bit if the instructions fall within the filter, which then determines whether an event counter coupled to the event is incremented.
Claims19
A method for obtaining precise event counts in a computer system, said method comprising:
- executing an instruction, said execution creating one or more associated events;
- filtering said instruction based on a filter range, said filter range providing a range of instructions indicating events to be counted;
- activating a counter enable bit in said instruction if said instruction is within said filter range;
- deactivating said counter enable bit in said instruction if said instruction is not within said filter range;
- and
- incrementing an associated event counter corresponding to each of said one or more associated events if said counter enable bit on said instruction is activated.
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for obtaining precise event counts in a computer system, said method comprising:
- executing an instruction, said execution creating one or more associated events;
- filtering said instruction based on a filter range, said filter range providing a range of instructions indicating events to be counted;
- activating a counter enable bit in said instruction if said instruction is within said filter range;
- deactivating said counter enable bit in said instruction if said instruction is not within said filter range;
- and
- incrementing an associated event counter corresponding to each of said one or more associated events if said counter enable bit on said instruction is activated.
An apparatus for obtaining precise event counts in a computer system, said apparatus comprising:
- means for executing an instruction, said execution creating one or more associated events;
- means for filtering said instruction based on a filter range, said filter range providing a range of instructions indicating events to be counted;
- means for activating a counter enable bit in said instruction if said instruction is within said filter range;
- means for deactivating said counter enable bit in said instruction if said instruction is not within said filter range;
- and
- means for incrementing an associated event counter corresponding to each of said one or more associated events if said counter enable bit on said instruction is activated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.