Extending width of performance monitor counters
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for monitoring the occurrences of one or more events related to the operation of a processor, said processor including a performance monitor having a plurality of counting elements, said method comprising the steps of:
- identifying the number of events to be counted by said performance monitor;
identifying the number of counting elements available to count incidences of said events; and
assigning at least two of said counting elements to serially count incidences of at least one of said events, wherein when the number of events to be counted is less than the number of counting elements available to count incidences of said events, said assigning step comprising at least the steps of;
dividing the number of available counting elements by the number of events to be counted;
in a first assignment step, assigning a number of counting elements, said number equal to the integer resulting from said dividing step, to each of said events to be counted; and
in a second assignment step, assigning any unassigned counting elements to at least one of said events.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A performance monitor includes at least one Monitor Mode Control Register (MMCR) and plural Performance Control Monitors (PMCs). Each PMC is controlled by the MMCR to pair or group the PMCs so that the overflow from one PMC can be directed to its pair/group. By coupling the PMCs so that overflow from one can be directed to another, the effective size of the counters can be increased.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method for monitoring the occurrences of one or more events related to the operation of a processor, said processor including a performance monitor having a plurality of counting elements, said method comprising the steps of:
-
identifying the number of events to be counted by said performance monitor; identifying the number of counting elements available to count incidences of said events; and assigning at least two of said counting elements to serially count incidences of at least one of said events, wherein when the number of events to be counted is less than the number of counting elements available to count incidences of said events, said assigning step comprising at least the steps of; dividing the number of available counting elements by the number of events to be counted; in a first assignment step, assigning a number of counting elements, said number equal to the integer resulting from said dividing step, to each of said events to be counted; and in a second assignment step, assigning any unassigned counting elements to at least one of said events. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for monitoring the occurrences of one or more events related to the operation of a processor, said processor including a performance monitor having a plurality of counting elements, said computer program product comprising:
-
first instructions for identifying the number of events to be counted by said performance monitor; second instructions for identifying the number of counting elements available to count incidences of said events; and third instructions for assigning at least two of said counting elements to serially count incidences of at least one of said events, wherein when the number of events to be counted is less than the number of counting elements available to count incidences of said events, said third instructions for assigning include at least; fourth instructions for dividing the number of available counting elements by the number of events to be counted; fifth instructions for assigning a number of counting elements, said number equal to the integer resulting from the execution of said fourth instructions, to each of said events to be counted; and sixth instructions for assigning any unassigned counting elements to at least one of said events. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for monitoring the occurrences of one or more events related to the operation of a processor, said processor including a performance monitor having a plurality of counting elements, said system comprising:
-
means for identifying the number of events to be counted by said performance monitor; means for identifying the number of counting elements available to count incidences of said events; and means for assigning at least two of said counting elements to serially count incidences of at least one of said events, wherein the number of events to be counted is less than the number of counting elements available to count incidences of said events, said means for assigning comprising at least; means for dividing the number of available counting elements by the number of events to be counted; means for assigning a number of counting elements, said number equal to the integer resulting from operation of said dividing means, to each of said events to be counted; and means for assigning any unassigned counting elements to at least one of said events. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
Specification