Patent ID: 6356918
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method in a data processing system for managing a register array, wherein said data processing system includes M architected registers and said register array includes M registers and N additional registers, and wherein said data processing system dispatches instructions to a selected one of a plurality of execution units, said method comprising the steps of:in response to dispatching a register-modifying instruction having an architected target register address, selecting a first physical register address from a rename table; associating said architected target register address with said first physical register address; storing a result of executing said register-modifying instruction in a register pointed to by said first physical register address; and in response to completing said register-modifying instruction, exchanging said first physical address in said rename table with a second physical address in a completion rename table that is stored at a location pointed to by said architected target register address, wherein said register-modifying instruction is associated with said first physical register address from said rename table, and, upon completion of said register-modifying instruction, said second physical address is moved to said rename table to be available for association with a subsequent register-modifying instruction.