Descriptor Table Instruction Circuitry for Simplified Memory Addressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Programming for processors often requires manual calculation of memory addresses within data structures, which is cumbersome, error-prone, and increases complexity, leading to bugs and longer development times.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating descriptor table instruction circuitry that allows direct access to data elements within data structures without manual address calculations, using specialized circuitry to translate addresses based on stored descriptors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual address calculation is used to access data elements, then the processor can access data with full flexibility, but the programming complexity and error rate increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces descriptor tables as an intermediary layer between the programmer and the actual memory address space. The descriptor tables store pre-computed address information and data structure metadata, allowing programmers to reference data elements through simple descriptor indices rather than manually calculating complex memory addresses. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by simplifying programming while maintaining full access capability to data elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs address calculation and data structure setup in advance, storing the results in descriptor tables before execution. By pre-computing addresses and organizing data structure information beforehand, the system eliminates the need for complex runtime address calculations by programmers, thereby improving ease of operation without sacrificing access flexibility.
2Productivity
If specialized descriptor table circuitry is added to the processor, then address translation becomes automated and programming is simplified, but the processor device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The descriptor table circuitry is designed to handle multiple functions including address translation, data structure metadata storage, and access permission verification. By consolidating these functions into a single integrated structure, the system achieves improved execution efficiency without proportionally increasing processor complexity, as the same hardware components serve multiple purposes in the data access pipeline.
3Reliability
If manual address computation is required, then the processor maintains a simple architecture, but programming time and potential for errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The descriptor table system enables the processor to automatically perform address translation and data structure resolution without requiring programmer intervention for complex address computations. The hardware self-services by translating descriptor indices to actual memory addresses and managing data structure access, thereby improving programming reliability and reducing development time while maintaining simple programming syntax.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods related to processors with descriptor table instruction circuitry are disclosed herein. A processor may be defined by an instruction set including an instruction. The processor may comprise: a set of data structures stored in a memory, a configuration register storing a set of characteristics of the set of data structures, and circuitry configured to execute an instruction having a syntax that includes an address in an address space of the data structures. Execution of the instruction may include using the address in the address space of the data structures and the information stored in the configuration register to calculate an address in the address space of the memory. This alleviates the burden of programming a computation in that the address space of the data structures is a step closer to the application level of the computation.