HMO, a hardware microcode optimizer
Pages 45 - 51
Abstract
This paper discusses an algorithm for optimizing the density and parallelism of microcoded routines in microprogrammable machines. Besides the algorithm itself, the algorithm's uses, adaptability to conventional machine characteristics, and architectural requirements are also discussed and analyzed. Even though the paper proposes a hardware implementation of the algorithm, the algorithm is viewed as an integral part of the entire microcode generation and usage process, from initial high-level input into a software microcode compiler down to machine-level execution of the resultant microcode on the host machine. It is believed that, by removing much of the traditionally time-consuming and machine-dependent microcode optimization from the software portion of this process, the algorithm can improve the overall process.
References
[1]
R. K. Clark, "Mirager, the 'Best-Yet' Approach for Horizontal Microprogramming," Proceedings of ACM '72, Association for Computing Machinery, New York, 1972, pp. 554--560.
[2]
M. Hattori, M. Yano, and K. Fujino, "MPGS: A High-Level Language for Microprogram Generating System," Proceedings of ACM '72, Association for Computing Machinery, New York, 1972, pp. 572--581.
[3]
S. G. Tucker, "Microprogram Control for System/360," IBM Systems Journal, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 222--241, 1967.
[4]
R. H. Eckhouse, Jr., "A High-Level Microprogramming Language (MPL)," AFIPS Conference Proceedings, Vol. 38 (SJCC 1971), pp. 169--177.
[5]
R. F. Rosin, "Contemporary Concepts of Microprogramming and Emulation," Computing Surveys, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 197--212, Dec., 1969.
[6]
M. J. Flynn and R. F. Rosin, "Microprogramming: An Introduction and a Viewpoint," IEEE Transactions on Computers, Vol. C-20, No. 7, pp. 727--731, July, 1971.
[7]
S. S. Husson, Microprogramming: Principles and Practices. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1970, pp. 125--144.
[8]
C. V. Ramamoorthy, M. Tabandeh, and M. Tsuchiya, "A Higher Level Language for Microprogramming," MICRO6 The Sixth Annual Workshop on Microprogramming, College Park, Maryland, Sept., 1973 (Preprints), pp. 139--144.
[9]
H. Falk, "Hard-Soft Tradeoffs," IEEE Spectrum, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 34--39, Feb., 1974.
[10]
J. O. Bondi and P. D. Stigall, "HMO, An Integrated Hardware Microcode Optimizer," Proceedings of the Third Annual Texas Conference on Computing Systems, Austin, Texas, Nov., 1974 (Preprints).
[11]
J. O. Bondi, Towards a Design of HMO, An Integrated Hardware Microcode Optimizer, University of Missouri-Rolla, Ph.D.E.E. Dissertation, Rolla, Missouri, Dec., 1974.
[12]
C. G. Bell and A. Newell, Computer Structures: Readings and Examples, United States of America: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1971, pp. 567--569.
[13]
Burroughs B 1700 Systems Reference Manual, Preliminary Edition, Burroughs Corporation, Systems Documentation, Technical Information Organization, TIC-Central, Detroit, Michigan, 1972, pp. 1.7--1.8, 1.10, 3.1.
[14]
J. O. Bondi and P. D. Stigall, "Designing HMO, An Integrated Hardware Microcode Optimizer," MICRO7 The Seventh Annual Workshop on Microprogramming, Palo Alto, California, Sept., 1974 (Preprints), pp. 268--276.
[15]
Microprogramming Handbook, Second Edition, Microdata Corporation, Santa Ana, California, 1971, pp. 317--318.
Recommendations
HMO, a hardware microcode optimizer
ISCA '75: Proceedings of the 2nd annual symposium on Computer architectureThis paper discusses an algorithm for optimizing the density and parallelism of microcoded routines in microprogrammable machines. Besides the algorithm itself, the algorithm's uses, adaptability to conventional machine characteristics, and ...
Designing HMO, an integrated hardware microcode optimizer
MICRO 7: Conference record of the 7th annual workshop on MicroprogrammingThis paper discusses an algorithm for optimizing the density and parallelism of microcoded routines in microprogrammable machines. Besides the algorithm itself, the algorithm's uses, design integration problems, architectural requirements, and ...
Experiments in Automatic Microcode Generation
A procedure is described which permits applications problems coded in a higher level language to be compiled to microcode for horizontally microprogrammed processors. An experimental language has been designed which is suitable for expressing ...
Comments
Please enable JavaScript to view thecomments powered by Disqus.Information & Contributors
Information
Published In
January 1975237 pages
Copyright © 1974 Authors.
Publisher
Association for Computing Machinery
New York, NY, United States
Publication History
Published: 01 December 1974
Published in SIGARCH Volume 3, Issue 4
Check for updates
Qualifiers
- Article
Contributors
Other Metrics
Bibliometrics & Citations
Bibliometrics
Article Metrics
- 0Total Citations
- 310Total Downloads
- Downloads (Last 12 months)67
- Downloads (Last 6 weeks)18
Reflects downloads up to 14 Jan 2025
Other Metrics
Citations
View Options
Login options
Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.
Sign in