Return address optimisation for a dynamic code translator

Abstract

A dynamic code translator with isoblocking uses a return trampoline having branch instructions conditioned on different isostates to optimize return address translation, by allowing the hardware to predict that the address of a future return will be the address of trampoline. An IP relative call is inserted into translated code to write the trampoline address to a target link register and a target return address stack used by the native machine to predict return addresses. If a computed subject return address matches a subject return address register value, the current isostate of the isoblock is written to an isostate register. The isostate value in the isostate register is then used to select the branch instruction in the trampoline for the true subject return address. Sufficient code area in the trampoline instruction set can be reserved for a number of compare / branch pairs which is equal to the number of available isostates.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention generally relates to computer systems and emulation, and more particularly to dynamic binary translators which use isoblocks to cache translated code.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]It is often useful to run a computer program designed for one computer system having a particular processor architecture and operating system (OS) on another computer system having a different processor architecture and / or OS. For example, it is desirable to allow new computer systems to run legacy programs without having to redesign those programs. It takes a significant amount of time (and thus cost) to port an older software application to a new platform. If there is a change in the hardware instruction set, then the application must be recompiled. If there is a change in the OS, then applications must be rewritten to use the new OS calls. Significant changes could be required in the source code just to ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a method for optimizing return address translation in a dynamic code translator. It involves compiling a code for a first machine and planting it with compatibility information. The code includes a function call and a trampoline instruction set with branch instructions that return a true return address conditional on an isostate. The instructions also write an address of the trampoline instruction set to a register and save an existing return address from a register in a translator return address stack. The invention allows for efficient translation of function calls between different machines with different hardware environments.

Problems solved by technology

It takes a significant amount of time (and thus cost) to port an older software application to a new platform.

In many cases, the cost to port an application may be as much as 40% of the original development cost.

If the application was obtained from an outside vendor then, even if the source is available, the understanding of the application's architecture and logic are not necessarily available to the programmers who will be porting the application.

If the source for the original application was lost, then porting is not even possible.

Reverse engineering or starting development from scratch are also expensive alternatives.

Images