Freescale Semiconductor,inc.

John C Chan

Xiao Sun

A method and apparatus to generate test sequences for pipeline hazards in a pipelined data processing system is presented. An executable specification for the architecture is compiled that includes macroarchitecture and microarchitecture information corresponding to each of the instructions supported by the architecture. A table ( ) is constructed from the executable specification that specifies the particular resource utilization parameters associated with each of the instruction types included in the instruction set supported. From this table a resource utilization parameter list ( ) is compiled that indicates the relative times at which resources are needed by each instruction and when these resources are released by the instruction. Comparisons between different entries in the resource utilization parameter list corresponding to the same resource are performed such that potential hazards are detected. A hazard list ( ) is then compiled that includes all of the hazards detected through the comparison operations utilizing the resource utilization parameter list ( ). This hazard list ( ) can then be used generate and qualify test sequences and to determine if hardware or software is overcompensating or undercompensating for the potential hazard conditions.

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John C Chan