Range checking instruction for setting a status value indicative of whether a first address and second address identified by the instruction correspond to the same memory attribute entry

Abstract

An apparatus comprises an instruction decoder to decode instructions, processing circuitry to perform data processing in response to the instructions decoded by the instruction decoder, and memory attribute checking circuitry to check whether a memory access request issued by the processing circuitry satisfies access permissions specified in a plurality of memory attribute entries. Each memory attribute entry specifies access permissions for a corresponding address region of variable size within an address space. In response to a range checking instruction specifying address identifying parameters for identifying a first address and a second address, the instruction decoder controls the processing circuitry to set, in at least one software-accessible storage location, a status value indicative of whether the first address and the second address correspond to the same memory attribute entry.