Building a combined Micro/Macro instruction set according to a modified definition of microprogramming

Abstract

This thesis aim is defining a new meaning for microprogramming as we know it. Microprogramming was seen from two different views. In commercial applications microprogramming was treated primarily as an emulation tool. This allowed systems such as the IMB system/386 to implement both backward and forward compatibility. In military applications microprograming was considered as a tool for building optimized and fault tolerance control units. Dynamic and user microprogramming are usually used to refer to the same concept. In this thesis we will make a clear distinction between the two terms. User microprogramming was used by military applications for optimization purposes. But, in commercial applications its importance was not recognized, because microprogramming was treated as a transparent item to the user. This thesis will prove the feasibility of user microprogramming in commercial applications and how it can be used to build cost effective optimized control units. We will also show the feasibility of building a combined/macro instruction set. To allow this we will give a modified definition of microprogramming.