Scott Arthur Mcfarling from 23332 Mission Ln, Farmington, MI 48335, age 64, Phone: (248)5796258

Branch Predictor With Serially Connected Predictor Stages For Improving Branch Prediction Accuracy
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US Patent:

6374349, Apr 16, 2002
Filed:

Mar 19, 1998
Appl. No.:

09/044306
Inventors:

Scott McFarling - Mountain View CA 94303-3253
International Classification:

G06F 944
US Classification:

712239, 712233
Abstract:

System for accurately predicting the outcome of conditional branch instructions subject to execution in a pipelined processor digital computer. The system comprises a series of predictor stages utilizing different prediction algorithms. The stages are linked to successively refine branch predictions only where prediction accuracy from a previous stage is likely to be improved by a subsequent stage. Improvements to each stage and techniques for stage linkage are described.

Methods For Comparing Versions Of A Program
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US Patent:

6954747, Oct 11, 2005
Filed:

Nov 14, 2000
Appl. No.:

09/712063
Inventors:

Zheng Wang - Cambridge MA, US
Scott A. McFarling - Redmond WA, US
Ken B. Pierce - Seattle WA, US
Ramarathnam Venkatesan - Redmond WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06F017/00
G06F015/18
G06F012/00
US Classification:

706 54, 706 1, 707203
Abstract:

Systems and methods are discussed that allow profile information to be reused by various versions of a program. One illustrative aspect includes a method for comparing versions of a program in binary format. The method includes finding equivalent contents in portions of two versions of the program, finding equivalent structure in the portions of the two versions, and forming a match when a portion of one of the two versions is an equivalence of a portion of the other of the two versions.

Adaptive Disk Layout Techniques And Tools
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US Patent:

7260693, Aug 21, 2007
Filed:

Dec 30, 2004
Appl. No.:

11/026807
Inventors:

Scott Arthur McFarling - Redmond WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06F 12/00
US Classification:

711154, 711113
Abstract:

In one aspect, in response to each of plural page faults, a copy of a requested virtual memory page is written to a sorted set of pages in the read order of the sorted pages. A copy of a modified or new data page also can be written to the sorted set. Sorting can be limited to certain kinds of pages (e. g. , data pages). Temporary data pages can be deleted from a sorted set to improve efficiency. If a previously sorted page is requested, writing the page back to the sorted set can be omitted. A sorted set of pages also can be sorted based on retirement order. In another aspect, copies of pages that are accessed or not accessed in memory within certain time windows are written in a sorted order based on phase groups.

System And Method For Improved Collection Of Software Application Profile Data For Performance Optimization
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US Patent:

7350025, Mar 25, 2008
Filed:

Feb 2, 2004
Appl. No.:

10/770182
Inventors:

Scott McFarling - Redmond WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06F 12/08
US Classification:

711119, 711145, 711144, 711167, 713 1
Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a system and method for improved collection of application profile data for performance optimization. The invention provides a mechanism for storing usage bits within the hardware cache of a computing device. These usage bits provide profile data by tracking the memory usage data. In one embodiment, the present invention also provides usage bits for each level of a multi-stage hardware cache to provide multi-stage usage tracking.

Methods For Comparing Versions Of A Program
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US Patent:

7571427, Aug 4, 2009
Filed:

Jun 24, 2004
Appl. No.:

10/874676
Inventors:

Zheng Wang - Cambridge MA, US
Scott A. McFarling - Redmond WA, US
Ken B. Pierce - Seattle WA, US
Ramarathnam Venkatesan - Redmond WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06F 9/44
G06F 12/00
US Classification:

717122, 707203
Abstract:

Systems and methods are discussed that allow profile information to be reused by various versions of a program. One illustrative aspect includes a method for comparing versions of a program in binary format. The method includes finding equivalent contents in portions of two versions of the program, finding equivalent structure in the portions of the two versions, and forming a match when a portion of one of the two versions is an equivalence of a portion of the other of the two versions.

Reality-Based Optimization
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US Patent:

20040117760, Jun 17, 2004
Filed:

Dec 11, 2002
Appl. No.:

10/317604
Inventors:

Scott McFarling - Redmond WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation
International Classification:

G06F009/44
G06F009/45
US Classification:

717/101000, 717/151000
Abstract:

The present invention provides a method for optimizing software by using scenario data along with user data collected from real use of the software by a number of real users. The instrumented version of software is distributed to a number of real users such that user data can be collected that reflects a more complete coverage of the program than traditional scenario data. Due to the time necessary to collect user data from real users, the user data from a previous build of the program can be propagated so that it will accurately predict the behavior of the current build of a program. Additionally, a method of limiting the amount of user data collected from the real users is provided such that the amount of user data can be limited without decreasing either the amount of coverage of the user data or its accuracy.

Methods For Comparing Versions Of A Program
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US Patent:

20040210885, Oct 21, 2004
Filed:

May 10, 2004
Appl. No.:

10/842613
Inventors:

Zheng Wang - Cambridge MA, US
Scott McFarling - Redmond WA, US
Ken Pierce - Redmond WA, US
Ramarathnam Venkatesan - Redmond WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06F009/45
US Classification:

717/158000, 717/130000
Abstract:

Systems and methods are discussed that allow profile information to be reused by various versions of a program. One illustrative aspect includes a method for comparing versions of a program in binary format. The method includes finding equivalent contents in portions of two versions of the program, finding equivalent structure in the portions of the two versions, and forming a match when a portion of one of the two versions is an equivalence of a portion of the other of the two versions.

Providing Storage In A Memory Hierarchy For Prediction Information
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US Patent:

20070260862, Nov 8, 2007
Filed:

May 3, 2006
Appl. No.:

11/416820
Inventors:

Scott McFarling - Santa Clara CA, US
International Classification:

G06F 15/00
US Classification:

712240000
Abstract:

In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus having a prediction unit to predict a direction to be taken at a branch and a memory coupled to the prediction unit to store prediction data to be accessed by the prediction unit. In this way, great amounts of prediction data may be stored in the memory while keeping the prediction unit of relatively small size. Other embodiments are described and claimed.