Organization for Execution of User Microprograms from Main Memory: Synthesis and Analysis

Microprogrammed computers are categorized by main memory/control storage (CS) organization for use in analysis of methods of allowing dynamic user microprogramming. A system design is described in which user microroutines are executed directly from main memory, rather than from writable control storage (WCS). This design is analyzed and compared with the use of WCS for allowing dynamic user microprogramming in a multiprogramming system. It is shown that the use of main memory for microprogram residence is a viable alternative in many user job environments.