Tensor processor instruction set architecture

A method of executing machine instructions in a tensor processor, comprising:

• accessing a first machine instruction in a chain of machine instructions;
• accessing a second machine instruction in the chain of machine instructions, wherein the second machine instruction is missing a tensor operand needed to execute the second machine instruction;
• executing the first machine instruction by a first tensor operation calculator in the tensor processor to result in a resultant tensor
• routing the resultant tensor from the first tensor operation calculator to a second tensor operation calculator in the tensor processor for use as the missing tensor operand without intermediate storage of the resultant tensor;
• and
• executing the second machine instruction by the second tensor operation calculator in the tensor processor using the resultant tensor as the missing tensor operand.

An apparatus comprising:

• a tensor register file;
• a tensor operation calculator that is configured to execute a tensor operation;
• and
• logic configured to:
• access a first machine instruction in a set of machine instructions, the first machine instruction being an instruction to load an initial tensor at a start of the set of machine instructions;
• access a second machine instruction in the set of machine instructions, wherein the second machine instruction is missing a tensor operand needed to execute the second machine instruction;
• execute the first machine instruction to load the initial tensor into the tensor register file;
• route the initial tensor from the tensor register file to the tensor operation calculator for use as the missing tensor operand without intermediate storage of the initial tensor;
• and
• execute the second machine instruction using the initial tensor as the missing tensor operand.