Repeat block with zero cycle overhead nesting
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsPeter N. Ehlig, Alexander Tessarolo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A digital system is provided with means and methods for executing an instruction type wherein context information that pertains to that type instruction is automatically saved and restored during execution of the instruction type.
Claims12
A method for executing instructions in a digital system having a processor, comprising the steps of:
- fetching and decoding a first instruction of a first type, wherein a first type instruction requires use of a least a first register of the processor;
- saving first data stored in the first register automatically in response to the step of decoding the first instruction;
- executing the first instruction in a manner that uses the first register;
- and
- restoring the first register with the saved first data automatically after the step of executing.
The method of claim 3, wherein the first type instruction is a block repeat instruction and wherein the step of executing the first instruction comprises executing a block of instructions specified by the first instruction and wherein the step of executing the second instruction comprises executing a block of instructions specified by the second instruction.
A method for executing instructions in a digital system having a processor, comprising the steps of:
- fetching and decoding a first instruction of a first type;
- saving first state data automatically in response to the step of decoding the first instruction;
- executing the first instruction in a manner that changes the first state data;
- and
- restoring the saved first state data automatically after the step of executing the first instruction.
A digital system comprising:
- a processor for executing instruction fetched from an instruction memory;
- means for decoding each instruction;
- means for executing each instruction;
- at least a first register for holding state data pertinent to a first type of instruction;
- means for saving the state data automatically in response to decoding an instruction of the first type;
- and
- means for restoring the state data after execution of the instruction of the first type.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.