Virtual register set expanding processor internal storage

A processor integrated circuit operable to:

• in response to a first instruction, transfer a first value stored in a set of registers to a location in a set of virtual registers, the set of registers each individually addressable by register operations executable on the processor using a corresponding register identification and the set of virtual register each individually addressable by virtual register operations executable on the processor using a corresponding virtual register identification.

A code preparation tool encoded as software executable code configured to:

• transfer a first value stored in a set of registers to a location in a set of virtual registers, the set of registers each individually addressable by register operations executable on the processor using a corresponding register identification and the set of virtual registers each individually addressable by virtual register operations executable on the processor using a corresponding virtual register identification.

Software encoded in one or more computer readable media, the software comprising:

• a sequence of instructions executable on a processor,
• the sequence including one or more executable instructions that address a particular register of the processor and operate on a value stored therein,
• wherein at least one of the executable instructions directs the processor to transfer a value from the particular register to a virtual register.

A method of operating a processor comprising:

• executing an instruction sequence wherein a first instruction stores a value in a register in a local register set, and a second instruction copies the value from the register in the local register set to a virtual register in a virtual register set;
• wherein a register identification field of the second instruction identifies the register in the local register set and a virtual register identification field of the second instruction identifies the virtual register in the virtual register set.