Decimal floating-point processor

A method for operating a decimal floating-point (DFP) processor, comprising:

• identifying an op-code requiring access to a first plurality of DFP operands in a first vector register and a second plurality of DFP operands in a second vector register,
• wherein the first plurality of DFP operands and the a second plurality of DFP operands have different sizes;
• granting an execution unit of the DFP processor selected to execute the op-code access to a first port of the first vector register and a second port of the second vector register;
• initialize a first pointer of the first port and a second pointer of the second port;
• streaming the first vector register and the second vector register;
• adjusting, in response to streaming, the first pointer and the second pointer;
• setting, by the first vector register, a finish flag;
• and
• setting, by the execution unit and in response to the finish flag, a reset flag to restore the second vector register from a busy state to an idle state.

A decimal floating-point processor, comprising:

• a memory bank comprising a vector register and a scalar register;
• a plurality of execution units;
• a plurality of configurable operand buses operatively connecting the memory bank and the plurality of execution units;
• and
• a plurality of result buses operatively connecting the plurality of execution units and the memory bank.