Microcontroller with Context Switch

A method of operating a microprocessor or microcontroller device comprising a central processing unit (CPU);

• a data memory coupled with the CPU, wherein the data memory is divided into a plurality of memory banks;
• a first and second set of special function registers wherein either said first or said second set of special function registers forms an active context and the respective other set an inactive context,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• selecting either said first or said second set of registers as an active context and said respective other set of registers as an inactive context, wherein at least some of the registers of the active context registers are memory mapped to more than two memory banks of said data memory and wherein all registers of the inactive context registers are memory mapped to at least one memory location within said data memory;
• upon occurrence of a context switch, switching between said first and second set of registers as active and inactive context, respectively.