Method and device for managing operation of a computing unit capable of operating with instructions of different sizes
AssigneesSTMicroelectronics (Grand Ouest) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
InventorsLoic Pallardy, Ignazio Antonino Urzi, Jean-Francis Duret
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated circuit comprises a processing unit configured for booting up with a set of boot instructions, then for determining the size of the instructions of an application programme and potentially rebooting on its own initiative, while being reconfigured, in order for it to execute the instructions of the application program. Only one boot memory is needed as a consequence.
Claims22
A method for operating a processing unit configured to execute an application program capable of being coded with instructions having different reference sizes, the method comprising:
- booting up the processing unit with a set of boot instructions having a first reference size of the reference sizes;
- delivering, to the processing unit, a selection signal denoting a second reference size of the instructions of the application program;
- in response to the second reference size denoted by the selection signal being different from the first reference size of the boot instructions:
- generating, by the processing unit, a reboot command;
- and
- reconfiguring and rebooting the processing unit based on the reboot command;
- and
- executing, by the processing unit, the instructions of the application program.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a program memory configured to store an application program capable of being coded with instructions having different reference sizes;
- a boot memory configured to store a set of boot instructions having a first reference size of the reference sizes;
- a processing unit configured to execute the application program and to receive a selection signal denoting a second reference size of the instructions of the application program;
- and
- a control unit configured to boot up the processing unit with the set of boot instructions, and, in response to the second reference size denoted by the selection signal being different from the first reference size of the boot instructions:
- receive a reboot command from the processing unit;
- and
- reconfigure and reboot the processing unit based on the reboot command in order for the processing unit to execute the instructions of the application program having the second reference size.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.