Dual byte order computer architecture a functional unit for handling data sets with differnt byte orders

A data processing unit, which comprises:

• an execution unit for processing data;
• an internal data bus coupled to said execution unit for input of internal bus data to said execution unit, the internal bus data being organized into information units, each comprising a series of individual data groups, the individual data groups of each respective information unit being arranged within the respective information unit and relative to one another, in a preselected internal data ordering sequence for processing by said execution unit;
• means for aligning data groups within a respective information unit coupled to said internal data bus;
• an external data bus coupled to said means for aligning data groups, for input of external bus data to said means for aligning data groups, said external bus data being organized into the information units, each comprising a series of the individual data groups, the individual data groups of each information unit of the external bus data being arranged within the respective information unit and relative to one another, in an external data ordering sequence;
• a shift amount converter unit coupled to said means for aligning data groups within a respective information unit;
• means for storing information indicative of the preselected internal data ordering sequence and the external data ordering sequence and for generating a control signal indicative of a relationship between the preselected internal data ordering sequence and the external data ordering sequence;
• said means for generating a control signal being coupled to said shift amount converter unit for input of said control signal to said shift amount converter;
• said shift amount converter being responsive to said control signal to control said means for aligning to realign the data groups of each information unit of the external bus data, input to said means for aligning data groups, from the external data ordering sequence into the preselected internal data ordering sequence to provide the internal bus data for input to said execution unit;
• and
• means to selectively input information indicative of the external data ordering sequence to said means for storing information.