Method for compiling and executing programs for reprogrammable instruction set accelerator

A method for translating a computer program to executable code, comprising:

• providing a library of defined instructions, including instructions executable by a defined execution unit;
• providing a library of programmed instructions, including instructions executable by a configurable execution unit;
• generating preliminary object code using the library of defined instructions;
• identifying a sequence of instructions in the preliminary object code to be replaced by a programmed instruction from the library of programmed instructions;
• and
• replacing the identified sequence of instructions in the preliminary object code with the programmed instruction to produce the executable version, the programmed instruction being executable by the configurable execution unit when the configurable execution unit is configured for execution of the programmed instruction.

A method for executing a computer program including a particular function, comprising:

• providing a defined instruction execution unit;
• providing a programmable instruction execution unit connected in parallel with the defined instruction execution unit;
• programming the programmable instruction execution unit to execute at least a portion of the particular function in response to a programmed instruction;
• supplying a sequence of instructions including defined instructions and the programmed instruction;
• and
• executing the defined instructions in the defined instruction execution unit and the programmed instruction in the programmable instruction execution unit.

A method for executing a computer program comprising:

• providing a data processing system including a fixed instruction execution unit and a programmable instruction execution unit;
• identifying a one or more instructions in the program to be replaced by a programmed instruction;
• replacing the identified one or more instructions with the programmed instruction;
• and
• executing the programmed instruction in the programmable execution unit.