Hierarchical connection of plurality of functional units with faster neighbor first level and slower distant second level connections

A processor comprising the following features:

• a plurality of functional units, the plurality of functional units being arranged in a formation in the processor, in which a first functional unit and a second functional unit are physical neighbours as regards their location in the processor and in which the first functional unit and a third functional unit are not physical neighbours as regards their location in the processor;
• a device for the hierarchical connection of the plurality of functional units comprising:
• a first-order connector with at least two inputs and an output, which is adapted to be operated so as to connect one of the at least two inputs to the output, where the output of the first-order connector is connected to an input of the first functional unit and where an output of the second functional unit is connected to a first input of the at least two inputs of the first-order connector;
• a second-order connector with at least one input and an output, which is adapted to be operated so as to connect the at least one input to the output, where the at least one input of the second-order connector is connected to the third functional unit;
• and
• a buffer connected between the output of the second-order connector and the input of the first-order connector for buffering, for at least one clock cycle, a signal which is applicable to the at least one input of the second-order connector before it is forwarded to a further input of the first-order connector;
• where connections between the second functional unit and the first functional unit which are established by the first-order connector exhibit shorter signal transit times than connections between the third functional unit and the first functional unit which are established by the second-order connector, the buffer and the first-order connector,
• where a connection between the first and second functional units which is established by the first-order connector is more frequently used in a task performed by the processor than is a connection between the first and third functional units which is established by the second-order connector, the buffer and the first-order connector, and
• where a signal connection from the output of the third functional unit, which is not a neighbour to the first functional unit and the input of the first functional unit is possible only via the second-order connector, the buffer and the first-order connector rather than via the first-order connector alone so that the connection between the neighbouring functional units is higher in hierarchy than the connection between non-neighbouring units;
• and
• a controller for controlling the functional units and the device for hierarchical connection.