Data processing apparatus having memory protection unit

A method for processing data, said method comprising:

• storing data values in a memory;
• associating memory attributes with portions of said memory and identifying a plurality of memory regions corresponding to respective address ranges of said memory using a memory protection unit;
• associating with at least one of said plurality of memory regions a respective memory region specifier comprising an attributes field for defining a set of memory attributes associated with said memory region and a sub-region field for holding a sub-region membership value that specifies for each of a plurality of sub-regions of said memory region whether respective sub-regions are member sub-regions or non-member sub-regions such that said memory attributes are applied to said member sub-regions but are not applied to said non-member sub-regions.

Apparatus for processing data, said apparatus comprising:

• means for storing data values;
• memory protection means for associating memory attributes with portions of said memory and to identify a plurality of memory regions corresponding to respective address ranges of said memory, said memory protection means being operable to associate with at least one of said plurality of memory regions a respective memory region specifier comprising an attributes field for defining a set of memory attributes associated with said memory region and a sub-region field for holding a sub-region membership value that specifies for each of a plurality of sub-regions of said memory region whether respective sub-regions are member sub-regions or non-member sub-regions such that said memory attributes are applied to said member sub-regions but are not applied to said non-member sub-regions.