Processor, and method of loop count control by processor
AssigneeNEC Corporation
InventorKatsutoshi Seki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A processor includes a loop counter that is reset to 0 when a loop instruction for executing a process in a loop from a loop start address to a loop end address is issued, a data memory that receives data that is used for executing a process in the loop, in which the data is transferred from outside, a calculator that uses the data transferred to the data memory to execute the process in the loop, a data counter that increments the loop counter by 1 every time a certain amount of data that is used for executing a process in the loop is transferred from outside to a data memory, and a loop controller that decrements the loop counter by 1 and causes the calculator to execute the process in the loop when a loop count value of the loop counter is not 0.
Claims20
A processor, comprising:
- a loop counter that is reset to 0 when a loop instruction for executing a process in a loop from a loop start address to a loop end address is issued;
- a data memory that receives data that is used for executing a process in the loop, in which the data is transferred from outside;
- a calculator that uses the data transferred to said data memory to execute the process in the loop;
- a data counter that increments said loop counter by 1 every time a certain amount of data that is used for executing a process in the loop is transferred from the outside to a data memory, wherein said loop counter is only incremented as a result of incrementing of said data counter;
- and
- a loop controller that decrements said loop counter by 1 and causes said calculator to execute the process in the loop when a loop count value of said loop counter is not 0,
- wherein, when the loop count value of said loop counter is 0, said loop controller waits until the loop count value of said loop counter becomes 1 or greater, or said loop controller exits the loop when a loop exit condition corresponding to a data transfer completion notification is set.
A method for controlling loop count by a processor, the method comprising:
- resetting a loop counter to 0 when a loop instruction for executing a process in a loop from a loop start address to a loop end address is issued;
- incrementing said loop counter, by a data counter, by 1 every time a certain amount of data that is used for executing a process in the loop is transferred from outside to a data memory, wherein said loop counter is only incremented as a result of incrementing of said data counter;
- and
- decrementing said loop counter, by a loop controller, by 1 and executing the process in the loop when a loop count value of said loop counter is not 0,
- wherein, when the loop count value of said loop counter is 0, said loop controller waits until the loop count value of said loop counter becomes 1 or greater, or said loop controller exits the loop when a loop exit condition corresponding to a data transfer-completion notification is set.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.