Method and apparatus for updating a program counter
US6038660A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 14, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/321
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing a program counter value within a central processing unit is described. A program counter value comprises n bits and has to be increased by one of a plurality of different fixed increment values. Therefore, an upper partial content of the current program counter value and its value incremented by 1 is provided. Also, a plurality of lower partial contents of the current program counter value incremented by one of the plurality of fixed increment values, respectively are provided, whereby a carry bit is provided. One of the plurality of incremented lower partial contents is selected depending on said respective carry bit. Upper and lower contents are then combined to form a plurality of new program counter values. Upon receiving of control information to select a final increment value one of said new program counter values will be selected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.