Coprocessor opcode division by data type
US6247113A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 27, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 27, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3877
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data processing system having a main processor and a coprocessor. The main processor responsds to coprocessor instructions within its instruction stream by issuing the coprocessor instructions upon a coprocessor bus and detecting if the coprocessor accepts them by returning an accept signal. The coprocessor instructions include a coprocessor number and the coprocessor checks this number to see if it matches its own number(s) to determine whether or not it should accept the coprocessor instruction. A data type field within the coprocessor number in the coprocessor instruction also serves to specify one of multiple data types to be used in the coprocessor operation; particular coprocessors can interpret this part of the coprocessor number to determine data type. If the coprocessor supports multiple data types, then it has multiple coprocessor numbers for which it will issue accept signals and then uses the data type field to control the data type used. If a coprocessor does not support a particular data type then it will not issue an accept signal for coprocessor instructions that specify that data type. The main processor can then use emulation code to provide support for that cop…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.