Patent · US Active

Methods and apparatus for compiling instructions for a data processor

US8166450B2 · kind B2 · utility

23Cited by
82References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 1, 2007
Grant dateApr 24, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 16, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F8/4434
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus optimized for compiling instructions in a data processor are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of address calculation is disclosed, comprising operating a compiler to generate at least one instruction; canonicalizing the address calculation in a plurality of different approaches: in one exemplary embodiment, the first approach comprises canonicalizing the “regular” 32-bit instruction addressing modes, and the second for the “compressed” 16-bit instruction addressing modes. In another aspect, a plurality of functions (up to and including all available functions) are called indirectly to allow addresses to be placed in a constant pool. Improved methods for instruction selection, register allocation and spilling, and instruction compression are provided. An improved SoC integrated circuit device having an optimized 32-bit/16-bit processor core implementing at least one of the foregoing improvements is also disclosed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.