Abstract: Accommodating a processor to process a number of different data formats includes loading a data word in a first format from a first storage device; reordering, before it reaches the arithmetic unit, the first format of the data word to a second format compatible with the native order of the arithmetic unit; and vector processing the data word in the arithmetic unit.

Abstract: Reducing pipeline stall between a compute unit and address unit in a processor can be accomplished by computing results in a compute unit in response to instructions of an algorithm; storing in a local random access memory array in a compute unit predetermined sets of functions, related to the computed results for predetermined sets of instructions of the algorithm; and providing within the compute unit direct mapping of computed results to related function.

Abstract: Lookup table addressing of a set of lookup tables in an external memory is achieved by: transferring a data word from a compute unit to an input register in a data address generator; providing in at least one deposit-increment index register in the data address generator including a table base field for identifying the location of the set of tables in memory, and a displacement field; and depositing a section of the data word into a displacement field in the index register for identifying the location of a specific entry in the tables.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for achieving low latency for high priority tasks in digital processing systems. A digital signal processor includes a core processor and a level one memory. In some embodiments, a store buffer is configured to hold write information for the level one memory and for a level two memory. A write buffer is configured to hold write information, received from the store buffer, for the level two memory. The write buffer has a normal capacity and an excess capacity. A memory controller enables the excess capacity of the write buffer when a high priority task is being serviced and inhibits write access to the excess capacity of the write buffer when a high priority task is not being serviced. In other embodiments, the digital signal processor includes first and second fill buffers configured to hold read data in a fill operation. The memory controller steers low priority read data to the first fill buffer or the second fill buffer based on priority of the fill operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing variable width instructions in a pipelined processor. The apparatus includes an instruction decoder configured to decode a loop setup instruction, having a loop setup instruction address, to obtain a loop bottom offset and configured to decode instructions following the loop setup instruction, each having an instruction address, to obtain an instruction width, registers for holding the loop setup instruction address and the loop bottom offset, and a loop bottom detector, responsive to a current instruction address, a current instruction width, the loop setup instruction address and the loop bottom offset, configured to determine if a next instruction is a loop bottom instruction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for handling speculative addresses in a pipelined digital processor are provided. A digital signal processor includes an address generator configured to generate speculative data addresses, a pipelined execution unit configured to execute instructions using data at locations specified by the speculative data addresses, a speculative register file configured to hold the speculative data addresses as corresponding instructions advance through the execution unit, an architectural register file configured to hold architectural data addresses, and control logic configured to write speculative data addresses to the speculative register file as the speculative data addresses are generated by the address generator and to supply speculative data addresses or architectural data addresses to the address generator. The speculative register file may be configured with sufficient capacity to hold one or more architectural data addresses.