Abstract: For use in a data processor comprising an instruction execution pipeline comprising N processing stages, a system and method of encoding constant operands is disclosed. The system comprises a constant generator unit that is capable of generating both short constant operands and long constant operands. The constant generator unit extracts the bits of a short constant operand from an instruction syllable and right justifies the bits in an output syllable. For long constant operands, the constant generator unit extracts K low order bits from an instruction syllable and T high order bits from an extension syllable. The right justified K low order bits and the T high order bits are combined to represent the long constant operand in one output syllable. In response to the status of op code bits located within a constant generation instruction, the constant generator unit enables and disables multiplexers to automatically generate the appropriate short or long constant operand.

Abstract: An input color space value is converted to an output color space value by determining a most significant portion and a least significant portion associated with the input color space value. In addition, at least one node value is determined. Each node value is determined at a respective counter i from 0 to a maximum value associated with the least significant portion. Each node value is determined to be substantially equal to: a lookup value associated with one plus the most significant portion for each counter i is less than the least significant portion; and a lookup value associated with the most significant portion for each counter i is greater than or equal to the least significant portion. Furthermore, in this method, the output color space value is calculated to be substantially equal to an average value for the at least one node value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient cache mapping of compressed Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) instructions. In the present invention, efficient cache mapping of compressed variable length cache lines is performed by decompressing a sequence of compressed instructions to obtain decompressed cache lines and storing the decompressed cache lines in the same sequence in the cache memory. The present invention decouples the program counter based cache mapping from the memory address. In this way, a fixed increment cache pointer and variable size compressed cache line can be achieved, and, in doing so, decompressed cache lines fit nicely within the cache, in sequential order, while variable length compressed cache lines can be directly accessed without the use of a translation table.

Abstract: A communication system includes a computer network that includes a plurality of interconnected computer devices. The communication system further includes at least one network device capable of communicating with one or more mobile wireless devices. The network device is part of the computer network and is capable of communicating with a mobile wireless device without the mobile wireless device being a member of the computer network.

Abstract: A cache structure, organized in terms of cache lines, for use with variable length bundles of instructions (syllables), comprising: a first cache bank that is organized in columns and rows; a second cache bank that is organized in columns and rows; logic for defining said cache line into a sequence of equal sized segments, and mapping alternate segments in said sequence of segments to the columns in said cache banks such that said first bank holds even segments and said second bank holds odd segments; logic for storing bundles across at most a first column in said first cache bank and a sequentially adjacent column in said second cache bank; and logic for accessing bundles stored in the first and second cache banks.

Abstract: A cache structure, organized in terms of cache lines, for use with variable length bundles of instructions (syllables), comprising: a first cache bank that is organized in columns and rows; a second cache bank that is organized in columns and rows; logic for defining said cache line into a sequence of equal sized segments, and mapping alternate segments in said sequence of segments to the columns in said cache banks such that said first bank holds even segments and said second bank holds odd segments; logic for storing bundles across at most a first column in said first cache bank and a sequentially adjacent column in said second cache bank; and logic for accessing bundles stored in the first and second cache banks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient cache mapping of compressed Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) instructions. In the present invention, efficient cache mapping of compressed variable length cache lines is performed by decompressing a sequence of compressed instructions to obtain decompressed cache lines and storing the decompressed cache lines in the same sequence in the cache memory. The present invention decouples the program counter based cache mapping from the memory address. In this way, a fixed increment cache pointer and variable size compressed cache line can be achieved, and, in doing so, decompressed cache lines fit nicely within the cache, in sequential order, while variable length compressed cache lines can be directly accessed without the use of a translation table.

Abstract: For use in a data processor comprising an instruction execution pipeline comprising N processing stages, a system and method of encoding constant operands is disclosed. The system comprises a constant generator unit that is capable of generating both short constant operands and long constant operands. The constant generator unit extracts the bits of a short constant operand from an instruction syllable and right justifies the bits in an output syllable. For long constant operands, the constant generator unit extracts K low order bits from an instruction syllable and T high order bits from an extension syllable. The right justified K low order bits and the T high order bits are combined to represent the long constant operand in one output syllable. In response to the status of op code bits located within a constant generation instruction, the constant generator unit enables and disables multiplexers to automatically generate the appropriate short or long constant operand.

Abstract: There is disclosed a data processor containing an instruction issue unit that efficiently transfers instruction bundles from a cache to an instruction pipeline. The data processor comprises 1) an instruction pipeline comprising N processing stages; and 2) an instruction issue unit for fetching into the instruction pipeline instructions fetched from the instruction cache, each of the fetched instructions comprising from one to S syllables.

Abstract: There is disclosed bundle alignment and dispersal circuitry for use in a data processor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a data processor having a clustered architecture that comprises at least one branching cluster, at least one non-branching cluster and remote conditional branching control circuitry. Each of the clusters is capable of computing branch conditions, though only the branching cluster is operable to perform branch address computations. The remote conditional branching control circuitry, which is associated with each of the clusters, is operable in response to sensing a conditional branch instruction in a non-branching cluster to (i) cause the branching cluster to compute a branch address and a next program counter address,(ii) cause the non-branching cluster to compute a branch condition, and (iii) communicate the computed branch condition from the non-branching cluster to the branching cluster. The data processor then uses the computed branch condition to select one of the branch address or the next program counter address.

Abstract: New interpolation techniques allow improved efficiency and speed in performing color space conversions. A radial interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive sub-cubes. A value of a vertex of the final sub-cube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Sub-cubes are generated by averaging a selected vertex value with the vertex values of each of the remaining vertices. A pruned radial interpolation technique employs a subset of the vertex values of the initially selected cube to generate the result of the interpolation, thereby improving upon the efficiency of the radial interpolation. A tetrahedral interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive sub-cubes. A value of a vertex of the final sub-cube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Sub-cubes are generated by applying a mathematical relationship which allows computation of sub-cube vertex values through a series of logical AND, logical OR and averaging operations.

Abstract: New interpolation techniques allow improved efficiency and speed in performing color space conversions. A radial interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive sub-cubes. A value of a vertex of the final sub-cube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Sub-cubes are generated by averaging a selected vertex value with the vertex values of each of the remaining vertices. A pruned radial interpolation technique employs a subset of the vertex values of the initially selected cube to generate the result of the interpolation, thereby improving upon the efficiency of the radial interpolation. A tetrahedral interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive sub-cubes. A value of a vertex of the final sub-cube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Sub-cubes are generated by applying a mathematical relationship which allows computation of sub-cube vertex values through a series of logical AND, logical OR and averaging operations.

Abstract: New interpolation techniques allow improved efficiency and speed in performing color space conversions. A radial interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive sub-cubes. A value of a vertex of the final sub-cube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Subcubes are generated by averaging a selected vertex value with the vertex values of each of the remaining vertices. A pruned radial interpolation technique employs a subset of the vertex values of the initially selected cube to generate the result of the interpolation, thereby improving upon the efficiency of the radial interpolation. A tetrahedral interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive subcubes. A value of a vertex of the final sub-cube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Subcubes are generated by applying a mathematical relationship which allows computation of sub-cube vertex values through a series of logical AND, logical OR and averaging operations.

Abstract: New interpolation techniques allow improved efficiency and speed in performing color space conversions. A radial interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive subcubes. A value of a vertex of the final subcube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Subcubes are generated by averaging a selected vertex value with the vertex values of each of the remaining vertices. A pruned radial interpolation technique employs a subset of the vertex values of the initially selected cube to generate the result of the interpolation, thereby improving upon the efficiency of the radial interpolation. A tetrahedral interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive subcubes. A value of a vertex of the final subcube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Subcubes are generated by applying a mathematical relationship which allows computation of subcube vertex values through a series of logical AND, logical OR and averaging operations.

Abstract: New interpolation techniques allow improved efficiency and speed in performing color space conversions. A radial interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive sub-cubes. A value of a vertex of the final sub-cube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Sub-cubes are generated by averaging a selected vertex value with the vertex values of each of the remaining vertices. A pruned radial interpolation technique employs a subset of the vertex values of the initially selected cube to generate the result of the interpolation, thereby improving upon the efficiency of the radial interpolation. A tetrahedral interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive sub-cubes. A value of a vertex of the final sub-cube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Sub-cubes are generated by applying a mathematical relationship which allows computation of sub-cube vertex values through a series of logical AND, logical OR and averaging operations.

Abstract: New interpolation techniques allow improved efficiency and speed in performing color space conversions. A radial interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive subcubes. A value of a vertex of the final subcube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Subcubes are generated by averaging a selected vertex value with the vertex values of each of the remaining vertices. A pruned radial interpolation technique employs a subset of the vertex values of the initially selected cube to generate the result of the interpolation, thereby improving upon the efficiency of the radial interpolation. A tetrahedral interpolation technique accomplishes an interpolation by generating successive subcubes. A value of a vertex of the final subcube generated is used as the result of the interpolation. Subcubes are generated by applying a mathmatical relationship which allows computation of subcube vertex values through a series of logical AND, logical OR and averaging operations.

Abstract: A method for halftoning an image to be rendered onto a media sheet includes the steps of: classifying data portions of a received data stream into one of plural image types, each image type to be subjected to a particular halftone procedure; assigning to each data portion of a common image type, a common identifier and then converting the data portions into a raster representation; subjecting segments of the raster representation to individualized halftone procedures, each segment of the raster representation that is assigned a common identifier being subjected to an identical halftone procedure; and rendering the raster representation onto a media sheet, subsequent to the halftone process. The apparatus for performing the halftone method places the halftone operation subsequent to the rasterization operation and thereby avoids anomalies which occurred in the prior art.

Abstract: A print data processing pipeline for use in a color electrophotographic printer optimizes print quality and minimizes memory usage by separately processing lossy and lossless print data. Lossy print data may include print data for images and lossless print data may include print data for text, line art, and graphics. Partitioning print data into lossy and lossless components allows application of the print data compression operations optimized for each type of print data. High compression ratios can be achieved on lossy print data by applying visually lossless compression operations designed for the lossy print data. In addition, high compression ratios can be achieved on the lossless print data by applying lossless compression operations designed for the lossless print data. A merge unit combines the lossy and lossless print data streams after decompression to reconstruct the original image.

Abstract: A print data processing pipeline for use in a color electrophotographic printer optimizes print quality and minimizes memory usage by separately processing lossy and lossless print data. Lossy print data may include print data or images and lossless print data may include print data for text, line art, and graphics. Partitioning print data into lossy and lossless components allows application of the print data compression operations optimized for each type of print data. High compression ratios can be achieved on lossy print data by applying visually lossless compression operations designed for the lossy print data. In addition, high compression ratios can be achieved on the lossless print data by applying lossless compression operations designed for the lossless print data. A merge unit combines the lossy and lossless print data streams after decompression to reconstruct the original image.