Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reading instruction codes and for forwarding the corresponding instructions to the instruction unit that are distinguished, in particular, by buffer-storing the instructions of program loops that do not exceed the storage capacity of the instruction FIFO, in full, in the instruction FIFO. During a “loop mode”, such program loops are then executed only from the instruction FIFO itself and the instructions do not need to be repeatedly reloaded from the memory. This loop mode is then maintained until the jump instruction at the end of the program loop finally refers to an instruction other than that at the start of the loop.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are distinguished in that an instruction queue is provided which is configured such that when instruction data are written into the instruction queue and/or when instruction data are read out of the instruction queue, a plurality of defined points within the instruction queue are made to start up selectively. As a result, the incidence of pauses in program execution can be reduced to a minimum.