Abstract: A networking application processor is provided. The processor includes an input socket configured to receive data packets. The processor includes a memory for holding instructions and circuitry configured to access data structures associated with the processing stages. The circuitry configured to access data structures enables a single cycle access to an operand from a memory location. An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is provided. Circuitry for aligning operands to be processed by the ALU is included. The circuitry for aligning the operands causes the operand to be aligned by a lowest significant bit, wherein the circuitry for aligning the operand supplies an extension to the operand to allow the ALU to process different size operands.

Abstract: A method for transparently presenting different size operands to be processed is provided. The method initiates with providing a first operand having a first bit-width. Then, a bit width of a second operand associated with a processor is determined. The second operand has a greater bit width than the first operand. Next, the first operand is transformed by aligning a least significant bit of the first operand to a lowest bit position of a transformed operand having a bit size equal to the second operand. Then, the bits of the transformed operand are sign extended and padded in a manner to allow carry propagation. Next, the transformed operand is transmitted to the processor. A method for shifting operands and a processor are also provided.

Abstract: A method for efficiently processing layers of a data packet is provided. The method initiates with defining a pipeline of processors communicating with a distributed network and CPU of a host system. Then, a data packet from the distributed network is received into a first stage of the pipeline. Next, the data packet is processed to remove a header associated with the first stage. Then, the processed data packet is transmitted to a second stage. The operations of processing and transmitting the processed data packet are repeated for successive stages until a header associated with a final stage has been removed. Then, the data packet is transmitted to the CPU of the host system. It should be appreciated that the header is not necessarily transformed at each stage. For example, suitable processing that does not strip the header may be applied at each stage.