Abstract: Method and apparatus for sequentially executing a plurality of pipelined instruction words of a program in which each instruction has independently selectable execution cycle count latencies. After the occurrence of an exception, instructions are identified which began after the instruction that caused the exception, and which have completed execution before execution of the exception provoking instruction was inhibited. Detection of an exception causes the processor to inhibit further execution of the exception provoking instruction. Pending instructions, which have yet to complete their execution prior to the inhibition of the exception provoking instruction, are similarly inhibited from further execution. Subsequently, the exception is serviced and the exception inducing instruction is restarted for re-execution in the processor.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for concurrent dispatch of instruction words which selectively comprise instruction components which are separately and substantially simultaneously received by distinct floating point and integer functional units. The instruction words are powers of 2 in length, (measured in terms of the smallest machine addressable unit) typically a 4 byte longword and an 8 byte quadword aligned to the natural boundaries also corresponding to powers of 2. To provide maximum operating efficiency, each functional (or processing) unit executes a component of an instruction word during an execution cycle. The type and length of the instruction word are indicated by one of the bit fields of the instruction word, which permits the apparatus to properly detect, store and transfer the instruction word to the appropriate functional unit.