US4959779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual byte order computer architecture a functional unit for handling data sets with differnt byte orders
Assignee: MIPS Tech LLC
•
Filing: 1988-11-28
•
Granted: 1990-09-25
•
Expires: 2008-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A CPU or other function unit is disclosed which follows one data ordering scheme internally, and in which incoming and/or outgoing data pass through a data order conversion unit for adapting it to a selectable external data ordering scheme. The means for specifying the external data ordering scheme is accessible from outside the physical package(s) in which the functional unit is housed. The data order conversion unit may comprise a load aligner and/or a store aligner, one or both of which may comprise means for shifting informational units of a smaller size within informational units of a larger size. The shift amount may derive from the low order address bits and may be altered depending on the external data ordering means selected.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry B. Weber
- 👤 Craig C. Hansen
- 👤 Thomas J. Riordan
- 👤 Steven A. Przybylski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F12/00; G06F7/00; G06F7/76; G06F7/768; G06F12/02; G06F12/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
340 words
A data processing unit, which comprises: an execution unit for processing data; an internal data bus coupled to said execution unit for input of internal bus data to said execution unit, the internal bus data being organized into information units, each comprising a series of individual data groups, the individual data groups of each respective information unit being arranged within the respective information unit and relative to one another, in a preselected internal data ordering sequence for processing by said execution unit; means for aligning data groups within a respective information unit coupled to said internal data bus; an external data bus coupled to said means for aligning data groups, for input of external bus data to said means for aligning data groups, said external bus data being organized into the information units, each comprising a series of the individual data groups, the individual data groups of each information unit of the external bus data being arranged within the respective information unit and relative to one another, in an external data ordering sequence; a shift amount converter unit coupled to said means for aligning data groups within a respective information unit; means for storing information indicative of the preselected internal data ordering sequence and the external data ordering sequence and for generating a control signal indicative of a relationship between the preselected internal data ordering sequence and the external data ordering sequence; said means for generating a control signal being coupled to said shift amount converter unit for input of said control signal to said shift amount converter; said shift amount converter being responsive to said control signal to control said means for aligning to realign the data groups of each information unit of the external bus data, input to said means for aligning data groups, from the external data ordering sequence into the preselected internal data ordering sequence to provide the internal bus data for input to said execution unit; and means to selectively input information indicative of the external data ordering sequence to said means for storing information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
340 words
A data processing unit, which comprises: an execution unit for processing data; an internal data bus coupled to said execution unit for input of internal bus data to said execution unit, the internal bus data being organized into information units, each comprising a series of individual data groups, the individual data groups of each respective information unit being arranged within the respective information unit and relative to one another, in a preselected internal data ordering sequence for processing by said execution unit; means for aligning data groups within a respective information unit coupled to said internal data bus; an external data bus coupled to said means for aligning data groups, for input of external bus data to said means for aligning data groups, said external bus data being organized into the information units, each comprising a series of the individual data groups, the individual data groups of each information unit of the external bus data being arranged within the respective information unit and relative to one another, in an external data ordering sequence; a shift amount converter unit coupled to said means for aligning data groups within a respective information unit; means for storing information indicative of the preselected internal data ordering sequence and the external data ordering sequence and for generating a control signal indicative of a relationship between the preselected internal data ordering sequence and the external data ordering sequence; said means for generating a control signal being coupled to said shift amount converter unit for input of said control signal to said shift amount converter; said shift amount converter being responsive to said control signal to control said means for aligning to realign the data groups of each information unit of the external bus data, input to said means for aligning data groups, from the external data ordering sequence into the preselected internal data ordering sequence to provide the internal bus data for input to said execution unit; and means to selectively input information indicative of the external data ordering sequence to said means for storing information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The data processing unit of claim 1 wherein said means to selectively input information indicative of the external data ordering sequence includes a data order select input line for selective input of the information indicative of the external data ordering sequence from a source external to said data processing unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The data processing unit of claim 2 further comprising a D flip flop coupled to said data order select line for storing the information indicative of the external data ordering sequence input on said data order select line, said D flip flop being coupled to said shift amount converter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
171 words
The data processing unit of claim 3 further comprising: an address bus coupled to said execution unit and said shift amount converter; said execution unit operating to generate an address for each information unit of the external data on said external data bus, for output to said address bus; each address including a first segment uniquely identifying a respective information unit of the external bus data and a second segment uniquely identifying a data group within the respective information unit; said shift amount converter receiving the second segment of each address on said address bus and operating to invert a preselected portion of the second segment of each address when the control signal input by said means for generating a control signal is indicative of the preselected internal data ordering sequence corresponding to a first data ordering sequence and the external data ordering sequence corresponding to a second data ordering sequence, the inverted second address segment being used to control said means for aligning data groups within a respective information unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3573744A
Cited
US3699525A
Cited
US3846763A
Cited
US3996566A
Cited
US4494186A
Cited
US4203102A
Cited
US4281315A
Cited
US4512018A
Cited
US4559614A
Cited
US4595911A
Cited
US4595980A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-24 | 1994-03-26 | 1994-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-24 | 1998-03-26 | 1998-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-24 | 2002-03-26 | 2002-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |