Processing apparatus with functional hierarchical structure using corresponding hierarchical machine instruction fields

Claim 1

A processing apparatus with a functional hierarchical structure, comprising: machine instruction decoding means for decoding a machine instruction having an operation code field with a hierarchical structure corresponding to functional levels and an operation object field with a hierarchical structure corresponding to that of the operation code field; a plurality of functional block means, connected to the machine instruction decoding means, each for performing one of a plurality of functional block operations and having a hierarchical structure corresponding to the hierarchical structure of said operation code field of said machine instruction; a plurality of bus groups arranged to interconnect said plurality of functional block means, each of said bus groups including a block code bus for transmitting a functional block identification code, a command bus for transmitting a functional block operation designating code, a communication bus for transmitting input/output data to the functional block means, and a status bus for transmitting current status data of a first functional block means to another functional block means and for transmitting instruction accept status data; and a plurality of bus drivers arranged to exchange the functional block identification code, the functional block operation designating code, and the input/output data between one of said plurality of bus groups and an external circuit, said plurality of bus drivers comprising a block code bus driver, a command bus driver, a communication driver, and a status bus driver.