US5784640A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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CPU with DSP function preprocessor having look-up table for translating instruction sequences intended to perform DSP function into DSP macros
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC
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Filing: 1996-03-18
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Granted: 1998-07-21
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Expires: 2016-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A CPU or microprocessor which includes a general purpose CPU, such as an X86 core, and a DSP. The CPU also includes an intelligent DSP function decoder or preprocessor which examines X8 opcode sequences and determines if a DSP function is being executed. The function preprocessor includes a look-up table which stores instruction sequences which implement DSP functions. Each pattern in the look-up table is compared with an instruction sequence to determine if one of the patterns substantially matches the instruction sequence. If the DSP function preprocessor determines that a DSP function is being executed, the DSP function preprocessor converts the opcodes to a DSP macro instruction that is provided to the DSP. The DSP executes one or more DSP instructions to implement the desired DSP function in response to the macro instruction. If the X86 opcodes in the instruction cache or instruction memory do not indicate or are not intended to perform a DSP-type function, the opcodes are provided to the X86 core. Thus, the DSP offloads these mathematical functions from the X86 core, thereby increasing system performance. The DSP operates in parallel with the X86 core, providing further performance benefits. The CPU of the present invention thus implements DSP functions more efficiently than X86 logic while requiring no additional X86 opcodes. The present invention also generates code that operates transparently on an X86 only CPU or a CPU according to the present invention which includes X86 and DSPs. Thus the present invention is backwards compatible with existing software.
Inventors
- 👤 Saf Asghar
- 👤 Mark Ireton
- 👤 John G. Bartkowiak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/30; G06F9/3017; G06F9/38; G06F9/3877; G06F9/3879; G06F9/3885; H; H04; H04Q; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13036; H04Q2213/1305; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13106; H04Q2213/13107; H04Q2213/13199; H04Q2213/13299; H04Q2213/13389; H04Q2213/13396
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A central processing unit which performs digital signal processing functions, comprising: an instruction memory for storing a plurality of instructions, wherein said instruction memory stores one or more sequences of instructions which implement a digital signal processing function; a function preprocessor coupled to the instruction memory, wherein the function preprocessor includes: a look-up table which stores a plurality of entries comprising instruction sequences which implement digital signal processing functions, wherein said look-up table further stores a corresponding DSP instruction for each of said one or more entries, wherein said function preprocessor compares an instruction sequence stored in said instruction memory with each of said entries in said look-up table, wherein said function preprocessor determines whether said sequence of instructions in said instruction memory matches one of said plurality of entries, wherein a match indicates that said sequence of instructions implements a digital signal processing function; means for converting a sequence of instructions in said instruction memory which matches one of said plurality of entries in said look-up table into a digital signal processing function identifier; one or more general purpose execution units coupled to the function preprocessor for executing instructions in said instruction memory; one or more digital signal processing execution units coupled to the function preprocessor for performing digital signal processing functions, wherein the one or more digital signal processing execution units receive said digital signal processing function identifier from said function preprocessor and perform a digital signal processing function in response to said received digital signal processing function identifier from said function preprocessor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A central processing unit which performs digital signal processing functions, comprising: an instruction memory for storing a plurality of instructions, wherein said instruction memory stores one or more sequences of instructions which implement a digital signal processing function; a function preprocessor coupled to the instruction memory, wherein the function preprocessor includes: a look-up table which stores a plurality of entries comprising instruction sequences which implement digital signal processing functions, wherein said look-up table further stores a corresponding DSP instruction for each of said one or more entries, wherein said function preprocessor compares an instruction sequence stored in said instruction memory with each of said entries in said look-up table, wherein said function preprocessor determines whether said sequence of instructions in said instruction memory matches one of said plurality of entries, wherein a match indicates that said sequence of instructions implements a digital signal processing function; means for converting a sequence of instructions in said instruction memory which matches one of said plurality of entries in said look-up table into a digital signal processing function identifier; one or more general purpose execution units coupled to the function preprocessor for executing instructions in said instruction memory; one or more digital signal processing execution units coupled to the function preprocessor for performing digital signal processing functions, wherein the one or more digital signal processing execution units receive said digital signal processing function identifier from said function preprocessor and perform a digital signal processing function in response to said received digital signal processing function identifier from said function preprocessor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
The central processing unit of claim 1, wherein said instruction memory stores a first sequence of instructions which does not implement a digital signal processing function, and wherein said instruction memory stores a second sequence of instructions which implements a digital signal processing function; wherein said one or more general purpose execution units execute said first sequence of instructions; wherein said one or more digital signal processing execution units perform a digital signal processing function in response to said received digital signal processing function identifier, wherein said digital signal processing function is substantially equivalent to execution of said second sequence of instructions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The central processing unit of claim 1, wherein a match occurs when said sequence of instructions in said instruction memory exactly matches one of said plurality of entries in said look-up table.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The central processing unit of claim 1, wherein said function preprocessor generates a digital signal processing function identifier and one or more parameters in response to said function preprocessor determining that a sequence of instructions in said instruction memory matches one of said plurality of stored entries in said look-up table, wherein said digital signal processing function identifier and said one or more parameters correspond to said sequence of said instructions in said instruction memory which implements said digital signal processing function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The central processing unit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of entries comprised in said look-up table are software programmable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The central processing unit of claim 1, wherein said look-up table stores a plurality of entries of instruction sequences that implement digital signal processing functions from the group consisting of convolution, correlation, Fast Fourier Transforms, and inner product.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The central processing unit of claim 1, wherein said one or more general purpose execution units and said one or more digital signal processing execution units operate substantially in parallel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The central processing unit of claim 1, wherein said central processing unit is compatible with the X86 family of microprocessors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The central processing unit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of instructions in said instruction memory are X86 opcode instructions.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
241 words
A method for executing instructions in a central processing unit (CPU), wherein the CPU includes one or more general purpose execution units and one or more digital signal processing execution units, wherein the CPU further includes a function preprocessor comprising a look-up table which stores a plurality of entries comprising instruction sequences which implement digital signal processing functions, the method comprising: storing a plurality of instructions in an instruction memory, where said plurality of instructions include one or more sequences of instructions which implement a digital signal processing function; the function preprocessing comparing a sequence of instructions stored in said instruction memory with said plurality of stored entries in said look-up table; the function preprocessor determining whether said sequence of instructions in said instruction memory matches one of said plurality of stored entries in said look-up table, wherein a match indicates that said sequence of instructions implements a digital signal processing function; converting a sequence of said instructions in said instruction memory which matches one of said plurality of stored entries in said look-up table into a digital signal processing function identifier; transferring said digital signal processing function identifier to the one or more digital signal processing execution units; the one or more digital signal processing execution units receiving said digital signal processing function identifier; and the one or more digital signal processing execution units performing a digital signal processing function in response to said received digital signal processing function identifier.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
241 words
A method for executing instructions in a central processing unit (CPU), wherein the CPU includes one or more general purpose execution units and one or more digital signal processing execution units, wherein the CPU further includes a function preprocessor comprising a look-up table which stores a plurality of entries comprising instruction sequences which implement digital signal processing functions, the method comprising: storing a plurality of instructions in an instruction memory, where said plurality of instructions include one or more sequences of instructions which implement a digital signal processing function; the function preprocessing comparing a sequence of instructions stored in said instruction memory with said plurality of stored entries in said look-up table; the function preprocessor determining whether said sequence of instructions in said instruction memory matches one of said plurality of stored entries in said look-up table, wherein a match indicates that said sequence of instructions implements a digital signal processing function; converting a sequence of said instructions in said instruction memory which matches one of said plurality of stored entries in said look-up table into a digital signal processing function identifier; transferring said digital signal processing function identifier to the one or more digital signal processing execution units; the one or more digital signal processing execution units receiving said digital signal processing function identifier; and the one or more digital signal processing execution units performing a digital signal processing function in response to said received digital signal processing function identifier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising: storing a first sequence of instructions in said instruction memory which does not implement a digital signal processing function; storing a second sequence of instructions in said instruction memory which implements a digital signal processing function; said one or more general purpose execution units executing said first sequence of instructions; said one or more digital signal processing execution units performing a digital signal processing function in response to said received digital signal processing function identifier, wherein said digital signal processing function is substantially equivalent to execution of said second sequence of instructions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said determining whether said sequence of instructions in said instruction memory matches one of said plurality of stored entries in said look-up table comprises determining whether said sequence of instructions in said instruction memory exactly matches one of said plurality of stored entries in said look-up table.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising: said function preprocessor generating a digital signal processing function identifier and one or more parameters in response to said function preprocessor determining that a sequence of instructions in said instruction memory matches one of said plurality of stored entries in said look-up table, wherein said digital signal processing function identifier and said one or more parameters correspond to said sequence of said instructions in said instruction memory which implements said digital signal processing function.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising: programmatically storing said plurality of entries in said look-up table prior to said comparing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the function preprocessor comparing said one or more sequences of instructions stored in said instruction memory with said plurality of stored entries in said look-up table comprises the function preprocessor comparing said one or more sequences of instructions stored in said instruction memory with a plurality of entries indicative of instruction sequences which implement digital signal processing functions from the group consisting of convolution, correlation, Fast Fourier Transforms, and inner product.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more general purpose execution units executing and instructions which do not implement a digital signal processing function and the one or more digital signal processing execution units performing digital signal processing functions operate substantially in parallel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said central processing unit is compatible with the X86 family of microprocessors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said plurality of instructions in said instruction memory are X86 opcode instructions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-20 | 2002-01-19 | 2002-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-20 | 2006-01-19 | 2006-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-20 | 2010-01-19 | 2010-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |