Electronic device using code compression decodes start of loop and end of loop labels introduced into new set of compressed instructions

摘要

Device comprises pipeline processor (25), branching unit (26), code decompressor (27) and memory (28) in an ASIC. Unit (27) sends two signals for the start and end of a loop to unit (26) by decoding the start of loop (SOL) and end of loop (EOL) labels introduced into the new set of compressed instructions. If there are no SOL or EOL signals unit (26) operates transparently and so copies the incoming signals to the outgoing signals. There is an Independent claim for a method of managing a pipeline processor in a compressed program loop.