PROCESSOR ARCHITECTURE HAVING AN ALU, A JAVA STACK AND MULTIPLE SATCKPOINTERS

摘要

A stack-based processor architecture and associated method for processing data through a processor is provided. First data which is to be processed is written to an operand stack. The location of the data within the operand stack is identified using stackpointers that are contained in a stack/ALU controller of the stack processor. The stackpointers identify banks within the operand stack where data may be stored. After the location of the data is identified, a parallel transfer of data selected using the stackpointers and a function code is generated. The selected data is transferred from the operand stack to an arithmetic logic unit for processing in accordance with instructions defined by the function code. The result can then be efficiently transferred back to the operand stack and read out when desired.